Page 92 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

"It's our team, right? No freelancers?" Raz asked, already knowing the answer but needing to ask anyway.

"Yes. It's Cattaneo Concrete Solutions pouring the concrete and setting it up."

"Good."

Julian and Giuliano managed Cattaneo Concrete Solutions. He trusted them to only hire personnel who were loyal to the organization. They had everything set up already. And the star of the show was in position.

The rain had calmed to a light drizzle. The smell of damp earth filled his nostrils. The hum of the concrete truck's engine filled the night. Orazio stared down at Tatum, who was bound in plastic and lying prone at the center of the foundation. Only Tatum's mouth was free, a small mercy that wouldn't last long.

"I'm surprised he isn't talking," Orazio remarked, gaze moving to the concrete truck, whose driver was expertly maneuvering the vehicle into position. The floodlights castshadows on the surrounding trees, adding an eerie vibe to what was already a crime scene.

"He's not talking because he's unconscious," Giuliano told Raz. "He should be waking up soon."

As if on cue, Tatum began stirring as soon as the concrete began to pour from the chute, flowing like thick gray molasses around Tatum's body. Raz's gaze rose to those standing on the other side of the foundation, landing on the two men in wheelchairs. One was his father. The other was his uncle.

Both looked like they'd aged a great deal since the last time he'd seen them. His father had his eyes closed. His uncle was staring down at Tatum. Raz's gaze roamed over his uncle, who was now missing an arm and a foot.

He was being tortured on a daily basis. Such was the punishment of those who betrayed the family. They wouldn't let him die for a very long time. His uncle's gaze rose and met with Raz's.

His uncle looked defeated and tired. A sliver of guilt threaded through Raz's veins. He shoved it aside. His uncle didn't deserve his guilt. For what he'd done to the family, especially to Bryce, he deserved what was happening to him.

"Help," Tatum cried out suddenly, snapping Orazio's attention back to the grim scene unfolding before them. The doomed man squirmed as concrete rose around him, slowly encasing him in a grisly tomb. "Help! Please! I'm sorry," he sobbed, desperation seeping through every word. "I'm so sorry!"

Raz glanced over at Cas, whose eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction as he watched the concrete slowly envelop their enemy.

"Help," Tatum yelled again, squirming as concrete surrounded him. "Please. I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry," the man sobbed.

Sorry didn't do it, son of a bitch. You did.Raz glanced at Cas again and found his brother smiling as he watched the concrete slowly inch higher and higher. Tatum continued begging for his life, calling out to Cas for mercy.

"I'm sorry, Caspari," Tatum wailed. "I was wrong. I'll make it up to you. Just give me a chance."

The concrete rose higher, covering Tatum's arms and legs.

"Fuck you, Cattaneos," Tatum yelled, voice trembling as he realized he would be shown no mercy. "Fuck you all! I hope you all rot in hell!"

The concrete had now reached the side of Tatum's face. Soon, the man's cries became muffled until, finally, he was unable to make a sound and was no longer squirming. It was over. Tatum was dead.

"Rest in hell, bitch," Cas mumbled.

Orazio watched on as their crew smoothed out the surface of the concrete, forever entombing their enemy in a cold, stiff grave. Now that the show was over, Raz felt as if he should say a few words to his family and members of the Cattaneo organization.

"The new parking garage will be built on this foundation," Raz announced. "Soon, four levels of parking spaces will be on this spot. Forever, Tatum's weak ass will be living under us, under our rule, under our success, under our feet. He'll never be reunited with his family, not even in death."

Those gathered nodded as Raz continued.

"This is what we will do to all of our enemies," Raz informed them. "We will show them and everyone else that our family isn't weak. Never has been and never will be. Together, we'll continue to grow and prosper. And if anyone in this family decides to betray us..." Orazio's gaze met his uncle's. "We'll tear them apart, piece by piece," Raz growled. "No one can stop us. No one candefeat us. We are the Cattaneos. Everyone else is either our allies or our prey."

After he finished his speech, his family and crew cheered. It was now time to let the crew finish setting up the foundation. The concrete would take about two hours to harden. Raz had no intention of sticking around until that happened.

Thankfully, Julian and Bryceson volunteered to remain behind until the concrete was set. Raz turned to leave, but not before overhearing Cas tell Leo that he needed to talk to him about something tomorrow. Raz glanced at Leo, Cas, and Rome.

"What are you three up to?" Raz asked, feeling uneasy.

"I'll be heading back to Italy soon," Rome told him. "I need Leo's help with a few things before I fly out."

"Like what?" Raz asked.

"Like things that don't pertain to the don," Rome told him.

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