Page 92 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

Meka chuckled. “You know me. No one can bully me. I really want to eat dinner with him. And you all too. This could be our chance to get to know each other and clear up any misunderstandings we all have.”

A huge grin spread across his brother’s face. Orazio would bet money that Meka was simply repeating what Cas had told her to say in advance. Was his brother blackmailing Monique’s friend? But he’d just met the woman. What could he possibly have on her that could make her act this way?

Still smiling, Meka looked up at Cas. “I’m ready to eat now.” She paused. “Dear,” she finished through clenched teeth.

“This bitch here,” Toya said, throwing her hands up before facing Monique. “I know I’m not the only one who thinks she’s acting weird as fuck. You can tell something is wrong. Can’t you, Monique?”

Monique nodded. Her sharp gaze zeroed in on Cas.

“We’ll go to dinner,” Monique told him. “And we’ll chat. At the end of dinner, my friends and I will leave. Okay?”

Cas shook his head.This motherfucker.

“I’m not going to force Meka to leave,” he told Monique. “She can leave if she wants. But if she wants to stay with me, she can stay.”

“Meka, do you want to stay with him?” Monique asked.

“Mo, I’m starving,” Meka complained, avoiding the question. “Can we finish this over some steak and potatoes?”

Cas chuckled and rubbed Meka’s back.

“I can’t have my woman starving. You all can stay here and talk. Meka and I are heading to the dining room. Join us when you’re ready.”

Still clasping Meka’s hand, he steered her toward the exit. Toya and Monique watched in shock.

Leo looked to Raz and mouthed,“I quit.”

Raz shook his head. There was no quitting. They were all in this shit together. With Cas gone, the women directed their attention at Raz. Raz smiled.

“Don’t do that,” Monique said. “Don’t smile. What did your brother do to my friend?”

“If I said it was love at first sight, would you believe me?” Raz asked, already knowing the answer.

Toya rolled her eyes.

“Wrong answer,” Leo muttered under his breath. “Try again, boss.”

Monique placed her hands on her curvy hips. “Raz, please don’t play games with me.”

“Okay,” Raz said. “The truth is, when I found them, they were both already acting like that. I don’t know what happened. But I will find out. Let’s go to the restaurant. Maybe while we’re sitting down eating, we can get to the bottom of this.”

“I don’t want to eat,” Monique said.

“Let’s eat,” Toya told her. Before Monique could protest, Toya said, “We’re going to eat steak. Which means there will be steak knives.”

Monique eyes widened in understanding. “Steak knives,” she muttered. Rosa faced Raz. “Okay, let’s go eat. I’m kind of famished myself.”

Both women turned and headed for the exit, walking fast to catch up with Cas and Meka. Orazio didn’t follow them immediately.

“If I get stabbed,” Leo told him. “I’m suing your woman and her friends.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m the one who’ll get stabbed,” Orazio told him.

“Let’s just leave. We can go have a drink at the bar down the street. Let Cas deal with the mess he’s created.”

The offer was tempting. His phone started ringing. It was Monique. He answered quickly.

“Hello, Rosa.”

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