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Pain laced up his stomach, and his legs gave from under him. Micha dropped down and attempted to suck in a breath as a heavy boot stomped on him repeatedly, making it damn near impossible for him to even catch his breath, let alone defend himself.
Micha pulled his knees to his chest and attempted to make himself smaller, but it was no use.
"You’re nothing without me. You’re useless and a spoiled bitch. You eat all my hard earn money," his ex shouted at him.
But Micha knew no matter if he shouted how sorry he was, the man wouldn't stop until he grew tired and passed out from the alcohol. And the moment Micha got the strength to walk away he would bathe him in flowery words and hold him like he was the most precious thing in his life. And the cycle would repeat itself.
"Micha," the man over the phone shouted, dragging him back from the past.
Micha lost the battle with his stomach and bent over, puking up the small lunch he'd had. His hands trembled, and he pressed hard against his eyes until colors appeared behind his eyelids.Never again. He wasn't there; he was in a dirty, disgusting alley, but he was free.Micha repeated it to himself until he could take in a breath without it burning.
His ex would never hit him again. Would never force Micha down again. And it was all thanks to the mystery man on the phone. He just had to do this favor to pay him back. He'd help him rid the world of more horrible people like his ex, except Micha couldn't squash the feeling that Arden wasn't that bad.
"Yes," Micha said as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
The man sighed, and Micha got the distinct feeling he was tired of Micha's lack of results. He'd been at PGD for a little over three months, and still, he didn't see or hear anything that he could report back. Arden was a demanding boss, but the man was kind to all the hosts he brought in. All of them sang his praises, even the ones who'd quit before Micha got there. They'd hated Arden bringing in a human, but they still had nothing but good things to say about the dragon. Each day it was getting harder and harder to see the man as someone who'd caused such a devastating image as the one he'd been shown.
"Micha, I saved you, didn't I? I could have easily left you in that run down apartment with that loser ex of yours."
"Yes."
"And all I'm asking of you is to do this one simple thing," the man stressed.
He sounded reasonable, and it was the least Micha could do, but it was easier said than done. He stared down at his feet as shame trickled down his spine like fire.
"I can try and get into his private room," Micha said. It was the one floor off-limits to all hosts.
"Good."
The praise didn't make him feel good. It felt as if he was being covered in slime as he thought about breaking into Arden's room and going through his personal things. The betrayal would be detrimental and Arden would no doubt look at him with that disapproving stare, shaking his head in disappointment. Just imagining it had Micha wrapping his arms around himself.
"It won't be easy; he doesn't allow any of the hosts up there," Micha said.
"Figure out a way for him to invite you."
What? How?Micha clamped his mouth shut, knowing the man would only get exasperated with him.
"Think about it, Micha. You're getting all this experience seducing people. Turn it on him."
Seduce Arden?Micha shook his head, shooting down that idea. "He wouldn't fall for that."
A menacing growl over the phone had Micha standing up straighter.
"I can try," Micha whispered, afraid to raise his voice. The idea of Arden taking an interest in him was insane. Out of all the hosts at PGD, there was nothing special about him.
"I expect results next time." The phone beeped before Micha could say anything.
He pulled it away from his face and pressed his head against the cool brick wall. He took in shallow breaths as he tried to calm his racing heart. He hated check-up days. There was always a light sheen of sweat coating his flesh, and he felt as if he'd run a marathon through the swamps.
But he had a debt to repay.
Mich pushed himself off the wall and pocketed his phone as he made his way out of the alley. The entire walk back to PGD, his mind swirled with nonsense. Everything he’d done, everything he had to do, was laid out before him. But could he do it? Could he get what he needed from Arden? He stopped and glanced up at the glowing neon sign that was turned on. Already a line was starting to form outside the door.
Micha checked the time. He'd have all of thirty minutes to get inside and changed. He hurried to the back door and stopped short at the cloud of smoke. Waving a hand, he tried to clear it away as he coughed.
"Where have you been? You missed the meeting." Gamble’s smooth voice penetrated the air, but he was nowhere in sight.
Micha looked around as his heart rate picked up. He'd missed a meeting?
