“No.”

Adia rolls her eyes at my defiance, sifting through her closet of clothes.

“Why? It’s just one date,” she grumbles.

“Yeah, just one date with the head of the Italian mafia,” I say, reminding her. The thought that she might have forgotten that tiny little detail crosses my mind. The mere thought of being in the same room as someone as dangerous as that makes my skin crawl, never mind having to sit through an entire dinner with him, which Adia begs me to do.

“So what?” she questions, turning to me with an expression that tells me she doesn’t understand why I’m having such a hard time agreeing to this. “It’s just one date, Havyn. You’ll get to dine with expensive food and wine for free for the first time in your life. And I didn’t want to use this, but... the guy’s really hot.” She squeals at the end of her sentence, her face scrunching up in excitement.

“If he’s so hot, then why aren’t you going on a date with him? Why send me in your place instead?” I question, crossing my arms across my chest.

“You know why,” she insists, glaring down at me from where she stands. “I’ve been told that he’s very inquisitive and smart. The moment I step into that restaurant, my cover will get blown.”

I hate to admit it, but she’s right. Someone like him pays attention to every single detail, every single action, every single word. And when Adia lays her eyes on an attractive woman, it’s over for the both of us. Her father will, well, ground her, only because she’s his daughter, but me? He’ll probably have me shipped off to one of those poor villages where I have to farm vegetables for the rest of my life.

“Havyn,” she whispers, coming forward to grab my hands. “You know how much keeping this secret means to me. If that mafia Don finds out and tells my father, I’ll be locked up in this place for the rest of my life.”

I try not to look into her eyes, especially when I catch a glimpse of those puppy eyes of hers. It’s my weakness, honestly, but only when it comes to her, anyway. I pull my hands out of hers, looking away from her.

“Why don’t you just pretend to be interested in this guy?” I suggest, her eyebrows furrowing at my words. “I mean, think about it. I heard that the heads of the mafias aren’t exactly loyal men, so he can get himself mistresses while you have your own... mistresses, too.”

“You really think it’s possible to hide such a thing from a man like him?” She scoffs, crossing her arms. “You don’t know that man. Nothing goes past him.”

“Well, then, I’m out of ideas!” I exclaim, plopping onto the edge of her bed. She follows, sitting down next to me much more gracefully than I just did.

“Havyn, everything will be solved if you just go on that one date with him,” she insists.

“And what if he wants to proceed with the marriage after that?” I question.

“He won’t,” she says, a certain surety in her voice.

“How do you know that?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at her.

“Look, it’s no secret that he doesn’t want to get married. He’s only agreed to this date because it’s what his father wants,” she says, and I nod against my better judgment. “Besides, I... you aren’t the only woman he’ll be going on a date with.”

“I’m not?” I exclaim in surprise. She shakes her head.

“Nope. He’s going on multiple dates with multiple women to see which one he likes the most,” she explains.

“So basically, the chances of him choosing you... me are slim,” I say, and she nods.

“Exactly.”

That does put me at ease, if I’m honest. But still, I’m not doing it.

“Havyn!” Adia whines, pulling at my arm with her fingers. “Just this once. It’ll be the last time, I promise.”

I close my eyes. “Let’s weigh the pros and cons.”

Cons—He’s dangerous.

He may kill me at the end of the date.

He might, for some odd reason, choose me as his bride.

Pros—Adia will get to keep her secret.

Adia will be happy.

I open my eyes. The cons are more than the pros, but just as I’m about to tell Adia no for the final time, her puppy eyes appear before me, and I find my resolve slipping. She’s doing this on purpose. She knows I can’t say no to her puppy eyes. This sneaky little—

“And? Have you made your decision?” she pipes out, cutting through my train of thought. I sigh in defeat.

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

I barely have a second to grasp what just came out of my own mouth before Adia launches herself at me, wrapping her long arms around my tiny frame and pushing us both down onto the bed.

“You’re the best,” she exclaims, placing kisses all over my face. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” I say, pushing her away. For a single moment, I see a small pout on her lips before it morphs into a wide smile.

“You won’t regret this. I’m forever indebted to you,” she says, placing a hand on her chest.

I try not to roll my eyes at her words. I’m pretty sure I’ll regret saying yes the moment I walk into the date with no chance to run away.

“Just pray that I’m still alive at the end of it,” I mutter, and she laughs in response. Although, I’m not joking.

“You’re worrying for nothing, Havyn. I’m sure it’ll be over before you even get to say the word pray,” she assures, patting my shoulder. I frown at her, shrugging her hand off. She has no idea what she just talked me into. I don’t even know what I just got talked into.