Page 66 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

I realize the way he said that and being the kind of man he is, in the position he is in, that he is paying it forward. "You have an outreach program, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." I study him, and he tries to ignore me, paying close attention to his burrito. "You run a homeless shelter too."

"Affirmative."

"For veterans?"

He nods as he takes the last piece of burrito and drags it across his plate, cleaning the sauce.

"And?" I ask, waiting while he makes a show of opening his mouth wide, plopping it in, and chewing nice and slow.

"I fund a private gang task force too."

My heart melts. "You're a good man, Maximus Aurelius Moore."

"Yep." He reaches for his coffee. Taking his plate, I go into the kitchen and load the dishwasher. "You? What are you involved in?"

"I donate to a rehab facility, and I help out at a halfway house too."

"Help out?" He frowns. "You volunteer your time there?"

"No, just supplies."

"Good." He opens his arms, and I walk in. He nuzzles my neck and says. "I have a busy day planned."

"Me too."

"Quick shower. Go on up and get started. I'll get your clothes from the car."

When we shipped the car, we packed several suitcases of my clothes and other essential personal items, like my computer and my gun.

As I head up the stairs, I hear him say, "Alfred, turn the shower water on."

"Yes, Sir."

The front door closes.

As soon as I enter the master suite, I have the urge to look around, but I hurry into the shower, knowing Aurei used the word 'quick' for a reason. I'll have time to take a look around later. I console myself.

I've finished bathing when my Golden God slides in. I take the soap, spin him around and bathe his beautiful body.

He tells me. "I'll do kitchen duties if you agree to do bath duties. That feels so unbelievably good."

"Deal for now, but I do want to learn to cook."

When he's clean and rinsed and we're drying off, he gives me a quick lesson on how to operate the dressing room.

Impressive is the only word I can think of. "I'm going to be so spoiled rotten!"

Once we are dressed, he puts his gun in his shoulder harness, checks the bullets in the chamber of my Ruger LCR, makes sure it is secure and hands my gun to me.

"I'll take you to the indoor range later to analyze your skill level and your accuracy for myself, but if Brutus trusts you with it, you are to keep this on you at all times. That's non-negotiable."

"Yes, dear!" I roll my eyes, take the gun, pick up my jacket, and slide it into the special pocket sewn in for concealed carry.

At the top of the stairs, I stop and ask. "Have you slid down the railing yet?"

"Not yet."

I swing my leg over and let go. "Whee!" I scream as I gain speed. At the end, I plank on it and shoot off. "Fucking awesome!" I tell him. "Your turn!"

I hear him say, "What the hell." Then he swings his leg over and slides down to, only he controls the speed and nimbly dismounts at the bottom.

I jump on him and give him a quick peck. "That was fun, wasn't it?"

He laughs with me then takes my hand. "Yes, it was."

As we walk down the drive to my car, I squeeze that golden hand and stop him. He turns to look at me. "I'm going to miss you."

He chuckles. "We are pitiful, you know."

"I know. We are!" I glide into his open arms. "To have each been loners before, look at us now. Hating to be apart even for a few hours."

He stares into my eyes and pushes a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "You drive straight to your apartment. Don't go anywhere else, and don't stop anywhere."

I roll my eyes. "You sound like my father when I learned to drive."

He grins. "You did call me Daddy last night."

I swat him. "You would like that, wouldn't you?"

His sheepish half-smile tells me everything I need to know. "It's my turn to take you to Heaven tonight, and I've got big plans for Round 3."

His hands slide down my back and cup my ass, then he hugs me tight against him, and I feel his big, beautiful cock hard against my tummy.

"If we weren't in such a big hurry, I would give you a blow job right now," I tell his chest, then lean my head back and look at him.

He grins at the house. "If we weren't in such a big hurry, I would be pounding your perfection in our sexerise room."

"Fuck it! Let's go back in."

He smirks and chuckles. "I'm tempted, but I can't. My crew is meeting me for a walk-through of our new office building."

I laugh. "I know. I really can't either. I want to see Cat before I see anyone else, and she'll be leaving for the Club soon."

He releases me, turns and opens the car door, then helps me in. I grab the steering wheel with both hands and smile up at him. "I'm going to love the independence having my own car gives me." I crank it and tell him. "I'll probably be about four hours. How long do you think you'll be?"

"Four hours?" He blinks, surprised at my time estimate.

"Yes."

"What's going to take you so long?"

"I'll visit with Cat about an hour, then when James stops by; we have a ton of stuff to discuss." I sigh. "There isn't a lot of time to prepare, and you know my last show has to be killer wicked!"

When I texted James on the plane about meeting with him a day early at my condo, he was so excited he called me.

Right away, he blabbed and gushed about what choreography he wanted to do for my return.

When I told him this would be my final performance as Seary, he almost cried, so I briefly mentioned incorporating the bachelor party with it, and he jumped on it.

"Oh, my gosh, Girl! Let's do a Cowgirl show and bring back the mechanical bull! "

Aurei overheard that part and added, "Oh hell yeah! I bet you ride a mean mechanical bull!"

"She holds the record!" James shouted at him.

Aurei leans into the car, slides his hand behind my neck, and plants a kiss that leaves me breathless, then he stares into my eyes and quietly says. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Straight there and straight home. No other stops. Don't go to the Club without Brutus or me."

I nod. "I understand."

"Text me when you arrive and when you leave."

"I will."

His thumb massages that special spot behind my ear, making me feel loved and cherished. I see in his eyes true concern for my safety.

"Don't be paranoid."

"I'm not paranoid. I'm cautious and protective."

I realize he could become overprotective.

Looking out at the hood of my Shelby GT500, I lecture him.

"Aurei, I vowed that when I returned, I wouldn't be isolated anymore.

That's why I bought this car and brought it out here to drive.

I'm not going to hide. I'm going to be independent. It's important to me."

He smirks a look that says, 'I get that, but....'

I tilt my head defiantly at him.

He chuckles and states the obvious. "But you're famous here, and there are crazies among us."

"Vegas is home. I got this. Don't worry."

"Easier said than done."

"If it makes you feel better, James and I will come up with an identity that will be easy for me to assume and pull off in public. I am Surreal, after all! Hiding who I am is what I do." I lean forward to give him another butterfly kiss. "Does that make you feel better?"

"Not really, but I can see this is non-negotiable."

He pecks my lips, cops a feel of a tit then tells me again. "I love you. Be careful." He stands up and closes the door with both hands.

I give him a twinkling fingers wave and mouth through the window. "See ya laters."

"Ciao, Baby Thang." He double taps the window, and backs away, then winks that killer wink at me, knowing it makes me wet and needy and knowing that picture is what I will remember all day while he is away.

I put the car in reverse and back away. As I exit the gate, I double tap the horn.

Driving to my condo, I feel elated and free. Like a little bird that finally gets its wings and soars, I start patting the steering wheel and sing "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf.

When I pull into my apartment complex, I stop at the parking attendant's house to check in, but no one is staffing it, so I use my quick scan code, and the gate rises.

I circle the levels until I reach the 14th floor, where my condo is.

Since there are only two condos on this floor, there are only six parking spots, but wouldn't you know it?

I've been gone only a few months, and the neighbors have taken over parking in all three of mine.

I take out my phone and text Aurei.

Your Every Thang is reporting in. I'm at Lioness Towers, safe, trying to find a parking spot.

I set my phone on the seat. I don't have access to get to the penthouse parking where Cat lives, so I'll have to backtrack and find a place to park on another level.

Aurei responds immediately. He was waiting on my text! I roll my eyes.

Ok. Check in again when you leave.

I drive back down, circling each floor until finally, I find one on the third level. Not the best place to park, but it'll have to do.

The first and second floors are nicknamed "The Honeymoon Suites.

" Not because they are honeymooners, but because they are quick rents, like hotel rooms. The third and fourth floors are "The Bachelor Pads" because they are booked more like timeshares.

Cat wasn't happy about having to make these changes, but the collapsing economy forced her to.

The rest of the building is still apartments for long-term residents.

Excited to be home and missing Cat something terrible, I hurry out of the car, round the trunk, and start walking at my usual fast pace in a rush to the elevator.

I'm about halfway when I hear the rumble of deep, low voices behind me, and I realize I didn't survey my surroundings before I exposed myself, plus I forgot my fucking jacket.

Shit! I do a u-turn and march right back to retrieve it.

Searching for the men who go with the rumble, I see a group of badasses leaning on their bikes parked in the rear.

Bikers are a special breed of man. Not always dangerous, but not always predictable either.

They appear not to know I'm there, so I very quietly open my car door, reach in, grab my jacket, and shut it as softly as I can, then I turn to head back to the elevator.

Walking at a brisk pace, I hear catcalls.

The hair on the back of my neck stands up.

Fuck! I should have just gotten back into the car and drove off.

Now I'm royally screwed. Maintaining my composure, I continue walking as if I'm deaf.

I know I have to make a decision soon. Do I stand my ground, confront him or them and, if need be, fight, or do I flee and hopefully escape, but be prepared that I could get caught and attacked.

The latter is tempting. I do run good for a girl.

With any luck, I could outpace them and get to the elevator first. But what if it's closed?

Then what? You're trapped, and they think you are afraid. You've shown weakness.

I hear Brutus' voice as he coaches me through my protection drills.

"Eye contact is a great deterrent to criminals.

Why? Because criminals are hunters and they want easy prey.

They don't want someone who is brave and will look them in the eye, and they sure as hell don't want someone who can identify them.

They want someone who avoids eye contact.

Don't be a target. Look them directly in their beady little eyes and size them up.

Who's the bigger badass, you or them? If you think they are only after your purse or money, give it to them without a fight, but under no circumstances do you allow yourself to be touched.

Don't let them lay one finger on you, do you hear me?

Bad things happen to women who are touched. Is that clear? Rule #1 is no touching!"

Another catcall, and before I decide which is the safest course, the motorcycles crank, and their rumble sounds like a storm brewing.

Knowing they are heading my way, I step to the side.

Two-pass, staring at me. They are dressed in everything black that means trouble.

When I see the 1% on their colors, my heart begins to race, and I feel the spike of adrenaline-fueled by fear.

My hand slides inside my jacket to my gun.

The rumble from the bikes grows louder as more crank, then drive past. I know my blood is pounding because my hand is trembling.

I squeeze the barrel to steady it. Each biker stares me down as they pass.

Being braver and bolder than I feel, I lift my head and stare back.

When the last one turns the corner to exit, I turn and look behind me. Whew! That could have been disastrous!

Taking my hand off my gun and throwing my jacket over my arm, I breathe deeply to calm my nerves as I start toward the elevator.

The rumble of their pipes drowns out all other noise until they actually exit the building.

Then a heavy silence falls. Instantly I realize someone is walking behind me.

Heavy boots produce a muffled sound with each step.

The hair on the back of my neck rises again, and I quicken my steps.

I'm almost to the elevator when I hear another catcall. Fuck! He is right behind me.

I reach inside my jacket for my gun, but a heavy hand grabs my arm with steely force before I feel the cool metal of my security.

I glance down to look at the hand before I try to snatch my arm away.

It has a skull and crossbones ring with rubies for the eyes.

Perfect! A bonafide Badass! I lift my foot a few inches, then stomp my heel on the asshole's boot.

At the same time, I jerk my arm away. My heel slides off the heavy leather without harm, and the grip only tightens.

I look up to see who is laughing at me, but he is wearing a black hoodie, and his face is hidden.

"You Son Of A Bitch!" I spit. "Get your fucking hand off me!" My hair fans out as I try to shake him off.

A deep, low, menacing chuckle is the only response I get. Then I see the knife.