Page 29 of Vicious Kingdom

“Hey! You there! A little help?” the other woman called out, pinning me with a look.

“Friends of yours?” Isabella’s voice held a slight sneer.

“Friendship implies caring,” I muttered. “But…I’m a gentleman.”

“Yes,” the black widow mused. “Yes, you are. Goodnight, Mr. Baldwin. Thank you for yourgentlemanlyassistance. I won’t forget your kindness.”

The connection with the rising power player of the underworld secured, I walked away from the queen, who gathered her guards and retreated to the parking lot.

The friend tapped her foot in impatience, her anticipation palpable as she stood there. Her soft brown skin was adorned with a shimmering layer of blue glitter, which seemed to dance with every slight movement. This sparkling adornment cascaded across her body, accentuating the elegant contours of her high cheekbones, creating a striking contrast and enhancing her radiant appearance.

“I told her the double round of tequila was a bad idea,” the friend said, her voice filled with equal parts amusement and exasperation. “But after you left, Anna turned wild.”

There was a sparkle in her eye that suggested this wasn’t the first time she’d witnessed Annaliese in this state.

Which was fascinating. The Anna I knew didn’t give into bursts of Bacchanalian displays.

“I just ate too much, Brady,” Annaliese insisted weakly, her protest muffled by another round of retching.

I stopped before the pair, crossing my arms over my chest. What I was supposed to do about this mess, I wasn’t sure.The vengeful devil on my shoulder beckoned me to snap yet another picture, but my arms tensed. That was a low, cruel blow. Revealing the party animal to the tabloids and making Annaliese feel uncomfortable was one thing.

This?

This was another level.

Strike now!What was I waiting for? I wanted to crush this woman, didn’t I?

Yet the protective surge in my veins stayed my hand.

Brady brushed Annaliese’s cropped blonde hair back, her fingers smooth and practiced, only to have the strands flutter down a moment later as Annaliese swayed dangerously.

“Can you call us a rideshare?” Brady asked, looking back at me. Her eyes were glazed, her words slurring, and she was clearly nearing her own limit. “I’m too wasted to take her home.”

The thought of Annaliese, too drunk to defend herself, tumbling into the back of a stranger’s car set me on edge. As much as I wanted to see her ruined, this wasn’t the way. I needed her alive. I needed her broken, yes, but not in pieces, not splintered in an accident because I wasn’t there to see my plan through to the end. One bad night, one anonymous driver, and any number of things could happen.

I wanted Annaliese out of my city—not dead. Not...hurt.

“I’ll take her,” I heard myself saying. I stepped closer, lowering my voice so my identity remained a mystery. “But don’t tell her who did it.”

I reasoned that keeping her safe ensured I would be able to accomplish my goal. There was no altruistic motive behind my actions. I wasn’t a hero when it came to this woman. She hadn’t earned it.

***

The drive to the Hertz mansion was one long mental battle. Both logic and emotion raged over my actions. It was all I could do to focus on the road.

As I pulled up, I frowned at the dark house. “Where is everyone?”

Annaliese stirred in the passenger seat. “Home, sweet home.”

I turned to her. A strand of that light blonde hair was caught in her lip. Without thinking, I reached out and tugged it away.

“I wish you didn’t hate me,” Annaliese sighed. “It would be sssoooo much easier if you didn’t.”

It was highly likely she wouldn’t remember any of this in a few hours. That had to be the reason I opened my mouth to ask her the question that tormented me.

“Why, Anna?”

She took a deep breath, as if waking up. “Huh?”