Page 54 of Cozen

“And what else do you need, woman?”

Cozen smiled. “I’m not here to hurt him.”

Only take from him …

Sargon stiffened, and then murmured, “He will only wait so long before whatever game you’re playing with him becomes boring, or worse, he figures it out.”

“I will take that risk.”

Cozen leaned over, and pulled an item from its hidden place. She had kept it there all night … maybe she should have been the one to make sure it got back to its owner, but the possibility that she would have to wait to see Jett again meant she couldn’t take that risk.

Besides, she had someone here who could likely return it without Jett noticing. Sargon watched Cozen with a keen eye as she brought her hand up high. She opened her palm, and resting there was a ring.

One Sargon seemed to recognize if the raising of his brow was any indication. Cozen might have laughed at the look on his face if she didn’t think he would get offended.

She held Jett’s ring from his index finger a little higher—a large gold band protected a rather large ruby. She turned the ring over, and examined it for any sign it was the Astor ring, but unfortunately found nothing. No cursive A or nothing to say this ruby had come from another ring and was placed in a new setting.

That’s why she had taken it in the first place because she had the opportunity, and it wasn’t unusual for people to repurpose their jewels into new pieces.

It wasn’t the right ring, though.

Shame.

This whole thing could have been done before it even got started.

No job was ever that easy.

“Would you mind returning this for me?” Cozen asked.

“Where did you get that?” Sargon asked. “Did he take it off or something?”

Cozen arched a brow. “Or something.”

Just the way Sargon’s gaze widened a bit, Cozen knew he then understood where she had gotten the ring from. He remembered, then. She smiled at the way the realization flitted over Sargon’s handsome features.

On the street before Jett left. His hand on her face. Hers covering his.

“You took it? Just like that with me standing right there to watch?”

“Will you return it?” she asked, instead of answering him. “Jett will probably want it back, and I would hate if he thought he lost it. Just slip it anywhere he might find it. I think it’s only fair after our little … time together.”

Sargon’s throat bobbed, and his jaw tightened. “Blackmail?”

“I wouldn’t call it that.”

“I would, woman.”

“So be it,” Cozen returned.

Sargon still took the stolen ring.

Cozen smiled. “Thank you.”

He answered that by moving across her floor, yanking open her apartment door, stepping out, and slamming it behind him as he left. He didn’t even say goodbye.

Cozen didn’t blame him.

She waited just long enough to watch the sun fill the sky before she finally moved away from the window to find her phone. Turning the device on, she hit the number three key, and held it. It automatically dialed, and she put the phone to her ear.