The cold bit at my skin, sharp as a blade. Snow crunched beneath my polished shoes as I paced outside the lavish Swiss hotel, my free hand clenched into a fist at my side. I am not going to be surprised if its bone white at the moment because it lacked blood circulation.

"You're not listening," I snapped into my phone, voice low but edged with anger. On the other end, my grandfather remained infuriatingly calm.

"I'm listening just fine. You seem to be the one struggling to accept this arrangement." My jaw tightened. I could picture my grandfather sitting in his grand office, sipping tea, as if he hadn't just shattered my twin sister's autonomy with a few well-placed words. An arranged marriage? In this century? To someone she'd never met? Someone who, apparently, wasn't even given a choice either? Not to mention the man is part of a mafia of sorts. Out of all the people, it had to be someone raised in a hostile environment.

"This isn't happening," I ground out, dragging a hand through my hair. I wonder if my twin already knows about this ridiculous arrangement.

"Oh, it is," my grandfather countered.

"I have not told your sister yet, but for whatever it's worth I suggest you prepare." The call cut off. A gust of wind howled through the streets, whipping at my navy coat. I exhaled sharply, trying to shove down the frustration curling in my chest. I needed air. I needed— A noise. A muffled groan. I turned my head toward the alley beside the establishment. Dim light from a flickering street-lamp barely reached the shadows, but there—slumped against the brick wall, half-covered in fresh snow—was a man.

Bruised.

Bleeding.

Barely conscious.

Something tightened in my stomach. The man's knuckles were raw, split open from a fight. Tattoos covered his neck down his arms, covered beneath a ripped shirt that did little to protect against the Swiss winter. He still looked taller even from a couple of feet away.

What the hell am I looking at?

His breath was uneven, misting in the cold air. And then, despite everything—despite the blood, despite the way he was clearly in no condition to move—he smirked.

"Since when did it become customary to appear half-dead and brooding?," I muttered before I could stop myself. Now I didn't know where my audacity came from to make such a snarky comment but the words already came out of mouth. The stranger let out a rough, breathless chuckle.

"You should see the other guy." A pause. Snow drifted lazily between them. I knew better than to get involved. This is, without a doubt, one of the reasons why people are killed in a thriller movie. But for some reason, as the man's body sagged just slightly against the brick, as his breath grew fainter in the icy air—I found himself shrugging off my coat.

"Here." My voice was quieter now, almost reluctant.

"Take it before you freeze to death." The stranger lifted a brow, amusement flickering in his dark, tired eyes.

"Didn't think pretty boys handed out favors." I sighed but I could feel my blood started to creep to my cheeks. Good thing it was dark outside that and there's no way in hell he saw me turning a little pink.

"They don't." I walked towards him and was about to dial the emergency line when he grabbed my wrist.

"Don't." There was a dark promise in his voice. I looked at him and the other guy who's knocked out, but not dead. The man draped the coat over him, shaking a little against the winter air.

"I don't know what's going on, or why am I helping you in the first place, but you need help. Can you walk?" He chucked and this time, he straightened, towering over me. Looking at him, he's way taller than I anticipated. Looking over his frame, the guy was built like a tank and could snap me like a twig.

"I'm fine." He hissed as he held the side of his abdomen. I raised a brow.

"You're wounded, and by the looks of it, you're bleeding. You need help."

"I said I'm fine." I rolled my eyes.

"Listen, mister, either you come with me to the hospital or I'll call the police." I held my phone to my hand. He flashed me a sinister look and before he could speak, he started tumbling towards me. Exhaustion got the best of him and I had to catch him before he fall. It took all of my strength to catch him, all two hundred fifty pounds of muscle. My arms wrapped around his torso, his head on my shoulder. If someone else sees me right now, I would need one heck of an explanation why there are two grown men passed out with me. I sighed and looked at the Swiss night sky.

And just like that, my night had gotten a whole lot more complicated.