The Arrangement Anthology 2(26)
“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.
CHAPTER 4
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.