The Arrangement 17 (The Ferro Family) by H.M. Ward Page A

a voice comes from the shadows behind me.
    “Oh, she will be.” Marty steps out from the shadows and lunges at me. He completely ignores Peter, who is swearing and kicking his door open, ready to follow us.In an instant, I feel myself being carried away from the car and into the darkness. His hand is over my mouth, stifling my scream.

Chapter 2
      I bite down on the flesh of Marty’s palm and he releases me, spewing curses while he does it. Stomping my foot down hard, I crush his toes. He’s wearing velvet lounge slippers, and wails like a baby. I don’t have time to wonder why he’s dressed for bed—Marty always dresses weird. When we first met, I thought it was because he was gay. The asshole used my assumption to get close to me. Repressed anger rears its head from deep within me.
    Marty shot Sean.
    Growling wildly, I round on him, ready to fight. I want my fists in his face. I want to hear his nose crunch and cause him as much pain as he caused Sean.  
    Just before my knee lifts to hit him in the tenders, he grabs my shoulders and leans in. “Stop.”  
    It’s one word, one request that changes everything. If I wander off with him, things could get worse. I pause for a second, waiting for him to say something else or fight back, but he doesn’t.
    Peter remains by his car, silently watching, his eyes narrowed into slits. His body is poised and prepared, ready to run over and save me. I can’t let him do that. I have to find out where Marty took Sean and this is the only way. I shake my head at Peter, warning him to stay there. He flinches and grits his teeth, but he doesn’t move any further toward us.
    Lifting my hand in a gesture of peace, I nod at Marty. “Take me to Sean.”
    Marty shakes his head and looks from me to Peter’s car. “You know, I can’t fucking believe this, Avery. I told you to come alone. You deliberately disobeyed my request and came with not just anyone, but one of the Ferro brothers. Then you break my foot instead of saying hello.” He mutters to himself for a moment, and then glances at the car, agitated. “Tell Ferro to take a hike or you won’t like how this goes.”  
    Marty’s hair is a mess and he’s wearing rich guy pajamas. He reminds me of a young Hugh Hefner, wearing a velvet robe and tasseled belt. How has no one noticed him, dressed like that? The police must be blind not to notice this guy. He’s on the beach, in velvet slippers, with no car. Where’s a state trooper when you need one? I glance up and down the road, but it’s empty.
    Heart hammering, I ask, “Where are we going?”
    “Stop asking questions and do as I say, or you’ll never see Sean again.” He hooks an arm around my waist and glares at Peter. “Your choice, Avery. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
    My entire body is shaking. It’s beyond a minor tremble and I hate it for betraying me. Marty laughs lightly, shaking his head. “You finally figured out you should be afraid of me? It fucking took long enough.”  
    Marty yanks his arm, pulling my back to his front. I feel something hard and round pressed against my spine. He shouts to Peter, “Get out of here, unless you want me to put a bullet in her back. I’m guessing the Ferro clan doesn’t want another dead woman on their hands.”
    Peter yells back, “No one would think I killed her.”
    “I wouldn’t be too sure. Once a Ferro, always a Ferro, isn’t that right Pete?” The use of his old name makes Peter’s shoulders stiffen and I wonder what secrets he’s hiding. The principal with the turkey vulture and the sweet girlfriend is the Peter I know, but Marty knows something more—something dark.
    Peter turns his eyes toward me. “One hour. That’s it. Then Mel comes for you—fuck that, I’ll come for you—and I guarantee you won’t like it.” Peter’s voice is low and lethal. For the first time, I see a strong resemblance to Sean. The look he gives Marty promises pain.
    “Drive away, Pete. She’ll