The Arrangement

Chapter 1 - Vianna-4

I could’ve understood if we had fought and she rebelled to get away from me, but we had gone out for ice cream the night before she disappeared. Just the two of us. We had talked and laughed. It had been wonderful. I teased her about her ability to eat like a teenage boy. She teased me back about my slow metabolism and how I’d better watch how much ice cream I ate or else I’d blow up like a whale. A girls’ night.

Sage had wanted to watch a movie once we got home, but I had to get up early for work, had a meeting, so I declined, something I was now majorly regretting. Had she been reaching out to me and I hadn’t realized it? What if Trenton had crossed the line and she needed me to help her push him away and move on for good this time? I thought Trenton was bad for her, but I didn’t think he had ever been abusive toward her. If he had been, well, I would find out if I looked good in prison orange.

The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced Trenton had played a role in her disappearance. This just wasn’t like her at all.

Moving quickly, I turned the doorknob and reentered the apartment complex. I didn’t even say goodbye to Georgia, and I didn’t bother to hold the door open for her either. I just ran up the stairs to the third floor and hurried down the hall until I found his apartment. Taking a deep breath, I screwed up my courage and knocked.

No answer.

I put my ear to the door. I couldn’t hear anything. Trenton wasn’t here. Not a surprise, but I still felt let down.

I knocked again. I pounded again and again until my fist started to hurt and even then I kept on knocking.

“Trenton. Trenton Young!” I called, my voice loud and clear, echoing in the empty hallway. I swallowed hard. “I demand answers. I want to know—”

The door opened, and I grinned. Finally. Now I would learn where Sage was. I didn’t necessarily need to take her back home with me. I just needed to know she was safe. That my fears had been for nothing.

But the guy standing in front of me wasn’t Trenton Young. It was a man I’d never seen before, a man who towered over me. His dark hair curled slightly on the ends. His tattoos were amazing. He should’ve given the name of his artist to Trenton. One tattoo was of a raven on his shoulder. On the other arm, he had a fierce-looking wolf. Amazingly detailed, so detailed I wanted to step forward and get a better look at them.

Only because of his intense glare did I refrain. After all, I wasn’t here to gawk. I was here for a purpose, and no one, not even a hot guy, was going to make me forget it.

I put my hands on my hips and glared right back at him. I wasn’t one to be cowed. “Where is Trenton?” I demanded, trying to look around him even though he hadn’t opened the door wide enough for me to.

He wasn’t a huge man, but he had a lot of muscles, and he filled up the space of the door opening. He wasn’t a man to be messed with, but he was going to find out that I was a woman who wasn’t to be messed with either.

“Just leave.” His voice was impossibly deep. The man stepped back and started to close the door.

I shoved my foot forward so he’d have to close it on me. “I’m not leaving until you answer my questions,” I said stubbornly. I had come too far to just be cast aside now. “I take it Trenton isn’t here.” I raised my eyebrows.

He stared at my foot and slowly looked upward, taking his time, giving me a once-over. It made me nervous, but in a good way, and I didn’t expect that at all. Focus, Vianna.

I crossed my arms. “Well? Trenton?” I demanded.

“Not here,” he uttered in that deep voice of his. He went to close the door again.

I didn’t move my foot. “Look. I’m not here for Trenton. I’m looking for Sage.” Damn it all if my voice wasn’t starting to show signs of apprehension. “Do you—”

The man suddenly threw open the door, yanked on my arm, and pulled me inside. He closed the door behind us, holding me far closer than he should. His eyes pierced into me, as if seeing clear through to my soul as he asked, “What do you know about Sage, and why are you here?”

My breath caught in my throat. What kind of a mess had Sage gotten herself into? And what kind of a mess had I gotten myself into as a result of looking for her?

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