“Or what?” Reed laughed. “You’re fired now, Cash. Don’t come knocking again, and maybe learn a lesson from this. Your fairy ass is no better than anyone else.”
Before Cash could say another word, the line went dead. Everything spun, and he had to slam his hands on his knees and lean forward to stay upright. This was why he was never supposed to get close to anyone. He couldn’t keep people safe, and no matter how much he tried, the bad guys were always going to be more powerful. He was cursed, and the people he cared about payed the ultimate price.
“Hey,” Raiden called, jogging down the street. “You okay?”
Cash looked up to him.
Fuck. This was going to really, really suck.
He stood up, still wobbly. “Raiden, I’ve got something to tell you.”
Raiden stopped in his tracks. He cocked an eyebrow and gave Cash a hesitant stare. “What? Is Lawrence in danger? Did you figure something out?”
“I know who took him, Raiden. It’s a man named Reed. He’s trying to get at Lawrence’s father.” Saying the words made them true, and Cash felt his heart tighten like a fist.
“Who’s Reed?” Raiden asked. “How do you know this?”
Cash let out a slow breath. “Reed hired me to gather intel on Lawrence. That’s why I showed up in the first place. I was working for him.”
Raiden thrust his fists forward so fast and hard, the blow almost knocked the breath out of Cash. He stumbled backward, sprawling on the pavement as hot pain shot across his arm. Without the brace on, he likely would have dislocated his shoulder right there. Raiden towered above him, stomping the pavement. “What the fuck did you just say?”
Cash scrambled to his feet. “Reed hired me. I never intended to hurt Lawrence. Obviously. Raiden, you know I never intended to hurt Lawrence.”
Raiden roared, then kicked a metal trashcan, sending it clattering into the street. “Fuck what you intended. Then where is he, Cash? Where did you take him?”
Still stumbling backward, Cash held his hands in the air. “I didn’t take him anywhere, Raiden. Reed did. I was cutting Reed off and feeding him false info, I swear.”
“Then where is he, smart guy? Where is he?”
“I don’t know,” Cash gasped. “I don’t know what they’re going to do with him, Raiden. I really don’t.”
Raiden lunged forward and grabbed Cash by the shirt, then flung him against a large red van. Cash grunted from the blow, and his body reverberated with a dull, throbbing pain, but he didn’t care. He’d fucked up, and he deserved whatever Raiden wanted to give him.
“You lied to me,” Raiden growled. “And you lied to Lawrence. After everything, you’re telling me you’ve been double-crossing us the whole time?” His voice tightened, and Cash flinched away, unable to look at the pain in his eyes. “How the fuck am I supposed to ever trust you again, Cash? Huh?”
Cash didn’t say anything. He just hung limply in Raiden’s grip, not even pretending to fight back. “Beat the shit out of me,” he whispered. “Just go on and do it already, Raiden.” A second passed, and all he could hear was the sound of Raiden’s ragged breath and the throb of his own heart. He suddenly craved the blinding pain, anything to distract him for what a total fucking failure he was. “Do it!” he yelled as loud as he could. “Do it, Raiden, you asshole! Just do it!”
Raiden tossed him against the van again, then stepped back. He stared at Cash like he was staring at a piece of shit. Shaking his head back and forth, he finally sighed. “What a mistake,” he growled, then stomped away.
Cash caught his breath. He wanted to run after Raiden, but he was too ashamed to even call his name.
Raiden was right to leave him like that, sniffling on the street. Cash had no business asking for his trust.
Because right then, alone like he was always meant to be, Cash didn’t even trust himself.
