Page 21 of No Longer Mine (Rags & Riches #2)

A real estate and stock market mogul? Was this the truth or something fabricated to fit her so she could slip into this like she belonged here?

Scarlett’s mischievous eyes met mine. “It’s my late grandmother’s ring, I never take it off.”

Fucking liar.

She continued with her lie, “It only fits my wedding finger. I’ve tried to get it sized, but unfortunately, it’s too unique and all of the jewelers are worried they’ll ruin it or pop the diamonds out.”

Gavin smirked. “I think it’s great for PR. It might finally get my mother off of my back about tying the knot too. It’s hard to walk down the street without women throwing themselves at me.”

I nodded my head. I kind of understood. My father wanted me to get married as well, but it wasn’t public knowledge. Our family was more private and reserved than the Crenshaws. Even if we were a little showy with our money.

My body practically vibrated as she placed her hand on Gavin’s chest. “I didn’t really care for the cocktail you brought me earlier. Would you mind getting me a water instead?”

Gavin didn’t look too happy about this request. He was ready to tell her she could wait until her delicious bottom lip poked out in the most sensual pout I’d ever seen.

His eyes glazed over, and I knew he would be adjusting himself when he walked to the bar.

“I’m sure, Councilman Cristof here wouldn’t mind keeping me company for a moment while you go tend to my needs.

” Her tone was dripping in an undercurrent of sexual innuendo, and I hated it.

My jaw worked as I purposefully kept my teeth from grinding together.

My dentist was going to have a field day with me when I returned.

The stupid man practically ran to the bar to fetch whatever her heart desired.

Intimately, I leaned in like I’d done it countless times before, but inside, I was raging.

I was raging from how badly I wanted to touch her, by how badly I also wanted to rip the ring from her finger and punish her.

There was a knowing look in her eyes as if she knew what the engagement ring meant to me, if that was the case, I wanted to tear her apart.

I wanted to make her suffer because even though Cassie had worked as a housekeeper for my brother and she had her secrets, she was still the love of my life.

The love of my life that had bled out in my hands because of my father. “What do you think you’re doing here?”

“I belong here, silly.” I hadn’t realized I was gripping her bicep until she yanked her arm out of my grasp.

Her voice lowered and caused me to almost sport a boner in front of all of these people.

“Do you think you’re the only one who can pretend you belong when you don’t?

I’m rather impressed, Dimitri. I didn’t think you’d pull the vote as much as you did.

You’re much better at pretending than I could have ever predicted. ”

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 just enough 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

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.

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 that was the last thing that would ever happen.

No, I needed to get us back on an even playing field.