Page 77 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

"Ohhh, right, right. I thought you wanted us to do the kidnapping in orange. I was going to veto that suggestion. I'll choose our kidnapping attire. It'll be black and sexy but still loose enough for us to run and jump," Toya told us.

"Girl, I'm not about to be jumping and shit," Meka countered. "My knees ain't capable of all that anymore. After all that's happened, I maybe got one more run and jump in me, and that's it. It's walking from here on out."

"Bitch, you better start working out because we may have to jump at least three more times during the kidnapping. We'll definitely have to run," Toya told her.

"Not if we knock Raz out," Meka explained. "Then we'll only have to drag him as we walk to the car. No running or jumping required."

"Hey!" Monique chimed in. "There will be no knocking him out. And if he has to be knocked out, I'll be the one to do it."

"You just want to get a jab in on him for breaking up with you," Toya drawled.

"Damn right," Monique agreed just as Meka's phone rang.

Meka grabbed her phone from the table and whispered, "It's him. It's Cas."

"Answer it," Toya rushed her.

Meka simply stared down at the phone as it rang again.

"Girl, answer it," Toya insisted.

Meka nodded. She took a few deep breaths.

"Hurry before he hangs up, Meka!" Toya said.

Meka answered the call and put it on speakerphone. "Hello."

Meka's voice shook a little, nearly breaking Monique's heart. A few seconds of silence ticked by, causing Monique to believe Cas had already hung up. But then he spoke.

"Damn," his deep voice came across the line. "I thought I'd never hear your sweet voice again. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I'm not dreaming, am I? I can't really tell these days. I hear the echo of your voice in my dreams. I even hear it while I'm awake. But this time, it's real, right? Please tell me this is real."

"Cas," Meka started, but Cas spoke again, silencing her.

"Before you curse me out and hang up on me, please know that I'm sorry and that I miss the fuck out of you, Meka. I... I love you, Meka. I need you to know that."

Meka gasped. Monique and Toya stared at their friend, who looked like she was about to fall apart. And then their friend burst into tears.

"I love you, Cas," Meka cried. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for avoiding you. I was just so scared that you'd do something crazy if anything happened to me. And I know you hate living like this, so I felt so bad for you, but I don't know how to help you," Meka rambled through the tears.

"I'm on my way over there," Cas told her. "Wait for me, love. I'll be there soon. Don't move. Just... stay right where you are."

The line went dead. Meka ended the call on her end and then wiped her eyes. They waited for her to speak. About thirty seconds ticked by with her just sitting there, staring blankly ahead.

"Uh, Meka..." Toya whispered. "Say something."

"He told me not to move. He told me to sit here until he gets here," Meka whispered, staring straight ahead.

Monique's gaze connected with Toya's. Toya started to laugh. Monique shook her head, trying to hold her laughter in.

"I sounded like a fool just now, didn't I?" Meka asked.

"No," Toya replied. "You sounded like a woman in love."

Meka started laughing. "I know I sounded crazy. I don't even know why I said that."

Monique smiled. Love made you do crazy things. Her friend had found love. True love. And Meka's true love was going to help Monique kidnap his brother. Soon, everyone would have their happy ending.

"He's on his way over here," Toya said.

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