Page 51 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

"What's wrong?" Raz asked his brother.

"I bugged the email I sent to the board members so that once it was opened, I'd have access to the device the email was sent to. I can now track the board members' texts and calls. This is a text one of the members just sent."

Rome turned the laptop so Raz could read the message.

The message read,'Find out everything you can on President Cattaneo's sons. I want to know where they live, where they hang out, and who they're fucking. I'm going to rain down hell on those little bastards. They gave me a gift today. I want to gift them their loved ones' heads in a box. Make it happen now.'

The email was sent from Mr. Frillman.Fuck!Raz saw red as Patrick Cattaneo's laughter filled the air.

"Ring, ring," Patrick yelled. "The school bell has rung. Have a seat, boys. Your next class has just begun."

Chapter Fifteen

ORAZIO

––––––––

He'd handled this wrong. He should've silenced the board members permanently, not wasted his breath on negotiations. Now, he had to clean up the mess he'd made before it became an even bigger problem.

His heart raced, but not for fear of the board's retribution against him. It was Monique's safety he was worried about. The urge to be with her, to shield her from the bullshit he'd started, hummed through him.

But he didn't know who was watching this building, waiting for him to leave, waiting to see where he'd go, who he'd go to. That was why he couldn't go to her. Not yet. He wouldn't lead danger her way.

"Fuck!" The curse erupted from him before he could stop it.

Patrick chuckled. "You seem to be unraveling, nephew," his uncle drawled.

"Shut the fuck up!" Raz hissed, barely resisting the urge to put a bullet in his uncle's smiling face.

"I guess it's finally starting to sink in," Patrick pressed, looking too cocky given his predicament. "You finally realize that you can't protect everyone. That's the problem with falling inlove for men like us. Love weakens you. It puts you in situations where you have to make insane choices."

"I thought I told you to shut up," Raz growled.

"And I thought I told you to sit down because the bell has rung, and class is in session," Patrick yelled. "You think you're a tough guy because you've got a gun. Guns don't win wars, my boy. Strategies do. And you rushed over here with no plan in sight. Foolish! I thought the don would've taught you better."

Raz swallowed, hating that his uncle was right.Fools rushed in. Wise men strategized.His father had taught him that. Yet, today, Raz had been a fool. He'd let his emotions rule him.

"That love you feel right now, that love that has brought fear to your eyes, that love that caused you to rush in here without a plan, that's your weakness," Patrick told him. "A weakness that can be exploited. My son is in love with a woman who walks in and out of his life whenever she wants."

Patrick laughed when Bryce raised his weapon and trained it on him again. Apparently, that no longer scared Patrick because he continued talking.

"It was Mr. Tatum's daughter who let me know that even my nephews have women in their lives that they care about. You all may not be afraid of what the board members will do. But what about the women you love?" Patrick asked. "I wonder if they will survive this mess you've created. Then there's my brother. I know he's up to something. He's had men watching me. I'm no fool. He probably sent you here to feel me out and see what I was doing. No matter what I've done, he still wasn't good at managing the business. And that part is not my fault. He handles the legit businesses the same way he handles the illegal businesses, as the don, not the president. That's not how you run a business. He's pissed off the board, made them question his sanity, his worth to them. And now you've angered those same men who can make the lives of the women you love a horrorstory. Bad decision. On top of that, you're enabling a president who'd rather kill a business owner to get his company than spend money to acquire it. You boys have fucked up royally this time," Patrick said and chuckled.

Raz glared at his uncle. "You say my father is handling the business wrong. But you're doing business with Tatum after what he did to Cas. My father may not be the bestprofessionalbusinessman, but at least he hasn't sided with someone who hurt his family."

Patrick shrugged. "What happened with Cas is not my business. I wasn't there. I don't know the truth. Maybe he did assault..."

Punching the table, Raz yelled, "You didn't have to be there! He's your nephew. Your blood. You side with him, no matter what."

Patrick smiled. "This is why you boys manage the smaller businesses. It's because you can't separate business from personal feelings."

"Will Tatum be able to separate business from personal feelings when he learns my father has his son?"

Patrick's smile faltered.

Mr. Tatum's gaze snapped to Patrick. "You told me you'd get my boy back if I showed up to this meeting," Tatum yelled at Patrick.

"Shut up," Patrick muttered.

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