The Billion Dollar Baby_A Billionaire Romance

by Stella Andrews

  I shake my head and wonder what the hell is going on. “I’m sorry, I need to get out of here. I’m not going with you and I just want to be on my own. I’m sure you’re just being kind but I’d rather not.”

  Snake looks interested as Bonnie steps forward and lowers her voice. “Listen, honey, you don’t have a choice. We’re under orders and nobody goes against Ryder. Don’t worry though, you’re in safe hands and if you want space, I can give it to you in bucket loads. Snake will tell the others we’ve left to give you the space you need. Then we’ve all got what we came for.”

  As I look into her kind eyes, I know she’s telling me the truth. She doesn’t judge and wears compassion on her face in spades. I do feel comfortable with her—even him, so I smile gratefully and let her lead me outside. At least they are being kind. After the last hour or so I need a little kindness in my life.

  As she said, there’s a coffee shop around the corner and as we secure ourselves in a darkened booth, I begin to breathe again. Bonnie thrusts a black coffee toward me and a muffin. “Here you go. Get that inside you and everything will immediately feel better.”

  I take a sip gratefully and try to let the dizziness subside as the shock begins to hit me.

  The harsh angry words and acrimonious comments beat around my brain and deliver a powerful punch.

  Bonnie looks at me sympathetically. “Rough day, honey?”

  Despite myself, I laugh softly, nodding in answer to her question. “I’ve had better.”

  She places her elbows on the table and props up her chin as she looks at me with interest. “So, you married Tyler then? Not a bad problem to have.”

  I shake my head, pushing away any feelings I may have had for him. “If you say so. The trouble is, I never want to set eyes on him again.”

  She doesn’t say anything and the silence just encourages words from me that I usually keep inside.

  “He used me, Bonnie. He told me he had come to make things right for me and give me what was rightfully mine. He told me we had to be married, but I didn’t really understand why. He kept that gem to himself. I mean, he was the one getting everything - not me.”

  Bonnie looks interested. “But you would still be married and what’s his would be yours. I’m pretty sure Tyler would do the honorable thing, he’s that kind of guy.”

  I laugh bitterly. “That kind of guy, you say. Well, let me tell you what kind of guy he is. He’s the sort who sells women for money and that included his own sister - twice. He has no heart and even conned me into believing he did. Now he has everything and I have nothing but a bad taste in my mouth. Then there’s my mother.”

  Bonnie reaches across and grasps my hand, squeezing it reassuringly. “What about her, honey?”

  I choke on the words and fight the tears as I think about her. “She had an affair with my father and as soon as she fell pregnant he pushed her away. She was left with nothing and as it turns out she didn’t even want me. Now I’ve heard she was murdered by my half-brother for god only knows what reason and I’m such a bad person I couldn’t even be bothered to stick around and find out why. I’m done with the whole sordid lot of them and just want to head home where at least the villains show what they are. The people here dress up their sins in fine clothing and privilege. They act as if they are whiter than snow and plot and scheme behind closed doors. I don’t want these people in my life. I want to be left alone to try to do something good with mine. They can have it all as far as I’m concerned.”

  Bonnie looks interested. “What will you do?”

  I shrug. “I’m not sure. I have a dance studio in Little Ridge but that’s an impossible future. Maybe I’ll take the first bus out of town and see where it takes me.”

  She looks concerned. “What about money? How will you survive?”

  I shrug. “I haven’t thought that far. I have some savings and I’m sure I can find a job somewhere.”

  For a moment there’s silence and then she leans forward and says gently. “You could always come home with us.”

  She laughs as she sees my expression. “Don’t worry. The stories you may have heard about bikers isn’t true where we come from. All the women in our compound are there willingly and are helped back on their feet and given choices in their lives. You would be perfectly safe with us and we would help you find your future.”

  I take a sip of my coffee and think about what she says. Then I remember Ashton and shake my head sadly. “I can’t go with you. Tyler’s sister will be there which means he will be too. I need to distance myself from this whole situation not plant myself even deeper into it.”

  Bonnie looks at me and I tell she is thinking hard. Then she smiles and says with excitement. “Don’t worry, I know just the place. The Reapers have a cabin not far from here. We have many across the country and they don’t get used that much. I’m sure you can hide out there for a while and do your thinking in private. What do you say, shall I get Snake to take you?”

  As I think about my options, it seems this is the best one, so I nod sadly. “Thanks, Bonnie. I think that sounds perfect. Please don’t tell them where I’ve gone though.”

  She nods. “Don’t worry, I’ll head them off. I’ll be checking on you though. I’ll send some supplies so you won’t go hungry. Hole out there as long as you like and call me when you’re done.”

  She smiles sweetly. “Us girls have to stick together you know. Leave everything with me and you’ll be fine."

  I watch as she pulls her cell from her purse and snaps, "Snake bring the bike around. Sydney needs a ride to the cabin.”

  She snaps it shut and grins. “Ever ridden pillion, Sydney.”

  I look at her with trepidation and she grins. “Enjoy the ride, honey. These guys are way too good at it.”

  29

  Tyler

  Sydney’s gone. As soon as Marshall was taken away, I noticed she wasn’t here. I frantically asked if anyone saw her leave but no one had.

  I don’t even stay to settle things. I can’t bask in my victory without her by my side. None of this matters anymore. Only she matters and now it’s the most important thing in my world—find Sydney.

  I think I ask every person in the building if they saw her leave. I head to security and make them scroll through the CCTV but there is nothing. This is ridiculous. How can somebody leave a busy place and no one even sees her leave?

  I sink down in a seat in reception and put my head in my hands. Where is she? Then I feel a soft touch on my arm and look up as my sister crouches down before me. She sits on her heels and takes my hand in hers.

  “Let her go, Ty. She needs time. She’s fine. Snake’s taken her to a private place to come to terms with everything and think it all out.”

  I say quickly, “Where is she, I need to see her?”

  Ashton pulls me close and whispers, “Let her have this time, Ty. She’ll come to you when she’s ready.”

  I pull back and say angrily, “I need to explain.”

  She stands up and pulls me with her. “Not today you don’t. Come back with us and we’ll talk it through. Sydney is safe, and that’s all you need to know.”

  I stare at her with exasperation as Ryder steps forward and takes her hand. He looks at me with sympathy. “I’m sorry man, Ashton’s right. No harm will come to her and she’ll come to the right conclusion. We have shit to do anyway and this mess needs sorting. You may as well channel this into something positive.”

  I look at him angrily. “You think I care? Well, I don’t. The only thing I care about hates me right now and doesn’t even know that I would give the whole thing away just to make her happy.”

  Ryder nods. “You don’t have to convince me, bro. It’s all any man would do for the woman he loves. Come, let’s get the hell out of this place. It’s done.”

  We head across town to my apartment. Not the one I rented, my own apartment. Ashton and Ryder are leaving town tonight for Washington and have a plane waiting for them at the airport on standby. Despi
te how I feel, I need to know my sister’s ok.

  We spend the next few hours going through the papers. Signatures are obtained and witnessed and everything sealed in place. As Ryder seals the papers in a file ready for the lawyers, Ashton moves across and sits next to me and takes my hand. She whispers, “Thank you, Ty.”

  I look at her and smile ruefully. “What, for selling you once or the second time?”

  She smiles thinly. “You didn’t have a choice. Neither of us did. It was always going to be difficult. You weren’t to know that the men who paid for me would abuse the situation so badly. No, if that hadn’t happened I would never have met Ryder. That’s what I’m thinking you for, Ty. You gave me everything I ever wanted and more. I love Ryder so hard it hurts and Cassie is the daughter I always wished I’d have. Now we’re about to have another child and my world is complete. Whatever happens with Sydney will be what’s written in the stars. If it’s meant to be - it will and when that happens make sure you’ll visit, you hear.”

  Her eyes fill with tears and I feel a lump forming in my throat. I pull her toward me and cling onto the one who means everything to me. My sister and the only true friend I have. We’ve been through so much together and most it bad. I just hope we’re in for the good stuff now, god knows we deserve it.

  I walk them to the car that’s waiting and sigh heavily at the thought she’s leaving. Ryder steps forward and shakes my hand, saying softly, “I’ll look after her, Tyler. You know I will. You may think you sold her to me but she was never for sale. You owed me for securing the shares for you but I would never have demanded such a price. I married Ashton because I wanted to. I saw the woman I was destined to be with walk beside you into the compound and used the situation to my advantage.”

  He laughs softly. “Now it is I who owes you the biggest debt known to man. You saved my life and put good in it. You gave my daughter a mommy to be proud of and delivered me my soulmate. I can never repay that and you should be happy that you gave your sister a happy ending. Now it’s your turn.”

  I nod and then Ashton turns and clings to me like she’s always done and whispers, “I love you, Ty. Stay strong and good things happen. I should know that more than anyone.”

  Then I watch as Ryder takes her hand in his and helps her into the cab. Despite everything, my soul settles just a little. Ashton is safe and happy and despite the rough road we took to get her there it was all worth it in the end.

  30

  Sydney

  Riding behind a man like Snake is an experience I’ll never forget. The city races past us in a blur and the roar of the engine and the vibrations set my soul free. This feels so good. The speed we travel is just what I need. I need to bring some distance between me and everything that happened. I try not to think about what just went on. There will be plenty of time for that. Instead, I focus on breathing and healing until I can revisit the pain in privacy.

  We reach the cabin in no time and I am blown away by the beauty of the place. It sits nestled among a thick forest on the outskirts of the city. The route in was down a long and dusty track and many would have given up by now. But when we arrived, the place took my breath away. There wasn’t a sound to be heard, and the forest hugged the cabin like a mother holding a baby. If I wanted to lose myself, this is definitely the place to do it.

  Snake lets us inside and I look around at the sparsely furnished cabin. It’s clean and comfortable with none of the trappings of the era we live in. No television set, and no mod cons. Just blissful solitude and a place to think hard.

  Snake almost fills the place with his body as he moves around. He is certainly impressive and yet I feel a safety with him that I can’t explain.

  I follow him into a small kitchen and he flings open a cupboard and removes two cups. Then he grabs a jar of coffee and proceeds to make us both a much-needed fix of caffeine.

  He shakes his head and looks annoyed. “That grocery order better hurry up. There’s no milk or any fresh stuff to keep you going.”

  I smile inside. Who knew a man like him would care? I say in a small voice. “Um... what do you mean grocery order? Do the stores really deliver out here?”

  He grins. “Not really but we have a special arrangement with the nearest one. Bonnie called ahead and ordered you some stuff. They are usually quick off the mark so they shouldn’t be long.”

  I perch on the edge of a stool and look at him with interest. “Is Bonnie your wife?”

  He laughs and I see his eyes twinkle at the mention of her. “She’s my old lady. Biker term for wife.”

  I smile. “How long have you been married?”

  He leans back against the counter and shrugs. “A year, maybe two. It doesn’t matter because I can’t remember my life without her in it.”

  His words warm my heart as I see the love in his eyes as he talks about her. I shake my head sadly. “You’re lucky.”

  He fixes me with a hard look. “Listen, darlin’, despite what happened I know Tyler Donahue and he ain’t one to give his heart away lightly. That man’s usually a closed book where women are concerned. He has a hard heart and yet the very fact you are here shows he cares.”

  I laugh bitterly. “He doesn’t know I’m here. If he cares it’s because I’m his golden ticket to a billion-dollar fortune. He used me, Snake, and I never thought for one moment he would. He told me he dealt in women but I foolishly didn’t think that was me.”

  There is silence as my words evaporate in the still air. Then Snake shrugs and says softly. “He’s a man, darlin’. We don’t always go about things the right way but it doesn’t mean we care any less. You say he married you for your money. Maybe he did but I’m guessing what started out as a business arrangement quickly changed into something much more. That’s what happens when you fall for someone. The reason you got together in the first place becomes irrelevant. All that matters is what happened next.”

  I laugh softly. “You sound as if you have first-hand experience of this.”

  He nods and winks. “When I first met Bonnie, I was sent in to rescue her from a rival biker gang. She was an undercover Fed and needed removing from the situation. She didn’t know I knew her real identity, and she thought I was some sort of biker scum who kidnapped her with evil intentions.”

  He laughs and I see the excitement flare in his eyes at the memory. “I took her to a cabin much the same as this one and kept her prisoner for three weeks. I should have taken her back to the Feds but the fact she was such a wildcat interested me no end. She fought me and I still have the scars to prove it.”

  He laughs and rolls his eyes. “I was an evil bastard because I didn’t tell her the truth. I knew she was the girl for me and she needed time to come to the same conclusion.”

  I look at him in total shock. “So, you kept her prisoner until she fell for you?”

  Snake nods looking extremely pleased with himself. “I wore her down and made her fall in love with me. I never told her she was always a free woman and I would never harm her. I played a part to get what I wanted. Sort of manipulated the situation until she caved in.”

  I shake my head in total astonishment. “What if she didn’t um... cave in to your charms? What would you have done then?”

  He grins wickedly. “Then we would still be there today. You see, darlin’, sometimes you have to play a dirty game to get what you want. I’m guessing Tyler started off with one thing in mind and then everything changed. Maybe he did look you up to get your inheritance. You’ve met his father, I’m sure you don’t blame him for wanting to sock it to those two shits he’s had to live with all these years. It’s now up to you to decide which version of the man you believe. Is he playing you—maybe? Or is he the one you were always meant to be with and in a screwed-up way it brought you together?”

  We fall silent as I think about his words. He watches me with interest and I look at him with curiosity. “What happened when Bonnie found out you deceived her?”

  He laughs. “She was surprised but
it no longer mattered. All she cared about was my intentions towards her. Bonnie’s no biker whore. She would never agree to live like one. It was all or nothing with her and I gave it my all gladly. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. She moved with me to the compound where we have lived ever since. She has her freedom and goes to design college to learn interiors. She isn’t my prisoner anymore and has her own life outside of the one with me. We’re a team and wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  We are interrupted by the sound of an approaching car and Snake moves to the window. He rolls his eyes. “Finally, some food at last.”

  He heads outside and I think about what he said. In some ways, we are very similar. I felt trapped in that room by a situation I couldn’t control. When I saw Tyler’s face when he won, I saw it held no joy for him. He looked a broken man as he searched my face. I turned away, but the image is seared on my brain. That look was aimed at me. He knew what I thought of him and he tried to warn me beforehand. Then I remember the tortured look when he withdrew and reached for protection when we had sex. It puzzled me at the time and I never really understood why. Now I know he had much to gain if he cast that protection aside. He could have given me his baby and I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. I was so far gone inside his head all practicalities went out of the window. He held back to give me the choice. Surely that says something.

  Snake heads back inside with several bags of groceries. He places them on the counter and smiles.

  “You probably want to be alone so I’ll head off. Our plane leaves soon for Washington and Bonnie will have my guts if I’m not on it. When you’re ready, call us. There’s a phone in the drawer and the number is programmed in under 1. We’ll arrange for you to go where ever you want to go and like Bonnie said, the door is open to staying with us. It’s not everyone’s idea of a home but to us it’s everything.”