Page 52 of Vicious Kingdom

The red haze clouding my vision made everything else fade into the background. I managed to collect the pen and card that had fallen to the floor. The other bachelors gave me a wary look, and silence reigned supreme in the staging area.

One in particular gave me a dirty look. His golden hair and bronzed surfer tan were vaguely familiar, but I was too conflicted to remember where I’d seen him before. Whatever his problem was, he didn’t want to mess with me.

“Let’s bring out the gents!” the peevish socialite cheered.

I brushed a hand over my hair, adjusted my tie, and led the throng onto the stage.

“All of tonight’s biddings go to our sponsor, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital,” the woman was saying. She went on to explain how they were the leading force in helping treat childhood diseases.

Ice flooded my muscles. I couldn’t unsee the blood on my knuckles.

Numbers flooded my mind. I already made a large, anonymous donation to the sick girl, made sure that her mother wanted for nothing. But there were more kids like her. Gulping hard, I found the silver lining in tonight’s event.

“Hey man, you alright?” Josh Geddy, an NFL cornerback, murmured at my side.

“Yeah.” My voice sounded hollow to my own ears.

“Don’t let those spoilt pricks ruin the fun,” he added. “They’ve been asking for the ass beating their parents never gave them.”

I grunted.

“They didn’t grow up with the belt, but I’m betting you did,” he cajoled. “Builds character, doesn’t it?”

It sure as hell built something.

“And for a thousand dollars, Miss Heidi LaGrange!” The socialite attempted to drive up the price. “Do I hear two thousand?”

No one spoke.

“Miss LaGrange, come forward and greet your champion.” Monica beamed, sweeping her hand at a lanky kid with greased back hair.

Bachelorette number two went for an even lower price. Murmurs swarmed about the room, making it seem as though insects infested the place.

“I haven’t been to one of these before. Is this going well?” I managed to ask Josh.

He shrugged. “Overpriced drinks and obligatory dates? How could it go any better?”

I snorted.

“And now, table number three: Miss Annaliese Hertz.” Monica glanced around. “Gentlemen, do I hear five hundred?”

I waited. Let the temptress think she wasn’t going to be chosen—

“Fivethousand,” the golden one boomed.

Cheers and yips echoed in the room.

I pinned him with a death glare. I remembered now who he was. The tech tycoon from Silicon Valley.

The challenge spiced my veins. If he thought he could have her—

“Eight thousand,” Josh chirped, pinning me with a look.

“Really?” I snapped.

The football player shrugged. “You’re going home with her. I just want part of the fun.”

I was.