The Arrangement 7

Sean takes my hand and lifts it to his lips. The kiss is soft and light. “I love you, Avery. I can’t lose you too. It feels like the harder I try to hold onto you, the faster you slip away. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I never meant to—”



“Shhh. You already apologized and I accepted.”



Sean nods and takes a steadying breath. He blinks away the emotions in his eyes and says, “We better get down there or Pete will think that I’m not coming. Keep me from doing something stupid, okay?”



“I’ll try.”



CHAPTER 12



Sean’s emotions are well contained by the time we are seated at our table. Pete isn’t here yet. Sean orders us something from the bar. I sip my wine, wondering how it is that Sean and his brother don’t talk, like at all.



“Do you guys fight a lot?”



He shakes his head and puts down his glass. “No, it’s not like that. Pete just has his own shit to deal with and I have mine. It was more of a natural isolation. I don’t think he did it on purpose either, but the guy did change his cell number. I tried to track him down for our Mom, when he first disappeared, but Pete didn’t want to be found. That’s why this is weird.”



As Sean speaks, I see Gabe walk by and sit at the bar. Shit. Why is he watching me from so close? Gabe makes a subtle movement that tells me to come over. Sean doesn’t see him, not yet. I don’t want tonight to be harder than it already is on Sean, so I excuse myself.



“I’ll be right back,” I stand and take my purse and walk toward the ladies room. Gabe follows. We stand in the alcove to the restrooms.



Gabe hands me a note. “From Miss Black. It’s directions about your meeting with Henry Thomas tomorrow. She didn’t like the stunt you pulled today.”



“What stunt?”



“Fine, I didn’t like the shit he pulled today. Just read the note.” Gabe points a pudgy finger at the letter. I open it up and read fast.



Miss Stanz,



I expect you to dress appropriately from now on. Ripped jeans and mammoth sweaters that conceal your figure should be burned. I’m docking your pay to make sure you learn this lesson, since telling you is obviously not enough.



Keep Mr. Ferro on the leash. Do not give him everything he wants. He is a commodity that I want to keep in play.



Mr. Thomas is expecting your full services tomorrow. I expect you to perform at your best, which is more than a tease. I know you haven’t had sex with this client and you are to change that immediately. No more teasing. Our girls don’t behave that way.



Correct your behavior or I will correct it for you.



Give this letter back to Gabe when you’re finished.



-B.



Gabe’s hand is out. I shove the note back into his fist. Fuck. I glance up at Gabe and ask, “What will happen if I quit?”



“You did not just ask me that.” He takes the note and holds a lighter to the corner. It burns quickly. Gabe drops it in the water fountain before anyone sees. He lifts out the charred note and it crumbles to dust in his hand.



“I can’t do what she’s asking me to do.”



“You should have thought of that before you got into bed with Black. She doesn’t share. Do not piss her off. Finish your contracts before you even consider mentioning fewer hours. You can try to slip out of it slowly, but if Black thinks you’re taking guys on the side, she won’t let you walk away. And I know you have another contract tomorrow. There’s no way out of that one. You signed, girlie. You have to show up or she’ll skin you.”



My heart is pounding. The threat sounds literal, but it can’t be. Mel would have said something. “Fine. Don’t tell her that I said anything.”



He laughs, like I’m hysterical. “I already told you—I like you. You seem like a good kid. You should have run when you had the chance.”



My stomach twists. Gabe starts to walk away. I rush up next to him and ask, “What happens if I walk away now? Like I just don’t show up tomorrow?”



“You don’t want to know, kid.” Gabe continues to walk. I stop in my tracks, with my heart in my throat. I told Sean that I wouldn’t leave him. Damn it. What do I do? I need to figure out how to get out of this.



I walk back to the table and sit down. I smile, but it’s too weak. Sean notices. “What’s wrong?”



“Nothing.” He gives me a look. God his eyes are so blue. “Fine, something, but I can’t talk about it here. I’ll tell you later.”



“Is it about work?”



I nod. “Yes, I—” My words die in my mouth. A man is walking toward us. He has a muscular build and a trim body. Dark hair falls into his blue eyes and there’s a crooked grin on his lips. His stride is confident, but damaged. There’s a woman with him. She has big brown eyes and a mess of curly dark hair. The man holds onto her hand as they approach. I incline my head toward them and Sean turns to see what I’m looking at.



“Well, look at that.” Sean sounds surprised and stands. He holds out his hand.



The man stops next to Sean and shakes his hand before pulling Sean closer and placing an arm over his shoulder. He slaps Sean’s back a few times. “Good to see you, Sean.”



“Pete.” Sean nods and wriggles out of the hug.



Pete laughs after looking over at me. My jaw is hanging open. “Does she always look like that?”



The closer Pete got, the clearer it becomes. They look like clones. “Are you twins?”



Pete smiles. He seems so laid-back, so opposite of Sean. “Nah, that’s what people always think when they see the three of us together, well, they think triplets. Jonathan’s the youngest, and this guy is older than me. I’m the messed-up middle child.” Pete grins at me and then at Sean. The woman standing behind him is silent. Pete asks Sean, “Well, are you going to introduce me, or do I have to do it myself?”



Sean is so tense that it looks like his face will crack if he speaks. “Avery, this is Peter Ferro—my younger brother.”



Pete reaches for my hand and shakes it. He smiles and looks nervously over at his brother, like Sean will disapprove. “Actually, I ditched the Ferro part. It’s Dr. Peter Granz. Nice to meet you.”