Dirty Sexy Alphas (Twenty Book Box Set) - Hannah Ford Page 0,375

eyes had gone black, but not from desire. “If you’re not hungry then we’re leaving.”

With barely restrained tension rolling off him, he stood and held out a stiff hand. I pushed back my chair and got to my feet without touching him. No way was I going to pretend that everything was okay. His jaw clenched. “Put your hand on my arm and walk out with a smile on your face or your not getting a damned cent, Skylar.”

I sucked in a breath. He was blackmailing me now? I laid my hand on the crook of his arm. “You’re an asshole.”

To my surprise, he laughed but the sound held no humor. “When I need to be, Skylar. When I need to be.”

We left the restaurant together and when we stepped outside, the cameras started clicking. I smiled until my cheeks hurt, and when the car arrived, I smiled until I climbed inside. As soon as the door shut, I yanked my hand away from Madden and pushed myself as far away from him as possible.

“Home Jeff,” Madden said.

I sat up straight. Did he actually think that we were going back to his place and do everything he’d whispered in my ear this morning? “No.”

Madden pinched the bridge of his nose and then exhaled. “I’ll give you your money tonight. There is no reason to draw this out until tomorrow. You’ve fulfilled your side of the bargain and you’re free to go or do whatever you want now. I’ve had your car brought there as well as your things from the hotel.” He turned so that he was looking right at me. The anger was gone, replaced by his usual mask of control. “I meant what I said earlier. You are free. I’ve put measures into place to assure that Jacob will never come near you again. I hope that at least, offers you a measure of comfort wherever you go.”

Emotion clogged my throat and my tongue felt thick. How could he be such an ass one minute and the next, act like a decent human being?

I hated the constant back and forth. I wanted to hate him, but he didn’t owe me anything. I pushed him at the restaurant because I thought there was a connection between us. A chance at something.

But whatever had been there between us last night—even this morning—had been an illusion created by a master magician.

It seemed a lifetime ago already.

We’d driven out of the city and I realized that I didn’t even know where we were going.

“You live outside the city?” Somehow I figured that he would be at the top of some high-rise in the penthouse apartment lording over the city.

“I have a place in town that I stay at during the week unless I’m traveling, but I have a place in Weston where my CO’s and their families come to spend the weekends quite often.”

“Why are we going there now?” The buildings grew further and further apart until we were on a long stretch of highway.

“I told you. So you can pick up your car and I can give you our agreed upon payment.”

“So that’s it, then. As simple as one, two…”

“Three,” he finished, his voice flat. He said it so matter of fact, like we were discussing matching Gucci luggage and not the end of everything we’d shared in this short amount of time.

The air inside the car grew thick.

“Well at least you’ll be rid of me very soon. I’m sure that will make you happy.”

Madden sighed. When he opened his eyes, they were softer. “Skylar…”

Before he could finish the car stopped in front of a pair of enormous iron gates. I wanted to tell Jeff to wait, to let me know what Madden was going to say, but the gates swung open and the car move forward.

Madden sat up straighter and I knew that he wasn’t going to finish what he’d been about to say.

Tall oak trees lined the driveway and when we rounded a bend, the house came into view. No, not a house, a mansion. The place was as big as the state house in Augusta.

“You live here alone?” I gasped.

The main building was three stories with huge pillars on either side of the front door. Two wings spread out from either side, both two stories and as big as their own house. It looked like it was right out of a southern living magazine.

“There is a full staff, but yes, this is my home.” He sounded so disinterested