Page 36 of No Longer Mine

Gavin fucking Crenshaw.

My stomach turned to stone as I watched him step into her space. I had to look away before I did something reckless. Before I crossed the room and ripped his hands off her. Before I reminded everyone in this room exactly who the fuck I was.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my head to tilt, forcing my focus elsewhere. I barely lasted three seconds before my eyes snapped back to her.

My teeth were going to be dust by the end of the night. Because there she was—the most beautiful woman in the room—on the arm of Manhattan’s most eligible bachelor. She was shooting him a blinding smile.

She didn’t belong here. And yet, she had gotten in with him. For the first time in months, I wasn’t thinking about chasing. I was thinking about catching.

My feet began moving before I could stop myself because on her hand was a giant glittering diamond ring. A diamond so large that it caught every flickering light in the room.

It glinted on her hand—her left hand. My blood turned molten in my veins. Anyone else would speculate it was an engagement ring, a promise that the Little Fox was about to become Mrs. Crenshaw.

I knew better because the ring wasn’t his to give. That ring was supposed to be buried in my bedside drawer, locked away like a wound I refused to look at. I hadn’t touched that velvet box since the night I lost Cassie. I hadn’t even checked to see if it was still there. I hadn’t wanted to.

And yet, here it was.

On her.

On his arm.

I inhaled sharply, my steps smooth, controlled, and lethal. Gavin still hadn’t noticed me. I wanted her eyes to widen in shock. I wanted that sharp intake of breath. That moment whenshe knew the game was up. But before I let her drown in that realization, she was going to take off my ring. I stepped into her space, close enough for her to feel the heat of my fury, close enough to make sure she had no escape.

“What a surprise,” I growled.

Instead of fear in her gaze like I suspected, she merely grinned at me. It wasn’t as bright as the smile she gave Gavin and it made me want to break something. What did he have that I didn’t?

Well, for starters, I did corner her in the bathroom of a strip club and leave her fleeing for her life.

“Congratulations on your inauguration,” Her voice… Fuck. I was going to be jacking off to it now. It was low and sensual. Everything about her was a fever dream that I would never be able to escape. “Councilman Cristof.”

Gavin stepped between us, almost possessively. “Yes, congratulations are in order.”

I wanted to ignore the prick so badly. He was a good guy from what I’d heard, but he still had his hand on her fucking waist and I wanted nothing more than to rip it from his body. I’d done that once, and I wasn’t against doing it again. Instead, I plastered on my politician smile because that was the only way I was going to get through this. All the while, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Benson could wait.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of formally meeting your friend yet, Gavin,” I added in a chuckle to try to soften my tone, but I didn’t think it was working. Especially since I towered over him by a good foot. “We keep seeing each other but never get the opportunity to speak. Wrong timing, I guess. Are congratulations in order for the two of you, as well?”

Gavin practically vibrated with satisfaction to know he’d gotten to this woman first or so he thought. “This is ScarlettMontrose. She is a real estate and stock market mogul. I’m surprised the two of you haven’t met yet.”

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 withme 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.”

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