Adored (The Hunter Mercenary #16)

Chapter Four

Post Nap

Monday

Mid-Afternoon

The sleeping man awoke with a start from what began as the best dream he’d had in a long time. Gamble was in it, and they were together and safe back in New Orleans.

Only, the dream progressed, and the second Poe let his guard down, the dream began going south.

It got darker, and Poe wasn’t able to find Gamble anymore. For some reason, he was stripped away from him, and gone.

It terrified him.

That was, ultimately, what pulled him from his dream.

When he looked around, Gamble was right beside him, watching the man with his bi-colored eyes. There was concern in them.

“Bad dream?” Gamble asked, rubbing his hand up and down Poe’s leg, reassuringly.

It wasn’t lost on him that it was something he’d done for Gamble each time he’d been scared awake with a bad dream. Honestly, Gamble didn’t mind comforting him. It felt natural to want to do it.

At his question, Poe nodded and moved back into his man’s body to find some solace. As of late, Gamble was the only reason he felt anything but despair.

Unfortunately for him, this week was wearing him down, and it was only Monday.

Thankfully, Gamble showed up, but now, Poe still had a long list of things he had to get through, like having to go claim his parent’s bodies for burial.

As of that moment, he’d yet to see them, and honestly, he wasn’t sure he was going to be able to do that.

Thus, the rough day.

“You’re stressed,” Gamble admitted. He’d been lying there with Poe for the last hour, and the man had whimpered a few times in his dream toward the end. So much so, that even Rufus looked over to see if he was okay.

It was in those moments that Gamble wished he could take that burden away from the man he loved. As he watched over Poe, he’d been carefully studying him. The conclusion he’d come to was that he was so stupid in love, that he’d never be able to be away from Poe.

They were tied together in his trauma, healing, and learning to love again.

Poe nearly laughed at the word ‘stressed’. In all of his life, he only recalled one other time where he felt like this. It was when his brother died.

“I have to take a trip into town for a little bit,” he admitted. “I have to sign the paperwork to get my parent’s bodies back. They need to be sent to the mortuary, and be prepared for burial on the grounds.”

Oh, well, that explained the tension lines around his mouth, and the bad dream that pulled him from sleep.

Been there.

Done that.

For a second there, Gamble was worried that he was stressed over him, and that was the last thing he wanted to happen.

Lifting his head when his man said nothing, Poe focused on Gamble.

“I don’t know if I can do it,” he whispered with tears in his eyes.

Yeah, Gamble understood why.

Saying goodbye and seeing the violence that was done to someone you loved was always difficult. When it had been time to make arrangements for Storm, he’d simply had her cremated, and Elizabeth Blackhawk had stepped in to have her remains handled.

His daughter…

He did that himself.

She was a victim to her mother’s selfishness, and deserved a grave where she could be visited and loved.

Elizabeth handled that for him, after he went and viewed her body one last time. Then, he was whisked away to Chartres a broken mess.

“I can do it for you,” he said. “I saw the painting of your mother and father, and I can view them for you, and I can pick out the things for their burial to save you that.”

At his words, Poe wanted to sob. That was the sweetest offer anyone had ever done for him. That he’d carry that burden…

Yeah, he loved this man.

“I don’t want to make you do that for me,” Poe admitted, even though he knew he couldn’t do it himself. In his head, he remembered how his parents looked before they were murdered.

Was it so much to not have to view them shot up?

Honestly, it wasn’t good for his mental health, and that was crystal clear to Poe.

Because he loved him, Gamble lifted his chin.

“If it were my parents, what would you do?” he asked, already knowing it.

That was easy.

“I’d handle it for you.”

Gamble said nothing, as he waited for Poe to get it. They were a couple. When you loved someone, you did the things that were difficult for them.

To help them.

To carry them.

To love them.

“Thank you, Gamble,” he said.

What Poe wanted was all of this over with, so he could move on with Gamble. The mere idea of having to look at his parent’s dead bodies…

It horrified him.

“I don’t know how to deal with all of this,” Poe admitted since it was only the two of them there. “I teach soldiers how to navigate the grief and severe PTSD, but I can’t seem to figure it out for myself and that befuddles me. I’m lost.”

Yeah, he could see that.

Instead of giving him advice, since he was no specialist dealing with grief other than having experienced it, Gamble held him, and kissed the man on his temple.

“Let me help you through this, Baby. Go take a shower. I got you messy. Afterward, I’ll help you out. Put your faith in me, and we’ll get through this,” he stated. “I promise.”

What choice did he have?

Poe was lost.

And scared.

Setting him free, Poe got out of their bed, and headed toward the shower. When he did, Gamble pulled out his phone from his pants on the floor and sent a text.

This wasn’t only about being here with Poe. It was about keeping the man safe.

Someone had a lowkey bodyguard.

‘Any word on Von Donore?’

He hit send, and got out of the messy bed. When Rufus hopped down, too, he went to his things and began pulling them back on.

Gamble was going to need backup on this, and that meant staying in the loop. It was only a matter of time before that piece of shit focused back on Poe.

When his phone chimed, Gamble read the message.

Elizabeth was getting back to him, and quickly. That told him that it was still all-hands-on-deck.

‘The Hunters are still tracking him. He hasn’t left the US, but we don’t know if he’s been in communication with anyone in Europe. Any word on the crypto key?’

Oh, he wished.

He tried to come up with a reply that Elizabeth wanted.

That wasn’t easy.

‘Nothing yet. I’ll keep looking. Just let me know if there is any chatter about Poe being in danger. I’ll have to figure out how to protect us here. I love him too much to let him be hurt. I’ll figure out a plan to leave if need be. I have no freaking clue where the code could be. I’m starting to believe that Liam Seville was in communication with his son, and he hid it. This is going to take time.’

And that was the one thing that Gamble suspected they didn’t have.

When he heard the shower turn off, he went to the closet and found Poe some suitable clothing for the afternoon ahead. The man liked to dress a certain way.

Dapper.

He was a very dapper gentleman.

Oh, and that got Gamble’s juices flowing. There was something about how the man was pristinely put together that made Gamble want to get him messy.

Putting the things on the bed, he waited for him to come out. When Poe finally left the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, his eyes were red.

Yep.

Someone had been crying.

“I love you,” Gamble said, understanding the pain he was feeling.

Poe looked over.

“I just wanted you to know that no matter what happens, I love you. I also want to thank you for being the person who is holding me up. I’m grateful you followed me here.”

Poe sat on the bed and Gamble dropped his arm over his shoulders to offer him someone to lean on.

Emotionally.

And.

Physically.

Poe wasn’t done.

“I appreciate how you’re holding me together,” he stated. “I also love you, Gamble. I’m grateful that for some miracle, you fell in love with me and chose me to be the person by your side.”

Oh, well, Fate put them together. Who was he to question it? Deep down, Gamble knew that this man needed him.

Because he could feel the man’s sadness, Gamble took his hand in his and squeezed it.

“Trust me. Wanting to be with you was the easiest thing to do, Poe. We’ll heal each other.”

Poe was honest.

“I love you, and I wish my brother could have met you. He would have been chuffed to meet you and to talk military with you.”

That touched him.

Gamble felt the same, but he had news for Poe.

“I have met him. You both were twins, and identical, Poe, so I know him, and I like him and you. I imagine he smiled the same way, and laughed like you do. He lives on in you—as do your parents.”

He sighed.

“I thought I was stronger than this. I know the process, Gamble. I just can’t seem to get my bearings.”

Oh, he knew how that felt.

“A wise doctor told me that we don’t have to always be strong. What we have to be is aware of our emotions and that we are allowed to feel. He is the only reason I’m still alive. I trust him.”

He looked over.

“Wise, huh? Not absolutely handsome and dishy?” he asked.

Gamble stared at him trying to figure out what the hell that word meant. To an American, that was something odd to say, but he wasn’t in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Clearly.

Poe laughed.

“It means the same as handsome,” Poe admitted, amused by the language barrier.

“Jesus. Why do you Brits have to make shit up?” he asked, trying to make him laugh. “I got a latte last night, and someone asked me if I wanted squirty cream in it. What the hell? I had to keep a straight face. Now, dishy? What’s next?”

He was amused.

And laughed.

“I mean, I like squirty cream in the bedroom for some ruckus fun.”

Gamble was trying to figure out what kind of cream he meant.

“Whipped cream, right? Or are we talking about man cream? Maybe both? I don’t know. I’m lost because one of us isn’t speaking actual English.”

Poe laughed hard.

“I love you, Gamble. I really do,” he said, amused.

That was a good thing since Gamble wasn’t going anywhere soon.

Handing Poe his trousers, shirt, and things, he kissed him on the cheek.

“When you’re ready, we’ll drive into town, and take care of this situation.”

Poe nodded.

When Gamble went to get up, Poe touched his arm, getting his attention.

“Mate?”

He waited.

“Thank you for loving me enough to come after me. Leaving was the biggest mistake of my life. I shouldn’t have left you.”

Again, he knew he was under so much stress, and that made people do questionable things.

Gamble reassured him.

“I’ll come for you anytime,” he said, winking lasciviously at him.

Well, thank God for that.

Poe dressed in silence. He put on his watch and his shoes. As he did, Gamble was quietly leaning against the wall watching him.

“What?” he asked.

“I like looking at you, Doctor. You make me get butterflies in my stomach. I haven’t felt that in a very long time.”

At his unexpected words, Poe blushed.

This man made him feel sexy. When he was with Gamble, he felt alive—despite the horrible things he had to do today.

With other men, it had been nothing like this. Oh, he’d enjoyed sex, but now he felt as if he was perpetually excited about life.

Minus the whole funeral stuff.

“Now you know how I feel,” he admitted. “I’ve been in love with you for a while,” Poe admitted. “I think I fell in love with you when you pulled me into the bathtub and held me at razor point.”

Gamble kept it light since that had been a very dark time, and it could have gone either way.

“I’m such a sketchy character. Imagine me manhandling my therapist like that. I should be punished. I’m a very bad boy.”

That made Poe think of so many things that had been dormant in him.

Lust, mainly.

“Oh, you absolutely are, and I love it.”

Thankfully, he did.

When Gamble saw that he was ready, he knew it was time to go. It was best to get this over with sooner rather than later. Holding out his hand, he waited for him to take it.

When he did, he stared into Poe’s eyes.

“I’ve got you. No matter what happens today, I have you, and I’ll always have you.”

He nodded.

“I know.”

Together, they headed out, and Rufus went over to the pillows to lay down. When they got back, they’d feed him, but for now, he was on his own.

Hopefully, he behaved.

Then again, he had a cast, so how much trouble could he get into in a castle?

As they headed down the stone stairs, hand-in-hand, the castle was still alive with preparations for tomorrow’s wake and dinner party afterward.

Poe found the man in charge, and warned him.

“I have to go out. Our dog is upstairs. If he comes down, can you just make sure he’s okay, Brian?” he asked. “He’s generally good, but he’s never been outside of our home in the US. I worry about him.”

Gamble loved that he was so concerned with their dog.

The man nodded.

“Absolutely, Sir. Be safe, and we’ll see you later. We’re on track with the preparations, so don’t worry.”

Oh, he was worried about plenty, but this was NOT one of the things haunting him.

“Thank you.”

Together, they headed outside, and the sun was shining. It was a nice day, and those were rare at this time of year.

All he wished was that they were enjoying it and not having to go do this.

As they walked to the garage, Poe was silent.

“Want me to drive?” Gamble asked.

Poe nodded.

“I’d appreciate that, Mate. I’ll show you where to go. I’m not focused, and the last thing I want to do is die in a car accident.”

Yeah, that was a hard no for Gamble.

Inside the garage, Gamble found keys hanging on a hook, and he whistled.

“A Bentley. Nice, Doctor. My man is rich-rich,” he joked.

Poe was amused.

“Wait until you see all the nobility and guests here tomorrow making a big to do about absolutely nothing. Nobility loves a party. Me, not so much. I really wish I didn’t have to do this. Damn my mother and her final wishes.”

Yeah, he didn’t know anything about mothers or that kind of shit. He’d have to take his word for it.

At the Bently, he opened the door for his man, and helped him inside. Then, he got in himself.

It was a really nice car, and had anyone told him that he’d be driving one in his life, he would have laughed. While he could afford things like this, he didn’t like to be flashy.

In his line of work, it didn’t pay.

Now, he had a new life here, and being with a Duke was going to be interesting.

There were a few cars in there, and all of them were nice.

“I hope I remember to drive on the correct side of the road,” Gamble said. “And how to drive.”

At his words, Poe stared over at him.

“Wait. You do know how to drive, right?” he asked, caught off guard.

Instead of answering, Gamble considered the question as he backed out of the garage, and started driving toward the gate.

“Gamble?” he asked.

The man was amused, and busting his ass. The whole plan was to keep Poe distracted from what was coming.

“I mean, I guess I do. I can drive a horse. Does that count?” he asked, joking.

At the words, Poe stared at him.

“Drive a horse?” he asked.

“Yeah, you know…to go get squirty cream.”

Now, he knew he was busting his ass, and Poe began laughing.

The man was funny.

God.

He was so grateful they were doing this together. Poe was now seeing the real Gamble, and he loved him.

As the massive iron gate opened, and they drove through to get to the country road, Gamble purposely was on the wrong side—for that country.

For America, he was on the correct side.

Immediately, Poe laughed harder, momentarily forgetting the pain he was feeling.

This was love.

This.

Right.

Here.

“What’s this pedal do?” he asked, pressing hard, and the Bentley shot forward as Poe squealed in amusement. “Was that the brake?”

And Poe knew one thing.

Gamble would get him through this. There was no doubt that he was in good hands.

It looked like he’d fallen in love with the right man.

For this job.

* * * Poe & Gamble * * *

Back In The US

Tennessee

Another Office

Von was not amused by anything as of late.

In fact, he was irritated, and stirred up that someone had sicced a band of mercenaries on him. He’d been so close to finding the key, and now…

He was hiding.

Yeah, he wasn’t entertained, and he certainly wasn’t enjoying the fact that he had to answer to the others at The BlackStone Group that the crypto key was still not in his possession.

In fact, he was pissed.

Not only had he lost the doctor, his chance to find the money, and his building in New Orleans, but he was losing his patience.

And one thing plagued him.

The footlocker.

The doctor had mentioned it, and he didn’t think he was lying. He’d wanted to save the Marine his men had been wailing on, so he’d be honest.

But where was it?

So far, nothing was going his way.

His mercenaries failed, and they dropped the ball on this one.

BIG.

TIME.

To make that even worse, MANY of his military contracts were suddenly canceled. Apparently, the US government had gotten wind of his mess, and now, they were going to pull funding.

Oh, he was having a very bad week.

All of it was because of a meddling do-gooder pilot who didn’t know when to mind his business.

This was going to be a problem.

Von really enjoyed being rich.

In fact, he preferred it. Only, now, that might be coming to an end if he didn’t get his hands on that code before whoever was chasing him did.

Who would dare call out the dogs on him?

Oh, well, he’d find out.

Couldn’t a guy just make some money? Capitalism had been the American way.

Even if it was on the backs of poor soldiers who were nothing more than collateral damage in The BlackStone’s Group getting wealthier…

Oh, well.

More would be born, and more would die. There would always be poor people looking to get out of the dire situation they were in.

It was the cycle of life.

But that money…

Fifty million was nothing to the group, but it was important for a few reasons. The biggest one was that he had an ego, and that piece of shit had dared to steal from him.

You didn’t steal from Von Donore.

Oh, and live to tell about it.

The second reason was because it made him look weak in front of the other members of the group.

That wasn’t good.

Not.

At.

All.

Now that he was in his office, there were some things to handle—mainly where the holy hell that footlocker was going to be.

It wasn’t at the doctor’s home, so that meant the locations were limited. His men had gone through Hemmingway’s things before they were boxed up, but the man had been clever.

Obviously.

“Where is he?” he asked his one soldier, knowing he’d be well aware of who he meant.

He gave him an answer.

Hopefully, it would calm the man down.

“We lost track of him for a while, but we just picked up some news on the AP wire. Apparently, the doctor is back home, taking over for his parents. He’s going to be having a wake tomorrow for his deceased family.”

Von leaned back in his chair.

This was good.

It was clear they assumed he would be safe from him, and that was anything but the truth. Oh, he couldn’t get to him, but money bought mercenaries, and he had money to make that happen.

“I want him handled. I personally went over all of Hemmingway Seville’s things, and nothing stood out.”

The man waited.

“The good doctor said something about the footlocker, and I need it. Find it, and make sure you handle the Duke. That bloodline is coming to an end.”

The man nodded.

“Very well, Sir. We already have a couple of individuals in place to handle the Duke. They’ll make their moves on him, and the man won’t see it coming. His home is back up to full staff for the wake and dinner party afterward.”

That worked for him.

They were running out of time, and by ‘they’, he meant him. With the other two people who also headed the group, he could be…handled.

And this was bringing them too much attention.

“I don’t care how you do it, but make it happen,” he ordered.

Oh, he would.

“Find me the fifty million, or your head will be served on a silver platter, Finnegan.”

The man nodded and backed out of the room, leaving Von alone to contemplate his life choices.

God.

It was damn difficult to find a good soldier to do some dirty deeds.

And it was frustrating as hell.

* * * Poe & Gamble * * *

The Hospital

First Stop

Monday Four P.M.

When they arrived at the location, the media was already out and about, and that was because they likely followed Poe from his home.

Son of a bitch.

That didn’t make him happy. People all over them upped Gamble’s concerns for Poe’s safety.

So now, he had to be careful.

Gamble helped his man inside of the hospital, and the receptionist at the desk told them where to go.

The morgue.

Holding his hand, Gamble walked with Poe toward the morgue, knowing the man was not having a good time.

He was shaking.

When he got him down there, he saw a vending machine not far away, and it was time to distract the man as best he could.

This shouldn’t take too long. Poe had given him the name of the mortuary before getting to the hospital, when they drove right past it.

It was about getting the body released.

“Sit right here,” he said, going over to pull out some coins from his pocket to get him a tea.

When it was done dispensing, he carried it to his man, and sat beside him, temporarily.

“Here,” he said. “It’s likely going to suck. Nothing delicious comes out of a vending machine outside of a morgue—or so I’ve experienced.”

Poe didn’t care.

He was so cold, and his hands were shaking. Deep down, he knew he was on the cusp of a panic attack.

So, he heeded Gamble’s advice and sipped it.

Yep.

He was right too.

“It’s dreadful,” he said. “It’s the equivalent to tea I’ve had in…”

Gamble lifted a brow.

“My travels,” Poe said, not wanting to insult his American boyfriend. It was just common knowledge that the British did tea far better.

In amusement, Gamble just shook his head.

“What do you want me to do?” Gamble asked, referring to the reason they were there. “With your parent’s remains?”

He sat there and contemplated it since he knew what they had wanted. It was in their will that the barrister had delivered when Poe got there.

“They wished to be buried with Hemmingway, and I know I told you that, but that means I have to pick out caskets. I’ve already hired someone to come open the ground to bury later this week. I don’t plan on being there to see it. I can’t.”

Poe sipped the truly terrible tea, but it warmed him up, and that helped.

“That’s all they specified other than they wanted a wake for everyone to say goodbye.”

Unfortunately.

Well, that was easy to handle. Gamble could do this for him.

“Okay, sit here, and I’ll go sign for the bodies to be released.”

Poe was thinking a little more clearly now, and had to point out one thing.

“You’re not me,” he said.

He laughed.

“Are you having a stroke, Doctor? I know I’m not you, but I’m good at handling situations like this. You just sit there and wait for me. This shouldn’t take long.”

Poe wasn’t sure if it would work, but honestly, he didn’t want to deal with it.

Oh, he loved his parents, but he wasn’t as strong as he liked to believe.

What he really wanted was to close his eyes, and for this all to be over.

Was that so much to ask?

It had been a rough four days.

“Okay, Mate.”

After Gamble gave him a kiss, he headed into the morgue, and Poe sat there.

In silence.

The whole time, he was acutely aware that people were down the hall, watching him. Immediately, he knew that this was going to be tabloid assholes looking to make a quick buck on a story about his family.

He just knew it.

Poe felt panicky, and he wasn’t sure how long Gamble was gone, but the people were moving closer, and Poe was paranoid.

A part of him said to get out of there, and he was pretty sure it was the panic attack that was about to go down. The last thing he wanted was cameras in his face as he was asked about his parent’s murders.

Standing, he saw the men’s room, and that overwhelming need to escape hit him.

Yep.

He was out of there.

Granted, Gamble told him to stay there, but he just couldn’t. Heading into the loo, Poe was praying that they’d just leave him alone.

Hadn’t he been through enough?

Once inside the room, he found a stall, and closed the door to hide himself away.

Once there, that fear of being followed dissipated.

Was it silly to be hiding in a bathroom stall in a hospital?

Absolutely.

Was it necessary?

Yes, yes, it was.

For Poe, it was anything for survival at that point.

Anything.

Meanwhile…

Inside of the morgue, Gamble had the attendant get the bodies, and that only happened after a little creative hustling on his behalf.

How did he pull it off?

Oh, well, that was easy.

He flirted with the woman on duty.

Was it wrong?

Absolutely.

And for the record, he didn’t even enjoy a single second of it.

That told him everything he needed to know about himself at this point in life.

Gamble was madly in love with a dude.

When a pretty lady couldn’t get the juices flowing, but your sexy doctor could, you went with the obvious.

The hot man.

After some winks, a smile or ten, and some wicked grins, the deal was done. The woman agreed to let him sign for Poe.

As for flirting, he blamed the woman.

If she didn’t ask him his relationship to the man, and trusted him…

That was on her.

After signing, they brought him into a viewing room so that he could do the positive ID, and the sheets were pulled back on both victims.

Oh, and they were a mess.

Well, his father was. He’d taken multiple nine-millimeter rounds to his head and chest. It obliterated the back of his head, evacuating his brain at some point.

Oof.

Yeah, this wasn’t pretty.

Poe’s mother was in the same shape, but it was the side of her head that had blown out from the bullet.

In that moment, Gamble was grateful that Poe wasn’t in there to see this. It would have been something that he’d never be able to unsee.

For Gamble, he could detach himself, even if it was Poe’s parents. After all, he’d seen war.

He’d seen killing.

Truth be told, this was just another day as a Hunter.

But for his Poe…

This would break him.

“And the police released them?” he asked as they were covered back up. Gamble already knew the answer to that, since Elizabeth had a friend who worked for the local law. She’d made sure the bodies were good to go.

The tech nodded.

“Oddly, yes. The investigation is still ongoing, but we were given the go-ahead to release them. It likely has everything to do with the family being nobility. You know how it is.”

Oh, he did.

Power got you everything, and in this case, he wasn’t going to complain.

Poe needed this.

“Where would you like them sent?” she asked, checking him out.

Gamble knew when he was being ogled, and it kind of grossed him out. Yeah, a lot had happened in three months. That was for sure.

Giving her the name of the mortuary that Poe had told him, she made note of it.

“When will they be there?” he asked, looking at his military-grade watch.

She was batting her eyelashes at him.

Oh, boy.

Poe would kill him if he got wind of this.

“We’ll have them picked up later today when the mortuary gets a copy of this,” she admitted. “They will likely be ready for burial in a couple of days. Have you finalized their final resting place?” she asked, curiously.

“Yes.”

Gamble knew it was likely chitchat.

“If you need a date to the funeral, I’d love to attend,” she said.

Oh, boy.

It was time.

Now that he’d signed off on everything, he needed to abort this mission ASAP.

He was NOT available.

“My fiancé did. His parents have their grave already set up and someone digging it out.”

That hung there.

Okay, he wasn’t his fiancé, but he would be soon enough. There was no doubt about that. Calling him his boyfriend annoyed him.

It sounded…

Temporary.

What he felt for Poe was anything but, and it needed to be fiancé or husband.

That was all he would settle for at this point.

What Gamble knew was that marrying Storm, while it felt right at the time, was a mistake. You couldn’t fix broken people on your own.

That took therapy and a doctor’s help to survive. Now, marrying your doctor…

Yeah, it was a slippery slope, but he liked a wild ride on most days, and rules were meant to be broken.

He’d learned that as a Marine.

Why not with love too?

“Oh,” she said, finally putting two and two together, and realizing that he was not going to be an eligible man for her.

Plus, it was weird to want to go on a date to a funeral.

That was NOT his kink.

It was time to make a break for it. Arthur Doyle was out of there.

Thankfully.

“Thanks for your help,” he offered, knowing it was time for him to get out of there. He’d left Poe alone for long enough.

As he escaped, he could at least mark this off of his list of things to do today for Poe.

Once outside of the morgue, there was media everywhere.

Holy.

Shit.

He hadn’t expected them to be inside the building and up in their personal space. The media here was ballsy.

Immediately, he looked for Poe.

They were swarming outside of a bathroom door, and it hit him that his man was trapped in there. That brought that protectiveness out in him.

And anger.

Moving around the ten reporters, he headed for the bathroom, and managed to get inside without many pictures of himself. They were too focused on the man inside, and not someone who had to take a leak.

Gamble had to be careful.

While he had a new name…

He had his old face.

Once inside, the place was empty except for one closed stall door.

“Poe?” he called.

He heard his man immediately.

“I’m in here,” he said softly. “They began moving toward me, and I was scared. I came in here to hide out until you found me.”

His poor man.

Gamble heard the door open. The lock was undone, and he opened it slowly.

“I can’t believe I’m hiding from the paparazzi in a bathroom. Can this day get any worse?” he asked.

Gamble hugged him.

Oh, it would if they had to face down the media. At least they weren’t trying to film in there.

For now.

“We’re getting out of here.”

Poe didn’t want to face the reporters.

“I can’t go out that way,” he said, his flesh pale, and his palms sweaty. “They’ll be all over me. They were asking questions about my parents’ deaths, and if I came back only because of that.”

He made him breathe.

Someone looked way too clammy for his own good.

If he didn’t get him some fresh air and distance between the media and himself, there was no doubt that Poe was going to pass out.

That was the last thing they needed.

“I have you,” he said, holding him as he focused on his breathing.

Poe had never had panic attacks before, but now, he was most definitely having one.

In the bathroom, Gamble looked around as he tried to come up with some plan.

That’s when he realized how they were getting away, and it might just work.

“I have a plan. Do you trust me?” he asked.

Poe nodded.

What choice did he have?

“I need you to go open the door, so they see you, and then close it fast. Lock it behind you.”

Poe was confused.

“Uh, okay. Why?”

Well, that was part of the plan, and now, Gamble was to the point.

“I need them to see that you’re still in here so we can slip away.”

Poe didn’t understand what he meant. How could they slip away in a locked room?

“Should I ask how?” Poe inquired.

Gamble pointed at the very small window up high and near the ceiling.

“We’ll get out of here, and they won’t know it for a while. That will buy us time.”

What he needed to do was get Poe to the mortuary, and get that handled. He didn’t doubt that once the media figured out they’d been bamboozled, they’d go to the woman in the morgue.

And he burned her with flirting.

She’d definitely slip them information.

As he stared at the window, Poe didn’t know if he could squeeze himself out that tiny space, but he was going to try.

Anything to get out of there.

When Gamble pointed, Poe went to the door, and opened it. He saw the reporters, and the second they began asking about his parents, and the police investigation, he slammed the door and locked it.

Well, onto part two.

Gamble went into action, turning on all of the water, and directing Poe to start flushing the toilets.

As he did, he was up on the sink, his jacket wrapped around his fist, and he punched out the window, shattering the glass.

It fell all over the floor.

Making sure it was all out of the window, he held out his hand, and Poe took it.

He pulled him up, and got him to the window. It was actually bigger than he thought, and when Gamble boosted him up into it, he pulled himself out.

When he was free, he reached in, and Gamble grabbed his hand. Poe pulled him up, as much as he could, and the man got out of the window too.

And they moved.

FAST.

They were in the back of the building, and that window had been right at pavement level not far from a bin blocking their way.

That had been too close.

Moving toward the Bentley, they got in, and were safe with not a reporter following them.

Hot.

Damn.

That was what Gamble called a perfect getaway.

From his seat beside him in the tinted Bentley, Poe laughed.

“You’re insane, but that was wild,” he admitted. “It actually worked. I hate to admit it, but I have fun when I’m with you. First running from mercenaries, and now, dodging the paparazzi.”

He glanced over.

Well, at least no one had been shooting at them this time.

“I mean, I do this thing for a living—or I did when I was a Hunter. Sometimes, you get yourself into situations, and have to find a way out.”

Pulling out of the parking lot, they were on their way, and no one was tailing them. By the time the media got into the bathroom, or was smart enough to know they were gone, they’d be back at the estate.

Poe was free.

As Gamble drove, Poe was curious.

“Are you going to miss it?” he asked, thinking about how fondly Gamble spoke of the people who had tried to save him—his family.

Gamble wasn’t sure what he meant.

“Miss what, Babe?” he asked.

“Being a Hunter?”

Honestly, he considered it.

“I’ll miss my family more than being shot at if we’re going to be honest. When I had no one, they took me in. I blamed them for putting Storm in my path, but had they not…I wouldn’t have met you. They kept me alive and tried to get food into me until I could be brought to you. I owe them everything I have.”

He handed him his phone, after opening it with his face.

At a stop sign, Gamble pulled up his banking information and shared it with Poe. He wasn’t exactly poor.

The man took it and saw how much money he had spread out over multiple accounts.

“I had NOTHING before them. Now, I have a nest egg to take care of my man and one day, children. Whenever they get a job handled, they still gave me a share of it, even when I left with Storm—and even when I came back and was ready to die, they paid me.”

Poe let him talk.

“I’m not Duke of Gordon wealthy, but we will be fine no matter what.”

It occurred to Poe that it was very important that Gamble carried on with the masculine role in their life. Honestly, it was sexy, so…

He didn’t mind.

“Well, then, WE have a nice nest egg between the two of us. If we have kids, AFTER we get married, they will have good lives. That being said, you didn’t answer me straight. Gamble, Mate, will you miss it?”

He was honest.

“Yes.”

Poe thought so.

Only, before he could say anything, Gamble continued.

“If they need my special skills, I’ll go back to help,” he said. “I have to. They’re my people. Maura and Jagger did a lot of good in their lives. Then, Zayn is a decent guy under all that paranoia. Remington was CIA, too, and he lost his whole family.”

He kept listening.

“Rogue and Jinx…when I wouldn’t eat, Jinxy would come sit with me, and she’d make sure I wasn’t alone. Dakota and Eve are sweet and he ran The Hunters for a while. He asked me to join them when I needed a family. So, yes, I’m definitely going to miss them.”

Poe felt bad about making him leave his life behind.

“I can do something differently,” Poe offered after thinking about it.

Gamble was confused.

“Do what?” he asked.

In that moment, Poe made a sacrifice that wasn’t that difficult to make. He’d leave there for Gamble.

In.

A.

Heartbeat.

“I don’t have to live in the UK. I can go back with you, and we can raise our children AFTER we get married, as Americans. I have dual citizenship.”

Gamble knew this was a conversation they had to have face-to-face, not with him driving—and on the wrong side of the road, so he pulled off to a parking lot.

Thankfully, the Bentley windows were tinted, so they could do this privately.

When he came to a stop, Gamble turned in his seat.

“I don’t want you to give up your duty, Poe. If you need to be here, then I’m willing to be here with you. I just might have to fly home to take care of shit. I’m a ghost, and if they need me…”

Watching him leave and knowing he might not come back scared Poe. It scared him so much that this place lost what was left of its allure.

Seriously.

This morning, he’d been ready to leave himself.

“Well, Mate, you have family. I don’t.”

He palmed his cheek.

“I’m your family. We’re going to start a new family here, and don’t think I didn’t get the hint about AFTER we get married.”

Poe shrugged.

“I mean, how long does a guy have to wait?” he asked, assuming Gamble wanted to ask. The whole nest egg and providing for his family clued him in, or he would have just asked here and now.

Gamble didn’t laugh.

He wanted to do something special. That was the only reason he was waiting.

“If we have kids, Poe, that isn’t a life for children.”

Now, he was curious.

“So none of them have children?” he asked.

Gamble hesitated.

“What?”

He sighed.

“Yes, they all have children. Jagger has three, Zayn has three, and Rogue has three. Then Merry and Boone have two kids, and Dakota has two. I just don’t know if I can have kids in that life.”

Poe was honest.

“I just feel like you gave everything up, and I haven’t even had to. It feels off balance.”

Gamble stared into his eyes, and he didn’t like the way that sounded.

In fact, it freaked him out.

“What are you saying, Poe? That you don’t want to have a life with me? That I’m not welcome here? What?” he asked now that he was about to have his own panic attack. “Because relationships shouldn’t be about keeping score.”

That he understood.

“I’m not saying that. I just feel bad you’ve sacrificed your family to live in a chilly old castle in the UK with none of your family here.”

He was curious.

“So they can never come here?” he asked. “They can never stay with us?”

He stopped him.

“They can come right now and move in for all I care. I want us to be happy, and I’m worried that you’re going to give all, and that will break you. While you don’t keep score, relationships have to be equal. Remember you and Storm? How that ended?”

The second he said it, he wished he hadn’t.

Gamble’s face flashed anger, and then, he turned in his seat to start the car.

Oh, shit.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” he admitted.

Gamble said nothing.

His heart hurt.

Not for Storm, but in that brief second, he was reminded that his child paid the ultimate price.

What wouldn’t he give to have her back?

What wouldn’t he have given to have his little one with The Hunters on that day instead of the woman who was supposed to die for her?

Not kill her.

He missed his child.

Driving, Poe felt horrible. He knew that it normally wouldn’t upset a person, but in this case, Storm had killed their child.

“Gamble.”

He stopped him.

“I need a minute,” he said. “Just let me calm down so I don’t rage at you because right now, I’m ready to blow up. I’m not angry with you, I’m angry with Storm, and I’m working through it.”

Poe said nothing.

He knew what Gamble was fighting, and how difficult it could be for him with his anger.

So, they drove in silence, and he knew he’d fucked that up. That hadn’t been his intent. For the most part, he forgot about Gamble’s trauma.

Until it was too late.

When they pulled up to the mortuary, Poe went to get out. Stopping him, Gamble touched his arm.

“To answer your question, it ended badly when Storm took and I gave all I had,” he admitted. “It cost my daughter her very short life, and I’ll live with that forever. It was a very lopsided relationship because I felt the need to take care of Storm. It felt like an obligation. Taking care of you isn’t.”

Poe had tears in his eyes.

“I’m sorry I just hurt you with bringing that up. I didn’t mean to. Sometimes, I forget that you haven’t always been mine. It feels like you have been for so very long. I hope you believe that I wouldn’t make a comment to hurt you. I’m not myself,” he whispered. “I can’t figure out how to navigate this, Gamble. I feel like someone tossed me up into the air, and I’m falling.”

Oh, he knew the feeling well.

Really.

Well.

“It’s okay, Poe. I know you didn’t do it to remind me of what my bad choice cost. I miss her every day. My daughter…”

Poe held his hand.

“To this day, Poe, I can’t say her name. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to either.”

In the silence of the car, they both sat there.

Finally, Gamble broke it.

“I’m here because I want to be here. If I didn’t, I’d ask you to leave with me. If I thought it was too dangerous, I’d tell you to pack up. I want to be with you, and I can only hope you feel the same about me.”

Poe reassured him.

“I do. Since you showed up this morning, I haven’t felt dead inside. You are the only reason I’m holding up, Gamble. That’s it. I’m just putting everything I have on this relationship. If it fails…”

Gamble stopped him.

“It won’t fail. I told you. We’re getting married, and we’re going to have a life together. I just need you to let me protect what’s mine. In this case, that happens to be you.”

He nodded.

“Okay, then we stay here,” he stated. “Until it gets dangerous, or until one of us wants to leave. Because this isn’t home for me, Gamble. You are home. I miss my farm, and my house, and being at my kitchen table and having breakfast with you that I made. I’m a simple man. This life…it’s not simple. I never wanted this or the duty that it carries.”

He brushed some hair from his eyes.

“We’ve got this. Just hang in there, Poe. We’ll be okay,” he promised.

Now, all Gamble had to hope was they found the crypto key before Von Donore got to them.

Giving it a minute, Gamble waited until the calm had come back.

“Ready to do this?” he asked.

Poe nodded.

“Let’s just pick these caskets out, and go home. I just want to get back to the estate and away from all of this mess. I need to cross it off my list and start living again.”

Gamble understood.

Only, the hair on the back of his neck was standing on edge, and he had the distinct feeling they weren’t going to be safe there long.

Poe might just get his wish.

They might be getting the hell out of the UK.

Forever.