Page 144 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

"If you two are done flirting, we could use your help to hold the old don's guards off," Leo told them.

"We're coming," Raz and Monique announced at the same time before ending the call.

“Let’s do this,” she said, her voice firm, resolute. "Stay behind me. You're not one hundred percent yet."

"Yes, ma'am," Raz told her. "And Rosa," Raz started just as she was about to turn away.

"What's up?"

"Thank you... for not leaving me. And for not hating me. And for... just for being my everything. And embracing all of me, even the dark clouds."

Monique smiled. "You're welcome, my love. But just so you know, I don’t consider anything about you dark. You’re mysunshine, Orazio Cattaneo. Things only get dark when we’re apart. So let’s not do that again."

“Yes, ma’am.”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. And with that, they left the breakroom, stepping over bodies as they entered the hall. Later, she'd process what she'd just done to survive and protect the man she loved.

Later, she'd let the guilt in and let the tears fall. But not right now. Together, guns ready, she and Raz strode down the hall with her in front and her don behind her, guarding her back, trusting and loving her as only he could.

Chapter Forty-Three

ORAZIO

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Raz moved quietly behind Monique, gripping two guns tightly. Every step he took down the corridor felt heavy, his body still sluggish from Rome’s drugs. He shook his head, needing to clear it so he could do what needed to be done.

As he walked, he contemplated what had just happened in the breakroom. He still couldn’t believe his Rosa had taken two lives. While he’d been out, he’d dreamed of her. But the woman in his dreams had been a very different version of Rosa than the one he’d woken up to.

In his dreams, she’d been taken by his enemies, tortured, and killed right in front of his eyes. She’d cried out to him, begging him to help her. No matter how fast or how hard he raced toward her, he hadn’t been able to reach her.

In his dreams, he’d sobbed like a fucking child, hating himself for bringing her into his world. When he woke up, the first thing he witnessed was his delicate Rose shooting a man. He’d thought he was still dreaming.

He’d thought he was imagining the Rosa he needed by his side, someone who could protect herself when he wasn’t there. Imagine his fucking surprise when the person she’d shot landed on him, and he realized he wasn’t dreaming.

The woman he needed, the woman he loved, the woman he was obsessed with, was perfectly fine handling her own. Not only could she protect herself, but she could also protect him and lead his crew in his absence.

He glanced at Monique’s back, watching the way she moved with confidence, her gun raised and steady, leading them through the dimly lit hallway. Monique, his Rosa, had killed two men. And now, she was walking ahead of him, shoulders squared, leading him toward another battle.

She was a woman who could handle anything. He felt foolish for ever doubting that she could survive in his world. She had done more than just survive tonight, she’d protected him, saved him. She’d stepped into his world of violence, blood, and betrayal, and she’d taken control.

He hated that she’d been forced to make those choices, but damn it, he was proud of her. Impressed, even. This woman,his woman, wasn’t just standing by his side. She was leading the charge. And he was following. As ordered by the Lady Boss.

Though he was watching her handle her own, his mind and heart were still wary. This was what he wanted. He wanted her to be able to protect herself. Yet, his fear of losing her was still there.

And a new fear had reared its ugly head. What would she be like when this was over? She’d taken a life. That was never easy, no matter how many times you did it. It took a toll on your heart, your mind, and your spirit.

Even when you felt the kills were warranted, they still haunted you. Yeah, she said she was okay and that she could handle it. But Raz knew better. He’d seen the look in her eyes after she’d pulled the trigger,twice.

It was the kind of look you never forgot. That flicker of something breaking inside, a part of her that she couldn’t get back. He hated that she had to go through this. But he couldn’tdo anything about it now. Not here. Not while danger still lurked around every corner.

She was doing what needed to be done. And he was fucking proud of her. But that didn’t stop the gnawing anxiety in his gut. It didn’t stop the part of him that wanted to pull her back, to tell her to let him handle it, to tell her to hide. To be safe.

It was instinct, pure and simple. His instincts told him to protect her. But he knew that wasn't what she needed. She didn’t need him trying to shield her, not now. What she needed was his trust. She needed him to believe in her strength, to let her be the force she was proving herself to be.

She was his Lady Boss. He would not undermine her authority. His fears and concerns were his problem. Not hers. In time, he knew they’d fade. Until then, he’d watch her back, just like she’d asked him to.

The gunfire that had echoed through the halls earlier had gone eerily silent, and that wasn’t a good sign. The quiet meant the men who’d betrayed him were regrouping, waiting for the right moment to strike again.

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