Page 74 of No Longer Mine

He leaned back in his chair and his gaze skipped over the art above our heads. “I hate him.”

I didn’t know how I knew, but he was telling the truth. “Why?” The question slipped out as barely a whisper.

His sigh was a devastating sound. “Because he hated all of us? No, it’s deeper than that. I just would never know where to start.”

My thoughts jumped back to the file I’d found in Gavin’s office. Did Dimitri know his father was capable of trafficking?

“Wow, I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say. At least we weren’t focused on my past anymore. I didn’t know how much I could lie to him. I knew no matter what I said, he would never find out the truth.

He shrugged. “I’ve come to terms with it.”

I nodded as I stared at the remaining noodles on my plate.

“Did you move in with family after they passed?" Right back to me.

“No, not really.” What the fuck.

I looked up from my plate. He was staring at me with his unsettling eyes like he could see into my soul. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said quickly.

“I had a friend who attended Vanewood—” I didn’t hear anything after that as blood rushed into my ears. I blinked as my head swam. How did he know what Vanewood was? Oliver had done his best to bury as much as he could. It wasn’t talkedabout. It was just a silly prep school that was shut down when the headmaster died…“Scarlett?”

My eyes snapped right to his face but I couldn’t say anything. I was scrambling. I needed to get out of here. His friend? Who was his friend? Most people at Vanewood left to live successful lives, either with their inheritances that the headmaster had tried to steal from them or with their wickedly good talents. He slid something across the table, and my heart bottomed out.

It was a Polaroid picture of me, Vivi, Cleo, and Oliver all smiling hugely. There was still a little bit of dust on it. “Where did you get that?”

“I lied,” He left the picture in the middle of the table. “I paid a visit to Vanewood and to my surprise… there you were in this picture, even though there is nothing from before you were eighteen. Everything about you erased.”

“How did you find me?” My back was ramrod straight now. My eyes scanned for the exits. I could get out of here quick enough. I picked up my phone.

Uber. I needed an Uber now.

“It wasn’t exactly hard. I found Oliver Christenson.”

I closed my eyes. Oliver. Of course. He hadn’t wanted everything about himself erased. He wanted to live the life he was supposed to, with his inheritance and on his own terms.

“I saw he attended Vanewood, so I decided to pay it a visit to see if I could find out more about you.”

“Why would you want to do that? What do you want from me?”

“I don’t know, but I can’t stop thinking about you, so I figured if I solved the mystery of you, it would be enough.”

“Well?”

“It isn’t.”

I shook my head as I stood up from the table. My Uber was a few minutes away. I could get away. I could go to the safe house.I could convince Oliver to recreate an identity for me. As much as I loved being Scarlett, I didn’t have to be her anymore. As much as I loved my name, I could give it up. I could give all of this up if it meant my past stayed buried deep.

“Thank you for dinner,” and I practically ran from the room. I didn’t know if he was following me or calling for me. All I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears. My heart pounded in my chest as I raced through the restaurant and to the street.

What all had he found there? This picture wasn’t the only thing left behind. I knew there was plenty more… starting with the bed frame.

Instantly, I was taken back, right to that very place.

I yanked myself out of Jameson’s arms and pulled my skirt down back around my legs. Bile rose in the back of my throat, but somehow… Somehow I managed to not throw up on his shoes. I hated him. I hated his touch. I hated this place.

“You’ve been such a good girl lately. I’m proud of you.” Jameson smirked as he tucked himself back into his pants. “So obedient.”