The Arrangement Anthology 1(139)

I lean forward in the seat. “What are you saying?”

He looks up at me again. I see his old eyes in the mirror. He glances away. “I never said nothing, but Ferro has a temper. The thing with his wife wasn’t an accident. He was involved, but the cops never linked it to him. Just because they didn’t nail him, didn’t mean he didn’t do it. But his record’s clean so Black okayed him.”

What the hell? That can’t be right. “Sean was accused of killing his wife?”

Gabe nods. “The bastard was calloused. He didn’t even shed a tear. Who does that? I shouldn’t say stuff like this, but Miss Stanz, you deserve better than this. Walk away. Tell Black you’re through. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, but you should really stay away from that guy. He’s not right in the head.”

Fuck yeah, Sean’s not right in the head. That’s glaringly obvious, but from the way he acts, it seems like he misses his wife. I sink back into the seat. I don’t blink. I just stare as the city passes by out the window. Gabe blares the horn and curses at another driver as we approach Sean’s hotel. Gabe looks back at me, waiting for directions.

I tell him, “Drop me at the curb.”

He doesn’t say anything else. Gabe slows the car and it comes to a stop. I step out and see Sean Ferro waiting for me. He’s wearing a dark suit that makes his eyes look like blue jewels. Stubble lightly dusts his cheeks. Add in the tousled hair and Sean looks like a Greek god.

Gabe’s warning flashes through my mind, and mingles with Mel’s. Sean’s broken, I know that. But I wonder how broken he is. I wonder if he’s really responsible for his wife’s death. That doesn’t make sense. There’s no way…

The door of the car is pulled open, but I don’t move. A shiver trails down my spine like a premonition of what’s to come. “Miss Stanz?” Gabe asks. His voice puts my feet in motion.

I took a chance on Sean. I’m breaking down that goddamn wall that keeps me out. If I get mind fucked while I do it that’s one thing, but I can’t help but wonder what he’s capable of.





CHAPTER 12





“Miss Smith,” Sean says and extends me his elbow.

I take it and walk into the building on his arm. “Mr. Jones, how’s life treating you?”

“Very well, thank you. I have a beautiful woman on my arm and she’s agreed to do very dirty things with me this weekend.” Sean grins so hard his dimples show.

My heartbeat quickens. My mind races through what I know about him. I haven’t seen a temper, not really. Gabe’s warning sticks in my mind. It won’t budge. I tense so much that Sean notices. “Don’t be nervous Avery. I’ll take good care of you.”

We step into the elevator and my pulse quickens. I smile nervously. Sean leans into me and presses a soft kiss to my neck. “It took a lot of convincing to get you booked this weekend. Black didn’t want me to monopolize her favorite call girl.” Sean is leaning into me. His scent fills my head. When we stop, the elevator doors open on the floor with the restaurant. Sean takes my hand and leads me out.

“She didn’t let you know?” I glance over at him. “I’m booked on Sunday, too.”

Sean stops and looks up at me slowly. The boyish grin vanishes. I wonder if I should have told him. “You’re going to Thomas on Sunday?”

I nod slowly, meeting his gaze. “She’s happy with my performance.” That wasn’t the right thing to say. Sean tenses and looks away from me. “Sean, I don’t want to lie to you, please don’t press it.”

“You won’t lie to me?” He twists my words slightly, but I nod, because that’s what I want. I want more from him. I want the lies and secrets to be gone. I want to know who he is beyond a shadow of a doubt. Sean asks, “Do you like being with him?”

“No. Actually, I wanted to be with you.”

“Wanted?” He catches the tense slip. I look away. Sean watches me for a moment. We’re standing in front of the restaurant. “So what do you want now?”

Swallowing hard, I say it. “I want to know you. I want to see the real Sean Ferro, demons and all. I want the good, the bad, and the monster within. I want to know you in a way that no one knows you.” My eyes wander up his silky smooth tie, over his strong chin, and up his cheeks. I finally look in his eyes. He seems stunned, like I shocked him by saying such a thing.

“No one asks for that.”

“I am. I’m asking. Let me in or push me out. I can’t do halfway.”

Sean nods like he’s thinking about it. He takes my hand and we walk to the bar. Sean orders for us, and then leans on the counter. He avoids my eyes. I wonder what he thinks. I wonder if I found what terrifies him. Two shots of amber liquid are placed in front of us. He gives one to me. “Here’s to you, Smitty. You pushed me over the ledge and I’m still falling.” He clicks his little glass to mine before downing the shot. Sean places the glass on the counter and orders another. Then he looks over at me and my untouched glass. “You don’t drink hard liquor?”