The Deal
The first rule of the Romano family?
Never trust a Marino.
Mia Romano learned that before she learned how to drive.
So when she walked into the gala and saw Zack Marino standing near the staircase. Black suit, sharp jawline, acting like he owned the world. She knew tonight was going to be a problem.
He looked up.
Their eyes locked.
And instead of looking away… he smirked.
“Relax, princess,” Zack said as she passed him. “Im not here to start a war.”
“You breathing starts a war,” Mia shot back.
Tension snapped between them like a pulled wire.
The Romano and Marino families hand been rivals for years. Deals gone wrong. Lies. Blood. Nobody talked about it openly, but everyone knew.
So when Zack leaned closer and lowered his voice, Mia felt her heart betray her by speeding up.
“I need your help.”
She laughed once. Cold. “You’re insane.”
“Fake date me,” he said.
Silence.
The music swelled in the ballroom, people laughed. Glasses clinked.
Mia stared at him. “You’ve officially lost your mind.”
“My father thinks im getting to independent,” Zack said quietly. “If im ‘in love’ with a Romano, he’ll back off. It’ll force a temporary truce,”
“And what do i get out of it?”
His eyes darkened.
“Protection.”
That made her pause.
Because earlier that week, someone had followed her home.
Only three people knew.
“How do you know i need protection?” She asked slowly.
Zack didnt answer.
Instead, he reached for her hand.
And Mia against every warning in her head. Let him.
