Forced. That’s what marrying Rafe Cameron felt like—forced, like a knot pulled too tight. He wasn’t even someone you knew, just a familiar face in the crowd, in the danger.

Your dads were in the mafia, and they needed to somehow come together, so they took the idea of taking you, and him, and forcing you two together. It was horrible, just the idea of it, you two were like oil and water—you guys didn’t mix, and never will.

“I’m so fed up with this shit.”You grumble, crossing your arms together, the coldness of the so called ‘ring’ pressing into your arm. A laugh followed your words, one that made your blood boil.

“You’re over here acting like I want this. We both don’t, it’s our stupid-ass fathers who set this up.” Rafe jabs, shifting in his seat. You two were in a restaurant, on what only the devil would call a date, you both detested the idea of being together, yet here you were.

“I never said that.” You mumble back, pulling the ring on and off your finger, a wave of regret washing over you. “Stop doing that.” Rafe says—no, orders you to do. “Why?” You ask, looking up at him with a raised brow, the ring glinting from the midday sun.

“Because,” He begins, wrapping his hand around yours from across the table. The touch was warm as his fingers found yours, the coolness from the ring dissolving. “We’re in this together. And as much as I don’t want to be with you, we at least have to make it look real.” He says, his voice providing an odd comfort to your mind. You sigh loudly, your expression softening.

The way he was speaking to you was different than he’d ever spoken before, it was gentle. It almost made you forget about the pressure that was on your back, it was nice—for once. But then a thought popped in your head, a loud one, one that wasn’t going away soon.

Shit. Are you actually falling for Rafe Cameron?