Dirty Sexy Alphas (Twenty Book Box Set) - Hannah Ford Page 0,376

that my mouth fell open. How could anyone not be awestruck driving up to this every day?

The car rounded the circular driveway and stopped in front of the path leading to the front door. Jeff was out and had the door open before I could force my mouth closed. It would take me a month to learn my way around a place this large.

A good thing then, that I wasn’t staying longer than I needed to collect my money.

My stomach ached with raw disappointment.

Madden stepped out of the car, then offered his hand to me. I took it, basking in the warmth from his skin. This infuriating man had me running hot and cold and hot again with just a touch. I hated that I had no control of my emotions around him. He pissed me off in one breath, then made me breathless the next.

The door closed and Jeff climbed back behind the wheel. The car rolled down yet another driveway to the right and disappeared.

“My things?” I asked.

“He’ll bring them in through the back entrance. Are you ready?”

I nodded and we started toward the door. A shadow moved off to the left and then another. Two men stepped out from behind one of the pillars. Madden stiffened and moved between them and me.

“Go inside,” he said to me, his body suddenly tense and his voice strained. Even last night in a fight that could have ended with someone dead, he’d never looked like this.

One of the men laughed. “Oh come on now, we don’t get to meet your new fiancé? Hello love, let me get a good look at you.” I peeked around Madden and saw a short man in a black suit staring at me. There was a scar running along one side of his face and he had on a hat that was pulled halfway down over his eyes. The air around him vibrated with danger.

The other man stood silent. He was taller, thinner than his pudgy companion, but I got the immediate impression that he was the one to be afraid of. His dark hair was combed neatly back and he had on sunglasses so I couldn't see his eyes, but I had the skin crawling feeling that he was looking at me too.

Madden had to know them. Everything about how he behaved told me that he knew them very well, somehow.

“Hello,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Madden shot me a glare then swung back around. His body was stiff and I saw his hands clenching at his side. “What are you doing here?”

“How’s that any kind of welcome. We thought we ought to drop by and see an old friend, after all it’s not everyday that you get engaged,” the short man said. He was grinning like there was some kind of inside joke going on and I shifted uncomfortably.

“We should celebrate,” the other one said.

“Get off my property,” Madden growled. He took a step forward and the tall man held up his hand.

“Your property, Alex?” he said.

Madden froze.

My gaze shot to him.

Alex? Had I heard that right?

Except I knew that I had heard the man right. And he wasn’t denying it.

“Madden?” I asked through a slowly constricting throat.

The short man threw back his head and laughed. “Oh Alex, you haven’t told your beautiful fiancé about all this yet? You know, any good relationship shouldn’t start out based on lies.”

“Enough,” the taller man said. “We need to have a talk with you Alex, and since your fiancé is here, then she’s invited to join us.” He waved his hand toward the door. “Shall we go inside?”

Madden growled. “She has nothing to do with me. It’s all just a ruse. I paid her to pose as my fiancé, and our business is done. She leaves now.”

My body started trembling. What was happening? I needed Madden to tell these men that they were crazy and he was Madden Cross and that they were wrong. He said nothing.

“I’m sorry Alex, but she stays.” The tall man moved to my side and held out his arm. He smelled like cigars and expensive cologne. “If you would be so kind as to let me escort you inside.”

I looked to Madden but he wouldn’t meet my gaze. His jaw was hard and he clenched and unclenched his fists, but he didn’t move. I seemed to have no choice. I put a shaky hand on the man’s arm and he reached out and patted it. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.

“Very