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Cover Design: By Hang Le
Cover photo: Wander Aguiar
Prologue
~Annika~
Rafe Martinelli. Also known as the love of my life. The man of my dreams. My one and only. I know, I’m only twenty, and my cousin Nadia would tell me that it’s completely ridiculous to think that I could meet my soul mate in college when I should be out sowing my wild oats—whatever in the world that means.
I love Nadia. She’s my closest friend, as well as my cousin, and she’s one of a very select few who knows what it’s like to live in this crazy family of ours. My roommate, Ivie, knows.
And Rafe.
Because while my uncle is the boss of one of the most prominent crime families in the country, Rafe’s father is the boss of the biggest family on the west coast.
And our families don’t like each other.
Which means that everything Rafe and I are to each other, everything we’ve done, and what we’re about to do tonight is a secret.
Because if our families found out, we’d be in big trouble.
“Class dismissed.”
I sigh in relief when my biology professor gives us the okay to leave. I gather my books and papers and rush out of the lab toward my car.
Ivie and I live in an apartment just on the edge of campus. My uncle is kind enough to pay for it. Lord knows, neither Ivie nor I could pay for it ourselves.
I know I’m a lucky girl.
My date with Rafe is in an hour. Which means, I have to take a shower and get ready to go fast because Rafe is never late.
It’s just one of the million reasons I love him so much.
“Hi, friend,” I announce as I rush past Ivie to my bedroom. “Can’t talk. Gotta hurry.”
“I’ll follow you,” she says and leans her shoulder against the door of my bedroom as I strip naked and make a beeline for the bathroom. “What lit a fire under your butt?”
“Date.”
“With Rafe?”
“It’d better be with Rafe. He’d be pretty mad if it was with someone else.”
Ivie smirks as I start the shower and throw my hair up under a shower cap. She’s the only one who knows about Rafe and me. I had to tell her. She lives here, and I spend a lot of time with him.
“Tonight’s the night,” I inform her.
“Of what? Is there a new movie out?”
“No, it’s the night.”
She flings the shower curtain back and stares at me with wide, blue eyes. “You’re going to do it?”
“Yep.” I smile and shave one armpit. “I’ve been on the pill for a month, so we’re covered there. I mean, we’ve literally done everything else. It’s borderline torture. I’m so ready. He does things to me that I didn’t even know were possible. The way I feel when he looks at me, let alone what happens to my skin, to my stomach when he touches me... I’m telling you, Ivie, it’s incredible.”
“I’m totally jealous.” She pulls the curtain shut again, but I can hear her organizing things on the countertop. “Also, you’re stupidly hot together. Like, you could be a celebrity couple, you’re so pretty. It’s like Brangelina.”
I lather up one leg but pull the curtain aside so I can grin at my best friend. “You’re so sweet. Thank you.”
“I think you should tell your parents.”
“No.” I get to work shaving and shake my head, even though she can’t see me. “No way. Uncle Igor would throw a fit, and I’d be in big