Page 115 of The Beast Who Begged Me

Tiberius Vicario.

I take a step toward the bars before I can stop myself. He called Dami at the auction. Whatever else I’ve started to suspect about him, maybe—maybe he’s going to help me.

“Daniel!” Jesse flings himself toward the door. “I knew you’d come for me! I knew you’d⁠—”

King hasn’t even glanced his way. He gives the guard a nod. The guard strikes Jesse through the bars, and he stumbles back against Sammy.

“This is my surprise?” Tiberius asks with a slow smile. “Daniel. How delightful.”

“I thought you’d enjoy it.”

Tiberius looks through the bars at me, still wearing that empty smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, I’ll enjoy this very much,” he says. “Very much indeed.”

He can’t mean that. But as his cool green gaze moves over me, taking in the sheer toga, the wooden sword, the bars between us, he looks amused.

“They’re calling you the Little Emperor out there,” he says. “Did you know?”

King chuckles along with him. “I knew you’d appreciate the invitation. I’m sorry about last time—the auction. I know you were disappointed to lose to that barbarian.”

Tiberius waves his hand. “Quite forgotten. This, however, was very thoughtful of you.”

I grip the bars. “Tiberius. Come on—you’re really going to let them kill me?”

“My dear cousin,” he says, and there’s something almost affectionate in his voice, which somehow makes it worse, “it was always going to happen sooner or later. At least this way it will make the night a little more interesting.”

“It certainly will,” King agrees. “He’ll take on the Champion.”

Tiberius’s eyebrows rise. “One on one?”

“Of course.”

“No, no. That will be dreadfully dull. Volkov will kill him in seconds. No, you should put all three in there with him. That would be much more entertaining.”

King hesitates, but then he smiles. “You’re right. All three at once.”

“Excellent.” Tiberius glances toward the Russian’s cell. “You’ll enjoy that, too, won’t you?”

The big Russian laughs and nods.

“What kind of odds are they giving ringside?” Tiberius goes on. “I’ll have to have a flutter. Do make sure you last at least five minutes, won’t you, cousin?”

King laughs. “You hear that, Volkov? Draw it out a little. Let Mr. Vicario enjoy the moment.”

Volkov chuckles again, and I tighten my hands around the bars and address King. “They want a spectacle. I’ll give you a spectacle. But I want a guarantee that if I do, they walk.” I nod toward Sammy and Jesse.

“You’re not in a position to negotiate anything, Mr. Clemenza. I wonder how long it will take you to realize that?” King’s smile widens. “I knew what your plan would be before you did. You Italians—always so easy to predict.”

“Daniel, please,” Jesse whispers. King ignores him again, and Jesse looks at Tiberius instead, as though he might find some help there.

“Your leftovers, Mr. King?” my cousin asks, nodding at him.

“I tired of him.”

Jesse’s lips part, but he says nothing. Tiberius looks him over. “He’s pretty enough that the Champion might take pity on him for a night.”

Jesse whimpers. If anything, Tiberius’s smile widens. King gestures toward the passage. “Come. I want you in my private box tonight. You’ll have the best view in the house.”

“I’m sure I will.” Tiberius’s gaze moves to Sammy, then Jesse, then back to me. They move away, and I watch until they disappear through the door at the end of the passage. It clangs shut behind them.