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“Fine, but if I get fired-”
“You won’t.”
Gamble pulled his face back and looked over his shoulder at the vampire. “How do you know that?”
Eldon smirked at him and Gamble’s stupid stomach flip flopped. He didn’t have time to be affected by the men around him. He was going to go back to the mafia; they were his true family, his real home. Even if sometimes it felt like the host bar was where he belonged.
“Call it intuition,” Eldon said cutting into his thoughts. “You’re very good at your job. There hasn’t been one incident since you’ve taken over as head of security. Not to mention you’ve been training the others and there have been customers who come here specifically to see the beautiful security guard.” Eldon snuggled in closer. “Arden above all else is a business man and he won’t get rid of someone that is an asset.”
Gamble turned back around and laid his head down. He thought about what Eldon was saying. Was he was valuable to Arden?That couldn't be true right?He pushed it all away; he needed sleep before the night started.
“You know, I didn’t imagine you were a snuggler,” Eldon said.
Gamble groaned. “You know and have seen nothing. Got it?”
The last thing Gamble needed was everyone knowing he was down to cuddle.
Eldon hummed. “You know you’re even cuter when you try to protest that you are anything but a stone wall. You aren’t with the mafia anymore. You’re here with us. You can relax a bit more and allow others to get to know you.”
“Shut up and go to sleep.”
Gamble squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe Eldon had a point but he couldn’t let people in. That would only lead to being abandoned again. It was easier to hold everyone at arm's length, better for them and for Gamble.
Gamble grumbledunder his breath as he made his way downstairs.Arden still couldn’t be that angry, right?It was a stupid question of course he would be. But Eldon had said Gamble was an asset. So maybe he wouldn’t be tossed out. Or the vampire got it all wrong and Gamble was replaceable.Fuck.
He made his way over to the bar and Bash was behind it moving liquor bottles around and getting ready for the night. Looked like he was on bar duty. Another annoyance for the night that meant Rolla was working with Gamble. He didn't know why but she made the hairs on the back of his neck stand.
She was a genie and most were employed by some of the most corrupt of people. Gamble tried to not let any of his prejudiced thoughts consume him. Yes, they were known to be tricksters and the contracts they made with people were shady as hell. But they were also amongst some of the rarest supernaturals which made it hard to tell between fact and fiction. However, he’d heard more than once that if something fishy was going on and a genie was around, you could bet your ass it was them.
As long as he never made a deal any kind of deal with her, he’d be fine. Gamble had the forethought to be able to avoid it but still he couldn’t get rid of the feeling. And he never ignored his intuition. He wasn’t on great terms with Arden so bringing it to him wasn’t going to solve anything especially if he had no proof beside his gut said she wasn’t trustworthy.
Luckily she only worked three nights out of the week but she made those shifts go on forever. Gamble had to keep an eye on her as well as the customers. It was annoying.
Gamble leaned on the bar. He pulled out a joint and smiled at Bash. The big bear shifter’s eyes lowered and his lip curled up in a growl.
“You got me in trouble last time for that shit.”
Gamble fought the grin. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
Bash growled again, but went back to stocking the bar. Gamble glanced around but there was no Arden. He put his joint back away. He mostly smoked after work unless he was extremely stressed but ever since he started sleeping in Micha’s bed there hadn’t been a need.
“Hey, uh?” Gamble snapped his fingers and screwed up his eyebrows.
Bash snarled and Gamble had to fight his natural response to laugh. The man loved to growl entirely too much. He thought Arden was a hot head but Bash took the fucking cake. The man was easily riled up. And the way the fire danced in his green eyes was enticing.
“It’s Bash, learn it already. I swear you’re doing this shit on purpose,” he grumbled.
He was.Gamble shrugged. “Have a more remarkable name or something about you.” He pointed at Bash. “I told you already this place is packed with shifters all the time. Your growls aren’t special.” But when Bash did growl, it had Gamble imagining absurd things. First Arden then Eldon and damn Micha slipped in there and now Bash. Shit, next thing he might have a damn thing for the annoying as fuck familiar.
No fucking way.
“What do you want? Or are you here to get me in trouble again?” Bash asked.
“Again, there would have to be a first time,” Gamble said.
Bash stopped moving and Gamble was aware of every move the big man made. He could see the predator just under the surface ready for the attack.Why in the hell was he goading the man anyway?
“Anyway, I came here looking for Arden,” Gamble said, deciding to stop teasing him for a minute. “Have you seen him?”
