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He twists it back and pulls, making Aurelio squeal like a pig.

“My arm!”

I bite my lip, suppressing a laugh.

Man!

This is hilarious.

Knox lets go of Aurelio and steps between us, moving me safely behind him.

“My apologies, dear guest. There was a bug on your sleeve,” Knox says with the hottest smile ever. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, Mr. Harrington-Hale has a speech to give.”

“Thank you,” I tell Knox as we walk away from the monstrosity of my past, but Knox says nothing.

He keeps walking, guiding me through the crowd, not letting anyone touch me.

We push through the terrace to the main stage where Astrid waits, smiling with teary eyes.

“Ready?” I tell her, and she nods.

“Are you ready?” she asks, knowing that I hate public speaking.

I mean, that was my grandfather’s part.

I just cared for the art.

“As ready as I will be.”

“You’ll do great, Cil,” Astrid says, passing me a silver wireless microphone.

“Hell, I hope so,” I say, taking a breath before stepping up to the podium.

To my horror, everyone applauds and—Dear God, please don’t let me blush… or puke.

Or die.

“Welcome, everyone,” I say to the crowd, smiling like a puppet. “Thank you for joining me for the opening of the 35th annual Art for Shelter auction. As you all know, twenty percent of all net profits from this year’s event will go directly to building shelters for orphaned kids and displaced families.”

Okay… doing well.

We are doing well, Cillian.

“When my grandfather first started this foundation and launched our very first auction, it was never just about the art, but about love. Love for creativity, for community, and for helping each other. Standing here without him tonight breaks my heart, but looking at all of your faces, I know his spirit is right here on this island. And the best way we can honor his memory is to keep his legacy and that love alive.”

I take a champagne glass and lift it.

“So please, drink up, bid generously, party, relax, and enjoy yourselves tonight. Let’s make him proud.”

The crowd claps as servers emerge with champagne and food, right on cue with fireworks erupting over the water.

I glance over at Knox, who is watching me with a look that sets my skin on fire.

And I wish I hadn’t looked at him, because maybe if I hadn’t, I would’ve noticed the man standing right in front of me.

The man whose eyes are hoping I’ll die.

CHAPTER 17