Page 91 of The Renter

“No, checking in on something.” I try to maintain a casual tone. I can’t let him rile me up tonight.

He smirks. “Like any of the art here?”

“Yeah, one piece caught my eye,” I say.

He hums thoughtfully. “What do you think of these types of events?”

“They’re cool.”

“They’re boring,” he whispers.Was it a sexy whisper or just a whisper?

“A little boring,” I softly confide. The bartender hands me a fresh glass of champagne and I take a fast sip, trying to shake off the energy I was feeling with him.

“I’m still getting used to them,” Declan says, and we take a few steps from the bar. “Did you ever think you’d be at this type of thing?”

“Yeah. I manifested it.” I smile. “This is the life I’ve always wanted.”Although it’s less exciting than I thought it would be.“What about you, Mafia?”

He smiles before saying, “Our parties were never boring.”

Smirking, I lift my glass before taking a sip.

He shakes his head, unamused with me.

“This is my last drink for the night.” I’m saying it to him as much as I’m saying it to myself. “You can stop worrying about me.” He scoffs, and I remind him, a bit pointedly, “Don’t forget you bought me a drink once.”

“That was before … I realized how …” His hand gently holds my arm.

“Stop,” I say firmly, sensing he’s about to make some kind of declaration. Brushing off his touch, our hands touch. It’s electric. “I’m with Adam.”

74

Declan and Dani have been talking for a while.I told him not to talk to her.His defiance is distracting me from my current conversation. My jaw clenches as I feel a surge of possessiveness wash over me. Declan’s insinuation that I’m pathetic still stings more than it should.

With deliberate steps, I make my way toward them, navigating through the crowd, my eyes fixed on Dani. Tonight is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen her. As I approach, I see Declan’s hand touch her arm, and she brushes it away. I tense my fists.

“Don’t ever fucking touch her again,” I snarl so no one else can hear, standing inches from his face. We hold intense eye contact before I turn to Dani, pulling her into my arms and claiming her with a possessive kiss. Deepening the kiss it’s a deliberate act, an expression of ownership.

I can feel Declan’s eyes on me, his presence silently challenging me. He needs to know, to fully understand that she’s mine and belongs to me and me alone.

For a moment, the world fades away, and all that matters is the feel of her lips against mine, the taste of her on my tongue.And as I feel her respond to my touch, her body melting into mine, I know I’ve succeeded.

Breaking from the kiss, I take Dani by the hand, guiding her away from him.

75

Adam and I shake hands, having idle small talk with dozens of people. My mind is somewhere else, though. Adam’s kiss was the perfect distraction from whatever landmine was about to be thrown out of Declan’s mouth and from the rush I felt touching him.I’m with Adam, his lips a timely reminder of that. The lights flicker with an announcement that the auction will be starting soon.

We take our seats. “Bid on whatever you want,” Adam says, handing me the paddle. I shake my head and push it back toward him. The room grows quiet as the auctioneer takes the stage and the bidding starts. Paintings, abstract statues, and various art make their way on and off the stage, selling to the highest bidder.

The painting that stirred memories and emotions is next and being brought to the stage. “We’ll start the bidding at fifty thousand dollars,” the auctioneer says.

Declan makes the first bid. It’s the only piece he’s shown interest in all night. Why this one? Is it his way of saying he knows this is the painting that caught my eye? The gesture feels loaded.

Then, Adam raises his paddle. I hadn’t talked to him about the painting. Does it make everyone feel something? Declan andAdam begin a bidding war. Each raise of the paddle is quickly countered. The bids escalate rapidly, adding to the tension between all three of us.

I glance at Adam, trying to gauge his intention. Is this friendly rivalry, or something more? His expression is unreadable, focused entirely on the auction. As the bidding continues, I’m caught between the past and the present, between Declan’s lingering influence and the new life I’m building with Adam. The price reaches five hundred thousand dollars, and the room fills with murmurs and glances.

Finally, a verbal bid from Adam of one million dollars draws a collective gasp from the audience. Declan leans back in his seat, a smirk on his face, conceding defeat. The exchange is filled with an unspoken message of rivalry and mutual respect.