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

Damn, she was good. The phone was practically rubbing the guy.

“Your drink, sir.”

He took it and drained it in one gulp. He watched Remi smiling, flirting.

A second later, she looked at her watch, then beamed at Rayner, patted his arm, and walked away.

Mav didn’t miss all the other sets of male eyes watching her.

As she got closer, she caught Mav’s gaze, winked, then walked out of Guastavino’s.

A beat later, Mav followed.

Outside, a few people milled around. Late arrivals were coming in, others braving the cold to smoke, or escape the crowd inside.

Remi turned, now with a high-necked, black cape around her, and a grin trained up at him. “Uploaded.”

Mav scooped her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

“You are good,” he said.

“Oh, I know, big guy, I know.” She kissed him.

Fuck. Every time he kissed her, he thought this gut-gnawing need would lessen.

It only got worse.

“I like working with you,” she said. “Right now, that little trojan of ours is doing its thing.”

It was a hell of a feeling.

“Well, well, well,” an amused male voice drawled.

Shit. Mav turned his head.

Beside him, Zane stood with Monroe. The woman’s dark hair was up, and she was wearing a sleek, aquamarine dress, peeking out from under a black evening coat.

Beside them, a grinning Liam looked impeccable in his tuxedo and overcoat, and Aspen wore a blush-pink dress with a fitted top covered in silver beads, and a long full skirt. She had a furry, silverly-white bolero coat over her shoulders and arms.

Mav set Remi on her feet.

“Maverick Rivera kissing a woman in public.” Zane looked at Liam. “He ever been into PDA?”

“No.”

Monroe elbowed Zane. “Who’s your friend, Mav?”

“Hi.” Remi gave a little wave. “I’m Remi.”

Mav watched his friends study her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Remi,” Zane said, all charm. “How do you know Mav?”

“Oh, well, I…work with computers.”

His friends weren’t dumb. They were very sharp, and they’d used their brains to make themselves billions of dollars. He could see them putting things together.

“We have to go,” Mav said.

“But we just got here,” Aspen said.

“I need to get Remi home.”

“Remi.” Zane pinned her with a glare. “You wouldn’t happen to be a hacker, would you?”

Remi lifted her chin. “That’s none of your business, Mr. Roth,” she said sweetly.

Both Zane and Liam turned to Mav.

“Mav, what the hell?” Zane snapped. “She’s a traitor.”

Mav felt Remi flinch.

“Zane—”

“Mav, you fought hard to protect us when you thought we needed it. Now it’s our turn.” Zane shot Remi a dark look. “I won’t let her drag you down. Not like Hannah did.”

“I’m handling this,” Mav said.

“By kissing the hell out of your hacker? Is that your plan?”

“Zane,” Mav growled.

“She can’t hurt you if she’s locked up in jail.”

Remi gasped.

Mav slid his arm around her. “Enough. There are things you don’t understand.” He saw Remi shiver from the cold.

He stripped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“I can’t explain everything to you yet. I need you to trust me.”

His friends looked away, jaws tight. Monroe and Aspen looked worried.

“I need to get Remi home.”

“Mav, tread carefully,” Zane warned. “Treason is treason.”

Mav nodded, then whisked Remi toward the limo.

“Will they…have me arrested?” she asked.

“No. That’s not going to happen.” The euphoria of the night was ruined. “Let’s get you home.”





10





My Eyes Are Wide Open





Remi


I sat in the back of the limo, my belly churning.

Mav sat beside me, brooding. His dark mood filled the vehicle.

“Your friends are…very protective.”

“They’ve both been through some situations lately. Both have fallen in love.”

“I read about some of it. Two billionaire bachelors off the market is big news.” I fiddled with my fingers in my lap. “You’re lucky to have friends like that.”

He took my hand. “When this is over, when it’s safe, I’ll explain it to them. You aren’t a traitor, Remi.”

“Thanks to you. If I’d kept my blinders on…” I shivered.

“But you didn’t.”

I dragged in a breath. “Who’s Hannah?”

He stiffened, sending a fierce scowl at his shoes.

I slipped my hand free. “Sorry. None of my business.”

Dark eyes met mine, churning.

My belly clutched.

“Met her in college. Fell for her.”

Ugh. I felt claws in my belly and looked out the window. I hated the idea of Mav falling for anyone.

I couldn’t stop myself from looking back.

“She was tall, blonde, pretty, smart,” he said.