The Arrangement 16

Chapter 2

“Mari,” I say her name and thank God there wasn’t someone else standing there.

“Avery?” She glances at me and then returns her gaze to Trystan. It looks like someone punched her in the stomach.

Trystan turns toward her slowly, his shoulders tense and his eyes widen. Before she can see, he grabs the ring hanging around his neck and yanks it off, breaking the chain, and shoves it in his pocket. Either he grabbed it before coming here or it was in his pocket during the show. The poser smile he wears too often appears as he resumes his normal slacker stance. “Dr. Jennings, how are you this evening?”

She swallows hard and even with everything that’s happened tonight, I can put it together. This is the woman that Trystan’s in love with, the woman he’s mourning. She’s also the woman who helped Sean and me when Logan wouldn’t—I like her. Did I sleep with her Trystan? I shiver at the thought.

Trystan notices and hands me his jacket. I take it to cover my scantily clad body, but it leaves him bare-chested. Someone gasps, and it sounds a little too orgasmic. That’s when a tall, beautiful man walks by and stops in his tracks. His gaze locks on Trystan, and narrows instantly. His voice drips with malice, “You.” It’s clear that he hates Trystan, too.

Trystan holds up his hands and steps back like he’s trying to avoid a fight. “He saved her. Don’t do this, Logan.”

“Sean almost died because of you!” the man steps toward Trystan. He’s obviously a Ferro, despite the lack of introduction. The way he walks, his stance, the way he hates Trystan reminds me of Sean. Under other circumstances, I’d wonder why the Ferro Family hates Trystan—well, all except Bryan and Jon—but I latch onto something else, instead.

“Sean’s alive?” I gasp. My hands fly to my mouth and I swallow a sob.

The man in the lab coat and scrubs glares at me. Trystan makes introductions. “Logan Ferro, Avery Stanz. This is Bryan’s brother and Sean’s cousin. You can see the crazed resemblance, plus he’s got that Ferro arrogance they wear so well. Wouldn’t you say so, Dr. Jennings?” He glances at her, but Mari’s lost her ability to speak. Her eyes lock with his and she stares at him like she’s seeing a ghost.

Logan sneers at me, but answers. “Yes, he was f*cking lucky.” He stares at me for a moment and then adds, “You don’t belong here. You’re not family and I can’t say that Sean is asking for you. Actually, he said the opposite.”

“What?” I can’t breathe. Sean doesn’t want to see me? Pain grips me from the inside and I nearly double over with the shock of it.

“Avery,” Mari starts to say softly, trying to comfort me. “He’s been through a lot tonight, and many people say things they don’t mean. Don’t take it to heart.”

I wouldn’t, but there’s no other way to take it. Nodding slowly, I tell them, “The last time he was in the ER, he ripped out his IV and left. If he needs to stay, make sure he’s medicated, because if he can walk, he’s leaving.” I hope Dr. Ferro will tell me if Sean can walk, but he says nothing. The man stares at me like I’m the devil.

Trystan opens his mouth, as if he’s ready to tell Logan off, but the doctor grabs him by the wrist and shoves him into an empty room before he can say much. The door swings shut behind them and yelling ensues, but it’s too muffled to make out.

Mari looks me over, her eyes dipping to my ripped costume and dried blood. “Are you hurt?”

Lip quivering, I shake my head and tug Trystan’s jacket tighter around my waist. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Come and let me look you over.”

I shake my head again, unable to speak. It feels like I’ve stabbed this woman in the back. I can’t take advantage of her kindness. It’s wrong.

“I probably shouldn’t ask, but I have to know—Are you with him?” Her lips press together and twitch, like she’s trying to smile, but can’t.

I can’t answer her. The look on her face is horrible, like I drove a lance through her chest. She still loves Trystan, I’m sure of it, but Trystan’s here with me. I blink rapidly and wipe at my eyes. “No, I’m not.” After a pause, I tell her, “Make sure Sean doesn’t leave. He’s going to be pissed when he realizes he’s in the hospital. He hates this place. Please help him. I should go.”

She reaches out for me, but hesitates. Her fingers don’t touch my shoulder as she’d planned. Her hand hovers there for a second. “Wait!” I turn back to look at her. “Is he all right? Trystan, I mean.”

I nod once, even though he’s not. He needs her, but I have no idea what their story is or why they’re apart. Mari’s gaze lowers and she smiles. “I’m glad he’s with you, then. You seem like you’d be good for him.”

“I’m not with him.” My voice is unsteady and slight. Mari looks at me like she knows better. My gaze drops, before managing to force a smile. “Yeah, I guess everything happens for a reason, right?”

“I suppose so.”

I’ve believed that up until this point, but after Sean taking a bullet for me and running into Trystan’s ex, I don’t see how the night could get worse. That’s when I hear the newscaster. Slowly, I turn and look up at the TV. “Marty Masterson has been identified as the possible shooter at Madison Square Garden at this evening’s Trystan Scott concert. The NYPD is conducting a citywide manhunt as we speak.”