The Billion Dollar Baby_A Billionaire Romance

by Stella Andrews

  I nod and shiver as he drops to his knees before me. I recoil as he reaches out and tilts my face to his.

  He says forcefully. “Look at me.”

  Taking a deep breath, I open my eyes and look into the ones of the man I despise almost more than another. He is wearing a hard expression, and the fear grips me.

  He says darkly. “I mean it, honey. You speak one word of what happened here to anyone and you won’t live to tell another. There are consequences of playing with the big boys and you need to know what they are.”

  He grips my face hard and I feel him hurting me again. I look at him with terror in my eyes and just nod.

  He releases me and then traces a light trail down my cheeks towards my body. His touch sends feelings of revulsion through me as he brands my body with hate and disgust. He carries on touching me and I shiver inside. He says huskily, “You are so beautiful, Ashton. What man wouldn’t want to own this beautiful body? Your innocence is like the temptation of Eve to Adam and there is no man who could resist such a prize. I wish you would reconsider. I would treat you well and protect you as only I can. Your life would be filled with riches and you would want for nothing. Think about it because it’s not too late to change your mind. You could have it all, honey.”

  He touches my breast and caresses it reverently. I hear his breathing change as he leans closer and my heart beats so fast I can hear it. Oh, please no, not again.

  Then we hear voices outside and he pulls away. The moment is gone, and he says harshly. “Get dressed, he’s here.”

  As he makes to leave, he stops and turns to face me.

  “If you change your mind, you know where we are. You were every bit as delicious as I knew you would be. You’ve earned your freedom, Ashton. Just don’t screw it up.”

  He leaves the room and the blood pounds in my head. ‘I have earned my freedom.’ How little he knows. I will never be free. I have already screwed it up and now it’s up to Donahue to sort it out—again.

  2

  As I slip my dress over my head the door opens. I look down. I can’t see his face. I’m not strong enough.

  I feel him approach the bed and squeeze my eyes tightly shut. The tears are trapped behind my closed lids but I feel them find a gap and trickle down my cheeks. He doesn’t need this; I have to be strong.

  Like Todd, he crouches before me and then I’m pulled towards him. I bury my face in his chest and his arms fold around me. I battle hard but it’s a battle soon lost as the sobs wrack my body. He says nothing and just holds me as I let it all out. I am damaged in more ways than one and he is left to pick up the pieces – again.

  I don’t want him to let me go. He holds me and keeps me safe. Like he has always done. He didn’t want this and begged me not to do it. I pleaded with him and wore him down until he finally relented. I have no one to blame but myself. This is my mess and my cross to bear.

  He says nothing and continues to hold me. I am scared to see his eyes. They will be my undoing and I’m not ready to face the consequences just yet. However, we have no time for this and he gently pulls me back. I gulp for air as he wipes the tears from my face and says gently.

  “Come. I’ll take care of you. Let’s get you out of here. The rest we will deal with tomorrow.”

  As I look up into his eyes, I catch my breath. They are the hardest gray and pierce my heart with the steel flashing from them. His face is set in stone but I see the hurt within. He is angry, disappointed and broken. I knew he would be which is why I protected myself from seeing it.

  I allow him to pull me up gently and will my legs to work. He’s right, we need to get as far away from here as possible. There will be time to deal with the repercussions of what happened. Now is not that time.

  I take his hand and it closes around mine, hard, safe and comforting. He is my protector and my only friend. The one person I can rely on in life and the only man in my world who I love and trust. He is my rock and the man I will never leave. He is my brother.

  The hallway is empty and the silence deafening. We walk out of that house with no words spoken. I never want to see this place again. What happened here will haunt me for a lifetime. There is no changing it and now I will have to learn how to live with what I did. I sold my innocence for freedom. I needed the money to get away and start again. How naïve was I? I will never be free. He will find me and I will be imprisoned for life. There is no parole on death row and that is where I’m heading. The only way out of my future is death. I hope that Donahue has a get out of hell card because once again, he is my only hope.

  The morning comes and with it the brutal reality of my situation. I wake up in the spare room of my brother’s apartment and know we don’t have long. I should be somewhere else and it won’t take long for the dogs to be on my trail. What happened last night will have to be shut inside that box in my head along with the rest of the bad memories. Maybe one day I will feel strong enough to unlock it and deal with what’s inside—but not now. I need to be strong.

  I quickly dress and head off to find my brother. I know he won’t have slept. He will have found a solution, I know it. It’s what he does. Like me, he has had to find a way to cope with the life we lead. This business of his is secret and only known to a select few. If it ever came out, he would be screwed. We need to work together and whatever he decides will be fine with me. I trust him and know that he has my best interests at heart. He is the only one that ever has.

  I hear his voice as I enter the room. He’s on the phone and silences me with a raised hand as I enter. He looks worried and disheveled. His eyes are tired, speaking of a night without sleep and I feel guilty at what I’ve put him through.

  He hangs up and smiles reassuringly.

  “Did you get any sleep, Angel?”

  I nod and he smiles softly.

  “Help yourself to coffee and breakfast. We don’t have long.”

  My heart starts hammering in my chest and I say falteringly.

  “Have you sorted it?”

  The look he throws me fills me with fear. He nods and looks at me with an anguished expression.

  “I have. Like I said, we don’t have long. Eat up and grab your things. We’ll talk on the way.”

  I try to eat but it tastes like sawdust in my mouth. The feeling of apprehension grows as I wonder what’s in store. I know he will do what’s best for me but I also know we have few options. I could be jumping right back into the fire.

  In less than an hour we are heading off to god only knows where. There is silence in the car and the atmosphere is heavy with unspoken words. I feel nervous and almost don’t want to know where I’m going but curiosity wins and I say hesitantly, “Is it far?”

  I notice his hands grip the wheel tighter and my stomach tightens. I know my brother and something is setting him on edge and the signs don’t look good.

  “No, it’s not far. About thirty minutes out of town.”

  His answer surprises me.

  “Oh, I thought we would be going somewhere far away. I don’t know, even another country. Won’t this be the first place they look?”

  He shakes his head and appears to consider his reply.

  “Ash, honey. Sometimes when you’re caught up in a storm the safest place is in the eye of it. Where we are heading is the best place for you.”

  I feel confused and wait for him to elaborate.

  Sighing, he reaches out and grips my hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

  “Where we are going is not for the faint hearted. The person, sorry, people who will protect you are the best in the business. I happen to owe them a favor and you may not think it but this works out well for all of us. The man who we are going to see has a daughter. She needs a Nanny, and he wants someone who is well educated, kind and competent. You will look after her and in return they look after you. Hopefully, it won’t be long before I can make this situation right. I wouldn’t put you there if I didn’t think it the best place for you. Do you trust me, Ash?”

&
nbsp; I squeeze his hand. “With my life, Ty.”

  My fear dissipates a little on hearing his words. Looking after a kid will be fine. I mean, how hard could it be. Tyler’s right, this sounds perfect.

  3

  As he said, in less than thirty minutes he pulls off the road down a dirt track. It appears to go on forever and the only sight is of trees, stretching endlessly in front of me. We pull in through some large, heavy gates and I note the name above them.

  Rubicon.

  My heart beats a little faster and I swallow hard. Rubicon - The Point of No Return.

  I whisper, “What is this place?”

  Tyler answers with a hard voice.

  “To the outside world it’s an MC Club. They are feared and avoided as a result. Nobody comes here willingly and for the most part, they are left alone.”

  My mouth goes dry and I lick my lips nervously.

  “Why are they feared?”

  Tyler laughs hollowly.

  “Because they are the untouchables. They deal in things most normal people would never dream of. Even the Devil would crave a look inside their little black book and they have more dirt on the high powered than a shit factory. They know things that would make Washington burn. Most of them are ex-military and the place is run as such. These men are hard and crude and there are no manners or pleasantries. They are known locally as the Twisted Reapers and as their name suggests, they deal with their problems in a despicable way. If anybody seeks out the Reapers, they end up regretting it.”

  I fall silent. Bikers. I’ve heard of such clubs and feel the fear grip me. This is well out of my league. How on earth will I survive living among them?

  We pull up outside a large barn. Motorbikes litter the yard and my heart hammers in my chest. This is not what I expected. Tyler takes my hand and looks at me reassuringly. “Trust me, Ash. These men may be rough but they won’t hurt you. I wouldn’t place you in danger, you know that.”

  Nodding, I follow him to the great doors. I look up and see another sign which makes my heart race.

  ‘Abandon hope all who enter here!’

  I sigh to myself. I abandoned all hope years ago. Tyler is right, this is better than the alternative and whatever lies within these walls can be nowhere near as bad as what’s waiting for me at home.

  Tyler knocks loudly on the door and the sound travels around the yard. I start to shiver but it’s not from the cold. This is it, my fate awaits me and I try to stop myself running back to the safety of the car. I need to be strong to see this through. It’s fine, Tyler will have thought of everything.

  The door opens and my heart hammers in my chest. The man who stands there is huge in every way. His head is shaved and a tattoo of a cobra runs from his neck to his wrist. He has muscles on muscles and his vest does little to cover them. I look into his dark, glittering eyes and see the interest spark in them. A lazy smile breaks out across his face and he turns to Tyler.

  “He’s expecting you. Follow me.”

  My heart beats so loudly I think they could hear it back home. This place is scary in every way.

  We are led to a large room that’s crowded with people. Bikers litter the area and surround what appears to be a large bar. Some are sitting at tables playing cards and others on couches with scantily clad women all over them. A few are stood around a huge pool table and some are watching the game on possibly the largest television I’ve ever seen.

  As we walk, I feel the stares. I must stand out like a neon beacon in a dark sky. I’m wearing a smart skirt and a shirt with a well-cut jacket. I look like I’m heading for a job interview and I suppose I am. My blonde hair is pulled neatly behind me and my heels click on the tiled floor. To say I look completely out of place is an understatement, and I feel exposed as I absorb the stares that follow me inside. The silence is tangible and all eyes are focused on us as we follow snake arm to a man seated at the end of the room.

  As we draw near my breath hitches as I see him. He watches our approach with a hooded expression and I can’t take my eyes off him. I have never seen such a man in my life. His hair is black as the night and his eyes even darker. His muscles strain against the vest he is wearing which makes my heart flutter. He is wearing combats and watches us approach with a predatory gaze. I feel stripped to the bone by that look. He commands attention and draws you in. The world fades away as he becomes the only thing in it. My attention is on him 100% and he steals the breath from my body.

  A woman sits at his feet and stares at me with hate pouring from her eyes. She is beautiful and her hard stare unnerves me. I watch as she grips his leg in ownership and flashes me a warning from her icy gaze. I try not to stare but I can’t help it. These people are beautiful, magnificent and powerful. They captivate me and I have never seen anything like them in my life.

  The man looks at us with a closed, hard expression and then stands up and approaches. He shakes off the girl at his feet with no regard and walks towards us.

  As he stands before me I feel his interest. His gaze rakes me from head to toe and leaves me panting inside. What is happening here? He turns to Tyler and fixes him with a hard look.

  “Does she know what’s involved?”

  Tyler nods. “Yes.”

  He swings his gaze back to me and smiles. I think I must openly stare at him because I see the amusement in his eyes. He looks me up and down and nods in approval.

  “Yes, she will do just fine.”

  Then he snaps.

  “Snake, get Bonnie.”

  The large man moves off and we all stand silently. I feel uncomfortable as every pair of eyes in the place appear to be trained on me. I feel exposed and stripped bare and want nothing more than to high tail it out of here. Tyler stands beside me expressionless and unemotional. He has his business hat on and is as far removed from me now as he will be later. No words are spoken as we wait for Bonnie.

  Then she arrives and stands next to the man who has captivated me in the most dangerous of ways. He looks at me with interest and then speaks without tearing his eyes from mine.

  “Take her and settle her in. We have business to discuss.”

  I feel the panic set in. This is it. My Rubicon. I don’t want to leave Tyler but know I must. I look over at him nervously and his eyes reassure me. “Go with her, Ashton. I won’t leave without saying goodbye.”

  Swallowing hard, I turn to face a pretty redhead who is looking at me kindly.

  “Come on, honey. I’ll show you around.”

  I am grateful for the kindness and smile at her nervously. She starts to head off and I follow her on shaky legs. This is it, there’s no going back now.

  4

  Ryder

  I watched her walk towards me and was blown away. She looked so small, so vulnerable and so damned sexy my cock stood to attention. As I watched her, I sensed every cock in the room stand to attention and point towards her. She is something else and looks completely out of place here in this den of vice. She walks like an Angel in the raging fires of Hell. She is perfect, for Cassie and for me. Now everything has changed, they just don’t know it yet.

  I call for Bonnie to remove her from my sight. I can’t think straight with her around. As she walks from the room, it takes everything in me not to claim her now. She won’t be safe here until I do. She needs removing from the situation while I attend to the business of making her mine. Like I said, the game has now changed and Donahue is about to find out what that means.

  Once she's gone, I can breathe again. I turn to Kitty who is hanging on my leg as usual.

  “Get us some beers.”

  She scurries off like the good little whore she is and I nod towards a nearby table.

  “Sit, we will discuss the terms.”

  Donahue takes his seat and I look at him and laugh.

  “You’re one sick bastard, Donahue.”

  He just shrugs.

  “I did what I had to do. You needed a nanny, and she needed protection.”

  I fix hi
m with a dark look.

  “You think she will be protected looking like that?”

  I see the panic enter his eyes and he hisses. “You promised no harm would come to her.”

  I lean back as Kitty places the beers before us. She drapes her arms around my neck and I push her away irritably. “Leave us.”

  She turns away and I don’t miss the fear in her eyes. Even Kitty knows and there is nothing she can do about it.

  I fix him with a hard look.

  “Well, the situation has now changed.”

  Donahue looks worried. “What do you mean?”

  I smile darkly. “I no longer need a nanny.”

  I watch as he struggles to comprehend what I’m saying.

  He stutters, “But that’s what we agreed. What’s changed?”

  I smile wickedly. “What’s changed is the fact that you have brought an Angel to Hell. There is probably not a man in this room that doesn’t want to fuck her senseless and so the game has changed. The only way I can protect my investment is if she remains here on new terms.”

  He looks worried.

  “What terms?”

  I grin. “Like I said, I no longer need a nanny, I need a wife.”

  The room goes silent and I hear Kitty suck in her breath. She says in a broken voice. “No, you can’t.”

  I ignore her as my men start to laugh. Snake growls, “You fucking bastard.”

  The others join in and I grin at them. Yes, this is the best way for all involved. As my old lady, Ashton will be safe and nobody would even dare go there. My princess gets her dream mommy and I get to play with the embodiment of every wet dream I have ever had in my life. Ashton gets her protection and gets her off the hook from her problem. Yes, this is the best for everyone concerned.

  Donahue looks worried.

  “She won’t agree.”

  I shrug. “Then you can leave. It’s that or nothing. Snake will take you to find her and it’s up to you to convince her it’s in her best interests. If she can’t see that then good day to you both.”