Raiden
“Damn it.Damn it, damn it, damn it,” Cash cursed. They had just arrived at the bar and were still standing in the doorway as Cash stared at his phone.
“What?” Raiden asked, jolted by the worry on Cash’s face.
“They took a left three blocks back. It looks like they’re headed to the satellite office instead.”
Raiden grunted. “Fuck, Cash. I told you this was risky.” His anger boiled as he thought of Lawrence, possibly stuck with a man as powerful as he was evil. “You should have listened to me, man!”
Cash didn’t say anything; he just turned on his heel and headed to the street, leaving Raiden to rush to catch up to him. “Hey! You hear me?”
“We’re all adults,” Cash said. His legs flew beneath him, and he held his phone out, watching the map while he walked. “And no one forced anyone to do anything.”
“Hey!” Raiden barked, then shoved Cash from behind. His anger made him push a little harder than he intended, and Cash had to jump-step to catch his balance. “You hear me?”
Cash smoothed down the front of his shirt to gain his composure. “Listen, Raiden. They’re just at the satellite office, see?” He held the phone out, as though the little dot meant anything to Raiden. “It looks like they’re parking right now. Nothing horrible can happen in the middle of a crowded office.”
Raiden shoved a finger against Cash’s chest. “Now you sound naïve.” He opened his mouth, ready to rip into Cash for not taking proper precautions. Before he could get a word out, Cash leaned forward, then took him in a quick, deep kiss.
Raiden pulled back, their lips smacking. “What the hell is that for?”
“We work better when we get along than when we’re fighting, don’t you think?”
Scratching the back of his head, Raiden stared at Cash. It was true; his anger had been dulled by another confused swirl of emotions. All of his thoughts still focused on Lawrence, though, and he pushed forward. “Come on, smartass. Let’s check out this office.”
“Fox sent along some blueprints. From what I remember, it’s pretty typical of these corporate offices. Lots of security, long hallways, a private parking garage.”
They hurried across an intersection, cars honking as they passed. “Can we waltz in the front?”
“Unlikely. They scan badges up front, and the back entrance has two security officers posted inside the door.” He skipped over a dropped slice of pizza on the sidewalk. “We might be able to keep an eye on them through the window, if our favorite creepy executive hasn’t shut his curtains, but I don’t have my scope with me. I guess we’ll just have to wait outside? Hopefully, he’ll at least be able to call if something goes wrong.”
Raiden snorted. “You fancy types give up so easily. What about the service entrance?”
Cash gestured down to his buttoned shirt and pressed trousers. “I could pass as waitstaff, I suppose.”
Pointing to his own hoodie and jeans, Raiden shook his head. “Nope. They always give the waitstaff a close check. But there should be a dock for deliveries, right? I’ve had some luck just walking through there before. All it takes is confidence and the right outfit.” He clasped his hand on Cash’s uninjured shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
“I guess it’s worth a try,” Cash agreed. “One of us could position in the lobby and the other outside of the executive offices. Then we’ll be close if we get an SOS from Lawrence.”
Raiden grinned. “Great. Glad you’re game.” He grabbed two handfuls of Cash’s shirt, then ripped it open, sending buttons flying across the sidewalk.
“What the hell?”
“Come on now, in your T-shirt,” Raiden said, then mussed up his hair. “And make it look like you’ve been working.”
They walked the last couple blocks to the building, Raiden grinning the whole way. Tormenting Cash was definitely a needed distraction from the anxiety he felt, and from the mischievous smile pulling up Cash’s lips, he knew the other man was enjoying it, too.
Deliveries came to the back of the building, and they took up a spot watching the big gray garage door. Cash found a few stones and sidearmed them across the lot to take out the security cameras, and about ten minutes later, the door rolled up as a large truck approached. There were only a few workers, who wandered in and out of the building, and before the first truck departed, a smaller van rolled up and took a position in line.
“Should be easy,” Raiden said. “You think you remember the floorplan well enough to get us up there?”
Cash closed his eyes and tapped his finger on the tip of his nose while he mumbled directions to himself, then nodded. “Got it.”
Raiden messed up his hair one more time. “Let’s roll.”
He strolled across the pavement, humming to himself and taking care to avoid eye contact with any of the workers. Alongside him, Cash walked, shoulders slumped and hands buried in his pockets. They headed up the stone steps that led into the service bay, and when Raiden held back to let Cash lead the way, he spotted a younger woman who was unloading boxes, staring at them with a quizzical eyebrow raised.
“How are those foot warts treating you?” Raiden asked Cash, then slapped his back. “Are they still making you grumpy, man?”
