Page 16 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

He didn't have time to ask why his brother had boots in his trunk. Orazio rifled through the duffle bag. He froze when his fingers brushed against cold metal. His eyes widened as he pulled out a sleek handgun.

"I see you brought guns, too."

"I never leave home without them. There's more in my trunk."

"Good. We're going to need them."

Orazio checked the clip, making sure it was fully loaded and ready for action. It was. As if on cue, the sound of footsteps and raised voices echoed in the hallway outside his room, growing louder with each passing second.

Rome's eyes narrowed as he put his ear to the door. "Incoming," he warned.

Orazio quickly finished dressing, grunting when he moved in a way that aggravated his wounds. He knew what they were about to face: hospital security, maybe even some of his father's men. Whoever got in his way was getting a bullet. Plain and simple.

Rome sprang into action, quickly repacking his gear as the sound of pounding fists came from the other side of the door. Orazio tossed Rome a gun. Rome caught the weapon with ease and slung the duffle bag over his shoulder, his eyes never leaving the door.

"Ready?" Orazio asked.

"Always," Rome replied.

The door suddenly burst open. The chair that had been propped against the door was sent flying across the room. Raz and Rome raised their guns, pointing them at the door.

"Code Silver!" security shouted, but their cries were cut off by a commanding voice.

"Stand down!" Don Cattaneo ordered, stepping into the room. His dark eyes flicked between Rome, Orazio, and their weapons, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face. "Lower your guns, sons."

Orazio's grip on his weapon only tightened.

"I know it was you behind Monique's kidnapping," Raz spat, his voice laced with venom.

The don's eyes widened, but he didn't respond to Raz's words.

Instead, he spoke to Rome. "Rome, you should be at home with your mom and gran."

“Why do you always call them mom and gran?" Rome questioned. "That woman isn't our mother, and her mother isn't our grandmother.”

Raz had forgotten how much his brother loathed their father's woman, a woman he called wife but had never actually married. A woman who'd entered their life when they were teens but had never been kind to them.

Oh, she pretended to be. But even a blind man could tell her actions were fake. Since Raz generally ignored her, he'd almost forgotten she existed.

"Boys," the don started.

"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" Orazio growled, his finger itching to pull the trigger. But this was his father. And that was the only thing stopping him.

"Lower your guns," the don repeated.

Neither Orazio nor Rome obeyed. Suddenly, Leo entered the room, gun raised and pointed at the Cattaneo brothers. The air in the room seemed to grow even heavier with tension. Raz couldn't deny that seeing Leo point a gun at him pained him.

"Is this really how you want to do this?" the don asked, his voice dripping with disappointment. "Do you really want to add bloodshed and betrayal to an already fucked up situation?"

"Don't speak to me of betrayal. You two betrayed me. Not the other way around."

"Last chance," the don warned, his gaze unwavering. "Lower your weapons."

"Never," Orazio replied, gaze locked with his father’s.

And with that single word, he knew there was no turning back. They were on a collision course, and only one side would emerge victorious.

"Very well," the don said, his voice as cold as ice.

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