The Arrangement Anthology 2(51)

“The less you know, the better. You can blame the whole thing on me.”

“No.” Sean says firmly. “This is my mess, not yours. If Jon’s pissed, it should be with me, not you.”

Bryan laughs as he examines his nails. “How noble.”

“It’s reasonable.” Sean’s request is plain and rational, but Bryan doesn’t cave in.

“Possibly, but I still can’t tell you. You don’t need to know and I don’t need you taking hits for me. I can handle it, but thanks all the same.” Bryan sits up and looks out the window. We crawl to a stop on a residential street. It’s very early in the morning and the road is still shrouded in silence. “Wait here.”

Bryan pushes the door open and slips out, closing it behind him, before dashing up the walkway to the front door. It’s a grand house—not a mansion like the Ferro’s—but much nicer than the home where I grew up. The house is two stories with a manicured front lawn, complete with sidewalks, on a picture perfect street.

Before Bryan can ring the bell, the door opens. A woman is standing there and looks past him to the car. She says something and retreats inside quickly, closing the door behind her. Bryan hurries back to the car and yanks the door open. “Come on.”

Sean helps me up the walk and we follow Bryan around to a back door. My arm is causing me so much pain that there are tears in my eyes. I can’t stop gritting my teeth even though I try. Every muscle in my body is corded tight, trying to deal with the agony.

When Sean ushers us inside, Bryan makes introductions. “Sean Ferro and Hooker Girl, meet Dr. Jennings.”





CHAPTER 6




Why does Sean always take his bait? Before he can kill his cousin, I say, “Thank you so much for agreeing to look at me.”

She nods, making her dark head of curls sway. Dr. Jennings isn’t much older than I am. Actually, she looks too young to be a doctor. “Please, call me Mari. I’m not a doctor yet and don’t thank me until we’re done.”

“You’re not a doctor?” Sean asks bluntly.

Mari shakes her head, unfazed by his rudeness. “Not yet. Do you need a resume or do you want me to look you guys over?” Sean doesn’t answer. Mari continues, “Okay then, let’s see what you guys need. I don’t even know if I’m able to help you here. Bryan called and said it was urgent.” She holds out her hand and offers me a chair. Bryan and Sean stand behind me.

“Thank you. A window shattered and the glass cut my arm.” As I’m talking, I offer Mari my arm. She unwraps the bloody bandages after pulling on plastic gloves. Her eyes sweep over the cut as she gently turns my wrist examining it closer.

“A window did this?”

I begin to explain, but Sean cuts her off. “Yes, and that’s all you need to know.”

Mari eyes him suspiciously and then smiles softly. She knows there’s more story there, but it’s almost like she doesn’t believe the gash on my arm is from a pane of glass. “You need stitches, Mr. Ferro. Sit before you pass out.”

Sean glances at Bryan, who seems like he wants to laugh. “Better do what she says. I’m not picking you up when you fall over. You’re chunking up in your old age.” Bryan gestures towards Sean’s narrow waist with a flick of his hand before folding his arms over his chest.

“Prick.”

“Dick.”

“Wick,” I add and giggle. All three of them look at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What? I thought we were rhyming.” I laugh lightly and instantly regret it when pain shoots up my body and cracks my head in half.

I make a face and try to grab the wound, but Mari scolds me. “Don’t. You two, out. Bryan, make sure he doesn’t pass out. Go sit on the couch until I call you. Go on.” When they don’t move, she lifts a dark brow at them and adds sternly, “Now.”

It surprises me, but they both vacate the kitchen, leaving us alone. Mari has a bag of stuff. She asks me a few medical questions before she gets to work on my arm, removing the bits of glass. It stings horribly, so she gives me a shot. “That should help, but it’s going to make you feel sleepy. We can wait a few minutes. Most of the glass is out, but I want to make sure before we close it up.”

The kitchen table is next to me. I’m leaning heavily on it with my good arm and pretty much staring at Mari. Her face seems familiar, but I’m certain I’ve never met her before. “So, how does Bryan know you?”

Her dark eyes dart away before she speaks. She tries to hide it, but her body tenses as if this isn’t something she’d like to discuss. “A common acquaintance.” It’s not someone she wants to mention. I can tell from the way her eyes avoid mine and how she presses her lips into a thin line.