Page 22 of No Longer Mine (Rags & Riches #2)

Chapter Nineteen

Scarlett

Satisfaction hummed through 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 about was 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 my favor. 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.”

I shrugged and laughed. “She told me not to worry about her and then hung up on me.”

“She must be as busy as you’re about to be,” He winked, and my stomach churned. How much longer did I need to go through with this?

He tried to jump on me again when we entered the elevator, but thankfully, his apartment was on floor twelve and it the ride was short. The doors dinged open, and he yanked me out of them. There were only six other doors on his floor, his was the last.

Once again, no key but another number pad. He was even slower with this one.

764312

This time I texted it to Cleo. He wasn’t paying me any attention, and I was pretending to scroll through social media.

When he turned around, I had a picture of us pulled up outside of the hotel the party was at.

In the picture, Gavin looked proud of himself with his arm around my waist. You, thankfully, couldn’t see the ring on my finger.

I’d been extra careful to keep it out of the paparazzi’s pictures.

The only person I wanted to see it was Dimitri, and it hadn’t done what I wanted it to. It backfired on me badly.

“We looked nice tonight,” I said triumphantly, even though I felt sick. Why was I feeling this way? I was about to make another score. I was going to give even more money away, then I could go take a long vacation. None of this mattered.

I knew I was lying to myself, even if I couldn’t admit it.

Gavin grinned down at me. “You look hot.”

I nodded, unsure of what to say to such a compliment.

I didn’t think I’d ever been called hot, which was fine, but it seemed like a cheap word, especially since my dress cost five thousand dollars.

I wouldn’t have even called myself hot. He pushed the door open.

I was met with a nice view of Manhattan and modern furniture.

It didn’t feel cozy. Most of the elite housing I’d been in didn’t.

There were various art pieces on the wall, a few vases on flowers on the counter, and on the entryway table.

He tossed his phone beside some books stacked by the door and opened his arms wide.

“Not much, but I like being close to the action,” Gavin began.

I was hardly listening as I was taking in every detail.

It didn’t seem like he would have a safe behind any of the art pieces, but I couldn’t underestimate him.

That was how a heist could go wrong. My eyes flicked around the corners of the room.

No cameras from what I could see, but you never knew.

He could afford things normal people couldn’t.

I knew that well enough. I kept my own home covered in cameras and surveillance.

I didn’t want to be surprised by anything.

Gavin moved toward the open-concept kitchen, unbuttoning the top of his shirt as he reached for a bottle of whiskey. “Want a drink?”

No.

But I smiled as I sauntered toward him, slipping my phone back into my clutch. “Sure. Surprise me.”

The more comfortable he was, the easier this would be.

He poured two glasses and handed me one, his fingers brushing against mine for a second too long. His gaze lingered, expectant, waiting for me to react, but I merely took a slow sip, letting the burn of whiskey settle in my throat.

I had a job to do.

I swallowed down my unease. Pushed it away. This wasn’t new. This wasn’t different. Just another spoiled, privileged man who wouldn’t even notice what I’d taken until I was long gone.

Gavin leaned against the counter, his eyes flicking down to my dress. “You’re not just hot,” he murmured, voice dropping. “You’re absolutely stunning.”

I gave him a coy smile, setting my drink down on the counter. “You say that to all the women you bring up here?”

He chuckled, stepping closer, slightly swaying on his feet. “Only the ones worth remembering.”

God.

I turned, letting my fingers trail along the back of his couch as if I were admiring the place. “I didn’t take you for the sentimental type, Gavin,” I mused. “Yet you have fresh flowers. Very… domestic.”

He laughed, following me as I walked. “They were sent over from my mother.”

“Special occasion?” I asked.

He shrugged. “She sends for them every week. She says it makes me look softer…”

I needed a distraction.

I turned, closing the distance between us, sliding a finger along the collar of his open shirt. “You said you’d surprise me with that drink,” I murmured.

His breath hitched, his eyes darkening with anticipation. “You didn’t like the whiskey?”

I let my lips curve. “I was thinking something sweeter.”

His entire body shifted, already eager to please. “I have a bottle of aged bourbon, slightly caramelized?—”

I bit my lip like I was considering. “Sounds promising.”

He nodded, clearly too eager now. “I’ll grab it.”

He turned, heading toward a glass display case near the kitchen.

And just like that?—

I moved.

Quick. Silent.

I peeked under every painting in the room and even wiggled a few of the statues and books in case he had some type of hidden compartments. I couldn’t afford to overlook anything. I didn’t have much time.

There had to be a safe in here somewhere. My eyes scanned everywhere, but Gavin seemed more predictable than that. Maybe his office or even his bedroom.

When he returned, I was sitting with my legs tucked beneath me on his leather sofa. He smiled at me as he handed me the drink. The bourbon warmed my entire body as it went down. It was better than good. I raised a brow, this time impressed. “Not bad.”

His boyish charm shined through as he grinned at me. “I knew it would be perfect. It’s sophisticated and rich. The deep taste does something to me. It kind of reminds me of you.”

He placed his glass on the coffee table and laced his fingers through mine.