Page 48 of Off Limits (Alpha Billionaire)

“Seriously, you didn’t see that look of shocked terror on Dylan’s face? Dealing with his ass over this project has been a major pain. That expression made up for all the bullshit he’s put me through.”

As Ryan talked, he looked over at me more than he did the road.

I pointed out the windshield, trying to get him to watch where he was going. I gasped and grabbed for the handle over the window and braced against the dashboard.

“Stop being so dramatic, Jessica.”

I was speechless. He was telling me to stop being dramatic, yet the wheels on the passenger side of the car went off the pavement at every curve. There seemed to be a very good reason to be worried. I fumbled to get my seatbelt on.

When he didn’t stop but swerved out onto the main road, I decided to close my eyes and try to relax my muscles. Panicking over his driving wasn’t helping my overall sense of wellbeing, or specifically, the lack of it. I was scared because I had been an idiot and agreed to leave with him. I was terrified because he was driving recklessly.

I don’t know how long I sat there in petrified silence. Maybe not as long as I would have thought. I opened my eyes and looked out the window. Nothing was recognizable, and in reality, most sections of the valley looked exactly like other parts.

But the way Ryan swerved back and forth made me wonder if he kept turning onto side streets just to confuse me. As we approached the village, I expected him to turn and take the mountain road over to the highway. Only he didn't. He kept going.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

He just shrugged.

“Come on, Ryan, you’ve got me here, and we both know this wasn’t some kind of jealous rage. What is all of this about?”

“You really are dumb,” he said.

I glared at him. Unfortunately, he glared back, meaning his eyes were on me and not the road.

I looked out the front window and braced against the ceiling. “Oh, my God, Ryan, slow down!”

He blasted through a stop sign and into the valley village. Traffic slowed dramatically as the surroundings changed from nothing along the roadside to businesses and parked cars.

He didn’t stop. He swerved around slower cars and honked back when disgruntled drivers honked at him.

Where was the highway patrol or a cop when you needed one? Someone needed to pull this man over, and maybe rescue me from my misplaced bravado idiocy that landed me here. I was certain he was going to hit someone, either a car or a pedestrian. It was not going to be good.

I don’t think I breathed again until we were well and good past the shops. The road got a lot curvier. Ryan drove like he was some kind of racecar driver. I felt like I was going to be sick.

Swallowing down bile, I closed my eyes and held on.

Ryan laughed. “When did you get to be such a fucking wimp? You used to be a real thrill seeker.”

I groaned, trying not to throw up.

“I don’t know. A lot of things have changed about me. But you’re still the same old Ryan.”

He seemed to take it as a complement. “Yeah, I am.”

“Are you going to let me go?” I asked. If I focused on his face and not the side of the hill that rushed past us at breakneck speed, I didn’t feel so ill.

“Eventually. I want to make that asshole sweat.”

“But…” Ryan had acted like he was old friends with Dylan and that he knew the man, knew he would be upset when he found out about my past. But none of that was true. Dylan didn’t care that I had messed up in my past. He was only concerned about my present.

Oh, no, that was it… Ryan acted. Ryan was always working some angle. He never approached any business deal, any relationship of any kind—especially not ours—with forthright honesty. He was always acting.

“But what?” he asked.

“Nothing.” I shook my head.

My phone rang. I pulled it out and hoped he would let me answer it.

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