Page 70 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

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Siri

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The knife makes me stop fighting. "What do you want? I don't have any cash on me."

His grip doesn't weaken, but his hoodie has slipped back off his face with my struggle. He is white with a thick black scruff. He smirks. "Well, that depends. What do you have that I might want?"

"A car?" I ask, hoping he is in the garage looking to steal one.

"Too hard to unload."

The elevator arrives, and he pulls me inside, shoves me up against the wall, then hits a button.

My hand slips out of the concealed pocket as I bounce against it, and I almost drop the jacket.

He flashes the knife, grabs my arm again, and pulls me tight against him.

He wreaks of body odor which means he hasn't bathed in a while.

He's looking for quick money. Probably for drugs.

He doesn't do or say anything on the elevator ride, but his tight grip is making my arm go to sleep.

When the elevator stops and the doors open, he pulls me out, and I realize we've gone down instead of up.

He begins walking toward the back, pulling me along.

He's taking me to the underground. I think of my choices.

They are limited until I can break his grasp and get my gun.

I wait until we are at the small crack in the concrete wall before I speak.

"So, you live in the underground?"

He stops and looks at me. His voice is suspicious of my question. "Why?"

I smirk and put on an innocent face. "Oh. No reason." But I stop resisting and stand by his side.

He studies me, not sure what to do now.

"Do you want me to go first?" I offer.

"No." His grip is crushing. He steps through and pulls me with him.

We walk a short way in silence before I see the first set of homeless people in the distance.

It breaks my heart, seeing people so desperate and destitute, living down here where the sun doesn't shine, but at least it's cool from the water seeping down from the hotels and casinos.

I've only been down here once. I was looking for Lei in the early days.

Someone introduced me to a giant of a man that looked every bit like a Viking reincarnated.

He was like their sheriff and maintained order.

He helped me find her and bring her home.

Men who rule their kingdoms with an iron fist like this dude aren't always so kind, and if I ever needed his help again, I knew I had better be on his good side.

His is one of the homeless charities I give too.

I realize he probably keeps the money for his own drug habit, but he also buys from his flock, and in that way, I have contributed in a trickle-down effect.

I'm guessing that's what this dude intends to do with me, to offer me in exchange for money.

My clothes and shoes alone are worth hundreds of dollars to him, but human trafficking is a real danger and worth so much more. "Are you taking me to Erik the Red?"

His head whips around, and he stops dead in his tracks. He stares at me with raised eyebrows in complete surprise. "How do you know about Erik?"

"I had the pleasure of doing business with him several years ago."

His eyebrows drop into a frown. "Fuck!" He says and turns us around. I hang back and make him pull me along. "Come on, bitch! Let's see what you have in your car after all."

Back in the elevator, on the ride up to the third floor, he studies me.

I look away and try to ignore him. "You're easy on the eyes.

Great body. Why are you at Lioness?" He stops talking, and my heart tightens when I realize he is eyeing my choker.

The one thing I'm not willing to give up without a fight. "Nice necklace."

My poker face slides on. "It's a collar."

"Hmm." He watches, then gives me a head nod. "Who do you belong to?"

Best defense is offense, so I tell him in a bitchy voice. "Someone bigger and badder than you are."

He smirks, but I can see he believes me.

"Listen, dude; I have an appointment, you know what I mean? And if I don't show, they're going to call someone and bitch." The doors slide open on the 3rd floor. "Take my car key and go look for yourself for any hidden treasures."

He ignores my outburst and smirks. "So, you are a hooker?"

"I'm a dancer." I roll my eyes.

He laughs. "You're a whore."

"Whatever." I look away.

"What floor?" He asks and flashes the knife at me.

"Twelfth," I tell him and eye the panel. He pushes #12. I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing I've made myself a little breathing room to think. On the ride up, I decide to try to talk myself into a room.

My phone begins to serenade us with Lionel Richie's "Truly." My eyes fill with tears with the gravity of my situation. Oh, Aurei! Knowing I've put myself in real danger and I might not see him again, I swallow hard and try to maintain my poker face and my composure.

The dude looks surprised as Lionel sings, then he laughs. "Sounds like your pimp is calling." I look away as he reaches into my pocket for my phone. He pulls it out and reads the contact name. "My Fucking Golden God. Really? What kind of name is that?" He looks at me and sees my tears.

I smirk. "The kind of name you give a man you worship."

"I'm more interested in the golden part of the name."

"He's rich."

The doors of the elevators open. "Really? How rich?"

"Filthy." I give him my best bitch face.

"Change of plans." He pushes #3 and holds the phone where I can see the text.

Siri, where are you?

"So, give it up, Babe. I need cash."

"I need to answer him, or he'll come looking for me."

He types.

At Lioness Towers.

You good?

Sure.

Tell Cat hello from me.

As he scrolls through my phone, he asks. "Who's Cat?"

"My best friend."

He cuts his eyes at me. "You were setting me up just then?"

It's a statement, not a question, but I answer him anyway. "Maybe."

He continues to explore my phone, then he grins. "You live in Red Rock Country Club Community?"

"Maybe."

He texts Aurei.

Ok.

He puts my phone in his pants pocket, reaches down, and takes my jacket. The weight of the gun makes his eyebrows shoot up. "What the hell do we have here? Are you packing?" He pulls my gun out then points it at me.

Instinctively, I back up until I'm pressed against the wall.

"Better than this knife!" He looks at it, then drops it on the floor and pushes it with his foot away from me. Then he waves the gun around, enjoying the power he now has.

My heart stops beating, and I struggle to keep my breath. My voice quivers when I say. "You'll need me to get into the house. It's secure."

"I know that bitch. Rich people protect their shit. Sit down, over there in the corner."

I slide along the wall until I reach it, then down to sit on my feet.

I hug my legs to me and drop my face to rest on my knees.

Aurei fills my mind. I see his golden halo of hair moving gently as he talks.

His handsome face and his bright smile. The crinkle at the corners of his eyes when he is happy.

His arms around me and how safe I feel in them. And how bad, I've fucked up.

The doors open, and he says. "Stand up. You're driving me home." He laughs.

I lift my head to discover he has taken the hoodie off and is wearing an air conditioning repairman shirt. He tosses the hoodie to me and says. "Turn it inside out and put it on. Cover all that hair with the hood."

I stand up and do as I'm told. The fear of being killed overrides any instinct to disobey. I turn it inside out. It's bright red. I slip it over my head and pull the hood on. I look at him, and he has donned a ball cap with the AC repairman logo on it.

"Good. Now you're going to walk to your car, and we're going to take a nice drive out to the house at the golf course."

The spit in my mouth is dry, and my stomach is nauseous as I walk out and do as he says.

At my car, we split up. The thought of running briefly floats across my mind as I round the trunk, but when I walk to my door, I see the gun is trained on me, and his hand is steady.

I swallow every ounce of independence, open my door and get in the driver's seat.

He sits next to me and turns the street map on.

The voice tells us the directions. "Follow them. "

I put my car in reverse and leave Lioness Towers.

I enter the route as the GPS instructs. It takes us into traffic, and the going is slow. I do not try to maneuver but simply maintain the lane I'm in and travel the speed limit, letting my mind calm down.

What are my choices when I get home? Think Siri.

Think! I have no idea if Aurei, or when Aurei, will discover I'm not where I should be.

It could be hours before he knows. It's up to me to get myself out of this fucked up situation alive.

I can do this. I can take this dude down.

I just have to think! Then it hits me. Alfred!

Alfred sees all and hears all. I can use that.

The AC repairman wipes the sweat off his face. I cut my eyes at him, and he's the color of fish, pale and clammy.

"What's your addiction?" I ask.

"Shut up."

I glance at him and make eye contact. "I might have what you need at home. I can get you a fix first."

His pupils are dilated.

"Shut up."

I look back at the road. I am a quiet kitten. The thought relaxes me further. He may have my gun, but Aurei has an arsenal in the indoor range.

The car in front of me slows down and makes a right-hand turn into a business.

I hit the brakes and check my rear-view mirror.

My heart nearly jumps out of my chest, and I have to fight the breath that wants to flood it.

Aurei! My Golden God! My hero! He's found me.

Everything is going to be alright. I tap my brakes three times gently, just so the lights flash.

He gives me a quick smile and a thumbs up that he knows I know he's there.

Then he puts his phone to his ear and calls me.