Page 37 of No Longer Mine

My eyes snapped down to the ring on her finger and she cocked her head in a challenge. She didn’t know who she was messing with. Everything was different now with that ring on her finger. “What is that?”

“I told you,” she said sweetly. “It’s my late grandmother’s ring.”

The semi I thought I was going to be sporting immediately turned soft. I no longer liked this game. I no longer wanted to play. I wanted to win and for it to be over because the ring was all I had left of her. It was all I allowed myself and I felt stupid for not noticing it was missing.

She leaned in close, while her eyes stayed on Gavin on the other side of the room. “If you missed it so much, you would have noticed it gone.”

I took a steady, deep breath as I tried to calm the new rage rushing through my body. “You really don’t know who you’re messing with.”

There was no fear in her eyes as she reached down to her hand and spun the ring around on her finger. Iron filled my mouth as I bit down on my tongue. I couldn’t go head-to-head with this woman tonight. Not here.

She stepped into my space, I hated how much I was attracted to her. I hated that I wanted to bend her over the table and forget about the ring, but I couldn’t. Cassie deserved so much more than the hand she’d been dealt. I couldn’t let her memories be tarnished because of this foolish woman. To me, it was like she was dancing on her grave.

“I belong here,” she repeated with more malice than before. “Every gala, every event, and every fundraiser. I’ve paid my dues to be considered one of you.”

“Do these people know you’re a thief? Does Gavin know that he’s probably a mark to you?” That’s the only thing that made sense about all of this.

Her eyes widened slightly. “You’re the only one that’s ever caught me.”

“I’ll be the last one, too.” I didn’t mean for it to sound flirty, but I needed to be careful with cameras flashing all around us and people getting curious about the woman that caught my eye.

Her dark red lips curled up. “Foreplay. How dangerous of you.”

“I want the ring back, Scarlett. If you don’t return it, I will go to extreme measures to see it back in my possession.”

“You do not scare me,” she smirked. “If you want your ring back, you’ll have to come get it.”

Scarlett didn’t wait for my response. She smirked like she’d already won and took a slow, careful step back, putting justenough space between us to remind me she was in control. Or at least, she thought she was.

Instead, I let my gaze drop once more to the ring on her finger, my chest tightening with a rage so sharp I swore I could taste blood.

She turned smoothly, giving me her back—fucking dismissing me—and I nearly lost my composure right then and there. But I forced myself to stay still.

My phone buzzed again. Benson.

I ripped the damned thing from my coat pocket.

**There was a paparazzi shot of Scarlett on Gavin’s arm outside of the hotel. **

Benson

Found her. She’s in attendance tonight, so beware. Her name is Scarlett Montrose.

You’re a little late with your information.

Benson

I take it you’ve met.

Tell me everything you can find on her.

Benson

She is new money, has a whole lot of it. From what I’ve gathered, her parents died and left her a massive inheritance, but there is nothing on her or about her before her eighteen birthday—when she inherited it. She invested everything in real estate and the stock market. Her identity is perfect. No one would ever look too close.

What else?

Benson