Page 38 of No Longer Mine

Nothing.

Fuck.

Scarlett laughed at something someone said, head tipping back just slightly, the kind of laugh that made men lean closer, that made them want.

I clenched my jaw.

Gavin returned a moment later, drink in hand, completely oblivious to the storm standing next to him. Scarlet accepted the glass with a coy smile, her fingers brushing over his as she took it.

Scarlett’s fingers toyed with the ring as she spoke to Gavin, her thumb grazing the band in a way that had nothing to do with fidgeting and everything to do with taunting me.

She was daring me to act.

She wanted to see how far I’d go.

She had no idea.

Grandmother intercepted me before I left the party. Nana was on her heels, they had mischief in their eyes. Why now? I tried to step around them, but Grandmother snapped that insufferable cane out and planted it against my chest. She didn’t need the damned thing but it certainly came in handy and she certainly used it to her advantage.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Nana asked. Her smile was bright, way too bright.

“I think it’s time for me to retire,” I remarked slowly.

Grandmother’s already present frown deepened. “You’ve been crowned the newest councilman, and there are countless people here ready to eat out of the palm of your hand.”

Nana smirked. “Your father included.”

Grandmother continued. “And yet, you’re ready to retire early. That seems unlike you.”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with Scarlett, would it?” Nana interjected.

My eyes snapped between the two of them. Why were they like this? They had enough money to keep them well occupied, I’d seen the clubs they enjoyed, but they seemed to find more satisfaction out of annoying us. “What do you know about her?”

They shared a knowing, mischievous grin. “We make it our business to know everything about the most beautiful women in this city. She is one of them. We knew it was only time before she caught one of your eyes.”

“She hasn’t caught my eye,” I tried to deny. I was a fucking liar. I wanted to fuck her and kill her at the same time. I didn’t know which one would win out.

Nana clicked her tongue before she smacked my cheek. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re adorable when you lie.”

Grandmother shook her head. “And terrible at it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, you think so?”

Their smiles stretched farther across their hardly wrinkled faces. Nana tapped a manicured nail against her chin. “So you’re telling us that you didn’t storm across this party like a man possessed the moment you saw her? That you weren’t practically salivating when she stepped into your space? That you weren’t seconds away from throwing poor Gavin into the Hudson just for standing too close?”

Grandmother’s eyes gleamed. “I must say, I rather enjoyed watching that little interaction.”

“Oh, me too,” Nana agreed cheerfully. “It’s been ages since we’ve seen you look at a woman like that.”

I ran a hand down my face, inhaling sharply through my nose. “You two need better hobbies that don’t include your grandsons.”

“You need to get laid, Dimitri. It’s unbecoming of you. Watching you like this is rather sad.”

“My God,” my patience snapped.

“Language,” Grandmother smacked me in the shin with her cane, I inhaled sharply. “We’ve never seen you tuck tail and run before.”

“I’m not running,” I practically groaned.