I put on my suit and headed down the stairs unhappily. I was supposed to be going on a date today. A date with the girl from the other family. I was driven by my bodyguard with my dad to a small cafe. I stared out the window, wishing to be anywhere but here.

"You need to think of what's best for the business, Paco," my dad said. "And marrying this girl can do wonders."

I ignored him as we got to the place but refused to get out.

"Paco, don't make a scene now," he said.

I could see the other family, there was a girl there with dark hair who looked nervous as she stood there dressed in a pink dress.

"Paco, get out," my dad said.

I didn't say anything. My dad got out of the car and went around to my side, opening the door. He grabbed me by my jacket and dragged me out, making me fall on the ground. I laid on the concrete, crossing my arms defiantly.

"I swear to God, Paco," my dad muttered.

He grabbed me and pulled me up to my feet.

"You better watch yourself," he warned.

The other family walked over and I looked at the girl.

"Hi, I'm Jamia," she said.

I didn't say anything and my dad sighed.

"I swear to god, Frank, I will make your life hell," he said.

"Frank," I finally said. "I'm Frank."

We went inside and Jamia and I were made to sit at a table in the corner by ourselves while our guards and fathers sat on the other side of the small room. The air was heavy between us, neither of us knew what to say. I was practically on the verge of tears. I wanted to run away from here, to go to Gerard and stay with him forever.

"So," she muttered.

I looked over, noticing the way she was watching me.

"You're unhappy," she said.

"You're not?" I asked.

"I am not totally against an arranged marriage," she said.

"Well, no offense but I am," I said.

I looked at my phone, hoping that Gerard had texted but I knew that he was in class.

"Why are you against it?" She asked.

"Because I want free will," I said.

"It isn't a forced marriage, just arranged, there's a difference," Jamia said.

"Yeah, well, for you it might not be forced but for me it is," I said.

"Oh," she mumbled.

The waitress gave us coffee and a slice of cake to share. It must have been one of our fathers to order for us.

"You know, this blows," I said. "I'm sneaking out."

"How do you plan on doing that?" She asked.

"I don't know," I said. "I'm already dating someone, my dad just doesn't know about it."

"Why don't you just tell him?" She asked.

"Because he is very strict and I'm scared he won't let me see my partner after I tell him," I said.

"So, you're basically just being forced to be here and talk to me then?" She asked and I nodded. "Wow, you sure know how to make a girl feel special."

"Sorry," I said.

My phone buzzed and I looked to see a text from Gerard.

Gerard: Just got out of class, bunny. What are you up to? X

I hadn't told him about the date, I didn't know how to explain the arranged marriage to him without revealing all the family secrets.

Frank: Just missing you

Gerard: Can I see you tonight?

I bit my lip and looked at my dad.

Frank: I'll be there

I put my phone in my pocket, staring at the chocolate cake between us. It was mostly silent between us until we left. I went upstairs to my room, slamming my door. I grabbed my laptop and FaceTimed Gerard.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Gerard asked.

"Just my dad being sucky," I said.

"What happened?" He asked.

I bit my lip before sighing. "Nothing, it doesn't matter."

"No, Bunny, tell me what's wrong, what happened?" He asked.

Tears were threatening to spill as I looked away.

"My life is over," I whispered.

"Why do you say that?" He asked.

"I don't know if we can ever be together," I said.

"Why? Bunny, don't say that," he said.

I cried, wiping my eyes.

"My dad has my whole life planned out for me with the business," I said.

"What does that have to do with us as a couple?" He asked.

I shook my head. "I want to tell you so badly but I can't."

"Why not?" He asked.

"Because I don't want you to get hurt," I said.

"Why would I get hurt?" He asked.

"Maybe I should just make this easier," I said. "Maybe we should just stop seeing each other before I get too attached."

"Bunny," Gerard sighed. "I'm not just going to give you up."

"I don't want you getting hurt," I said. "My mom was right, sometimes we need to make sacrifices in our lives for the people we care about most."

I hung up and pushed away my laptop. I cleaned myself up and fixed my tie before going downstairs to my dad's office. I sat across from him, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.

"When can I see Jamia again?" I asked.

"Good to see you stepping up and taking responsibility," he said.

My dad reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a little velvet box, setting it down. I reached out with a shaky hand and picked it up, seeing a diamond ring inside.

"It would be ideal for you to propose to Jamia within the next three months," he said.

I nodded, putting the ring in my pocket.

"And then that would put the wedding at approximately a year from now and then you'll be having your first child when you're about twenty/twenty-one years old," he said. "Right on track."

I nodded and left the room, ignoring my buzzing phone in my pocket. My mom was in the hallway, her face sullen.

"I thought you were gonna help me, Mama," I whispered.

"You know how your father is, he's difficult to talk to," she said. "I'm trying."

"It's too late," I said. "I broke up with Gerard and I'm going to propose to Jamia."

I walked away before she could say anything. I went to my room where the sun was starting to set. I set the ring box onto my dresser and sat down at the end of the bed. I turned my phone off, crying as I buried my face in my hands.

I had to do what was best. And if that meant breaking up with Gerard to keep him safe then so be it. I hate this life, why should I drag him into it too? Jamia seems nice enough, we could always settle down together and have some kids.

How am I supposed to have kids with her? I am gay as hell, I don't know if I could even get hard with her. I laid back on the bed when I heard something crunch outside my window on the roof. I got up and looked over, opening the window. Gerard's head popped up and I gasped, jumping back and knocking over a lamp.

"Gerard, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I had to see you," he said. "Please, Bunny, don't leave me."

I sniffled, looking down. He stepped closer, gently wrapping a hand around my throat.

"On your knees," he ordered.

I looked up into his hazel eyes before slowly dropping down onto my knees.

"Good bunny," he muttered. "Where's your collar?"

"Nightstand," I said.

Gerard hummed, reaching into his backpack and pulling out a roll of duct tape. He bound my ankles together and my hands behind my back before going to the dresser. My heart spiked in fear as I looked at the ring box. Gerard didn't seem to notice, however, as he grabbed a rolled up ball of socks from my top dresser drawer. Gerard strolled back over, squatting down in front of me.

"Open," he ordered.

I opened my mouth and he put the socks in my mouth before covering it with duct tape and standing up straight.

"Good bunny," he praised, running his fingers through my hair.

I looked up at him, a feeling of calmness inside of me. I needed this. I craved this. He went to my nightstand and began rummaging through it, looking for my collar.

The door burst open and my dad and some guards were there with their guns drawn. They saw me on the ground tied and gagged before turning to Gerard.

"Get in the ground, get on the fucking ground!" My dad screamed.

Gerard dropped my collar, his eyes wide. Someone grabbed him and dragged him to the center of the room. My dad stepped forward, his fist connecting with Gerard's face. My yells were muffled as I fought against my restraints.

"Who do you work for?" My dad asked, kicking him in the stomach.

Gerard gasped, shaking his head as he cried. My mom rushed in to my side.

"Baby, oh my baby," she muttered.

She took off the duct tape on my mouth and I spat out the socks.

"Stop!" I screamed. "Don't hurt him!"

They turned to look at me as I cried.

"Untie me," I said.

One of the guards came over and used a knife to unbound me. I hurried over to Gerard's side, holding him in my arms.

"Don't hurt him," I cried. "He's my boyfriend."

Gerard sobbed, clinging onto me as his nose and lip bled. Nobody said anything as they stared.

"I'm taking him home," I said.

Gerard was shaking as I helped him downstairs to his car.

"Wh-what?" He finally asked as I drove.

"I think you deserve an explanation," I said. "M-my family is a mafia family, to put it shortly."

Gerard didn't say anything as I got to his apartment. We got out and I went to help him up the stairs but he pushed me away.

"I'm sorry, I thought it would be better keeping you away from everything, I didn't want you getting hurt," I said.

"I-I think I need some time to myself right now," Gerard said.

I nodded, tears running down my cheeks. I watched him walk up the stairs to his apartment, leaving me down here alone.