Page 39 of No Longer Mine

Grandmother’s smile was terrifying. “Then stay, get drunk, and enjoy this night because you won’t have the time to do any of this again as you try to dismantle your father.”

I didn’t think I could be in the same room with Scarlett, not with her trying my patience even more than these two. She was practically flashing the diamond in my face every time I turned in her direction. She had my attention. I got it, I knew she was trying to get back at me for cornering her in the bathroom, but all of this started because she broke into my brownstone.

I exhaled sharply, already regretting my next words. “She stole from me.”

Of course, they didn’t look the least bit surprised.

Nana sighed wistfully. “That does make it hotter.”

Grandmother smirked, tapping her cane against the marble floor. “My dear boy, I do believe you’re smitten.”

I nearly choked. “I am not?—”

“Yes, yes,” Nana interrupted, waving me off. “You want to kill her. We know. The problem, darling, is that you also want to fuck her, and that is what’s making you so delightfully unhinged.”

And here they were berating me about language… I couldn’t deal with these two.

Grandmother tucked her cane under her arm, shot me a knowing smile before she grabbed Nana’s arm and dragged her to the dance floor. They had a point, I couldn’t go running— it would mean that this Little Fox had won this round, and thatwas the last thing that would ever happen. No, I needed to get us back on an even playing field.

Chapter Nineteen

Scarlett

Satisfaction hummedthrough me as I felt Dimitri’s eyes on me as I left with Gavin. I was honestly surprised that he stayed after his grandmothers cornered him. I was even more surprised when he started drinking and stayed as far away from me as humanly possible. If I began walking into the same area as him, he would inch away. But I knew it wasn’t because he was scared. I knew it was because I’d pushed him too hard.

Being at his after party; was one thing but the ring? It seemed to be overkill. It meant something to him. I saw the hatred that flashed through his gaze. Lust once resided there, but no longer. It made this game even more complicated. I needed to find out as much as humanly possible about the ring. Then I needed to consider if giving it back was the best option.

Gavin pressed his hand to the small of my back as he guided me to his waiting car on the corner. I knew what would happen next. It was always the same.

“Do you want to have a nightcap at my place?”

His earlier comment about me being a freak in the sheets rushed back to me. “I would like that.” I smiled slyly even though I didn’t like it at all. He was drunk, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Dimitri and what I’d done wrong. All I could think aboutwas getting to Oliver and asking him to deep dive on the ring. I couldn’t do that if I was in a billionaire’s bed.

Instead of waiting for us to get back to his penthouse, he lunged for me in the back of his car. He peppered kisses to the side of my neck while his hands roamed my arms and my waist. His breath still stunk like alcohol, his kisses were wet and sloppy. I didn’t think I could fake it through this one. I breathed, quietly through my mouth as he continued his assault, completely oblivious to my disgust.

It didn’t matter, I tried to remind myself. I needed the code to his penthouse. When he went for my mouth, I dodged his lips by tilting my head back and moaning loudly. It was a bit much, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Within a few minutes, we were pulling up beside his building. I pushed his hands down and smiled at him. “We’re here, and there could be people waiting to take pictures.”

There weren’t, but we needed to look somewhat casual. We couldn’t be a mess going into his building. That was the last thing I wanted for myself, despite showing off the ring tonight to pretend there was a possible engagement. Gavin had laughed when he saw it. Said it was the perfect thing to keep his mother and all of her friends off his back for the foreseeable future. I didn’t know how it would do that, especially if he hadn’t told her first, but I kept my mouth shut. There was no point in trying to figure it out, considering I didn’t want a relationship with the man.

Gavin pulled me under his arm and led me into his building. I was surveying everything the entire time. I didn’t like breaking into buildings like this, but Oliver would keep me off of surveillance if I decided this was where I was going to hit next.

We passed another couple walking up to the door. She was about the same build and height as me, which worked in myfavor. I had a wig that matched her hair color. There was no doorman or security, just a keypad at the front door.

88762

I held my phone up and rolled my eyes. “Sorry, I need to let my cousin know I’ll be late, otherwise, she’ll be worried sick. She’s staying with me for a few weeks before she moves to France. Do you mind if I step away for a sec?”

He waved me off, unworried. I was not a threat in his world. “Let me know when you’re finished, and I’ll buzz you in.”

I stepped out of earshot and called Cleo. “88762.”

“Got it, have fun!”

I rolled my eyes. “Bye.”

Gavin was still in the doorway when I walked up. He grinned at me as he opened the door. “That was quick.”