Page 8 of Mafia Prince (Paranormal Delights 1)
I'm...pretty?
Porter slowly reached up and caressed his own cheek. Was that true? It was hard to hear compliments over his father's jeers and laughter. He bit his lip before he glanced at Arden.
"What would I have to do?" he asked softly. "I don't want to sleep with anyone."
"Not your job," Arden reassured. "This isn't a brothel, it's a place where lonely people come to find some companionship. Sure, we can get a little sexy from time to time, but this is a fantasy. A way to connect without judgement.” Arden looked proud as he glanced around the bar with a small smile on his lips. “I just need someone who can be entertaining and sweet and that innocent, down to earth thing you have going on could fit well here."
Porter swallowed thickly. "And I could stay here?"
"Yes. I have rooms upstairs for my hosts. And you'll be paid, of course."
A job. This man was offering him a job? Porter relaxed a little. He glanced around where he was. It wasn't what he was used to, but...at least it felt safe. And having a job would make things easier for him. He would be able to hide out for a while and when he had enough money he could move far, far away. A place where the Manetti name meant nothing and he’d no longer be the pathetic mafia prince.
“Do you offer every random person on the street a job?” Porter asked before he could stop himself.
Arden seemed unfazed as he shrugged. “No but I do offer help to those who need it the most. It was the reason I built this place.” Arden’s steely gaze pinned Porter in place. “So you want the job or not?”
"Okay." Porter nodded enthusiastically. "I want to do it. I want to work here."
Arden smiled. "That's good news. Finish your drink and I'll have one of the hosts show you upstairs to your room."
"Actually, can I have another one?" Porter asked timidly as he clutched the cool glass in his hand. "I'm a little nervous."
"Of course." Arden went to work making him a second drink. "Be careful though. These things are not for the faint of heart."
Porter smiled and started to drink again. As warmth spread through his body, he automatically reached for his bag, ready to grab his phone. Before he remembered the truth. He didn't have a phone anymore. Even when he ran away on occasion he was able to talk to his sister, but now there was no way in hell that was happening.
His chest physically ached with the loss. His sister was the one person in his life he’d always been able to talk to and now that was gone. Even if he had another phone, calling Amy was a huge risk. There were always cameras in the Manetti house, spies, people ready to be loyal to his father and betray everyone else around them in return. He couldn't take that chance.
Porter drained the first glass and took the second. The yellow, red and blue disappeared at spectacular speed as he tried to numb the pain. He wanted to make all of it go away. Even if it was only for a night.
He barely paid attention as Arden walked off and talked to someone over in the corner. Clearly, he was one of the hosts by the look of his outfit and killer smile. Porter wondered who he was, but he quickly buried his face back into his drink.
The only thing he needed to focus on was getting his life together and getting the hell out of Silvercross City. As long as he didn't get distracted, everything would be fine.
Arden’ssteady bleeding heart was going to be the death of Jaygen one day. He shook his head as he was sure he’d heard Arden wrong.
“I’m sorry, what now?” Jaygen asked.
“I need you to show Payton upstairs.” Arden pointed to said human at the bar and Jaygen's smile dropped.
“And I’m taking them up there because?”
Arden glared at him and his thick arms crossed over his expansive chest. Any other person tried to alpha him, he’d balk and put them in their place. But it was Arden and Jaygen knew that look meant Arden didn’t have to explain shit. Jaygen lifted his hand, about to run his hands through his hair in agitation, but stopped short, remembering he was still at work. His hair was done to perfection and messing it up would only increase his frustrations. He put his award-winning smile back on his face. Although he wasn’t with a customer, it didn’t mean he was free to drop the act.
“Take them upstairs and give them a room across from yours, it’s been empty ever since Lenax left,” Arden said.
He turned on his heels and walked away, serving a customer before Jaygen could ask another question.
Keeping his sigh in check, Jaygen made his way over to the dainty human. He took in a whiff and Jaygen picked up hints of blood and dirt with a tinge of fear. He glanced over to Arden, who gave him a curt nod.
Great, the human was another rescue. Not surprising. Technically half the hosts who had come and gone from the bar had been rescued at some point in time.Arden acts like it’s his pastime to pick up strays.
Cyrus, the club incubus, had a theory that it was Arden’s way of trying to find his mates. Ozni, the club’s only daywalker, on the other hand, believed they were all Arden’s hoard, and when one leaves he patiently finds another lost soul to bring in and add to his collection. Either way, Jaygen was grateful for the dragon shifter, and if it meant he had to help some human, then so be it.
Jaygen had no issues with humans as customers; they were the easiest to please but to live with one...
He hoped Arden knew what he was doing.
