“I’m not screwing him!”
He gives me a look. “Call it what you want, but it’ll get you fired. Wait here. I’ll get the limo.”
Gabe returns to the curb with the car moments later, and then drives me a few blocks to Sean’s hotel. I’m early and really excited. I thought I’d be creeped out and covered in sweat. Instead, I feel pretty good.
Before we pull up, Gabe says, “Something’s wrong with him, you know. More so than with other guys. Ferro did something.”
I lean forward. “What are you talking about?”
Gabe is in line to get to the drop-off. He pulls the car up. We’re next. “It was in the papers a few years back. Plus the guy is off. Don’t trust him. I know you do, I can see it on your face, but you’re not an old guy like me. I see what he is. I wish you’d stop this. The guy you were just with is safer than Ferro.”
“What are you talking about? What did Sean do?” I finish my question just as we pull up. The hotel worker opens the door. I hesitate. I want to hear what Gabe has to say, but he’s silent.
I step out of the car and watch him pull away. The floor of my stomach twists and the skin on my neck prickles. I look up at the building. The windows are lit all the way up to the penthouse. I go inside and try to shake off the bad vibe that’s crawling over my skin.
The elevator carries me up and I’m on Sean’s floor. Smiling, I walk towards his room just as the door opens. I stop in my tracks when I see who steps out. I hear her voice, and see her, but I can’t believe it. Part of my brain keeps telling me that she wouldn’t do that to me, but there she is. A million emotions collide until I can’t think.
Mel. It’s Mel. She said she was working tonight. She’s the only other girl at Black’s that will do the things Sean wants. She mentioned a sick guy a few weeks ago. Now I know who she meant.
Sean stands in the doorway with his shirt unbuttoned, holding the door open. His dark hair is tousled and his cheeks are rosy. Images of him and Mel together flash through my mind. I want to scream. I want to walk over there and shriek at both of them, but I don’t move. I’m frozen.
I wish I could rewind and start over. I wish I never met him. In a matter of seconds, I’ve lost my best friend and Sean. It’s as if he feels my eyes on his face. Sean slowly looks up and freezes. Our eyes lock. His lips part and everything seems to happen in slow motion. Mel turns and has the same horrified expression on her face.
Before either of them says anything, I step towards Mel. “How could you!” My hand flies and I slap her in the face. My palm stings as she closes her eyes and takes the hit. Mel doesn’t move.
I glance at Sean, but I can’t even speak. My fists clench and unclench at my sides. I breathe too hard and feel my throat tighten. Tears sting my eyes as betrayal snakes its way into my heart.
I turn on my heel and run.
COMING SOON:
THE ARRANGEMENT VOL 6
*****
THE ARRANGEMENT SERIES
This story unfolds over the course of multiple short novels. Each one follows the continuing story of Avery Stanz and Sean Ferro.
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MORE ROMANCE BOOKS BY H.M. WARD
DAMAGED (A Novel)
SCANDALOUS
SCANDALOUS 2
SECRETS
THE SECRET LIFE OF TRYSTAN SCOTT
And more.
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The Arrangement
Vol. 6
H.M. Ward
Laree Bailey Press
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by H.M. Ward
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.
Laree Bailey Press
First Edition: April 2013
THE ARRANGEMENT
Vol. 6
A note for e-readers:
This volume is 121 pages in the print edition (trade paperback). Please be advised that the number of pages may appear to vary based on your e-reader, making this volume appear to have more or less pages due to the size of your screen.
CHAPTER 1
Heart pounding, I press the button for the elevator a million times, but the doors don’t open. My body is surging with too many emotions. It feels like I’m going to fall to pieces. I hear them behind me. Sean’s voice rings out in my ears, but I don’t want to listen. Nothing they say will fix this. I feel like there’s an axe in my chest and I’m bleeding out. The sense of betrayal is strangling me and muddying my thoughts.