“I believe you, and I do need to tell you something. I would’ve last night, but I honestly fucking forgot with everything that happened.”
“What?”
“That Lucy chick from the fundraiser thing ...”
Scarlett’s expression tightens. “Oh God. What did she do? Did she hit on you? Because she already made it clear that she’s interested. And just so you know, I might not be well-versed in how to cut a bitch, but I would learn if she said anything nasty to you.”
A grin stretches my face at the feistiness underlying Scarlett’s words.
“I believe you, ladybug. But you don’t need to cut her. I lied to her to get her to stop bidding on your mom’s necklace.”
Scarlett’s brows shoot toward her hairline. “Lied to her how? About what?”
“I let her think that I’d fuck her.”
My girl’s jaw drops. “What?”
“She needed encouragement to leave the bidding alone, so I gave her some. But you gotta know, I would never fucking—”
Scarlett’s entire face lights up as giggles spill from her lips. “Oh. My. God. This is epic. Holy crap. Lucy is going to lose her mind when she finds out you made a fool of her!” Scarlett doubles over and slaps the table. “And she won’t be able to tell anyone either! Because it’ll make her look too desperate. This is priceless.”
When Scarlett meets my gaze again, tears turn her eyes glassy. I’m so damned glad they’re tears from laughter and not something else.
“You are a genius!”
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “I’m really fucking glad you’re not mad.”
“Mad? Are you kidding? I got my mom’s necklace because you played on Lucy’s biggest weakness—a man she’s not supposed to have.” Her humor fades for a moment. “Chadwick slept with her while he and I were together. I guarantee she thought you would too. What an arrogant see-you-next-Tuesday.”
“Baby, you know you can say the word and not spell it, right?”
Scarlett shakes her head. “Nah, she’s not worth it. And don’t worry about Lucy for another second. If she comes back, I’ll handle her.”
“My ferocious ladybug,” I say as I pull her into my hips. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
Scarlett shrugs. “I’m just me.”
“You’re fucking perfect is what you are. But I need you to know that I won’t ever do something like that without talking to you if I can avoid it. And no matter what, I will do whatever it takes to make sure that nothing connected with me ever blows back on you. Moses will never fucking hurt you. I won’t allow it. Just like last night, I’ll stand as your shield. I will gladly take any bullets so that nothing ever touches you. I swear it on my life.”
She reaches out and digs her fingers into the towel wrapped around my waist, and her expression is grave.
“I don’t want you to take any bullets, Gabriel. Not for any reason. If there is any way you can get Moses to take money, you have to swear to me that you’ll take it from me.Please. I can always get more money. But even with all the money in the world, I’d never be able to find another you.”
I move one hand to cup the back of her hair and press a kiss to her forehead.
“I promise that I won’t let my ego or my pride get in the way of asking for your help if I truly need it. I swear.”
* * *
I left my girls curled up on Scarlett’s bed. Roux was snoring at the foot while Scarlett tapped away on the keys of her laptop.
I didn’t want to go, but she kissed me and sent me on my way, but only after I got the log-in info to her security camera app for the building. I told her it was for Hal so he could see inside the stairwells and store, but I’ll be checking it all the fucking time too.
Scarlett made me promise I’d drive instead of walk, and that I wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks. I agreed, because I’ve got a whole hell of a lot of reasons to live a long and happy life, and I’m not letting Moses take that from either of us.
Hal’s out front, keeping an eye on the place. He sent a text to notify us that Monroe was coming up the sidewalk earlier, but I didn’t read it until after she left. After giving him strict instructions to notify me of anything he saw that caused concern—on the street or on the cameras—I head to the club to meet Q and go through our own security footage.
Moses weighs heavy on my mind.