The Arrangement 12 (The Ferro Family) Read Online Free Page A

but I know what you’ve been through. I know that look on your face, I know we’ve been in the same depths of Hell. The difference between us is that I refuse to give up and you already have.” For some unknown reason I purse my lips and blow a puff of air in his face.
    Trystan flinches and backs up. His mouth is pressed into a firm line and I know he wants to tell me off, but something holds him back. The guy says nothing. Instead, he gets up and moves to another chair and throws himself into it so one leg is hanging off the side without giving me a second glance.
    Damn, maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but any guy whose constructed walls that thick has something going on. Behind all those suave smiles is a broken man. It’s impossible to miss because we’re the same, him and me. No wonder he doesn’t get along with Sean. It must be like looking in the mirror.
    Sidney watches the exchange in uncomfortable silence. When Trystan walks away, and his back is to me, I go to stand— to say something else—apologize maybe—but Sidney touches my arm and stops me.
    When I glance over at her, she shakes her head, and then changes the topic of conversation. “So, have you ever stripped?”

CHAPTER 7
     
    I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and smirk. “Yeah, it kind of goes with the occupation. Have you?” I feel Trystan look up at me, but he doesn’t say anything. Sidney blushes furiously and tries to hide her face. I laugh and bump her shoulder lightly. “I have an idea, come on.” I stand and grab her wrist.
    Sidney squeals as I pull her to the back, “What are we doing?”
    “Looking for the dressing rooms.”
    “They’re back there,” she points down a hallway, and I pull her along with me. “Avery, what are we doing?”
    “We’re going to strip. What else?” Okay, I might be a little more than tipsy because that came out totally wrong.
    Sidney jerks her wrist away. “I’m not stripping in front of Trystan!”
    “That’s not what I meant!” For some reason I start laughing because it seems really funny. I can picture myself on the stage and Sean walking in. I think he’d kill everyone. When I manage to get control of myself again, I put my hand on her shoulder. “No, let’s just grab some of their stuff and dance on the stage. It’ll be fun, and I think we both need some fun.”
    We find a dressing room and put on men’s shirts and denim short shorts. I grab a top hat and Sidney grabs a feather boa. We head to the stage from behind the curtain and Sidney is laughing way too much. Her face is still bright crimson and she’s muttering the same words over and over again. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
    When we step out onto the stage, I raise my voice. “Hey, Trystan, hit the lights.” I hear him grumble, but the guy moves. A few seconds later some of the stage lights pop up so it’s not pitch black, and then a spot light appears. It’s so bright that I have to shield my eyes if I want to look for Trystan out there. “Thanks.” No one answers. Great, now he hates me, too.
    “He’ll come around,” Sidney says, reading my thoughts.
    I turn and look at her, offering a half smile. I glance at our outfits. The large men’s shirts cover the short shorts. I unbutton the bottom of my shirt and tie it under my boobs and tell Sidney to do the same. I expect her to protest, but she doesn’t. Music kicks on from somewhere and I smile. Sidney and I dance together for a little bit. She’s laughing and blushing like crazy. I tell her to slow down her moves and suddenly she’s dancing like a goddess. It’s awesome. The girl has no clue how sexy she is. Add the huge smile on her face and that long hair and no wonder Peter is crazy about her.
    I stand there for a second , watching her dip her head back and sway her hips. She giggles and looks over at me. “I suck at this.”
    “No , you don’t. You’re actually really good.” I laugh with her and say, “Watch this.” I head