Page 121 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

He'd hurt her. It would take some time to earn back her respect and trust. He was willing to put in the work and jump through any hoops she ordered him to. Suddenly, Leo swerved the car slightly, causing Orazio's attention to snap back to the rearview mirror.

Leo's eyes met his in the mirror again, and Leo mouthed,"Talk to her,"with a hint of exasperation.

This motherfucker wasn’t going to let this go. What the hell did he expect Raz to say to her? Then again, maybe Leo was on the right track. Raz wanted to keep things as cordial as possible with her father. Perhaps that was why Leo was pushing him to be social.

Orazio inhaled deeply and released his breath slowly before turning to face Isla. Her eyes were already on him; her expression was curious and composed. Before he could speak, Isla broke the silence.

"Why did you ask me to be your date to such an important event, Mr. Cattaneo?"

Her bluntness almost left him speechless.

He recovered quickly and replied, "Because I needed a date and asked my guard to select someone appropriate. He selected you."

Leo cleared his throat loudly. Orazio ignored him.

"Well, aren't you the straightforward type," Isla muttered.

"I am."

"Hmmm... I guess I should thank your guard," Isla responded, not at all offended by his curt response.

"Why did you agree to the date?" Orazio countered.

"I'm single, beautiful, rich and powerful. So, of course, the board members of my company are pressuring me to marry. Amarriedwoman is a morestablewoman in their eyes, which is why I wish I could kill them all," she sneered.

Orazio chuckled despite himself. "Why won't you do just that?"I did.

"Getting married to someone who won't interfere in my life seems like a better option and involves less jail time," Isla replied, causing him to chuckle again. "The sound of your laughter is nice," she complimented him.

That immediately caused Raz to stop laughing. Was laughing with another woman considered cheating? It had to be. He couldn't picture his Rosa laughing with another man. Guilt immediately washed over him.

"You went cold the moment I said that. It seems you're not used to receiving compliments," Isla observed. "Or is itmycompliments that make you uncomfortable?"

"Actually, Isla, we're not that different," Raz told her. "I'm also in a position where marriage would bring more stability to my organization."

"It seems we may be perfect for each other," she uttered.

"We'd both benefit from a contract marriage. A marriage on paper only. That's if I wasn't already in love with someone."

"Love? What's that?"

Orazio cocked his head to the side to glare at her.

"Calm down," she said, smiling. "I'm kidding. Kind of. I take it the woman you love is someone your family doesn't approve of."

"When it comes to her, I don't give a damn who approves and who doesn't."

"Why aren't you with her then?" Isla asked.

"I'm... a threat to her. She almost died because she loves me," Orazio explained.

"Ohhhh," Isla drawled. "So, to keep her safe, you left her. Aren't you quite the gentleman?"

No, Raz thought to himself. A gentleman wouldn't have approached her in the first place, not if he lived the life Orazio lived. Raz wasn't a gentleman. But his Rosa knew that. She'd accepted him the way he was. He was a fucking fool for letting her go.

"I would offer you advice," Isla continued. "But my advice would interfere with my business plans. So, sorry. All I can say is that I'm glad she's no longer in your life."

This bitc...Raz prayed for patience.I don't kill women,he told himself as he looked away from Isla to stare out the window again, done with this conversation.

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