Page 81 of Dragon Boss (Paranormal Delights 2)

“Mine! You will not threaten what ismine,” Arden growled.

Gamble’s eyes widened as he stared at Arden.Had he just been claimed?His heart thumped so loudly that it blocked out the sound of the city surrounding them. Why did he suddenly feel so warm? And safe?

Ezra’s shoulders lowered, but a look of confusion came over his face. “Brother, you know what you are saying?”

Arden cleared his throat. “This is not why I called you here. Come inside.” Arden glanced at Gamble, but he didn’t hold his gaze for long. “Back to work.”

Gamble wanted to say no and demanded Arden clarify what he meant by mine. But he knew even if he tried, Arden wouldn’t say anything he didn’t want to.

“Yes, sir.”

The corner of Arden’s mouth tilted up in a secret smile, and Gamble’s stupid stomach fluttered. He made his way over to Bash once more, and the bear shifter watched Arden and his brother walk into PGD. There was desire in the man’s eyes that tickled Gamble to his core.

“Fuck and get it over with already,” Gamble mumbled.

Bash’s head whipped around, and he gave Gamble a death glare. “And what? Join his growing harem?”

Gamble opened his mouth to laugh, but instead, he shrugged because it did, in fact, seem as if Arden was building a harem. And he’d joined without even noticing it. Gamble couldn’t even be upset because the idea of leaving them and never being a part of whatever was happening between all of them filled him with dread.

* * *

Gamble heldhis phone in one hand and a joint in the other. He took a long drag as he dialed the number he knew by heart. It had been a while since he’d spoken with Mario. The phone rang three times before he picked up.

“It’s been a long time, kid,” Mario said.

Gamble blew out the cloud of smoke. “Yeah.”

“Hmm, that’s all you have to say?”

Gamble put the joint between his lips as he tied up his shoulder-length curly hair. “No, I have more to say.”

“Then spit it out, kid. You know I don’t like the pussy footing around.”

Yeah, Gamble knew that more than anyone, Mario had practically raised him. And it had been Gamble’s sole intent to repay the man’s kindness by serving the family.

“I think —”

“No, be a man about it. You don’t think. Either you know or you don’t,” Mario chastised.

Gamble was grown, and still, he was being lectured as if he was fifteen. He didn’t hate that side of Mario. In fact, it always made him feel cherished.

“I know,” he said as he blew out a breath. “I want to stay at PGD.”

The line went silent, and Gamble held his breath with every passing second.

“You found something worth staying for?”

A few faces flashed before his eyes, and Gamble couldn’t stop the smile that graced his face. No one was around, so he could afford to show the hidden side of him a little.

“Yeah, a few someones,” Gamble said.

“Good. I knew you’d find your place.”

Gamble took in another lungful of smoke and held it before blowing it out in a cloud. “I wasn’t so sure at first. Can you thank the boss for me?”

Mario laughed. “Yeah I’ll tell her. Just so you know, I asked her again if you could come back. She said sure if you still wanted to come back after a year.”

Gamble grunted. All he’d wanted was to return home, but now the prospect of going back didn’t seem appetizing.

---