Page 45 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

Leaning close to the door, he listened for any sounds of danger on the other side, like ticking, a tell-tell sign that a bomb was attached to the door. Silence greeted him, but it did nothing to alleviate his suspicions. Orazio faced the host, who was visibly sweating under his scrutiny.

"Open the door and go in first," Raz commanded.

The man looked like he wanted to protest but thought better of it. Instead, he stepped forward and fumbled with the handle, his trembling fingers struggling to turn it. Finally, the door swung open. The host stepped into the room and then moved aside so Raz could enter.

Orazio strode into the meeting room with his crew close behind him. All eyes turned in his direction. The men seated around the table stared at him in shock, clearly taken aback by his sudden arrival.

Among them was Orazio's uncle, Patrick Cattaneo, who sat at the head of the table, looking annoyed by Raz's appearance. That look turned into one of anger when his gaze landed on Bryce. His uncle quickly looked away from his son. But Raz didn't miss the flicker of fear in Patrick's eyes.

"Orazio, what an unexpected surprise," Patrick drawled, voice dripping with false warmth. "What brings you here,nephew?"

"Family business,uncle," Orazio replied, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

He recognized a few of the men at the table.Board members of Cattaneo Corp. Some of the people he felt like he'd seen before, but he couldn't recall their names. However, there was one face that didn't belong with this group of businessmen.

And that was Mr. Tatum. He wasn't a part of their family's business. Yet, there he sat, looking smug as fuck. Orazio gritted his teeth to keep from putting a bullet in that bitch's head.Patience, Orazio. First, find out why they had this secret emergency meeting.

"You said you're here for family business, nephew. But I've never seen you at any of our board meetings. I'm shocked to see you here now. It's not that I'm unhappy to have you here. But when did these meetings become a family affair?" Patrick asked, attempting to regain control of the situation and hush themurmured whispers rising from the men gathered around the table.

"Since my father isn't here," Orazio shot back, his eyes narrowing. "It seems only right that his sons sit in for him. Or did my father's presence go unnoticed? Or maybe, like us, he didn't get an invite."

That silenced the whispers, but the glares cast his way would make a weaker man tremble. It was a good thing Orazio feared no man. However, he could practically taste their fear and unease.

It hung heavy in the air like a thick fog. These motherfuckers had been comfortable when they'd thought they could gather in secret under the protection of his uncle Patrick. Now that the lion had entered the den, the hyenas feared being eaten.

"Very well, then," Patrick conceded with a tight smile, gesturing toward the empty seats. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. However, there are only two seats. Someone will have to stand. Will you stand so your brothers can sit, Orazio?"

Says the man seated in my father's seat.

No matter where the meeting was held, the seat at the head of the table was reserved for the president of the company. Yet, his uncle was relaxed in that seat like the title belonged to him.

It was clear that his uncle wasn't only trying to be the don of the family. He wanted to be the president of the Cattaneo Corporation also. Orazio glanced over at Leo, who nodded in understanding before stepping out of the room.

Moments later, Leo returned, carrying two extra chairs. Raz didn't miss the tick in his uncle's jaw. He and his brothers took their seats while Leo and Bryce stood behind their chairs.

Raz looked up at Bryce and said, "Cousin, there's a chair for you."

With his eyes on his father, Bryceson shook his head and said, "Not yet. But there will be soon."

There was that flicker of fear in Patrick's eyes again. Patrick feared his son.Good. He should, after all the shit he'd done to Bryce.

Leaning back in his seat, Orazio said, "Now that my brothers and I have a seat at the table, shall we restart the meeting?"

No one uttered a word. Rome wasted no time pulling a black laptop from his bag and placing it on the table, breaking the tense silence in the room. The sound of Rome's fingers clicking across the keyboard echoed around the room until Uncle Patrick spoke up.

Smirking, Patrick said, "It looks like you all came prepared."

"So did you, apparently," Raz replied.

"Since you seem intent on being involved in this meeting, perhaps you'd care to share your thoughts on the matter at hand," Patrick suggested.

"To do that, I first need to know what this meeting is about." Raz stared around the table. "What was so important that you all had to call an emergency meeting and hold it off company grounds?"

None of them were willing to meet his gaze. Their eyes dropped to the table or to the folders before them.

Patrick chuckled, but the sound was devoid of any real humor. "It's normal for boards to meet outside the company. We all need a change of scenery sometimes. Right?" he asked, staring at his bobbleheads around the table, who quickly nodded, agreeing with him. "Since this is your first meeting with us, let me fill you in on the history of the Cattaneo Corporation,nephew."

Raz clutched his hands into fists while praying for patience. However, the urge to punch his uncle in the face was strong.So, fucking strong. His uncle knew Raz and his brothers had been taught the history of their family and their businesses at a young age.

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