Dracon (1st book of the Draconon Series)

Chapter 4

"Did you actually draw these?" Antonio asked, sounding shocked. He went to touch the paintings but stopped when I growled out a warning.

"Paws off, Bucko," I warned, and he put his hand back at his side. "I don't need your grimy hands touching them."

"And, she painted them," Miguel said, mimicking something that I had told him a long time ago. He winked at me when I scowled. "There is a difference."

"To-may-to, to-mah-to," Antonio said, brushing me off. "But seriously, did you paint all of these?" He gestured to the paintings.

"Well... ya," I said, moving a hand through my hair. My whole body was tense, and I was anxious about how they thought of them.

"Well, they aren't pictures of naked girls, but I could dig these," Antonio said. He was pushed back hard and was slammed against the back wall. He tried to scratch the hand that was holding his throat, but nothing let go.

I groaned and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Let him go," I said, annoyed. "That Alpha will be wondering why one of his Warriors has been hurt and how."

The ghost let go of his throat and backed off, leaving Antonio on the floor, gasping for breath.

"Stupid thing," he said gasping. He placed his hand on his throat and gasped out. "I didn't even say that I wanted to see you naked. Why did the ghost even do that?"

"Because the ghost is protective of me, and I am sure that you were thinking it," I replied, and he scowled.

"And, you do know better," Miguel said. "You just do it anyway." He squeezed my shoulder. "I will see what I can do with these paintings. Are there others?"

I gave him a weird look. "I have a roomful," I said, and he shrugged. "But, I think that these will be good for now."

"I want to see this "roomful,"" Antonio said, standing, his voice breaking. He cleared his throat and folded his arms across his chest. "I don't believe you."

"You don't have to believe me," I replied, narrowing my eyes at him. "But, you are not seeing them. You are not allowed in that room, and if you do go into that room, then I will let the ghost throw you out the window."

Antonio's face paled a bit like the window opened by itself. "Uh..." He cleared his throat and glanced at Miguel, and he shrugged. "Never mind then." He cleared his throat again and looked around warily. "I guess I will not go into that room."

I smirked and walked over to the open window. I closed and locked it before turning to look at a nervous Antonio. "Good boy."

***

"So," I said, taking a sip of my drink and watching the men eat some pizza. "What's the plan? Are we going to try to get me my job back, or are we going to try and find me another job?"

"Probably find you a different job," Miguel said. He took a bite of his pizza. "But I don't think that you need another job."

"Ok, then how am I supposed to pay for my bills if these don't work out?" I gestured to the paintings that were in a bag, ready to be transported.

"They will work out," Miguel said. "And if they don't then, we will pay for your bills."

Antonio looked up from where he was lying on the floor and watching tv. He furrowed his brows and cocked his head. "We will?" he asked, and Miguel nodded. "Why?"

"Because she is family," Santiago replied. "And, we do not want her ghost to kill anyone."

Antonio snorted and rolled his eyes. "Like the ghost could kill anyone. Nobody has seen the ghost, not even Clover."

"That doesn't mean that the ghost can't kill anyone," another of the members, Abram, said. "I mean, I am sure the ghost is just dying to kill you."

Antonio glared. "Ya, shut up, Blondie," he said, glaring at him. "How would you know?"

Abram took a sip of his drink, his blue eyes watching him. "I was near you when the wire was about to break," he said. "I was pushed out of the way."

That piqued my interest, and I stared at him with a calculating gaze. I knew that he was telling the truth, I could feel it, and I couldn't help but be curious. "Really?" I asked, and he nodded. "Then, why didn't you say something before now?"

Abram shrugged and took a bite out of his pizza. "It wasn't important," he replied after he finished the bite. "And, is it really a bad thing for him to be dead?"

Antonio growled and stood. Anger filled his eyes as he looked at Abram. "Be glad that you are my sister's mate, Mutt," he spat, and Abram bristled and stood. "Or else, your ass would be out that window."

"Sit down and shut up, the both of you," I snapped, and they looked at me. I placed my plate on the table and glared at them. "Or else, I will throw you two out the window."

They glared at each other but didn't say a word as they both sat down. They knew that I would do it. They knew that I could throw them out the window if they did not do what I told them to do.