Page 52 of Off Limits (Alpha Billionaire)

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yeah, yeah. We’re going to go play video games and then I’ll go home,” he said.

“Don’t get me in trouble with your mother,” I warned him.

“I won’t, Mr. Anderson.” He held up the handful of cash. “Thanks.”

“No, thank you.” I walked into the lobby and stayed just out of sight of Colin with the box of pizza and the bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild. He was standing at the front desk looking bored.

“That mine?” I heard Ryan ask.

Colin turned and gave Ryan one of those stare downs that only a cocky teenager would give someone they didn’t like. “Depends. I need to see some ID. I’m not handing this over to just anyone.”

Ryan reached into his back pocket. “So, what exactly did I do to win this?”

“I don’t know, man, I’m just a pizza delivery guy. Some pitiful jerk who lost your information dumped this all on me. I think it has something to do with the Chamber of Commerce. I don’t remember.”

Ryan held out his ID, and Colin handed over the bottle of wine and the pizza.

Colin stood looking at Ryan expectantly before Ryan remembered he needed to tip the kid. They handed the box and bottle back and forth. Why didn’t they just set it on the counter? Ryan pulled out his wallet and a few bills. They shuffled around again, and then Colin was sauntering out the door. I waited until he was gone before I approached Ryan.

“That's a pricey bottle of wine for pizza,” I said.

Ryan held up the bottle as if to show it off, looked at me, and then looked at it. “You do this? You’re smarter than you look.”

“Where is she?” I snarled.

Ryan looked around and over his shoulder. The lobby had a few people scattered around. “I figure you won’t jump me here, too many witnesses. Damn, did I make you sweat? You’re still all worked up?” He was laughing. The asshole was actually enjoying all of this.

I ground my molars together. He was right, hitting him had been a poor choice before. Satisfying, but poor. I wasn’t going to be able to get away with hitting him again without the hotel staff calling the police on me.

I let out a long breath. “You’re right, I’m not going to do anything. Not here. Where is she?”

Ryan shook his head. “No idea. Surprised she hasn’t called you. I left her by the side of the road down in Soledad. I think it was Soledad, but it might have been Gonzales.”

I was stunned into silence. “You left her by the side of the road? What the hell were you thinking?”

“That I wanted her out of my car. You two deserve each other. I’m gonna go up to my room now and eat this free pizza. In the morning, I expect to see an update on that proposal.”

A shocked laugh escaped me. “You honestly think I’m going to authorize and recommend your idea after this?”

Ryan ducked his head and leaned in close. “Yes. And I want you to think about something so that we both know this deal will happen. I left Jessica unharmed. Next time, I might not be so considerate.”

I shoved him away from me.

He held up the box and the bottle and tilted his head. “It’s all good. All good. Go home, Dylan. Get me those signatures.”

I stood in place, seething, as I watched him head toward the elevator. My phone rang.

“What?” I snapped.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” It was Jessica.

24

JESSICA

Ryan was insane. There was no other explanation for any of it.

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