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

The guy didn’t only have one, he had two showers in the master bathroom.

I dried off, so glad to be warm and clean. As I wrapped the towel around my wet hair, I spotted a fluffy, white robe hanging off a nearby hook and slipped it on.

It was way too big for me. Robes always were. They were not designed for short people. I stared at the tub and imagined lounging in it. It was set in front of huge, floor-to-ceiling windows that looked onto a small terrace ringed by greenery. No one would be able to see in.

I swiveled and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like I was thirteen.

Oh, well. Mav had seen me dressed up, covered in soot and tears, and now makeup-free.

I hoped Mama and the others were okay. I pulled in a deep breath. I would make The Shadow regret this.

I tightened the belt on the robe and then tied my hair up. Then I went to find Mav.

Quietly, I padded downstairs. I loved his place. It made my loft look like a closet. I heard him in the kitchen, and paused in the doorway.

There was something about seeing a man, especially a big, muscular one, in the kitchen. He set a steaming mug down on the island, then turned back to the frypan on a giant, shiny stove. He was making pancakes.

“I love pancakes.”

He glanced over his shoulder and took in the robe, something hungry lurking in his gaze.

“Your tea.” He jerked his head. “Pancakes are nearly ready.”

I sat on a stool at the island, rearranging the robe to cover my legs. “Did your mom teach you to cook?”

“Yes. She swore her kids, boys included, would cook. I’m no chef, but I don’t starve.”

I sipped my tea. It was soothing. “But you’d prefer to be in your lab.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have a lab here?”

“No, I’d work twenty-four hours a day, if I did. I have a home office, and a decent home computer system. After the pancakes, I’ll show you.”

“Ooh, the big, bad tech billionaire wants to impress me with his system.”

His lips quirked.

I loved every little smile I earned from this man.

He set a plate of pancakes down in front of me, and I found that I was ravenous. I tipped maple syrup liberally over mine, and Mav ate his standing up.

A phone dinged and I glanced sideways. I saw my phone resting on the counter.

“I got it out of your bag,” Mav said.

My belly curdled. It was a message from The Shadow.

I don’t take a double-cross lightly.

There was another picture of Mav and I attached.

“Fuck off.” I started typing.

“Remi—”

I shook my head.

Asshole. You tried to kill my family. You made an ENEMY.





There was no response.

I leaped off my stool and paced. “Who just tries to kill innocent people?”

“Bad guys.”

I turned and almost ran into Mav.

“I’m so angry.”

He took my hand and squeezed. “And together, we’ll make him pay.”

I nodded.

“Come on.”

He led me out of the kitchen and down the hall.

And into an office.

I gasped. “Oh my God.”

The room was a hacker’s wet dream. There were screens all over the wall, and a curved desk, with two gamer chairs.

“Computer, grant system access to Remi Solano.”

“Please place your hand on the scanner,” a modulated, female voice said. “Initiate voice sample.”

“Is that the voice of the Star Trek computer?” I asked.

Mav nodded at me.

“Cool.”

“Say your name.” He pointed at a scanner pad on the desk.

“Uh, Remi Solano.” I put my hand on the scanner and it flashed.

“Access granted,” the computer said.

The screens displayed his security feeds. I saw all his windows and doors had pressure sensors, that showed up on the schematics for his home-security system.

He lived in a high-tech castle.

I spied the computer unit beneath the desk.

“Mav, what is that?”

“An Ultra600.”

My pulse raced. “But you’ve only got 300s on the market.”

He smiled. “This is an experimental prototype. I own the company, remember?”

I sat down and tapped on the keyboard. “This is beautiful.” I cruised through his system.

Mav leaned against the desk. “Hello? Remember me?”

I rolled my eyes. “How’s the tracker that we put on Rayner?”

He leaned over and touched the keyboard.

I studied the info and frowned. “He hasn’t made contact with The Shadow yet. Damn.”

“He will. We just need to be patient.”

I thought of Mama, the burning house, Steve missing work, the kids uprooted and missing school.

Dammit. I didn’t want to be patient. I wanted The Shadow to pay, and for this to be over.

Mav’s phone chimed. “Message from Boone. Everyone is fine. They’re all at the safe house, and the kids are mowing into McDonald’s breakfast. Mama is resting comfortably.”

I released a long breath. “I can never thank you enough, Mav.”

“You don’t need to.” He turned away.

“Hey.” I grabbed his arm. “Don’t be grumpy. You’re doing a good thing. Accept my thanks.”