“Don’t worry. The ladies go next.”
This gives me pause. Suddenly it feels like a much better idea for only me to be auctioned off.
“Really? You’re okay with that?”
He scans me with a dangerous gleam in his expression. “You’re asking the wrong questions, Brax.”
My skin is starting to sweat, and I think I should’ve sat tonight out. I could’ve just stayed home and waited for Greyson, but he didn’t think they’d get here until early morning since they had to make a stop in New York first.
“Oh, yeah? What should I be asking?”
“What we get when we win.” Cian’s voice booms over the crowd of people milling about, and I know the instant Harry hears because his face turns volcanic.
Without taking my gaze off Madison’s ex, I ask, “Okay, I’ll bite. What do we get?”
Cian’s chest puffs up three sizes as he crosses his massive arms and widens his stance as though he’s preparing to be attacked. Absentmindedly, I mimic the big guy’s stance.
“Well,” he says, glaring in the direction of our current mutual enemy. “Madison has brought in the highest bid for three years running, so there’s a good chance she’ll be in the top two winners again tonight.”
“And…”
“And no one dares bid on Elle.”
“Cian! What do I win?”
“Ya each get a weekend getaway to the mountains. It’s one of Madison’s favorite spots. And I happen to know that there’s only one bedroom available in the cabin right now due to construction.”
Jealousy heats my blood, and the rushing in my ears drowns out the noise of the party. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll allow another man to win Madison. “How do you know that?” I ask through clenched teeth.
The giant winks at me. “’Cause it’s my cabin.”
“You mother?—”
“Take it easy. You really think anyone can outbid ya?”
“I…”
“Pick your song, mate. You’ve got a girl to win.”
Spinning in place, I try to locate Madison and am pleased to find her watching me. She’s picking at something on her wrist with her head angled toward Elle as though she’s listening, but her eyes are the siren song that makes my pulse race.
“Turd alert,” Cian says on a fake cough.
The scent of cheap whiskey burns my nose hairs, but I don’t take my gaze off Madison. The worry line is back between her brows, and it makes me irrationally angry that he has this effect on her.
“She’s not yours,” Harry slurs in my general vicinity.
I smile brightly at Madison, hoping my body language emits a calm demeanor because inside I’m boiling over. No one should be able to cause this much pain. I nod toward Madison. The gesture has her sucking in a large gulp of air that lifts her chest.
She chews on the inside of her cheek, but Elle and Savvy keep her in place. I guess their meddling isn’t always such a pain in the ass.
“Last I heard,” I say without raising my voice, “Madison’s her own woman. She doesn’t need either of us making decisions for her.” Turning my back on him, I trust Cian to support me.
It nearly knocks the air from my lungs. I haven’t trusted this blindly since I was a child, yet here I am with Cian.
“I’ve got you,” Cian mutters quietly enough that only I can hear. “Go give them your song. I got your back and the girls in my sight.”
Does he have any idea how big of a step this is for me? If he does, he doesn’t make a big deal about it, and that more than anything hits me with the force of a sack of bricks to the side of my head.
