Page 32 of No Longer Mine

“You’re one to talk,” she shot back, tossing her wig onto the counter before yanking the fridge open. “Vivi said she saw you running through the halls like a bat out of hell, knocking over tables. No one was even chasing you.”

The memory of cold, unrelenting hands pinning me to that bathroom wall sent a shiver down my spine.

I rolled my sore shoulders, my muscles still tight with tension.

“Dimitri Cristof was in attendance tonight.”

The sound of a water bottle twisting open was punctuated by a sharp whistle.

“Fuck. Are you serious?”

I let my head fall back against the couch, staring at the ceiling like it had all the answers. “I was running for my life, Cleo.”

She froze, her expression unreadable as she slowly brought the water bottle to her lips. “And let me guess—” she took a calculated sip before leveling me with a knowing look “—he caught you.”

Of course, he fucking caught me.

Dimitri Cristof wasn’t just big, he was quick too. Predatory grace wrapped up in a gorgeous package.

The worst part of all of it? He’d enjoyed it.

A spark ignited in his gaze when I stabbed him with my heel, like I’d given him exactly what he wanted.

“He almost killed me. He would have killed me.” Would he really have? I wasn’t so sure I wanted to find out. On a good night, I could hold my own, but tipsy and light-headed? I got lucky.

Her lips curled. “You’re such a bitch,” she mused, tilting her head. “You love the chase, the adrenaline, the danger. It’s why you don’t quit. But now?” Her grin widened. “Now, he’s finally matched you, step for step, and it’s driving you insane.”

I scowled. “And?”

Cleo leaned in, eyes glinting with mischief. “So make it a game.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And how the hell do I win?”

She took another slow sip of water before shrugging, oh-so-casually. “Simple. Break into his house again. Put the ball back into your court. Get him out of your system.”

I choked on air as my body launched upright. “Excuse me?”

Cleo smirked. “Oh, come on. You want to.”

I did. That was the worst part.

I’d spent years robbing billionaires blind, slipping in and out of mansions without a trace. But Dimitri? He was different. The thought of him made my heart rate pick up. He wasn’t just a pretty boy with daddy’s money. No, there was a brain in that beautiful head of his and he didn’t miss a thing. Maybe I was sloppy with this one, but I had a feeling that was not the chase. He noticed things others didn’t care about. He noticed things others missed.

“Oliver would kill you for suggesting this,” I muttered, running a hand through my tangled hair.

Cleo tossed her empty water bottle into the trash with a loud crack.

“Leave Oliver to me. He owes me a favor.”

I watched her cautiously as she grabbed a towel from the drawer, running it under the faucet before dabbing at the smeared lipstick on her chin.

“What are we doing?” I asked, suspicion creeping into my tone.

Cleo’s reflection in the mirror met mine. “You’re missing your spark, Red.

You steal for everyone else. You take jobs for a check. But what’s the last thing you did for you?”

I hesitated for too long.