Page 300 of Double or Nothing

The auctioneer gestures towards me.

“At one million two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Will you respond, sir?”

Every eye in the room finds me.

Alice.

Bryce.

Christopher.

William.

Camilla.

Mercer.

I look at Alice’s triptych on the screen.

Then at Alice herself.

Tears on her face. Christopher’s ring on her finger. Hope cracking through every layer of resignation.

I always win.

That’s the rule.

Tonight, winning means folding.

I lower my paddle.

The auctioneer waits one final beat.

“At one million two hundred and fifty thousand pounds.” The hammer falls. “Sold!”

Applause rises around the room.

A three hundred reserve piece rising to over seven figures. That’s one hell of a statement.

Alice covers her mouth with both hands, wrenching one free from Christopher at last.

Bryce closes his eyes and tips his head back. Relief. Joy. Disbelief.

William Parker remains still.

And me?

I lean back against the wall and allow myself one breath.

One.

Then another.

I’ve lost the triptych. To Helena Mercer.

Thank holy fuck for that.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN