Imagine a notorious crime family's second-in-command finding unexpected common ground with an energetic elementary school teacher. It might sound absurd, but their union becomes a practical arrangement. Lionel Tyson, facing a gambling debt, makes a surprising offer, and Austin Hawthorne, needing help with household chores and childcare, reluctantly accepts a deal he shouldn't. Marybeth Tyson discovers her father's dark dealings, including being pawned off to a mafia boss. Confronted with familial obligations and a nagging sense of guilt, she reluctantly agrees to a one-year masquerade of love with Austin, despite her instincts urging her to flee. At first, it's all light-hearted role-playing, but soon, emotions become genuine, and a shocking revelation from Austin's past threatens to tear apart their nascent relationship. Betrayal from trusted friends and family, particularly his brother Blake and friend Andrei Ivanov, fuels Austin's relentless pursuit of the truth. He'll do whatever it takes, even if it means damaging old alliances and his connection to a powerful organization, to expose the truth and seek justice. Copyright © 2022 Val Sims. All rights reserved; reproduction or distribution without the author's express consent is strictly prohibited.
