Ruthless Love

My father chose my husband.
Fate chose my neighbor.
Guess which one looks better in gray sweats.

I’m engaged to a man I don’t love.

That part isn’t negotiable.

He’s powerful. Obsessive. The kind of man who doesn’t hear the word no.

Some people call him influential.

The technical term?

Russian mob.

My father calls him a good match.

Of course he does. He arranged it.

The only silver lining to this dumpster fire in the making?

The man across the street.

Tattoos. Bare skin. A slow, devastating smile.

And low-hanging gray sweats he drags on in front of an open window.

He’s become my distraction.

My favorite bad habit…

Stalking thy neighbor.

I never imagined Mr. Gray Sweats knew I existed.

But when my carefully controlled world starts collapsing around me,

He steps in.

Now I have a decision to make.

Stay safe.
Stay obedient.
Stay trapped.

Or risk everything…

For the man who’s been watching my back all along.