Page 149 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

“I’m fine as long as you’re fine,” he told her. “Just... promise me one thing.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“When we get out there, stay behind me. If anything happens to me, stick with Leo. Don’t try to be a hero. Please.”

“That’s two things,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Raz couldn’t help but smile. “Well, promise me two things then.”

Monique nodded. “I promise. But Raz, if your father isn’t willing to stand down, what will you do?”

He knew she was really asking the question everyone wanted to ask.Was he willing to kill his father if he had to?

Raz stared deep into her eyes. “Whether he stands down or not doesn’t matter. He’s done enough damage to my family and the organization. I won’t let him do more. My father must die tonight.”

Her eyes widened, the shock of his words sinking in. “Are you sure? Can you live with that?” Her voice trembled.

“I don’t have a choice. He’s left me with no other option.”

He watched her eyes fill with tears. This was why he loved this woman with everything that was in him. His father had caused her so much pain and had brought chaos into their lives.

He had hurt her friends and had been the architect of so much destruction. She should hate him. She should want him dead more than anyone. But even now, she wasn’t thinking about revenge.

She wasn’t thinking about her own pain. She was thinking about Raz, about the weight of this choice and what it would do to his soul. If he had told her he couldn’t do it, that he wanted to try for peace and work things out with his dad, she would have supported him.

She would have stood by him, no matter what. That was unconditional love. And it was staring him in the face. He was not worthy of this. He was not worthy of this woman. And that was why he had to kill his father.

Because he’d be damned if his father broke free again and actually achieved his goal of taking out the people Raz loved. He’d never be able to forgive himself if that happened. Hell, he would no longer want to live if that happened. For the sake of everyone he cared for, especially the beautiful woman before him, Raz had to kill his father.

“Don’t cry for him,” Raz whispered, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped down her cheek.

“I’m not,” she breathed, her voice breaking. “I’m crying for you.”

Raz’s chest tightened. “Don’t cry for me, Rosa. I need this. I need him out of my life. For what he did to you, to your friends. For what he did to Cas. For what he allowed his brother to do for years. He has to go. And I’m willing to do it.”

If he didn’t, one of his brothers would. He was sure of it. He didn’t want them to live with that guilt. So, he’d carry that weight for all of them. Monique swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly where they still rested over his heart.

“I’ll be with you,” she whispered, blinking back tears. “Now and forever. You’re not alone. I’ll help you carry this weight. Forever.”

This woman!She was going to bring tears to his eyes. He leaned down, pressing his forehead to hers.

“I know, love. And that’s the only thing that’s going to get me through this.”

As they stood there, holding onto each other in the middle of the chaos, Leo’s phone rang, bringing an end to their moment. Raz pulled back, turning toward Leo as he answered the call. Leo’s eyes widened as he relayed the message he’d just received to Raz.

“The first team has engaged the old don’s men and are overpowering them. They know where the old don is located.He’s been moved to the back stairwell, and Benny is guarding him.”

“Fucking Benny,” Raz fumed. “No wonder he insisted on being here today. He’s probably my father’s new right-hand man.”

“I’ll take care of Benny,” Leo promised. “Since Benny took the old don to the back stairwell, he’s probably heading for the west exit. He’s going to try to get the old don to safety. If they make it out, it’ll be a while before we can locate them again.”

“They’re not getting out. Get some of our guys on that exit now!” Raz ordered. “And I want some guards to follow Benny. Let’s head to the back stairwell. We’ll corner them, leaving them no way to escape.” Raz turned to Frederico’s two guards. “You two, stay near the stairwell’s exit door in case anyone makes it past us. This ends now.”

“Yes, sir,” they told him.

Leo led the way, with Rosa in the middle and Raz bringing up the rear while Frederico’s men guarded the stairwell exit. As Leo ordered guards to the west exit and to the stairwell, Raz couldn’t help but notice how easily Rosa fell into place. One day, he’d cease to marvel at how well she was handling this. That day wasn’t today.

Leo led them to the stairs and then up to the next floor. Raz could feel the tension in the air. But it was nothing compared to the adrenaline coursing through him. His father was supposedly just a floor away. Every muscle in his body tensed, ready for the moment when father and son would finally meet face to face.

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