“Stay here.”
“No,” she said as he bolted through the ballroom door.
Three men in tuxes held a man facedown on the ground. His hands were pinned behind him. A security officer cuffed him while a second pointed his weapon at the suspect. Two additional guards were cordoning the shaken guests. The man on the ground was not Wilson Montgomery.
Colton breathed and his heart rate slowed back down. “What’s going on?”
“Sir, you’ll have to step back,” said a hotelguard.
“That’s the asshole who ruined my life!” The man strained to see Colton.
Colton knelt next to him.Hell, it’s Cranston.
Years ago, Lance Cranston had been a loose cannon. It would appear nothing had changed for the former CEO and self-made millionaire. His self-destructive behavior had almost collapsed his organization, until Colton had purchased the company and turned things around.
“Sir, we don’t know if he’s armed with explosives,” said a security guard.
“I know this man,” Colton said to hotel security. “Please stand him up so I can speak with him.”
“We need to wait until the police arrive with the Explosives Unit.”
“Lance, are you carrying explosives?” Colton asked.
“No, I’m not,” said Lance.
“Let’s get some answers. Stand him up,” said Colton.
“You’ll have to wait,” said the guard.
“No, I don’t,” Colton growled. “Stand him up,now.”
The security team spoke amongst themselves, then pulled Lance to his feet. After patting him down, the armed guards confirmed he had no additional weapons or explosives. Lance’s rumpled clothing and matted hair was nothing when compared to the stench of liquor emanating from him.
Colton placed a firm hand on his shoulder while security stood with their weapons drawn. “Lance, what’s going on?”
“You ruined my life,” Lance replied.
“Have you been drinking?”
Lance rolled his eyes. “Yeah.”
“Drugs, too?”
“Some pills, smoked a little weed.”
Colton raked his hand through his hair. “Did youeverget clean?”
“No.”
“When I bought out your shares, you received millions. What happened to all that money?”
“Long gone, man.” Lance glared at him. “You forced me out of my company.”
“No. Iboughtyou out and saved your organization from bankruptcy. Do you remember our deal?”
Lance’s head dropped. “You’d sell me back my shares when I got clean and sober.”
“I’m still waiting to do that. Get clean, Lance.” Colton slid his business card into Lance’s shirt pocket. “The next time you contact me, use the damn phone.”
