Page 26 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

He shoved Monique's legs away from him, causing her to scream in agony. Heart pounding, she tried to control her breathing, but the pain was overwhelming. Trevor grabbed his gun and brought the barrel down hard on her knee.

Monique couldn't hold back the vomit that surged up her throat. She threw up in her mouth and swallowed it down, choking on the taste. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks: her knee had to be shattered.

"Please," she whispered through clenched teeth.

"Shut up," Trevor snarled, his eyes dark and cold as blood trailed down the side of his face.

Monique could see the twisted satisfaction in his eyes, and she knew she couldn't reason with him. This man was dangerous and beyond redemption. Trembling from the pain, all Monique could do was watch as the butt of Trevor's gun raced toward her face.

She braced herself for impact, her thoughts racing a mile a minute. If she could dodge the blow, she would. But the pain held her immobile. Even breathing hurt her beyond belief. The impact of his gun against her face was more forceful than she'd thought it would be.

Pain sliced through her face as blood poured from her nose. Her head throbbed in time with her heartbeat, making her feel dizzy. The ringing in her ears drowned out the sound of him cursing.

He hit her again. Blood dripped into her eyes, blurring her vision. Darkness surrounded her, threatening to swallow her whole. Monique's last thoughts before she passed out were filled with regret.

She'd failed her friends. She should've been stronger, a better fighter. If she survived this ordeal, she vowed to become stronger, to never be this weak again. No one would ever be able to hurt her or those she loved this way again.

But that was in the future. In the present, she was a complete failure. And Meka and Toya were about to pay the ultimate price for her weakness. As darkness pulled her under, hope faded into the abyss....

And so did she.

***

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ORAZIO

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Orazio and Rome arrived at the location where Trevor was supposed to meet up with his father's team in case of an emergency. A dirt road led to the abandoned factory that was located on the back bay.

Orazio could smell the water as they neared the building. Rome drove around the building with the security team following behind him. They all parked at the back of the facility, where Trevor wouldn't be able to see them.

"This used to be a factory where they cleaned and boxed fresh seafood to send to restaurants. Our aunt was over it," Rome told Raz. "As the business grew, she moved the company to a larger warehouse. I guess dad has been using this building in her absence."

Rome and Orazio climbed out of the car. The members of the security team approached him.

To the security team, Raz said, "I want four of you to guard the perimeter. Two of you are to come inside and guard the front door and back door. Do you have earpieces?"

"They do," Rome told him, pulling his from his pocket. "I can reach them at all times."

Raz nodded. "No matter what, do not put Monique at risk. Her friends, either. There should be three black women with Trevor. They are not to be harmed. As for her father, he'll be an older black man. Try not to kill him. But if you maim him, I'm okay with that. As for Trevor, he's all mine. If there's anyone else with them, kill them, as long as Monique doesn't get hurt."

"Yes, sir," the security team said in unison.

Raz and Rome headed into the factory. The place stunk of rotten fish. It was a scent that clung to the walls. He was pretty sure it would take a lot of scrubbing to get the stench off him once they left there. Next to him, Rome coughed.

"Cover your mouth and nose," Raz told him.

Rome placed his arm over his mouth. "There must still be fish in here from years ago. No one cleaned this place out."

"Dad couldn't have done business here," Raz said, trying to turn the light switch on.

Flick. No light.There was no way his father had used this place. It must've been a setup. If an emergency had arisen, his father would've sent Trevor here to meet his death. If Trevor had called his father and been told to meet here, by the time Trevor arrived, killers would've been waiting for him.

If Trevor tried calling his father now, Leo would answer. And killers would still be waiting for him. Mouth covered with his arm, Raz strode to the front of the building and peered out the glass window that was covered in a brown film.

He could barely see out. He found a spot that wasn't so dirty and stared out. From this spot, he had a good view of the dirt road that led to the front of the building.

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