Page 66 of Locked Out

Cash nodded and then immediately went to lean on the wall outside of the library. Li came out a moment later, muttering to himself in Cantonese, and headed up the stairs. Something wasn’t right with him either. Fuck, everyone was on edge. This whole AI thing wasn’t going well if Cash had to guess.

A moment later, Davis came out and he, too, went up the stairs. Cash decided it was safe to go to the kitchen now. He needed Dominick and Lena to help him find out what was up with the Davenport, Davis, and Fisher meeting. This was turning into a large pain in the ass. First Riss, and then Davenport. He needed to get the hell out of town before something else went wrong and Archer started to suspect him of being the common denominator.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Riss opened her eyes and smiled. She rolled over but the bed next to her was empty. She reached out and touched cold sheets. He’d been gone a while. She groaned as she climbed out of bed. Sore in all the right spots. The sex had been fantastic even if Cash had been domineering and demanding. She’d given as good as she’d got. Her cheeks heated at the memory of shoving him to the mattress and riding him like a bucking bronco. She had to admit Cash’s aggressive ways in bed had been a turn-on. Who knew she liked to be dominated in bed? Her last boyfriend had been a kind and gentle soul. Super nice guy but the pizazz was missing during sex. He was thoughtful and considerate and boring. Cash was anything but.

She was about to get in the shower but quickly went and grabbed the phone and ordered breakfast. She wanted to read the bible. She started in the direction of the bed but then went to the bathroom instead. First a quick shower, and then she could spend a leisurely day reading the bible.

She was walking out of the bathroom when Dominick entered with Biscotti in tow.

“Well, good morning to you both.” Riss went to the plates from last night and broke off a bit of cookie. Biscotti’s tale wagged as she fed it to him.

“Thank you, Riss. I know he enjoyed it.” Dominick took the old tray and set the new one down. “Enjoy your breakfast.” Then he and his faithful pal left the room.

Riss poured herself a cup of coffee from the carafe and added a bit of cream. She took a sip and smiled. Best thing ever. She sniffed. Next to bacon. She lifted the lid on the plate and grabbed a slice. Crispy bacon and eggs. She was ravenous after last night’s activities. She hummed as she munched and drank her coffee.

Life wasn’t so bad. She’d come to Venice to find out about her family, and she had. She had a piece of them in the bible. Fitzgerald. She loved the name. Riss Fitzgerald rolled off her tongue so much better than Riss Day. Maybe she could change it. Her adoptive parents had been great, but when they died, she’d been left alone, with no other close relatives. There were a couple of cousins out there somewhere but they’d all lost touch after her parents passed. So if she legally changed her name, no one would care. No one but her. She smiled as she finished her coffee and put the top back over her empty plate.

After washing her hands, she went over to the bed to get her family’s book. She couldn’t wait to read it. She bent down and stuck her hand under the mattress but came up empty. She bent down further to look but the book had gone. Her heart thumped like a bass drum. She checked the floor, but it wasn’t there.

Riss leaned against the bed and tried desperately not to panic. Her palms got sweaty and the breakfast that had tasted so good going down was now sitting like a nauseating lump in her stomach. There could be only one explanation; Cash had taken it.

Her cheeks got hot first and then her entire body broke out in a sweat. She’d been thinking about how much she’d enjoyed last night. How much she liked him. How Cash made her feel safe, and the whole time he was only after the bible. Now it was gone, and he was the thief.

She was on her feet like a shot. The door slammed behind her and her footsteps thundered as she barreled down the stairs. She almost ran over Eli Fisher at the bottom.

“Whoa, Riss. Take it easy,” the gentleman said as he caught her in his arms. “You wouldn’t want to hurt someone.”

That’s exactly what she wanted to do; hurt Cash. Just like he’d hurt her. “Do you know where Cash is?”

“Walker?” He raised his eyebrows. “I haven’t seen him this morning. Did you have another issue last night? Did someone break into your room again? Archer Gray needs to work on security. Things are just falling apart.”

She took a deep breath and tried to step away, but Fisher held on. Ugh, he was one of those. Men who liked to take advantage of the situation. Next, he’d put his hand on the small of her back or the inside of her elbow. He’d soon fucking regret it, with the mood she was in. “No, no one broke in, but I would like to speak to Archer or Cash. Any idea where they might be?”

“I believe Archer is around here somewhere. I would guess in the security offices.”

She frowned. “Where are they?”

Fisher turned her slightly and put his hand on the small of her back as he pointed. “There’s a door on the backside of this staircase.”

“Thanks,” she said as she turned back making sure to bury her elbow in his stomach. He let out a small “Oof,” and she smiled as she went around the corner in the direction he’d been pointing. Asshole. This place was full of them.

She rattled the doorknob, but the damn thing was locked. “You can’t hide from me, asswipe,” she snarled quietly as she started banging on the door.”

A moment later it opened, revealing a startled-looking Louis. “Yeah? What do you want?”

“I want to see Archer Gray,” she demanded.

“He’s busy.”

She glared at Louis. “Tell him to get unbusy.”

Louis snorted, shook his head, and started to close the door. Dante came up behind him. “Louis,” he snarled and pushed the kid out of the way. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Day. If you could give me a moment to check with Mr. Gray, I will see if he’s available. Please wait here in the hallway.” Without waiting for her reply, he closed the door gently.

A scream built at the back of her throat, but she swallowed it. At least Dante was checking. That idiot Louis seemed to think he was something special. He was just a snot-nosed little shit and Riss wasn’t having it.

A moment later the door opened, and Dante stepped to the side and waved her in. “Mr. Gray will see you.”

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