Page 30 of Nothing to Beat

TWELVE

“I’VE BEEN ON PRIVATE planes, but, wow,” she said, more impressed by what was inside than the clouds or the country beneath.

A chessboard, a fireplace, thick carpets and mood lighting, this was no ordinary airplane.

“Puts the rest of us to shame, doesn’t it?”Tripp asked, reclining his chair to lay flat.“Z has class, Rox Out.”

“Yeah.Me.I’m his class.”Roxie shook up their cocktails in the mixer.“Welcome to the Zee-Jet, Sequoia, yet another jewel in our Crimson crown.Very top-secret, exclusive clientele only.Not for public consumption.I thought the Crimson Craft would be overkill for three passengers.It’s a Triple Seven.And I hear it’s being decked out for the wedding anyway.”

“I should get me one of these,” Tripp said, adjusting his shoulders.“About time I had my own wings.”

“The amount you travel, I’m surprised you don’t.”

“He’s the only freeloading billionaire you’ll ever meet,” Roxie said.“He doesn’t actually own anything, just sponges off the rest of us.”

“Watching those interest digits roll over and over on the trust fund account day after day, Rox Out.Waiting to sweep the table.”

“Don’t wait too long or all my single friends will be taken,” Roxie said.“You know, the day you take a woman home to your mother, she’ll fall to her knees and kiss the floor.She needs to know you’ll be looked after because, let’s be honest, you can’t look after yourself.”

“How’d we get from money to women?”

Roxie arched a brow at him.“One is more valuable than the other.”

“Tell Brandt, boy’s still a virgin, but knows the market better than any other guy I ever met.”

“And whose fault is that?”Roxie asked.“You have a massive surplus of women and you’ve never taken pity on your little brother?One of your harem must owe you a favor—consensually, of course.And you know almost every female on the planet, are you saying there’s none compatible with him?No chance any woman would be attracted to him?He’s cute.”

“I love the guy, he’s my brother.”

“You just can’t stand him.”

“Doesn’t feel right to lumber any woman with him, even for a night.”

“So tie him up and gag him, he doesn’t have to talk to her.”

“Window into your relationship there?”Tripp teased.“Always wondered how Zairn did it night after night.”

Speaking of the man… “Was Zairn okay with you leaving town, Roxie?”

Hard to believe he could be if Roxie was honest about their purpose.Maybe he’d be okay with it, if he was present.How had Roxie kept him away and stolen his plane?Woman was impressive.

Tripp stretched out, closing his eyes and locking his hands on top of his head.“She hasn’t called him.”

“I’ll get around to it.”

“As soon as she finds a charger for her phone.”

“Yeah?Laugh it up, Playboy Junior.Have you called your mom?”

“My mom knows better than to assume I’ll be on any one continent for any length of time.As long as I’m on the planet, she’s good.”

“Just follow the pretty girls, don’t you, Priest?”

“No, Rox Out, they follow me.Haven’t figured that out yet?”

“That’s right, I forgot, you’re Zairn’s redirect.”

“Haven’t returned one to sender yet.You maintain the supply and I’ll deliver on their demands.”