Free The Arrangement 14 by H. M. Ward

so no one can walk behind me.  
    The waiter is really hot. He takes my order and brings it right over. “Rough day?” he asks after setting down the vodka in front of me.  
    “Rough life. Bring a few more of those in a moment.”  
    Hot guy smiles at me. “Yes, ma’am.”  
    I down the drink and only gag a little bit. By the time my third drink is in hand, Sean is in the doorway. He looks pissed and beautiful. His shoulders are squared and his jaw is locked. A dark shirt clings to his chest beneath the leather jacket he loves so much. Blue jeans fit snuggly to his hips and he has on his shit-kicker boots.  
    Sean glances around the room until he sees me. He takes a few long strides, pulls out a chair, and sits down. “Make me?”  
    My eyes cut over to Sean. “That’s what I said.”  
    “Listen, you can hate me all you want tomorrow. We have this set up. I have a box to sneak you out with, but people need to see you walk into the room. Black’s men are in place. You go in and come out. Nothing bad will happen to you. I promise.” Sean takes my hands when he says the last two words. “We have to do this.”  
    I nod slowly and finally feel the effects of the alcohol. “I know, but I’m not doing it sober. Claustrophobic girls don’t belong in boxes, not unless they’re tanked. So here we go.” I knock back another drink and accidentally breathe wrong which makes my nose feel like it’s caught fire. I choke and reach for my glass of water.  
    “Lightweight.”  
    “Much better than being a fat whore. A skinny one is preferable, right? Salute .” I hold up my next shot glass to him as he gives me a quizzical look.  
    “What are you talking about?”  
    “The videos of me sexting Naked Guy. It turns out that Amber didn’t delete all of them and this morning she passed around her phone to half the floor and I got to stand there while she did it.”  
    Wrath blazes in Sean’s eyes. He stands abruptly and takes my wrist. “Let’s go. We’ll handle this.”  
    I pull away. “Fuck, no. I’ll handle this. I’m going to kick her ass and throw her out the window. Then, I’ll climb into my box and let your people clean up the mess.” I down another drink before he can pull me away, but most of it spills on the floor. “Sean,” I whine his name before dropping the glass on the floor.  
    The waiter starts to say something. He walks over in front of Sean, but Sean shoves two hundred bucks in his hand. “Sorry about the mess.”  
    Hot waiter guy asks, “Are you all right?”  
    “Yes, this is Mr. Ferro and Mr. Ferro is sort of grumpy, one hundred percent of the time.” I smile at the waiter and wave with my fingertips. “Please excuse me. I need to go find my box.”  
    Sean huffs and waits to scold me until we’re outside, but I’m already tipsy, so I don’t care. There’s a serene smile plastered to my face. “Avery, we’re very late. This plan doesn’t work if people don’t see you.”  
    “Yes, I’m aware.” Sean is pissed but he doesn’t say anything else. I climb into his little black sports car that’s parked at the curb, and we drive back to the dorm. “Where’s your bike?”  
    “I don’t ride it anymore.”  
    “Why?”  
    “Because it’s only fun when you’re with me. Otherwise it’s an oversized, bulky piece of shit.”  
    I giggle. I can’t help it. “That’s not nice, Sean. You said you liked it. It’s so pretty and shiny.”  
    “And heavy and slow…”  
    Sean drives us back to the dorm and parks toward the back of the lot before he cuts the engine, and comes around to open my door. I can walk but my head feels tingly, which is good. I need to punch Amber in the face and climb in a box. One and two. Sean will get rid of the lunatic that’s hunting me and then it’ll be fine.  
    Everything will be fine.  
     
     
     

CHAPTER 14
     
    No one says a word to me when Sean’s at my side. He’s got that scary vibe radiating from him in