I moved on to the next item, a weekend at some private island resort, and put down eighty thousand.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a voice boomed over the speakers. “If I could have your attention, please.”
Everyone turned toward the small stage at the front of the ballroom. A man in a tuxedo stood at the microphone, his face vaguely familiar, though I couldn’t place where I knew him from. “A quick announcement before dessert.”
“We’d like to thank you all for your incredible generosity tonight. The Children’s Heart Foundation, Veterans Relief Fund, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation have already received pledges totaling over two million dollars.”
Applause rippled through the crowd, not for the causes, of course, but probably for themselves for being so generous.
“And now, we have a special announcement. As you know, traditionally, the highest overall donor of the evening receives our special appreciation gift.” He paused for dramatic effect. “This year, we’ve secured something truly extraordinary, offered to us by a very special benefactor.”
The crowd murmured. Half these assholes didn’t care what they were buying—only what they were being seen buying. But a mystery prize made this whole thing exciting.
“I think you’ll agree this is our most valuable offering yet,” the man continued, his smile turning predatory. “Please welcome to the stage… our prize.”
The lights shifted. A spotlight cut through the haze. And then she stepped into it, escorted by two men.
Honey blonde hair.
Honey brown eyes.
Skin I’d memorized with my fingertips years ago.
Alisa Montes.
I froze.
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
My fucking Alisastood on that stage like a lamb among wolves. Her hair was twisted into a sleek knot at the base of her neck, her shoulders bare under a satin slip dress that clung to every soft curve I remembered too goddamn well. She wasn’t restrained physically. But I saw the way her hands clasped in front of her, too still. The way her gaze darted nervously across the crowd without ever settling.
She didn’t see me and probably didn’t know I was here.
But I saw her.
And I swear, for a second, my heart stopped.
She looked… older. Stronger. Still soft, still so goddamn beautiful it made my ribs ache.
Four years.
It had been four fucking years since I last saw her. She was twenty then. Too young for the world I lived in, too innocent for the blood I had on my hands, and too good for a man like me.
But that hadn’t stopped me.
I met her at a bar, of all places—some overpriced cocktail spot in SoHo with violet lighting and pretentious drinks. I’d gone there to meet a contact, and she was there for her friend’s birthday. I spotted her across the room, tucked giggling between friends, wearing a red dress that made my mouth go dry.
She caught me staring, and I didn’t look away.
She walked over. I still didn’t look away.
“Do you always stare like that?” she’d asked, lips curling into a smile that I’ve dreamt of ever since.
“Only when I see something I want,” I had said.
And just like that, we started.
It was a whirlwind where weeks felt like minutes. Laughing into takeout cartons at her place, her trying and failing to beat me at chess, me letting her think she’d won. Mornings with her hair a mess and her fingers trailing down my chest, her sleepy smile more dangerous than any weapon I’d ever carried.
