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

“Uh, I didn’t know it was you.”

His voice hardened. “Who did you think it was?”

I swallowed.

“Remi?”

“Does that testy growl make people answer you, because it kind of makes me want to hit you?”

“Who threatened your family, Remi?”

I blinked, realization setting in. He had my cell phone number.

Hell, he was a tech guru who owned half the country. He probably knew my full name, my checking account balance, my bra size. I pressed a hand to my head. “He contacted me.”

Maverick cursed.

“Yeah, he’s not happy that I told him I wasn’t doing the job.”

“Meet me.”

My hand clenched on my phone. “This isn’t your mess, Rivera. You shouldn’t wade in. Walk away, and live your shiny, rich life.”

“No. Besides, I’m already in this.”

I huffed out a breath. “Something tells me you take stubborn to a new level.”

“So my friends tell me. Meet me, Remi.”

I gnawed on my lip. “Okay. Dave and Buster’s, Times Square.” I hung up before I could change my mind.

God, I hoped I wasn’t making another huge mistake.





Mav


Mav hadn’t been into Dave and Buster’s since he was a kid. He had a few fond memories of trying to beat his older brothers, Carlos and Daniel, at Mortal Kombat.

He still liked gaming. He had a good setup in his movie room at his penthouse.

He wondered if Remi liked gaming.

The memory of that tiny, barely-a-kiss through the fence hit him. It made things worse. Now he wanted to know what she really tasted like. What sounds she’d make as he thoroughly kissed her.

Fuck.

The sound of the terror in her voice on the phone had him worried.

His gut told him the situation was heading south, rapidly.

“Yeah, go, go, go!” a boy’s voice yelled across the arcade.

“She’s beating you! Hurry.”

Mav rounded some games and found a small crowd of kids gathered around a car racing game. The players sat in simulated cars, and the whine of engines echoed through the air.

“I’m going to catch you!” a boy yelled.

“No, you’re not,” a female voice said.

Remi.

Mav pushed through the crowd and saw her hands clenched on the steering wheel, a wide-eyed teen beside her.

On the screen, Remi’s car crossed the finish line.

“Woo-hoo!” She threw her arms up. “See, kid? Old people can game too.”

The boy laughed, and dropped a discreet glance at Remi’s breasts.

Mav cleared his throat.

Remi glanced at him, and her smile disappeared.

“I’ve got to go.” She climbed out of the car simulator.

“I’d go too,” a hovering teenage girl murmured, her gaze locked on Mav.

Mav took Remi’s arm and led her to a quieter part of the arcade.

“How about a game, Rivera?” she asked.

He frowned. “We’re not here for games.”

She raised a brow. “Afraid that I’ll beat you?”

“No.”

“Come on, then. I’ll even pay.”

Mav tried to think the last time a woman—not including his mother or sister, Maribel—had bought him anything.

“All right, Ms. Solano. You’re on.”

She paused. “You know my name.”

“Remina Solano.” He’d run a quick search on her. A foster child, cybersecurity consultant at Sentinel Security. Yes, he knew some details, but he wanted to know more.

Alarm bells were ringing in his head. The last time he’d wanted to know more about a woman, she’d been a gold digger.

“Here.” Remi stopped beside Space Invaders. “Let’s play this.”

Space Invaders. He hadn’t played it in years. “You’re on.”

She swiped a card, and the screens blinked and music dinged.

The countdown started.

Three. Two. One. “Go!” Remi said.

Mav jerked the gun. He was competitive by nature. He glanced sideways. Clearly, so was Remi. She was leaning into the game, her mouth open a little, her face focused.

His screen flashed.

“Watch out, Rivera, or you’re going to lose,” she taunted.

“Hell, no,” he growled.

She laughed.

In that moment, he forgot all about their troubles. Forgot everything. They were just a man and woman having fun.

Mav threw himself into the game, shooting down spaceships.

“Come on, Rivera. You need to be faster than that—”

“Watch that cockiness, angel.”

She grinned. “It’s not cocky if I can back it up.”

It was good to see the stress and sadness gone from her face for the moment.

The game time ticked down. He was gaining on her. A moment later, words flashed up. Game Over.

She turned and pointed. “Beat you, big guy.”

“Only by ten points. And I’m only big because you’re tiny.”

“Don’t change the subject. I won.” She did a little dance.

Mav tried not to watch the way her hips moved.

“Best of three,” he said.

“You’re on. I’ll even let you pick the next game.”