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"No," Arden shook them both off. "I need a minute." He paused and glanced at Bash. “You okay?”
“Don’t worry about me,” the man grunted. “Do whatever you’ve gotta do.”
Arden nodded, a frown on his lips. He'd gotten rid of one problem and another had cropped up. The difference was that he really had kicked Mr. Whitegate's ass and he'd deserved every single hit. Amy, Porter's sister, had taken care of him, however, and made sure he would keep his mouth shut. He was grateful for her and all that she'd done, but his world was still crashing down on him.
"Arden," Eldon called. "This isn't forever. A shutdown notice just means that we won't be able to operate until they've closed out the investigation. And since there's no evidence that you've done any of this-"
"I know what it means," Arden snapped as he turned on Eldon. He panted, rage bursting inside of him waiting to go supernova. Instead, he took in Eldon's wide eyes and the hurt that danced in them. "I-I'm sorry," Arden growled. "Just let me think! Please. Get this place cleared. Quickly.”
"Okay," Eldon whispered.
Bash wrapped an arm around Eldon's shoulders. "Maybe you should stay out until you get your head on straight," he said Arden through gritted teeth. "Think that would be the best for everyone."
Arden stared at the shifter. Part of him wanted to lash out, but he knew that Bash was right. What he was doing was just heaping shit onto a manure pile. It wasn't helping anyone at the moment.
"Gamble," Arden called as he headed for the backdoor. "Come here!"
He burst outside and cool air greeted his lungs. For a moment, Arden could pretend the dirty, piss-soaked alley was better than it was. But his soul craved the clean air of his home, the heat, the constant sunshine that warmed every inch of the flesh. This world, the one the humans crammed them into, was no paradise.
Congrats. This is already prison.
That cop thought he could do something to Arden? He'd been locked up for years now by his own hand. But even then he didn't want to spend the rest of his life inside of a physical cage that matched the mental one he had built around himself ages ago.
Every instinct in him screamed to go out there and pop that man's head like a melon. His dragon would get to hunt again and they could lick his sticky red juice from their claws.
Humans aren't dumb. They're like roaches. If there's one of them he probably has a whole squad waiting. What would you do if he hurt or even killed one of…them?
Arden's heart seized and he gripped his shirt tightly. No, he couldn't lose them, not one. They were his greatest horde. Not money, or gold, or jewels. Each and every one of them was the thing that was closest to his heart, the objects of his undying affection.
"Here. And stop with the slit eyes before you do something my level crazy and end up going to prison tonight. I don't have enough money to bail you out."
Arden's vision came back into focus. How long had he been staring out into nothing? Slowly, his gaze flickered to Gamble who held out a joint. The witch pushed it toward him and Arden took it. One, long, slow inhale later and he'd burned through half of it before he blew out a cloud of smoke so thick and wide it engulfed both of them in it for a moment before it dissipated.
"Damn," Gamble mused. "And I thought I was a pothead."
He grunted. "There's something like that where I'm from. But much stronger," he said as he let the smoke course into his body and invade him completely. Slowly, his shoulders sagged and he leaned against the rough bricks of the building. "I was hoping you'd have something to smoke on you."
Gamble smiled up at him, but it was tight. Worry danced behind his eyes and Arden wanted nothing more than to pull Gamble into his arms and assure him that everything was going to be okay, but he couldn’t. After all, Gamble had every right to be worried. They all did. Where would they go when PGD was gone?
Perhaps Gamble could go back with Amy, but he wasn't a killer and never would be. Bash would be lost once more. If Spooky couldn’t join Gamble, he would be without a witch and would have to go back to being on his own. Eldon would be a drifter once more struggling to find meals that wouldn't end up with him on the bad end of a UV light. And Micha? Soft, sweet, gentle Micah? Well, he was a mystery, but Arden had always known that wherever he had come from, it was terrifying for him and the Nephilim clearly didn't want to go back there.
"Breathe," Gamble's voice entered his psyche and warmed him. "Whatever is going on around here, it's like you say. We'll figure it out together." He gazed up at Arden. "But if you start giving up and getting all weepy and shit, just know that I'll lock my asshole up so fast your head will explode and you'll never get to fuck me again," he growled. "Now, get it together, and let me go do my job."
Gamble took in a few drags before he handed the joint to Arden. The dragon, stunned by his words, stared at him. Finally, he took it and smoked the rest in a second long, deep draw. Gamble chuckled and slapped Arden on the chest.
"We're counting on you, Arden. Okay? All of us."
"That's what I'm worried about," he admitted as he exhaled. "What happens when all of this is gone?"
"You'll think of something else." Gamble smoothed his palm over Arden's pec and sighed. "Come on, it's you. I'm a fucking mess on a good day, but a man like you? Arden, you are our world. No matter what happens, we'll follow you."
Arden grunted. "Even into a gutter? Because that's where we're likely to end up."
Gamble shrugged. "I've been in worse situations. As long as I have you and that annoying pussy cat then I'm...happy." His voice caught. "I better get back to work. There are still customers."
Arden grabbed Gamble before he could escape. His lips crashed against Gamble's and the witch moaned as he pressed against him. The warmth of his lips against Arden's was like a tonic for the sick. His tongue flicked into Gamble's mouth and he held back a stupid goddamn flood of tears that threatened to break free and soak them both.
"I'll keep all of you safe," he whispered against Gamble's lips, promising something he had absolutely no idea he could even uphold. "Once everyone's gone, there will be a meeting. I need to sort some things out, but I'll make sure each of you is protected."
