The Arrangement 12 (The Ferro Family) Read Free

prickle as he looks away. It’s an ominous feeling and I know he’s lying to me. There’s more going on than I’m aware of, a lot more.
    We exit the expressway and drive down some side streets until we stop in front of a shack. Okay, calling the strip club a shack is kind. It’s just scary looking, complete with a neglected façade and a decaying parking lot that’s turning to dust.
    Gabe’s expression changes into a look of concern. “You sure this is where Mr. Ferro wanted you to go?”
    I nod, gaping at the building with the same dumbfounded expression. “Yes.”
    “It looks like the place is closed.”
    Yeah, it does. There are only a few cars in the parking lot and the sign on the door is flipped to CLOSED. What the hell is Sean thinking? There’s only one way to find out. I move before Gabe snaps out of it, and open my door. My heels hit the gravel and I nearly twist my ankle, but I recover and straighten.
    Gabe rushes toward me, and closes my door. We both stand there, shoulder to shoulder, and stare at the old building. “I think I should walk you inside.”
    I think that he should, too. Honestly, the place creeps the crackers out of me, but Sean wouldn’t have sent me here if it wasn’t safe. My gaze drifts to the ring on my finger, and I know without a doubt that Sean asked me to come here to keep me safe. Although I want Gabe to walk me in, I don’t know what secrets Sean has hidden here and I don’t want to cause more trouble. “It’s okay, I’ll be fine. You can go back to Black’s.”
    The old guy eyes me like I have a spine of steel and nods. He scratches his scruffy cheek and looks at the car. “I’ll tell Black that I didn’t find you—that you were already gone.”
    “But what about the bracelet?” She’ll see that I was in the limo.
    He shrugs. “I’ll make something up.”
    I reach toward him and squeeze his forearm. It’s the closest thing to a hug that I can offer without him taking my head off. Well, not that I think Gabe would hurt me, but I want to reassure him in some way and it seems like the right gesture.
    “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