Page 146 of The Grand Ruin: Lance & Scarlet-Part One

“Too long.” I smile. “And I ground my car on the cattle grid every fucking time, but Scar, and I mean this with my entire fucking being.” I lift her chin and brush my lips against hers. “If you need me, you call me. Day or night.”

Her chest works, and I sense her panic as I pull back an inch. Her heart’s pounding.

“Hopelessly fucking wild,” I mutter, giving her a small grin as I step away. Her eyes dart around my face, so unsure they almost stop me in my tracks.

Almost.

Instead, I turn and walk down the landing, rounding the corner to where Nina and Mason’s room is tucked away.

I hear Nina’s voice floating from the room as I push open the door.

“Sure, Mum, I’ll just wire across a couple of grand from Mason’s account. He won’t even notice.”

I stand frozen in the doorway. Watch as she hangs up and tosses the phone on the bed, just staring at it.

She scrubs at her face and turns, sighing before dropping her hands and catching me.

I speak on autopilot, unsure how to process what I’ve just heard or what it means. “We leave in half an hour. Lowell is looking for you.”

Her shoulders drop, and I see the sadness lurking in her eyes. Or is it guilt? She’s been quiet, moping around for days, saying she feels ill.

“Yeah, I’ll be down in a minute.”

I back out of the room, passing Scarlet as she heads toward the room. I don’t even look at her.

I can’t.

Mason doesn’t deserve this.

It’s going to fucking break him.

I sit with my head in my hands as Ben walks into my office. It’s been the longest Friday in the history of Fridays.

“Got it.”

I sigh and take the folder from his hand, opening it up and scanning the first document.

Nina’s name is on the first bank statement, and it’s all the confirmation I need before I send it flying across the room.

“I’m sorry, mate.”

“Yeah, me fucking too,” I seethe, sinking down into my chair. I tip my head back. “How do I tell him she did this? He wants to marry her.”

“I don’t think there’s an easy way to tell him. But I’d rather it came from a friend than anyone else.”

“I just want her gone,” I mutter, the frustration and anger inside of me threatening to erupt. “He’s good right now,” I snap. “After all the shit, he’s good.”

“He’ll get past it, Lance… eventually.”

I lift my head and frown at him. “You reckon? Cause I never did.”

For the last ten years, I’ve lived with the fact that four women who should love me unconditionally only ever wanted me for the money I make. The money my dad made.

They screwed me hard, and it messed me up worse than anything else I’ve ever lived through.

He swallows and nods. “Sorry.”

Nina hates Mason’s money. She’s pushed him away every time he’s tried to buy her a thing. Was it her way of covering her tracks?

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