Page 2 of A Twisted Arrangement

“What the fuck is he doing?” The low warning in Damon’s tone pulls me back to the present. The muscle in his cheeks ticks as he looks across the restaurant.

I follow his gaze to where Liam lowers himself to kneel, holding out a ring. The color drains from Scarlet’s face whenshe looks from him to all the eyes on her. She’s trapped again, society trying to force her into its box.

What the hell is this asshole thinking? He must be desperate to propose after only three dates. I should have killed him the second I got back, then I wouldn’t have to do it so publicly. Ringing fills my ears as my vision goes red around the sides. It’s okay, Scarlet. I’ll wreck him for you.

“Fuck that,” I hiss, moving toward them, and Damon grabs my arm, holding me in place.

“I want to kill him too, but she’s got this. Scarlet’s able to take care of herself,” he says, fingers tightening their grip.

“Don’t you think I know that? That doesn’t mean she should have to,” I growl. I hate everything about leaving her to deal with this asshole alone.

Damon’s right though. She can handle it. She’s wearing her polite smile like a mask, but I can see the rage behind her eyes.

Damon claps me on the back. “Relax, brother. That was the biggest mistake that asshole ever made.”

His wife, Misty, waves at us from across the room, and Damon immediately stands taller.

He gives me a quick glance. “You good?”

“I’m fine. Go see your wife.”

He gestures from me to where Scarlet’s standing alone, Liam nowhere in sight. “Don’t think I’m letting you off on explaining what the hell was with you today. You’ve been acting weird ever since Scarlet came back from college, and I’m done waiting for your explanation.”

I raise one brow at the threat. Damon’s the head of the Order of Saints, but he’s never held it over my brothers and me. So I know this command is coming as my brother and not his position.

“Fine. Later.”

“Later.” He nods.

I know he’ll hold me to it. I just need to make sure I’m ready when he does because he needs to understand.

I let her slip through my grasp once. This time, I’m never letting her go.

Liam doesn’t notice me until I’m less than a foot behind him. He turns toward me, eyes going wide, and I close the distance even more, keeping my voice as low as possible as I warn. “You are fucked now, Liam.”

“What?” He stumbles back, and I grip his arm, holding him in place.

“Take this as a warning. Never show your face again, or I’ll make your life so miserable you’ll regret each breath you take. After all, some things are worse than dying, and they happen to be my specialty. So run along before you learn exactly what I mean.”

I let him break free of my hold, his mouth dropping open, then closed several times before he can speak. “You’re insane.”

A dangerous smirk curls the corner of my lips. “I’m glad you’re finally catching on.”

Chapter 2

Scarlet

My gaze skimsover the crowd of impeccably dressed attendees. Unsurprisingly, the event is being held in one of the best restaurants in the city, privately booked, just for us. There can’t be more than fifty people here, our community purposely kept small.

Today’s luncheon kicks off the Order of Saints’ summer social season. For the next several months, I’ll be subjected to any number of galas, balls, or archaic rituals, each one hidden under the guise of charity, but in reality, it’s just another game of influence and money for the Order members to flaunt their power over each other.

I managed to avoid attending the last seven seasons while I studied at Stanford Law. I chose the West Coast so I could get as far away from this world as possible. I couldn’t avoid it forever. Even with Damon’s protection, I had to come back. There are expectations for members, and even though I technically don’t have a position in the Order, my family still holds a seat.

The Saints stand tall with stunning women draped over their arms, their Unsainted offspring a step or two behind them.

I inwardly roll my eyes at their pretentious titles. Saints are full-fledged members of the Order, and the Unsainted are theinitiates. The entire thing makes me nauseous. There was a time I looked forward to this, when excitement filled my veins at the idea of dressing up and spending the evening dancing, but all that changed when my family betrayed the Everettes and turned my world upside down.

I curl my fingers to stop myself from fidgeting. I don’t belong here, and they all know it. The Laurent name has been tarnished so badly I could never be anything more than a pariah, and the worst thing is it’s justified.

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