Page 132 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

MONIQUE

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Anger boiled in her veins as she walked away from the man she loved. She wouldn't look back. She wouldn't feel guilty. This was his fault, not hers. He was so damn stubborn and didn't know how to listen properly.

No, he could listen; he just didn't take anything he heard into consideration. He thought he had the answers to everything. Apparently, they must've been studying for two different tests because all of his answers had been wrong.

Which was why she'd set him on his ass – to give him some time to rethink things. She strode down the hall, mind drifting to Frederico, hoping he was alright. On the ride to the gala, they'd had a long talk, and he'd ended up revealing his true reasons for approaching Orazio. It was because...

"Did you hear me, Monique?" someone yelled in her face, gripping her shoulders.

Blinking, she stared up into Leo's furious gaze.Oh, right. Leo was here.Then she remembered what she'd just done to his don.Oh, damn! Leo was here.

"Don't worry," Monique told Leo as she shrugged out of his grip. "Your don isn't dead. I stabbed him with the needle Rome gave Cas for the kidnapping. It's only supposed to keephim knocked out long enough for us to make it to the cabin. Rome assured me that it wouldn't have any lingering effects or leave Raz feeling drowsy. He'll wake up good as new."And still stubborn as hell.

Leo closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, releasing the breath in a rush.

Teeth clenched, he muttered, "You two are going to drive me insane."

She didn't have time to chat with Raz's right-hand man. "Where's Frederico? I want to check on him. I'm sure he'll need some medical attention."

"Frederico is the least of your worries," Leo told her. "I need to get the don out of here because the shit has hit the fan."

"This isn't part of the kidnapping act, is it?" Monique asked. "Because that's over for me."

"I wished this was an act. This is real. The old don is here."

Old don?"Raz's father?"

"Yes. He should be locked up. But now he's here, looking for Raz. He's armed and has guards with him. I need to get Raz out of here."

"But..." Monique started, mind moving in slow motion as she tried to comprehend the situation. "Raz has guards, too, right? This place is heavily guarded. Even Frederico pointed out how guarded it was."

"I'm learning that many of our guys never ceased working for the old don. The fact that the old don is free means someone who was supposed to be on our team let him out."

"So, they betrayed Raz?"

"No. They never gave their loyalty to Raz. It's been with the old don the entire time, and I should've caught on to it.Fuck!"

A loud noise sounded from down the hall.

"Those locked doors won't hold long," Leo told her. "I need to get Orazio out of here. You too. Let's go."

Leo strode past her, heading to Raz.

Monique continued staring down the hall in the direction Leo had just come from. "I can't leave yet. I have to find Meka and Toya." They were there because of her. If anything happened to them, she'd never forgive herself.

"They're with Cas and Rome. They're good."

"How do you know?"

"I contacted both Cas and Rome through our earpieces and told them to get out now. Don't think about stepping out there. You'd be captured the moment the old don's guards saw you. They're looking foryouand Raz."

Monique started to ask why they wanted her, but the reason was clear.

"They want me because I'm important to him," Monique mused, voice low as she watched Leo hoist Raz up. "They want to use me to get to him."

"Yes. Because you're his first love. And his crazy ass doesn't know how to handle it. He's never had his heart broken. He's never had his heart stirred. He's never had to worry about keeping a woman safe or happy. He doesn't even know how to handle the happiness you bring him. He's crazy as fuck on a regular day. Throw in you, and he becomes a psychopath. I'm not defending Raz's actions. I'm just saying I feel him. His father knows you're his weakness and wants to use you against him. Again."

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