Page 37 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

“Be careful with her,” Raz ordered.

“She’s in good hands,” Dr. Sullivan said as he worked.

“Watch her head,” Raz instructed.

“We’ve got this,” Dr. Sullivan told him.

“Her hand is hanging over the bed,” Raz informed them.

The doctor turned and faced him. “Please step outside until we have her settled.”

“Why the fuck would I do that?” Raz growled.

“Because you’re making the nurses nervous.”

Raz glanced at the two nurses. He’d seen them before. One was the nurse Rome said was part of his team. The other was Dr. Sullivan’s wife.

“I’m not leaving the room,” Raz stated, folding his arms over his chest.

“We can help her better if you’re not directing our every move. Please step outside for a moment. Not for us, but for Monique.” When Raz didn’t move, Dr. Sullivan added, “Please.”

With a sigh, Raz stared down at Monique. Was he getting in the way of her being treated? What if she woke up and didn’t see him? He had to be there when she opened her eyes.

“Ten minutes,” Dr. Sullivan said. “Give us ten minutes. Let us take care of her for you, Mr. Cattaneo.”

A few seconds ticked by before Raz nodded. “If anything happens to her...”

“You’ll burn this hospital down,” Dr. Sullivan finished for him. “I know. You said the same thing when Rome came in a few years ago with a gunshot wound.”

That’s right.Dr. Sullivan had been taking care of his family at this hospital for years.

“Call me as soon as you’re done,” Raz ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Dr. Sullivan told him. “While we get her set up and check her vitals, how about you go to the bathroom and freshen up? You don’t want her to see you like that when she wakes up.”

Again, Raz stared down at his bruised and bloody hands, which ached slightly. With the way they were bruised, they should be throbbing in pain. The meds Rome had given him were dulling the ache, making it barely noticeable.

But it hadn’t taken the pain away entirely. He’d have to let Rome know that. Raz’s gaze drifted to Monique. Did that mean it hadn’t taken all her pain away, either? Was she hurting right now?

If so, he needed to let the hospital staff do their job. Though he was reluctant to leave, Raz knew he was just in the way.I’ll be right back, Rosa.After casting one last glance at his Rosa, Raz turned and left the room.

At the time, he didn’t realize he was lying to himself. He wouldn’t be right back. The truth was, Raz wouldn’t enter that room again.

Ever.

Chapter Eleven

ORAZIO

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Orazio stepped out of Monique’s hospital room, leaving her in the care of the doctors and nurses who’d accused him of being in the way of them doing their job. They were hospital workers.

The lives of others were always in their hands. Nothing should be able to shake their composure or get in the way of them doing their job. Should he have his Rosa transferred to a different hospital?

No. He couldn’t do that. Another hospital would probably have him arrested for not wanting to leave a patient’s room. Raz sighed. The staff wasn’t the problem, he was. Even though he knew the staff here would take care of her, that didn’t stop him from feeling uneasy.

There was a knot in the pit of his stomach that wouldn’t dissolve no matter how many times he told himself he had everything under control. Something still felt off. And for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what it was.

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