Hacking Mr. CEO (Billionaire Heists #3) by Anna Hackett

Mav glanced at his friends. “I need to go.”

“Where?” Zane demanded.

“Out.”

“Mav.” Zane scowled.

“It’s fine. I’m not going to do anything crazy.”

Zane shook his head, and Liam just arched a brow.

Mav quickly showered, and changed back into the jeans and tan suede jacket he’d worn to the gym, ignoring his suit he’d planned to wear to the office. He headed out to his car.

The sleek, red Rivera roadster wasn’t exactly low profile. Rivera Tech had started producing electric cars two years ago. The roadster wasn’t available yet, but he knew it would be a success. It was a sweet ride.

Mav liked cars and had a small collection—an Aston Martin DB11, a Mercedes CLK GTR AMG Roadster, and Ferrari 812 Superfast, among others.

He headed out of Manhattan, calling his assistant on the way to get her to cancel his morning meetings. The long-suffering Bridget was used to it, but would make him pay. He headed over the Brooklyn Bridge. When he reached Sunset Park, he avoided the street where his hacker was located. The dot hadn’t moved. He parked a block away, and headed in that direction on foot.

Slipping his hands in his pockets, he strode down the street. There were rows of older houses, and some industrial buildings at the end of the street. He paused on the other side of the street and pulled out his phone, pretending to look at it.

He discreetly looked across the street and several houses down. The large doors were open at an auto shop.

Then he heard children’s laughter. He glanced at the house next door.

A petite, curvy woman was playing with some kids on the steps.

The woman had dark-brown, shoulder-length hair, and held a blonde little girl on her hip. Two boys were play-fighting, with what looked like plastic lightsabers.

The woman turned and smiled.

Mav stilled.

That wide smile lit up a face with a pointed chin, cute nose, and dark brows. Fitted jeans displayed generous curves for such a tiny woman.

“Charlie, you hit me with that, boyo, and I’ll make you pay.”

Everything in Mav flared to life.

It was her.

It was her voice. As he watched, he realized that he knew her.

The smartass electrician who’d fallen off the ladder in the office. That’s how she’d gotten the trojan into his system.

“Remi! Remi!” the little girl cried.

“I’ve got you, KayKay.” The woman touched the girl’s nose, then set her down. “I smell cookies inside. They should be ready soon.”

Mav scowled. She didn’t look like a hardened hacker out to make a quick buck.

Don’t get fooled for a second time, Rivera.

The front door opened, and an older, African-American woman came out. “Cookies are ready.”

The kids cheered.

“Then boys, you need to get to school,” the woman continued.

The boys groaned, but raced inside with the little girl.

His hacker, Remi, hugged the older woman and murmured something that he couldn’t make out.

“Remi, I’m fine. Quit hovering.”

“I love you, Mama, so I’m going to hover.”

The older woman swatted Remi’s curvy butt. “Get in there and have some cookies before they’re gone.”

“I will—”

The older woman gasped and swayed.

Remi grabbed her “Mama!”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

“Just a little lightheaded, child.” The woman cupped Remi’s cheek. “I don’t want you to worry.”

“You’re sick. I can’t stop worrying. I’ll help you inside.”

“No.” The older woman straightened. “I’m going in under my own steam.”

Mav saw Remi’s face twist. “I’ll be in shortly.”

The older woman disappeared inside and Remi dropped heavily onto the top step. Her face was clouded with sadness.

Mav moved closer, drawn to her, although he wasn’t sure why.

What was it about this woman?

Suddenly, her head jerked up and their gazes collided.

Her eyes went wide and she leaped up.

A second later, she pushed through the metal gate, then sprinted down the sidewalk.

Away from him.

Fuck.

Mav powered after her and sprinted across the road.

She was small, but fast. She disappeared around the corner.

Dammit. Mav pushed harder. He took the corner and saw her ahead.

There was a large concrete parking area, enclosed by a chain-link fence and topped with barbed wire.

He saw her drop and wriggle through a small hole at the base of the fence.

He had a perfect view of her curvy ass, cupped by denim.

He stumbled to a halt. There was no way he’d fit through that damn hole.

She rose and dusted her hands off. She looked at him through the fence and he saw her eyes were a golden brown, with darker striations in them.

She was breathing fast, and now he noted her breasts pushing against her shirt.

Goddammit, Rivera.

“Hello, angel,” he murmured. “I told you I’d find you.”





6





It Gets Worse





Remi


Air sawed in and out of my lungs. Maverick Rivera was standing right in front of me. Only the thin metal mesh of the fence separated us.