The Arrangement 12 (The Ferro Family) (2 page)

Gabe swallows so hard that I can hear it from the back seat. The man actually turns his head to look at me. “She crushed the black stone?” After our eyes lock, both wide with worry, I nod once. “Holy fuck.”

Gabe whips his head back around and accelerates, bobbing and weaving through traffic like his ass is on fire. He grumbles things to himself,
but he doesn’t turn back toward Black’s. Instead, he keeps his word and drives me to the strip club on Long Island where I’m supposed to meet Sean later.

I slump back into the seat and think of the ramifications of the broken bead and why Gabe didn’t know it was crushed. When I crushed the stone, he was there, smashing through the door and then pro
mptly pummeling Henry Thomas into the floor. My heart starts to race again. I never thought of having a faulty transmitter in my bracelet. Is that what happened to Mel? My God. I can’t imagine what would have happened if I crushed the stone and Gabe didn’t show up the night Henry went nuts. The thought sends a shiver down my spine and for once I keep my face expressionless as my mind drifts through the consequences.

If Gabe
didn’t show up and I was on my own, what would I do? The thought never occurred to me. I had this sense of security, that if anything went screwy all I had to do was crush that stone and help would arrive. It never felt like I was on my own, left to my own devices to defend myself, but it seems like that’s exactly what happened to Mel.

What would Mel do if help didn’
t come? She held her own on the streets long before I ever met her. The attitude she projects says
don’t screw with me
, so I can’t imagine who would—or why. It makes no sense. When Sean and I left, Mel was ordering a buffet from the room service menu. How’d she go from pigging out to fleeing, leaving behind a dead body on the floor?

I see the lifeless curled fingers poking out from under the sheet in my mind. I remember the massive amount of blood that soaked into the carpet around her. What
happened? Better yet, who was she? Why was she there and who killed her?

‘
Fuck’ is the right expression. We’re all screwed if this gets traced back to Black. I glance up at Gabe and try to keep my thoughts off my face. “Why didn’t her transmitter work?”

Gabe’s jaw is locked tight as he shifts his lower jaw from side to side. He’s livid, but I’m not certain of the reason. It could be fear of exposure or something worse. G
od, what could be worse? He lets out a huff of air and inhales again before looking in the mirror at me. “No clue.” That’s all he says before locking his jaw again.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as he looks away. It’s an
ominous feeling and I know he’s lying to me. There’s more going on than I’m aware of, a lot more.

We exit the expressway and drive down some side streets until we stop in front of a shack. Okay, calling the strip club a shack is kind. It’s just scary looking, complete with
a neglected façade and a decaying parking lot that’s turning to dust.

Gabe’s expression changes into a look of concern. “You sure this is where Mr. Ferro wanted you to go?”

I nod, gaping at the building with the same dumbfounded expression. “Yes.”

“It looks like the place is closed.”

Yeah, it does. There are only a few cars in the parking lot and the sign on the door is flipped to CLOSED. What the hell is Sean thinking? There’s only one way to find out. I move before Gabe snaps out of it, and open my door. My heels hit the gravel and I nearly twist my ankle, but I recover and straighten.

Gabe rushes toward me, and closes my door. We both stand there, shoulder to shoulder, and stare at the old building. “I think I should walk you inside.”

I think that he should, too. Honestly, the place creeps the crackers out of me, but Sean wouldn’t have sent me here if it wasn’t safe. My gaze drifts to the ring on my finger, and I know without a doubt that Sean asked me to come here to keep me safe. Although I want Gabe to walk me in, I don’t know what secrets Sean has hidden here and I don’t want to cause more trouble. “It’s okay, I’ll be fine. You can go back to Black’s.”

The old guy eyes me like I have a spine of steel and nods. He scratches his scruffy cheek and looks at the car. “I’ll tell Black that I didn’t find you—that you were already gone.”

“But what about the bracelet?” She’ll see that I was in the limo.

He shrugs. “I’ll make something up.”

I reach toward him and squeeze his forearm. It’s the closest thing to a hug that I can offer without him taking my head off. Well, not that I think Gabe would hurt me, but I want to reassure him in some way and it seems like the right gesture.

“Be careful. I don’t know what’s going on, but this feels wrong.” Gabe glances at my hand and then up
at my face. He has the perpetual frown he always wears and pats the top of my hand. “Trust your gut, kid.” That’s all he says before turning away. He doesn’t wait for me to go inside before driving away.

I watch the red tail lights disappear down the street and stand
there, alone, staring at the door to the strip club. I better head inside and find out why Sean sent me here.

My heart pounds a little faster as I cross the parking lot. The wind rustles the barren branches of the trees at the back of the building, making me look in the shadows for ominous figures. I’d planned on going inside and sitting in the back, blending in amongst the other patrons as much as possible, and waiting for Sean. It’s late and the place is empty, closed, so that plan’s tossed. When I walk inside, assuming the door is unlocked, everyone is going to look at me and wonder what the hell I’m doing here.

I need to grow some balls. I swear, it seems like everything scares me lately. Before I reach the door, my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen. It’s Mel.

“Where are you?” I snap before she has a chance to say anything else.

“Driving in circles. Where are you?” Mel’s voice doesn’t have
the cool composure that she’s known for, which worries me.

I tell her where I am. “Get your ass out here now.” Mel agrees and the line goes dead. Pressing my fingers to my temples, I
try to fight off the compulsion to bang my head into the wall. Fuck it. I bang my forehead against the door and let the cold metal freeze my brain.

What have I done? How did I get mixed up with all this shit? I’m enough of an emotional basket-case without dead bodies. I shut my eyes and take a deep breath, intending to steady myself to push open the door and waltz inside like I belong in this place, but that doesn’t happen.

Within a moment of resting my head on the door, it’s yanked open and I fall forward. My body slams into some guy. Strong arms catch me and for a second all I can see is a dark dress shirt with the top buttons undone, and a silver ring hanging around his neck. The guy straightens me up, holding me by my shoulders. His lips twist into a sexy smirk. “You okay?”

I finally get a look at his face and freeze. Holy shit, is that Trystan Scott? The guy is a legend. He’s the biggest rock star around, and the guy is standing in front of me. My eyes
widen and I manage to blink once. It can’t be him. No way. This has to be a double, or some sort of impersonator, for the club.

A dorky smile crosses my mouth and I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sean Ferro told me to come out here—”

The guy’s smile vanishes and he looks me over again. “You know Sean?” I nod. “And you willingly came here to see him?” He glances past me like there might be a militia hidden in the parking lot, holding me here at gunpoint.

I nearly laugh. He knows
Sean, that much is certain, because he doesn’t like him at all. I poke the guy in the chest and get in his face. Today’s been too long to deal with this twerp. “Listen, Trystan impersonator, I don’t have to tell you a damn thing. Now let me inside before I get mugged and Sean kills you and buries you out back.”

The smirk returns, but brighter this time. He’s trying not to laugh. “Uh, yeah, first things first—I’m not afraid of Sean Ferro, and second—I
am
Trystan Scott.” He glances down at my finger, which is still pressed into his chest, like I intend on kicking his ass myself, before looking back up into my face.

A stupid expression is frozen on my lips and suddenly I can’t speak. My eyes slowly widen as I recognize the dimples, the scar, and the
distinct traits of the rock star. His father beat the shit out of him when he was younger and the proof is forever on his skin. I’m caught between looking like an asshole and a crazy woman. Fuck. I need to pick one and just go with it. I drop my finger and place my hands on my hips and tilt my head at him. “Why would Sean send me to you, if you hate him?”

Trystan shrugs—I can’t believe it’s really him. This is totally weird.
“No idea. He does a lot of illogical shit that only makes sense in his twisted mind.” He lets his eyes rove over me once and spots the ring on my finger. His jaw drops as he points toward my hand. “No fucking way. Is that from Ferro?”

Now I feel naked. The way this guy looks at me, with such utter amazement
, is unsettling. I cover my engagement ring with my hand. “Yes.”

Something shifts and the amused smile returns. “Now you have to come in.” I glance up at him and wonder what made him drop his guard, but he clearly
has. Instead of being suspicious of me, he seems to like me. The change happened in a snap.

“I don’t get it.” Looking into those icy blue eyes, I can see that Trystan knows what I’m asking.

“Anyone that is capable of taming Sean Ferro is a force to behold. You’ve captured my attention, Future-Mrs. Ferro, which is difficult to do.” Trystan pushes the door open, extending his arm, and ushers me inside.

The interior is as dreary as the outside. Trystan has an amazed look on his face and occasionally glances at me out of the corner of his eye. I spot someone—a woman with long hair—sitting at a table alone in front of the stage. Her back is curved and she’s leaning heavily on her elbows.

Trystan walks directly toward her. “Hey, Sidney, look who I found on the front porch—the future Mrs. Sean Ferro.” He grins at me and throws himself into a seat across from the woman.

It’s not until she turns around that I recognize her. Some of the anguish in my chest dissipates and I rush at her with a huge smile. “Oh my God! It’s you!”

Sidney laughs and hugs me back. “Avery, it’s so good to see you!”

“Awh, a reunion. If I’d known, I would have brought dip.” Trystan leans back in his chair and kicks his feet up onto the table. He’s wearing an old pair of black Chucks. Blue argyle socks peek out from beneath his dark jeans. The hem is shredded in places, along with one of the knees. That silver ring around his neck is out of sight, but the chain is still visible.

Sidney snaps at him as she releases me. “Shut up, Trystan. Anyone that’s had to put up with Sean—”

He drops his feet to the ground, leans forward and grabs my hand, thrusting it toward Sidney so she can see my ring. “No, not put up, tamed—this chick tamed the jackass known as Sean Ferro.”

Sidney’s jaw drops and she takes my hand from Trystan and then looks up into my face. “Oh my God! He asked you to marry him?”

I can’t help it. For a moment, I forget about all the horrible things that have happened and smile at her. “Yes, he did.”

“When?”

“Tonight.”

Sidney squeals and jumps up and down. Since she’s holding my hand, I jump with her. Trystan has his arms folded over his chest and watc
hes us. There’s no one else around, but I hear voices. I glance about and ask her, “Why are you here?”

“Because Peter’s here. His brother bought this place and shouldn’t have—at least that’s what Pete said—so Sean did something to make it like it never happened. Jonathan just has to sign
some papers, but he doesn’t want to.”

We step apart and I look over at Trystan, not understanding why he’s here. He leans his chair back on two legs and raises a finger, “Best friend of the accused. And for the record, I think Jon should do whatever the fuck he wants. God knows Sean does.”

“So, you know Sean?” I ask. From the way Trystan speaks, it sounds like they’ve met more than once.

He glances up at me from under those dark eyebrows and nods. “Yup. He hates my guts.” My lips part to say that can’t possibly be true, but Trystan smiles and shakes his head, making his long, dark hair fall in his
eyes.

He pushes it back and let
s the legs of his chair slam down. “It’s okay, the feeling is mutual. You don’t have to apologize for him. It’s just the way things are, besides, you impressed the hell out of me. Anyone that can domesticate Sean Ferro deserves a statue and a holiday named after them.” Trystan jumps up and crosses the room to the bar, grabbing shot glasses, and a bottle of amber liquid. He walks it over to our table and sets it down. “Let’s celebrate.”

Sidney looks back at the closed door at the back of the room. “But, they could be done at any moment.”

Trystan shakes his head. “Nah, they’re going to be in there for a while. Cassie’s back there, and there’s no way in hell that Jon is going to sign the papers. I’ll be shocked if he caves in, especially in front of her. It’s going to be a long night. Drink up.” Trystan pours three shots and slides glasses towards Sidney and me.

“To the impossible.” He holds u
p his drink, waiting for us to clink his glass.

Fuck it. God knows I could use a drink. My nerves are
frayed beyond belief and if I think too much, I’m going to turn into a weeping mess. I pluck the glass from the table and look over at Sidney, knowing that she doesn’t drink very much. “Knock it back fast.”

Sidney sucks in way too much air, and lifts the glass. She’s nervous. The three of us tap our shot glasses together and throw back the liquor. Trystan acts l
ike it’s water and gulps it, expressionless. My nose scrunches up as the liquor burns its way down my throat, and poor Sidney doesn’t slam it back fast enough. The alcohol must have grabbed her tonsils, because she makes the most god-awful face and chokes, but somehow the little cup is empty. She hacks up a lung as I pat her back.

When
Sidney looks up at me, she’s laughing. “Yeah, I tried to sip it.” The way she acts brings back memories of the first time I met her. There’s something about Peter’s fiancée that is so sweet and innocent. I envy her in that moment and assume she’s had an easy life, but the thought stumbles. There’s been something dark there, too—a reason why Peter asked Sean for help, and it had something to do with Sidney.

Trystan pushes his hair out of his face and
pours another round. “You guys are going to be sisters-in-law, which makes me your new best-friend-in-law.” He glances at me and pushes my drink my way, as his lips take on the amused smirk that he wore at the door. “So, tell me, how’d you get Sean Ferro wrapped around your little finger?” That’s when things start to get interesting.