Page 73 of Unstoppable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The next thing I know, Aurei is patting my hands. "Wake up, Sleepy Thang, we need to get off now."

"What?" I ask as I nuzzle him.

"It's time to get off. Are you ready?"

"Yes, I guess."

"Your gift is waiting."

"Oh! That's trickery. You know I'll wake up for that."

He laughs and calls cadence for me. "Left. Right. Left."

"I'm with ya."

We exit the train the same way we boarded without incident. When we are clear, I take his hand, and we start the short walk to the bus station. The air is crisp, and the sun is low, but there is still plenty of sunshine left. We stroll along, and I swing our arms again. Life is good.

Aurei's firm voice startles me. "Siri, get on the other side." He pulls my hand, and I turn it into a twirl, but I move to the other side. "Stay over here."

The crispness in his delivery makes me wonder what has him on alert.

I follow his eyes to a pack of punks coming toward us.

They are behind several couples, but they have spotted us too and are already beginning to taunt us.

I hear them shouting Americana and then laughing.

I watch as the couples in front of them increase their speed and pass by us without eye contact.

When our line of sight is clear, the hair on my neck stands up.

There are seven guys and four girls. All dressed in black leathers and boots.

They look like badass bikers without the bikes.

Aurei's hand remains relaxed in mine. I glance up at him.

He's one cool cat strolling along, walking like a God towards what could be an explosive opportunity.

Confident, competent, and, yes, cocky. I squeeze his hand and lay my head on his arm.

He looks down on me quickly, and I smile at him. He winks, then looks back at the thugs.

We stroll along, both alert but acting as if we aren't. As they draw near, I smell their body odor.

"What the fuck? Their funk!" I wave my hand under my nose.

"For the love of Zeus! They need a bath!

They smell like hell warmed over!" Aurei glances at me again, and I pinch my nose.

"Pew! My eyes are pure watering!" He chuckles and looks back at them.

He stares them down as we pass. They make fun of me making fun of them but walk by. "That could have been bad."

"It ain't over yet." He says calmly.

I look back at them. Three of the guys are walking backward, watching us. I look back up at Aurei, and his demeanor is still the same, self-assured.

When we reach the end of the block, we wait for the light to change.

There are only a few people waiting on the other side to cross and none standing with us.

Aurei leans down to get a kiss from my lips.

As he raises his eyes, he looks across the street.

I notice the pilot's hawk eyes pinpoint something with the faintest of squints, and I see his wheels start to turn as his jaw sets.

The light changes and I swat at him playfully, throw my head back and dance around in front of him, holding his hand and twirling myself around, then walk backward in front of him.

Smiling and laughing at his pretend words, I say, "Oh boy, that ain't good.

" The thugs are on the other side of the street, keeping pace with us.

"No, probably not."

"Should we make a run for it?" I ask.

He laughs. "I think we have the best cardio and stamina, but we are only going one more block. The bus station is right around the corner. They know that. They'll likely try to rob us there."

"What's the plan then?"

"I'm going to put you up against the wall and stand between you and them. Hopefully, Antonio will get here before anything bad happens to anyone." He takes his phone out and texts him.

"I'll spy on them." I spin and twirl, dancing up the sidewalk.

My hair fanning out and falling when I stop or change directions.

"I'm proud to report nothing new, Sir. Wait.

I retract that last transmission. The enemy has crossed the street and is preparing to attack.

" I twirl back to him, reaching my hand for his, then lift it and duck under it, spinning behind him and pulling him around so he can see as I lean back. "See?" I ask.

"You would make a great spy. Very intuitive."

"Yes, I would!" I agree as I pull back up and make him walk backward.

"It's def going down." He tells me. "When we turn the corner would be my bet."

"Aren't you worried?" I stare, amazed at his cool, calm demeanor.

"Nope."

"I think you should be. We are way outnumbered."

His eyes pierce mine. "Siri, there isn't any 'we' in this fight. I got this. I'm going to put you up against the wall and stand between you and them. Your job is to stay behind me."

I smirk, "That's no fun."

He frowns. "I expect you to stay behind me, even if hell breaks loose. Your job is to dance your ass off to stay with me. I need to know where you are at all times because my eyes will be on the battle. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but...."

"NO! No buts. If I call your name, I want you to respond immediately. I need to know you are okay and where you are. Do you understand?" His words are crisp and sharp. The commander has returned.

"Yes, of course, but that's too confrontational. I propose I push you up against the wall, dance for you, then 'pretend' to suck your cock."

He laughs. "Does sex enter into everything you do?"

"Why ... yes. It does. Sex is what I do."

"But not everything is about sex."

"Now, Aurei, trust me on this. I'm the expert here." I roll my eyes and dramatically inform him. "Everything is about sex or money."

"Exactly. This particular event is about money.

Which I would gladly give them, but being an American takes on a whole other dimension.

If I appear weak and give up the money too easy, they may want sex too.

" His eyes bore into mine. "And that, they cannot have.

So, Sweet Thang, I'm going to put you up against the wall and protect you. End of discussion!"

"But we, okay you, are outnumbered by big odds.

They will think those odds will tilt the battle their way, regardless if it's true or not.

They, most likely, won't think twice about just taking what they want, money or sex.

" He rolls his eyes, and I duck under his arm, then I walk backward to watch them.

"And that will definitely draw blood!" I spin out and then back into his arms. He wraps me tight and puts his face next to mine.

"If my way works, no blood and no money! "

He scoops me off my feet and spins us around.

I put my arms around his neck. "You will have the perfect view of them and can easily move into 'kick their ass' mode if you need to, but maybe, just maybe, they will walk away.

Maybe, just maybe, you won't need to fight.

Maybe, just maybe, you will be alright."

He sets me down, and with his hand nestled in my back, pulls me roughly to him.

Then he runs the back of his fingers down my face and across my jaw.

I tip my face into the feeling. He pinches my chin and stares down into my eyes.

His green pools are dark. His voice is low and husky.

I hear the dangerous sweetness in it too.

"Siri, I'm protecting you. End of discussion. "

"No argument there, Sugar Bare." I start to spin around and around, moving in a slow circle while he turns to walk backward. "But my way has the best possible outcome, and the odds are favorable that it will work. If I were in Vegas, I would bet on my odds."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Simple. Most guys don't want to cock block another guy about to get head."

He throws his head back and laughs out loud. "Can't argue that logic."

"Can we at least try my idea then?" I pull my shirt up and flash him.

He misses a step, surprised. "Damn, woman, don't do that right now."

"What did they do?"

"I don't know. I was too shocked to notice."

"Well... do over then." I flash him again, then whip my hair around once.

"They stopped." He walks up to me.

"Anyone talking?"

"No." He tells me as he towers over me. His body language is prepared to reject another attempt to flash him my tits. I grab a handful of his cod sack. "Easy there, Wild Thang. Be careful."

I laugh. "Just because I haven't touched anyone else's junk before doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. I've watched this done hundreds of times literally." I cup them, then push down and squeeze them. His eyes leave the punks and look at me.

"If they aren't talking, we have an audience.

Now time to make them decide. Cock block or not.

" I release his cods, run my hand up his abs, over his chest, and down his arm as I bend down, showing my enticing ass to the group.

I stretch the distance between us as I hold Aurei's hand with both of mine and back away, then I run around the corner with him in tow.

As soon as we leave their view, Aurei takes the lead, and we haul ass to the other side of the bus stop.

There isn't anyone else waiting. He takes a relaxed position against the wall.

"Siri, this is only a short test. If they don't give it up immediately, then get behind me.

Tell me you will. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. "

"I will. I'm with you, Sugar Bare, and don't worry so much about me. I can hold my own for a short time."

He laughs. "My badass baby got game. I'll have to make sure I recount it for Scarlett later."

"Brutus taught me a thing or two about self-defense, and I really did get some training with Ronda Rousey. I wasn't spoofing about that."

"I believe you, but we are outnumbered at least until Antonio gets here."

I put my hands on my hips and mash my lips together. "Fuck! Now, I'm thinking I might want to see you two cousins transform into Roman Soldiers before my very eyes and kick some serious gangsta ass."