1. Eight months later

Monroe

"Wow."

My mouth dropped open as I watched both of my fiancé's baby mamas waltz through the club doors we'd gathered at for Kashus's birthday. I couldn't believe he'd invited them to his birthday party knowing I would be in attendance. The disrespect Kashus continued to show me made me fume in my seat. This engagement wasn't at all how I expected it to be. Kashus Grant had turned out to be the asshole I'd pegged him to be on day one.

He'd wooed and lured me in with his charm and big dick, only to let me know he had no interest in a monogamous relationship. Our situation was strictly business. There was no love between us. Hell, there wasn't even any respect. I was to be the trophy wife he occasionally fucked and paraded around at business meetings. My last name held more weight in the mafia than his. Our arrangement was nothing more than a move on his chessboard to running his family business. I knew that in the beginning, but I had hoped that this thing would be different. I needed it to be different.

Rolling my eyes, I smoothed down my bust down middle part wig. Drea and Whitney were not about to catch me slipping.

"You invited them?"

My eyes traveled from the entrance to Kashus, who was sitting next to me on the couch. His eyes told me he heard me, but the way he inhaled and exhaled his blunt without responding said he didn't. My extra-long nails tapped anxiously on my exposed thigh as Drea and Whitney strutted their half-naked asses into our VIP area.

Drea and Whitney were beautiful. They were both Dominican with small petite frames and perfect bodies. I watched as they switched up the stairs and through the crowd of people who had gathered to celebrate Kash. The closer they got, the more I shook my head. These broads were the only grown-ass women I knew who wore matching outfits. I guess if you were okay with sharing dick, then what was a few pairs of clothes. I gazed over them, trying not to share my disdain, but I knew it was written all over my face. Many of the guests were close enough to Kash to know his baby mamas and I didn't get along. They hated me for being his fiancée, and I didn't care for them because they were still sleeping with him. It was a stupid and childish feud that I wanted so badly to break free from, but I couldn't.

"Happy birthday, baby daddy!" They sang in unison as they mounted both sides of his lap. I knew they didn't give a fuck that I was beside him. They would take any opportunity they had to make me look like a fool. My eyes zeroed in on Kashus. I watched him wrap his arms around them briefly before his eyes met mine. Arranged marriage or not, he knew he'd better respect me in public. Quickly, he sat up, pushing them off his lap.

"Chill, respect my fiancée in public," he mumbled as he stood from the couch.

"You weren't saying that last night, papi." Drea rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, last night it was fuck her, now it's respect her. You're confusing me." Whitney waved her arms at me.

I wasn't about to let them see me sweat. They weren't worth me looking bothered in front of all these people. Slyly, I met them with a smirk as I lifted my drink to my mouth. Call it petty, but I made sure they got a good glimpse of my five-hundred-thousand-dollar ring. I could see Drea's blood boiling as I sipped my drink and watched Kashus move toward them.

"I told you about disrespecting my fiancée. This ain't the place." His voice was just loud enough for people closest to him to hear. Whitney scoffed as she pushed past Kash to sit down next to me.

"Nah, not here." Kashus stopped her. "I'ma show them to their section. I'll be right back." He leaned down and placed a kiss on my cheek. Sometimes, I couldn't tell if things like that were for show or if he meant them.

"Okay."

I nodded my head. At least he had enough sense to get them their own section. We were all sharing dick, but I didn't want people to think we were a quadruple or something. My eyes stayed on Kashus as he escorted them out of the section and across the club. His hand was on the small of their backs. The physical touch bothered me, but making a scene about it was useless. Nothing was changing about Kashus's relationship with me. I couldn't leave, and he knew it. Leaving this arrangement would mean exile from my family, no mafia funds, no protection, and maybe even death. Most importantly, it would mean that I failed.

I couldn't fail at the only task I'd been given. I was better off staying put. This was the life I'd been born into. The life I'd been very strategically raised for. I knew what to expect. All husbands had side pieces, even my father. I was lucky that Kash did his dirt outside of the house. Tessa had told me horror stories of husbands who had moved their mistresses into the home. My father had several mistresses. This was how things worked. My phone vibrating against my thigh caused me to look down.

Kash: About to handle some business. Be back in a minute.

As I read his message, my eyebrows knitted together. What business did he have to attend to on his birthday? Glancing around the club, I searched for him in the crowd, but he was nowhere to be found… Neither were Drea and Whitney. I would be lying if I said I wasn't upset. I was fuming. I wasn't stupid. My fiancé had just ditched me for his baby mamas.

Taking a deep breath, I took another sip of my drink and checked the time on my phone. It was ten o'clock on the dot. Kashus had thirty minutes to return before I had our driver pull around and take me home. There was no point in me staying if he wouldn't be here. I had a flight to catch to Miami in the morning. In two days, I was getting my body done at the request of my fiancé.

Sighing, I picked up my drink and finished it off before grabbing the bottle on the table and taking it to the head. I didn't drink often, but something about tonight said I needed to release.

"Easy there, beautiful." A deep baritone gained my attention. My eyes traveled to the right of me as I swallowed a big gulp of liquor. It was dark, and his midnight skin complexion blended into the ambiance. I wasn"t sure if I had seen him before. Everyone here knew Kashus in some form or fashion, so it was possible. I narrowed my gaze, trying to make out which one of Kashus's friends had the guts to speak to me, let alone call me beautiful. Kashus could have as many women as he wanted, but if a man looked at me, he would act like an ass.

I stared at the stranger hard, but it was no use. His dark shades and perfectly trimmed beard shielded his identity. I could see that he was gorgeous just by how his designer shirt hugged his broad shoulders. Even with shades, I could feel his eyes on me. When he let his tongue swipe over his juicy lips, I choked, causing a few dribbles of liquor to cascade down my chin.

"Oh my." I fumbled with the bottle, brought it down to the table, and searched for a napkin to clean myself up.

"Slow down, ma. Let me help you." The stranger moved to me with a napkin in hand. He patted my chin dry. His gaze on me never wavered. Now that he was closer, the familiarity of his face puzzled me. He looked so familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint exactly who he was. It was bothering me. `

"A beautiful woman like yourself shouldn't be drinking out the bottle." He spoke low but loud enough for me to hear him over the music.

I scoffed. Good thing I didn't ask you then, I thought. I didn't need another man telling me what was unladylike for me to do. I'd heard it all before.

"Good thing I didn't a—"

"Here, let me pour it for you. Like I said, you shouldn't be drinking out the bottle alone." Before I could process what was going on, he was standing over me with the bottle of tequila.

"Lean your head back." My eyes traveled the length of him. He was taller than Kashus, and his presence was massive. My body was reacting to him, and I felt guilty about it. This interaction had already gone too far. It was dangerous for both of us.

As I stared at the familiar stranger, I didn't care about any risks. I tipped my head back, throwing caution to the wind, allowing my hair to swing down my back. My mouth opened, and I glared at the fine man before me.

"Wider, beautiful. Stick out that tongue."

Something about his words sent tingles through my body. Tingles that had me spreading my mouth wide and sticking out my tongue.

"There you go. Take that shit!" He coached me as he continued to pour the liquor down my throat. His voice was low, and my senses were heightened. Everything about this moment was turning me on. My nipples were peeking through the little black dress I had on as the liquor sailed down my throat.

"Nah, Ro, not her!"

An unknown male's voice pierced my ears, causing me to tilt my head up.

"That is Kash's fiancée, nigga." My eyes bounced between the two beautiful strangers and then to everyone in our section. All eyes were on me, and I knew then that I had fucked up. Fear overtook me as I looked around the club, frantically searching for Kash. He was still missing in action, but I knew this incident was bound to get back to him. I was sure the strange man was about to book it out of there, but I was completely caught off guard when he closed the space between us.

"Stay, beautiful, and no more liquor for you tonight," he whispered in my ear. Briskly, he tucked the bottle under his arm and headed out of the section with his friend. He'd spoken to me even after he knew who I was. His boldness was sexy. I watched him until he disappeared out of the club, hoping that he would be safe. I didn't know him, but he'd helped to take my mind off Kashus and his baby mamas, if only momentarily. Gazing at my phone, I took one more glance at the time. Kashus's time was up. Standing from the couch, I moved to my personal security detail.

"I'm ready to go, Rah." I informed him. Rah had been my security detail since I'd moved to Bristol City. He was related to Kashus on his mother's side. Rah used to be Kashus's right-hand man, but they'd demoted him to my security because he was gay. He didn't really say much to me but he wasn't an asshole either. His loyalty was to his family, and I understood that.

"I'll have the car come around." He nodded as he extended his arm for me to latch onto. As we headed out of the club, I finally spotted Kash. I froze momentarily as what I was witnessing registered in my head. My fiancé was leaving the bathroom with Drea and Whitney. All three of them had freshly fucked looks across their faces. To know something was happening was one thing, but to witness it was another. My heart pounded in my chest, and my feet couldn't move.

"Are you ready, Monroe?" Rah asked breaking my gaze on Kashus. He attempted to move us toward the exit, but I wouldn't move. I wanted him to see me. This man had just ditched me to fuck his baby mamas in a club bathroom. As if on cue, Kashus's eyes found mine. There was no look of regret on his face. I could start a scene, but it would only end in me looking stupid in public. Taking a deep breath, I turned to Rah.

"I'm ready. Let's go."

Rah nodded as he walked me out of the club. The fresh, cold air hit my face, alerting me of the tears falling from my eyes. Looking around, I saw the handsome stranger from the club as he climbed into the back of a black SUV. Immediately, thoughts of the stranger flooded my mind. I wanted to know who he was, but I didn't have enough guts to stop and ask him. It was no use. I was arranged to be married to Kashus. It was my fate, and nothing would change about that.