“Looking good, little brother,” Duke said as he came up behind him.
James stepped aside to let Duke and his man bun move up front; they’d announce him first since he was the firstborn, even if hehadonly beaten Zander by twelve minutes.
“Feels weird not to have Winston here,” Duke said under his breath. Leave it to Duke to utter whatever was on his mind.
“Mmm, hmm,” James managed. The last thing he wanted to do was revisit the loss just seconds before going on live television. As it was, he couldn’t shake the recurring dream that had plagued him over the last few nights. In the horrific nightmare, James stomped up to Winston, yanked him by the suit coat, and screamed at the top of his lungs. The wording changed slightly from dream to dream, but the inquiry remained the same:Why, man? Why did you throw your life away?
“Welcome to The Lion’s Den, everyone!”
James glanced at the nearby monitor to see what millions of others were watching in that very moment.
“I’m your host, Milo Jazz, and tonight on this special live edition, we’re going to see who has what it takes to enter the Lion’s Den. But first, let’s bring out our billionaires, shall we?” The camera moved from Milo to the audience members as they cheered.
Duke nudged James’ arm. “Some hot chicks out there tonight,” he mumbled. The stage crew had learned it was best not to turn the guy’s mic on until he was seated; hopefully they hadn’t forgotten.
Milo continued with the introductions. “We’ll start with the king of the den, the ever adventuresome Mr. Duke Benton. Give him a hand, everyone.”
James blew out a pursed breath as they announced his sister next, the lovable Betzy Benton. Loveable, because she had a way with encouraging words, not because she was a pushover. She and Zander, Duke’s twin, waited on the opposite side of the stage. Betzy waved to everyone as she entered, then tucked an auburn strand of hair behind one ear and gave the camera her signature wink.
James detected a hint of moisture in her eyes; perhaps she was feeling it too. The absence of their fifth and final member.
Now was the time they would’ve announced the youngest of the bunch, that wily Winston. If the crew had to be careful with Duke’s mic before the show began, they’d had to be doubly careful with Winston’s. And not just backstage, either.
Without invitation, a vision barged into James’ mind: That final glimpse of Winston a moment before the casket closed. The piercing in his left brow—a tiny gold hoop—reflecting light in the darkest moment of James’ life.
He clenched his eyes shut.
Stop, James. Stop.He forced his mind back to a prospect from tonight’s show. One James couldn’t wait to get his hands on, and rolled his shoulders back as the host announced him at last.
“You either love him or you hate him, folks, let’s welcome the lady’s favorite, our cunning Mr. James Benton.”
James held his head high as the crowd erupted into wild applause. A sound that always pumped his heartbeat out of rhythm. His gaze shot to the leather chairs lined along the center of the stage.
Four. Not five.
The sight seemed to lasso his speeding heart and yank it to a silent stop.
He’d known this was a bad idea. Normally, they appeared in alternate episodes, one or two of the Bentons filming advance shows with fellow investors. They should’ve stuck to the pre-filmed stuff and left it at that. Why pretend the Benton Billionaires were “together again” when they weren’t? There was one missing now, and it would never be the same.
“And now for the lion with the loudest roar, the man who putsrudeinshrewd, it’s Zander Benton.”
The crowd cheered as Zander pulled his famous scowl and strutted onto the stage. A little known fact about the Benton twins—the two were actually identical. A detail Duke remedied by growing out his hair and, of course, behaving as his twin’s complete opposite.
Once Zander stopped in front of his seat, the way James, Duke, and Betzy had, the four gave one another a nod and took their respective seats.
Milo Jazz stepped into the spotlight, brought the mic to his mouth, and fixed a serious gaze at the lens. “Million dollar companies hover in the balance tonight, on the brink of extinction. The Bentons and their billions could save those companies, but our guests will have to convince at least one of these lions to take the bait.
“Will our first owner and CEO get the help she’s been dreaming of, or get her hopes for redemption crushed by the jaws of financial justice? Find out after a word from our sponsors.”
James dropped his head in his hands as an ache pulsed at his left temple. There was a very good reason he and Zander had come up with the Lion’s Den. Business deals such as these usually happened behind closed doors, but in their experience, many so-called desperate-to-sell prospects weren’t so desperate after all. Owners who’d run their company into the ground wanted someone to save them, yet they insisted on keeping the lion’s share of the company. Most hoped to borrow a few million in the dark of night and keep the public blind to their jeopardized state.
Discussing the prospects for all of America to see weeded out those trying to keep the deal under wraps and operatebusiness as usual.Business as usual got them into the predicament in the first place.
“Betzy’s talking to you,” Duke hissed into his ear.
James blinked and pulled his hands from his face to glance at her.
She was leaning over Duke’s chair, forehead scrunched up in concern. She looked like Mom when she pulled that face. “Are you okay?”
