Chapter 8

EIGHT

CALEB

The guards manhandle Havoc into the chair of this small security room. He snarls at them, but he doesn’t try to get up. With his hands cuffed behind his back, there isn’t much he could do anyway.

When Havoc sees me watching, he leans back and spreads his legs. He’s pretending he’s not affected, although I don’t know who he thinks he’s fooling.

“I thought I said you were banned from blackjack,” I say, stepping closer. “I should ban you from the casino entirely.”

Havoc sneers at me. “Sure. And when I’m out of here, I’ll tell the cops all about that kid you’re keeping against his will.”

I fight to keep my expression blank. I don’t care if he tattles to the cops—I have enough of them on my payroll that I know I won’t see any consequences—but Seven being logged in their database in any way would be bad.

“So… what? You want me to turn a blind eye to the destruction you caused, both to my property and the general atmosphere of my casino?” I pull another chair away from the desk and sit down in front of Havoc so we’re eye to eye. “I don’t take kindly to threats, Havoc.”

“And I don’t take kindly to pompous assholes,” Havoc counters. He glances at the security guards by the door. “Are they just security, or are those guys part of your mafia empire?”

My eyebrows shoot up.

It’s not necessarily a secret in Calamity City that the Roi de Pique has ties to the mafia, but most people have better sense than to bring it up.

“Would you like me to threaten your life and everybody you hold dear?” I ask mildly. “I can do that. What family members should I set my men on?”

Havoc laughs and shakes his head. “If you go after my stepfather, I’ll even thank you for it.” His expression darkens. “I fucking hate guys like you.”

“I have no idea what you mean.” I sit back and consider my next steps. I could simply kill him, but I’m not a fan of murdering on casino grounds, and the family wouldn’t appreciate me creating problems in what is meant to be our money laundering front. The less involved the casino is in messy business, the better.

Havoc fidgets, and after a few minutes of that, he asks, “You didn’t say anything about the kid.”

I give him a confused look. “About Seven? What was I supposed to say about him?”

Havoc shrugs as best he can with his arms bound behind his back. “Y’know. How he’s yours, how dare I touch him, you’ll cut my balls off for that… whatever jealous bullshit guys like you like to spew.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know what guys like me are usually like. But I did tell Seven he needed to avoid the staff, and I suppose you aren’t staff.” That does give me an idea though. I give him a once over, appreciating the large biceps and sturdy thighs. He isn’t as big as Vortex, but he is well-built and definitely hits the gym when he isn’t trying to win against the house. “How would you like a job, Havoc?”

I’ve caught him off guard. Havoc tenses and sits up straight, losing the casual pose.

“What?” he asks.

“A job,” I repeat. “You can take care of yourself. You apparently need money. And if you work here, you can keep an eye on Seven and make sure I’m not horribly abusing him.”

Havoc glares at me. “You mean, you get my real name, my social security number, and have constant supervision on me.”

Despite the words, there’s a tinge of desperation in his voice. He isn’t disinterested in the offer.

I smile at him. “That’s an extra benefit, yes. I’m thinking salaried, but on a one month trial period. If things work out, you get the same benefits as anyone else who works for the casino. Starting pay is sixty thousand. I’m generous with holiday bonuses and understanding if you need to take personal days.”

“Sixty—” Havoc chokes on his breath. “You might want to do the background check first. See if you really want me on your payroll.”

“Why don’t you just tell me what I’ll find and save me the trouble?” I counter as I pull my phone out. I start composing an email to my HR manager to let her know we’ll be hiring somebody new.

“Discharged for bad conduct,” Havoc says through gritted teeth. “I beat a superior officer bloody.”

I pause in my typing. “Will you do that to me?”

“If you piss me off, sure.” Havoc averts his gaze. “But if you don’t try to bully your staff, we’re fine.”

I look over my shoulder at the two guards. “Do I bully you?” I ask them.

They both immediately shake their heads. “No, sir. You’re the best boss I’ve had.”

I turn back to Havoc. “There you have it.” I send the email and meet Havoc’s eyes.

He assesses me, and I let him think this through. There’s no point in rushing him.

“Undo the cuffs,” Havoc says. “Can’t really negotiate with you if I’m tied up like this.”

“All right.” I get up to release him. I half expect him to grab me as soon as he’s free, but the only thing he does is rub his wrists. They’re red, but not worse than his face.

Vortex left a lot of bruises on him.

“You want an ice pack for your face?” I ask.

“Sure.” Havoc shakes his arms to loosen his shoulders. “You seem pretty sure I’m taking your job offer.”

I motion for one of the security guards to go get the ice pack. “Am I wrong? You didn’t say no .”

Havoc glares at me. “I’ll take it, on one condition.”

“And what condition is that?” I smirk at him. “You really aren’t in much of a position to negotiate.”

“Well, I’m negotiating anyway.” Havoc crosses his arms. “I get to fuck Seven. I don’t count as the staff he doesn’t touch.”

I hear the guard still in the room inhale sharply.

“He left that much of an impression on you?” I ask, mostly to stall for time. “His ass can’t be that good.”

“If it’s not that good, then why are you fucking him?” Havoc counters, smirking.

I suppose he has me there.

I sit back in my chair and sigh. I didn’t lie when I told Seven that I’m not a particularly jealous man. I don’t want Seven to fuck everybody in the casino, but exclusivity has always seemed like a lot of trouble.

On the other hand, Havoc seems like he’ll be a lot of trouble too.

“I’m not saying no,” I finally answer. “But you can’t take him out of the casino, and if he doesn’t want you, then he doesn’t want you.” I consider for a second, then add, “And if I want to watch, I’ll watch.”

Havoc loses his smirk. “That sounds like sexual harassment, boss .”

“You’re the one who wants to fuck the boss’s lover.” I stand up and extend my hand to him. “Take it or leave it.”

Havoc stands up and takes my hand, squeezing. “Fine. Sign me up.” After a short shake, he laughs. “You’ll have to tell your goon that he can’t beat me up just for sticking my cock in Seven’s ass.”

I roll my eyes. “I’ll inform Vortex of your new… status.” I pull out my phone. My HR manager has sent back a frantic email, while Vortex texted that he took Seven back up to my rooms. “In fact, let’s go do that in person. Seven is probably already bored.”

The guard returns with the ice pack for Havoc. We stop by the HR office for Havoc to sign some paperwork, then we take the elevator up to the top floor.

Havoc tries very hard not to look impressed. “You rich fuckers sure like to waste money.”

“Not as much as I’m sure you’ve wasted on the games here,” I point out. I grin at him. “You realize you can’t gamble here now, right? Since you’re an employee.”

Havoc groans just as the elevator dings open. “Fuck. I knew there was a catch.”

“Of course there was a catch.” I lead him to my suite, nodding to the men on guard. I open the door and call out. “Seven? Come on out, pet! We have a lot of things to discuss.”

Vortex emerges from the living room. He’s tended to his wounds, but he still has a hell of a black eye—not that Havoc looks much better. His eyes widen when he sees who’s at my side, then his expression morphs into a scowl. I know he has questions he’s dying to ask, but he keeps his mouth shut. “Boss. Seven went to his room.” He pauses, then says more loudly, “Seven! Boss is here!”

The door to the spare room clicks open a moment later, and Nacho darts out before Seven can stop him. He runs after the cat, wearing only a pair of pajama pants. “Nacho! Get back—” He catches sight of the three of us and scowls. “…here,” he finishes the sentence, much more sullenly, before he catches himself. “Caleb! You brought me some entertainment,” he says, flashing a grin at Havoc that has Vortex brimming with renewed anger.

I bend down to scoop Nacho up, and he flails to try to escape before he settles and starts butting his head against my jaw. I pet Nacho and smile at everybody.

“Not entertainment. Please meet the newest member of my casino staff.” I motion to Havoc. “Please, Mr. Martinez, introduce yourself.”

Havoc rolls his eyes, although he winces immediately and lifts the ice pack back to his face. “Call me Havoc. As all of you already know. I have no idea what my job entails but I guess your boss wanted me on the payroll so he could watch me fuck his twink boyfriend.”

Seven scowls at me, his amusement gone. “Are you just going to hire all of the men I fuck now?” he demands. He holds his hands out. “ Nacho cat ,” he says, though it sounds very much like not yo’ cat . “Gimme.”

I hand Nacho to Seven. Once my hands are free, I pull Seven closer to me—Nacho between us—and grip Seven’s hair. “Who I do or don’t hire is none of your business.” Then I lean down to force a kiss on him.

Seven yelps in surprise, but he gives in to the kiss even while Nacho squirms in his arms. “Nice show of ownership, boss ,” he says against my mouth.

“Boss?” I ask mildly. “I don’t think you’re on staff here.”

I’m pushing him. I’m pushing Havoc and Vortex, too, but I need to see how everybody reacts to this new situation. They can play with Seven, but they don’t get to keep him. They don’t get to claim ownership.

Only I do.

“Oh, right,” Seven says flippantly. “I’m supposed to call you Master .”

I kiss him again, just briefly. “That’s right. So do it properly, pet. Show these two how things are around here.”

For a fraction of a second, I think Seven is going to refuse. A dark part of me doesn’t like that, but before I can decide what to do about it, Seven slowly drops down onto his knees in front of me. He lets go of Nacho and nuzzles my crotch, placing a kiss just over the zipper of my pants. “Yes, Master,” he says.

I groan and tangle my fingers in his hair. “That’s better.” I glance at Havoc and Vortex.

Havoc’s lips are slightly parted, but with the bruising and the ice pack obscuring his face, I can’t tell if he’s interested or disgusted.

Vortex, on the other hand, isn’t even bothering to hide how interested he is. His gaze is attentive on Seven, and I see him swallow hard as he fidgets.

Seven deftly unfastens my belt, then looks up at me, batting his eyelashes. “Am I giving them a full show, Master?”

If I didn’t know better—if he hadn’t balked initially, if his eyes weren’t a little frantic, maybe—I’d think he was into it.

Push him more , my darker urges say. Make him cry .

I stroke his hair gently. “I’ve been told I shouldn’t sexually harass my employees.”

Seven gives me a brittle smile. “But I’m not an employee.”

I chuckle and point to Havoc and Vortex. “But they are.” I grin at them. “Are you feeling harassed?”

Vortex shakes his head. “No, boss,” he says hoarsely, glancing up at me before returning his gaze back to Seven’s face.

“You good there, Seven?” Havoc asks, his eyes flitting between me and Seven. “I’ve already got a track record of beating up the boss, so it won’t be a hardship doing it again.”

Seven laughs. “Really? You’ll have to tell me about it sometime.” He shrugs, sitting back onto his legs. “I’m fine. Caleb and I have an arrangement.”

“Why don’t we take this to the bedroom?” I suggest. “Vortex and Havoc can supervise and make sure I’m not doing anything untoward with my pretty little pet.”

“You’re planning on doing things that are plenty untoward,” Seven points out, but he takes my hand when I offer it, getting to his feet.

“Nothing we haven’t all agreed to,” I say, wrapping my arm around Seven’s waist. I wave to the other two. “Your choice, right now. Once my bedroom door closes, it’s going to stay closed.”

Vortex jerks his head in a nod, already striding toward the bedroom. He ruffles Seven’s hair as he passes him.

Havoc drops the ice pack onto the kitchen island. “Fine. I’m coming. And I expect to come , too. I’ve already been cockblocked once today.”

Seven casts an inscrutable look in his direction, but all he says is, “Nacho and Miss K might fight.”

I look around the room, but I don’t see Miss K anywhere. Nacho has already found the cat tree and clambored to the top of it.

“They’ll be fine,” I say, leading him toward the bedroom. “You have more pressing issues to concern yourself with right now.”

I press my hand against his crotch, giving his cock a light squeeze. He groans, his mostly soft cock starting to stiffen at the touch. I smile, and when we get into the bedroom, I close the door behind the four of us.

I stand behind Seven and wrap my arms around his shoulders. “Now then. Let’s really give everybody a show.”