DON'S POVI wasn't going to allow the threat of someone coming after me to dictate my life, especially since the threats came out of nowhere and started after me without warning. This time, however, the threats weren't from a gang but from people who hated me. They knew my identity, which meant that they knew about the Mafia. That meant they had been following me. Someone had gotten suspicious of my presence somewhere and tried to shoot at me. Whoever it was, it could have been one of my rivals for control of the organization; Maybe the same group who had tried to kill me several times already? Whoever these people were, they knew something. Something big. Which meant that this entire thing was bigger than my enemies had led on to believe. And they'd come after me sooner rather than later. But, what exactly was going on? There must have been more to it than they've told me.As my thoughts went through my head, I began to realize something else: It didn't matter how many precautions
BENTLEY'S POVI sighed in frustration as I continued listening to the man sitting across me talk about himself. I had agreed to attending a blind date after so much pressure from my family.I wasn’t really that good with people - especially those who weren't interested in me for any other reason than because of my looks or my money - but my parents had insisted that it was necessary for me to take some social classes.So here I am going on a date with a total stranger and not knowing what to talk about or even think about him. They insisted that it was a great opportunity to meet and maybe even get married and have children together. They didn't want another divorce on their hands. So here I was trying to make conversation. I was having such a hard time getting through his monologues that I barely even noticed the waiter setting down two cups of coffee next to us. The guy just kept talking. He never noticed when we finished our drinks. The waiter came up with our appetizers until
BENTLEY'S POVI stared down at the table while pretending to read the menu to keep my mind off of everything else. I couldn't stand this guy anymore, I couldn't even sit still long enough to finish my meal. My legs were bouncing uncontrollably underneath the table and I felt like throwing up every five minutes.This whole situation made me sick to my stomach - being stuck inside a restaurant with this complete and utter loser was not what I wanted.“What do you do for fun, Bentley?” the man said while taking a sip of his now cold drink. I looked up from my menu to see him gazing at me intensely.I tried desperately to find something interesting to say, but the words were stuck in my throat. What did one say when they were forced to listen to a complete stranger ramble about himself for hours? Did this guy even realize that I was only trying to enjoy my lunch?I decided to humor him. “I don't work or play sports or exercise as much as you seem to think I should.” I lied.“Well you can
BENTLEY'S POV"Sorry about that. I'm sorry," the guy said as he attempted to hide his laughter.No, you're not sorry. You're enjoying yourself immensely, I thought bitterly."You've got to be kidding me..." I mumbled angrily under my breath. What was happening to me?He leaned back in his chair, "So... what do you think of it?" He pointed to the place that I had already been looking at twice in less than ten minutes.My heart sank. I didn't even know what he was talking about. "Um... the restaurant?" I suggested awkwardly. Why was it always restaurants?"Of course not sugar, I'm talking about us making things official." He said, pointing to himself as he raised an eyebrow.I shook my head quickly before responding, "We can't do that." I whispered. What on earth was wrong with me today? I couldn't believe I actually agreed to spend the rest of the day with this asshole who kept calling me sugar, but now he was insisting that we should get married? It was impossible.Even more impossib
MAX'S POVThe moment I saw Bentley walk into the restaurant, I felt my heart skipped a beat. She looked stunning and she was unaware that I was there and that I had been secretly trailing her on this blind date my mom had mentioned offhandedly a few days ago. I had not been able to resist; I had to see for myself who she was meeting. Was it wrong? Maybe. But love makes one do crazy things.From my hidden vantage point, I watched her sit down, her voice ringing across the room, making me fall even more in love with her. But as the date progressed, I could see the tension building. Her date was turning aggressive and my heart pounded harder with every harsh word he threw at her."You know what? Never mind -" I heard Bentley say, her voice was a mix of frustration and defiance. She stood up and was obviously ready to leave, but her date wasn't having it."Where do you think you are going to go?" His voice oozed with arrogance. I clenched my fists, feeling a rush of protectiveness."Let g
MAX'S POV"This is brutal, he's going to kill him!"Despite the blood and the bruises decorating my face, I found the strength to push him off. I stumbled to my feet, my legs shaky, my face telling a tale of determination mixed with a healthy dose of "What the heck am I doing?" "Enough of this," I wheezed, barely able to get the words out.But my assailant, driven by some relentless fury, came at me again. This time, though, I was slightly more prepared. I sidestepped and grabbed a chair, wielding it like the world's most pathetic knight. We circled each other, breathing hard, the onlookers too shocked to do anything but stare."You're crazy, man! Just back off!" I tried to reason with him, hoping to find a sliver of sanity left in there somewhere.With a roar that would make a lion proud, he charged. But fueled by a mix of adrenaline, fear, and a desperate need not to look like a total idiot in front of Bentley, I swung the chair with everything I had. It connected, and for a moment,
MAX'S POV"Come on, Max..." she whispered tenderly, "I'll drive you to the hospital."I climbed into the front seat, waiting patiently for her to buckle her seatbelt before starting up the engine. When she finally turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking space, I was curious about why she had agreed to a blind date that had been arranged by her family, especially since she was infamous for being the strong-headed one who hated arranged marriages."So, why did your family arrange a blind date for you?" I asked, hoping to spark a conversation in hopes it would give me an answer to some of the questions bouncing around in my head."My sister is a lawyer, and my dad wanted me to meet someone. I think it was supposed to be some sort of business plan if everything went well between me and the guy." Bentley replied to me without taking her eyes off the road. For a split second, there was something about her expression that hinted at sadness, though I couldn't quite make
BENTLEY'S POV"Come on, Max..." I whispered tenderly, "I'll drive you to the hospital."I watched him climb into the front seat, making sure to wait patiently for him to buckle his seatbelt before I started up the engine. When I finally turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking space, I could sense his curiosity. He must have been wondering why I, known for my strong-headed independence and aversion to arranged marriages, had agreed to a blind date set up by my family."So, why did your family arrange a blind date for you?" he asked, clearly trying to start a conversation, perhaps looking for answers to the questions swirling in his own mind."My sister is a lawyer, and my dad wanted me to meet someone. I think it was supposed to be some sort of business plan if everything went well between me and the guy," I replied, keeping my focus on the road ahead.For a brief moment, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me, but I struggled to find the right words to express it.