A spear of shock tore through the middle of Cash. “What?”
Matthew’s face twisted in a pathetic plea. “I owe more than a hundred grand. I doubled or nothing against the Panthers, but I don’t have the funds to back it up.”
Anger surged through Cash. “Tell me you didn’t.”
“I didn’t have another choice. It was the only thing I could do.”
“Fuck you, Matthew.”
Matthew surged forward and gripped Cash’s shirt in his fists. “You have to do this for me, Cash. You don’t understand. I am literally dead if you don’t. They told me it’s my last chance.”
“Who? I’ll talk to them.”
Disjointed laughter toppled out of Matthew. “You’ll talk to them? You don’t talk to these guys, Cash. You just have to do it. For me. Please.”
Cash had found out where Matthew went to make his bets. Guy’s name was Jaimie. Cash was sure he could talk some sense into him.
“There’s no other way,” Matthew told him.
“How can you ask me to let my team down like that?”
Let himself down like that?
“I’m your brother. I’m the one who got you to this place, remember? It’s one game, Cash. One fucking game. Can’t you at least give me that?”
One game?
It wasthegame.
“Please.” A sob broke out of Matthew.
Fear and hate throbbed inside of Cash. Rage billowing high that his brother would do this to him.
How could he fucking ask this?
There had to be another way.
“Please, please, just this once, and I’ll fix it later. Pay back Mom and Dad everything I owe them. Get my shit together. ButI’m not going to have a chance to do that if you don’t do this for me.”
Disgust burned in Cash’s chest. It clashed with the love and fear he had for his brother.
It couldn’t be as bad as he was making it out to be, could it? It seemed impossible.
Ridiculous and exaggerated.
Cash’s jaw clenched. “If it’s so bad, then go to the police.”
Matthew choked. “Are you joking? Then I’m really dead.” Matthew’s features pulled taut. “These people are monsters, Cash. You don’t understand what they’re capable of.”
Cash looked back at his team, who laughed and joked as they boarded the bus. Excitement blazing from their spirits.
Guilt constricted.
Making it difficult to breathe.
How could he do what Matthew was asking? Guilt nudged his conscience.
How could he not?
