Page 95 of The Defender

The bids kept going up, and the shouts kept getting louder. The front runner was Leopard Print Dress, who looked like she might murder someone if she didn’t win.

“Thirty thousand!” she shouted.

The room fell silent. Vincent’s smile finally wavered, and a hint of panic crept into his eyes before he covered it up.

“Thirty thousand! Wow!” The emcee beamed. “Thirty thousand going once…”

I clutched my knee with a white-knuckled hand. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.

“Thirty thousand going twice…”

Don’t do it.I couldn’t afford it in more ways than one.

My dad was here. My friends, my coworkers, the entire Blackcastle team—they were all here.

“Thirty thousand going three times…”

Vincent looked vaguely ill. He glanced around the room like he was desperate for someone, anyone, to save him.

The emcee raised his gavel. Before he could bang it, I jumped up from my seat and yelled, “Thirty-five thousand!”

CHAPTER 26

VINCENT

Gasps filled the room as every head swiveled toward the new bidder, mine included.

Brooklyn stood on the left side of the room, chin raised in defiance. She was at the same table as Scarlett and Carina, who gaped at her with the same shock that must’ve been written all over my face. “Thirty-five thousand pounds,” she repeated. “That’s my bid.”

My heart crashed against my ribcage. What the hell was she doing? She didn’t have thirty-five thousand pounds to spare. Hell, evenIwouldn’t bid thirty-five grand on me.

Her eyes met mine across the room. They were a little panicked but determined, and suddenly, I knew.

She was doing this because she’d somehow sensed my discomfort, and she was bidding money she didn’t have to save me from having to spend a night with the woman in leopard print.

I hadn’t said a word about how much I hated being in the auction, but Brooklyn picked up on it anyway.

A tight pressure rose in my chest.

“Forty thousand!” Leopard Print yelled. She glared at Brooklyn as if daring her to one-up her offer.

Trepidation spread across Brooklyn’s face before she squared her shoulders and opened her mouth. “For...” She trailed off when I gave a small shake of my head.

The thought of dinner with Leopard Print made me cringe, but I couldn’t let Brooklyn spend that much money on me. If she won, I’d insist on paying her back every penny, but knowing her, she’d fight me on it. I couldn’t take even the minuscule risk that she’d be hurting because of me.

She stared at me, her eyes searching my face before she finally sat down without completing her bid. She glared back at Leopard Print, whose mouth curled with triumph.

“Going once, going twice, going three times…gonefor forty thousand pounds! Wow! What an auction!” The emcee shook his head in amazement. “That’s all we have this year folks. Congratulations to the winners…”

I tuned out the rest of his closing remarks and rushed offstage before he finished talking. The auction was the last event of the night. It was late, and people were already making their way toward the exit.

My pulse clamored as I raced across the ballroom, barely acknowledging the many congratulations and back slaps I got for receiving the highest bid of the night next to Asher.

I pushed past Samson and Seth on my way to Brooklyn’s table. Hopefully, she hadn’t left yet because I needed to talk to her. Right now.

“Vincent!” Lloyd stepped into my path. He looked happier than I’d ever seen him, and I’d known the guy for years. “I have news.”

“Can you tell me later? I have to?—”