“These guys miss their band of brothers. Their families can’t or don’t want to understand what they went through. Many have PTSD. Others have TBI. Or it’s both.”
I was lucky to have neither. Survivor’s guilt doesn’t count. Not in my books.
“Aaron would like to pay for their flights and hotel stays. He’ll need funds for venues. There’s demand and not enough funding.”
I hate to ask for help from my cousin, but doing this for Aaron has nothing to do with my pride and everything to do with doing the right thing for the right reasons.
Blaise stops walking. Her attention strays to the man who’s stormed out of the ballroom. She looks after Maddox and smooths her hand over her hair.
“Tell your friend I’d like to know more.”
“Really?” Blaise is selective with the charities and businesses she endorses. Her family’s clean reputation is important to her.
“Yes, but you do the contacting.”
I nod and tamp down the anger growing inside me that Blaise will never feel comfortable speaking with men other than those from her family or her bodyguards. When I get ahold of the guy who kidnapped her and buried her underground before the feds found her, I will rip him limb from limb and stop his screaming by feeding him his balls.
No one hurts Ever.
Ever?
Fuck.
Blaise isn’t Ever. Ever was never kidnapped and buried.
A gloved hand touches my arm, yanking me out of my dark thoughts. “Are you okay?” Blaise glances up at me.
“I’m good. Thanks.”
Granger Ward, Blaise’s head of security, walks up to us and hands Blaise a slip of folded paper.
“What is it?” Blaise stares warily at the paper.
“It’s from your admirer. It’s a new price for your car.”
Blaise takes the paper and unfolds it. She sucks in a breath.
I’m curious.
“What’s the price?”
“Half a million.”
I whistle. “Are you sure you won’t sell?”
“No. I don’t believe in love or a forever after, but my parents did. Betty is proof of their love.” She tears the note and addresses Granger. “Tell Mr. Stassi I will never sell him the car.”
“Of course.”
Granger takes the pieces of paper from her and strides to the ballroom’s entrance. A figure steps away from the wall. It’s Maddox. Granger hands him the pieces of his offer, and Maddox glares in our direction. I smirk. That guy has it bad for Betty.
With Blaise holding on to the crook of my arm, I look over my shoulder and wish him luck prying the car from Blaise’s hands, as we make our rounds in the room.
When Blaise has her mind set on something, the world will have to end before she changes her mind.
Fuck, I’m glad she’s on my side.
19
