The boat approached the shore, and Fox jumped to his feet. “I’ll come by and pick it up tonight. Eight o’clock? Hand it over with the motorcycle, I’ll give you a map to all of Reed’s secret spots.”
Something tore open inside of Cash. The closest thing he had to a friend in that city, and still, Fox was twisting the knife in deep and taking advantage of him at his lowest moment. But if it was the only way to get Lawrence back, Cash would let every person in the city stab him in the back and spit in his face.
“You really think I’m going to accept a shit deal like that?” he objected, even though he knew he would.
Fox swept up his backpack, then strolled casually toward the stairs. “Damn straight I do, Cash,” he called over his shoulder. “Love makes people desperate, and you’ve got it written all over your face.”
RAIDEN
It took Raiden an entire night roaming the streets of Manhattan like a starving, panicked dog before he finally admitted defeat. He wasn’t going to be able to sniff Lawrence out, and he wasn’t going to bust down a door to save his ass. The kid was missing, Cash was a snake, and Raiden was shit out of ideas.
He grabbed a few egg bagel sandwiches from a deli, then dragged his tired ass down to the subway, nervous energy flowing through his veins. It took him about ten minutes of peering at the map before he figured out how to get to Declan’s office outside the city. After that, he curled his big body up in a couple seats at the back of the train and tried to force himself to catch a nap.
The train rumbling beneath him, Raiden’s thoughts spiraled through half-awake anxieties and creeping nightmares. Life had treated him like shit, but he had always been proud that he was a fighter and that he knew how to keep himself and his few friends safe. But that had just been a lie, some childhood fantasy. He hadn’t kept his dad safe, and he couldn’t keep Lawrence safe, and the second he’d gone and opened himself up to someone new, Cash had betrayed him.
Raiden’s heart ached through nightmares of Lawrence, crying and frightened, and of Cash, laughing in the face of Raiden’s trust. When he finally jerked awake at the end of the long train ride, Raiden’s muscles were tense. Surging adrenaline insisted that it was time to fight, but with no clear enemy in sight, his fuses flickered with frustration.
After he dragged his ass from the train and down the early morning street, he swallowed what little pride he had left and pounded on the door to Kaiser Security. A few minutes later, Declan’s boyfriend Seb came scurrying down the stairs, wrapped tight in a blue robe, and welcomed Raiden inside.
“Declan’s still asleep,” Seb explained as they walked into the kitchen area of the apartment they shared above the security agency. “There was a poker championship on cable, and he was up late screaming at the TV.” He yawned, then scratched the back of his head, making one of his cowlicks bounce from side to side. “Should I wake him? Is everything okay?”
Raiden grumbled some non-words under his breath. Everything was most definitely not okay, but he didn’t know how to begin talking about it.
“Right,” Seb laughed warmly. “You’re like my man up there.” He waggled his finger in the air. “Not the best at communicating your feelings,” he added, then turned to the fridge. “Luckily, we have plenty of time. I’ll make some breakfast and coffee. Are eggs and greens good for you?”
Raiden scratched his stubble. “Yeah, sure,” he said. “Thanks.” He hadn’t spent a lot of time around Seb before, but the guy was so sweet, he felt himself begin to relax naturally.
“Declan mentioned he was worried you were developing feelings for the client. I know he yells about stuff like that, but he certainly understands, too.” Seb peeked at Raiden. “Lawrence and I know each other, actually. Did you know that?”
Raiden blinked. “What?”
“Our fathers are executives at the same company,” Seb explained, his voice still light and cheery. “We didn’t go to the same schools or anything, but I remember crossing Lawrence’s path once or twice a year.” Seb laughed, then flipped on the stove. “He was always out and proud and free. I was still shy back then, and I remember feeling jealous and impressed whenever I saw him.” He shrugged, then cracked a few eggs into the pan. “Anyway, he’s a great guy, from what I remember. And totally cute. I can understand how you two might fall for each other.”
Raiden squeezed his hands. “Wait, your father works at Horizon Zed?”
“Yeah,” Seb answered. “Didn’t you know that?”
“I just knew you never talked to each other. I didn’t want to ask in case it was upsetting.”
Seb turned to Raiden, his eyebrow raised. “Why are you interested in where my father works?”
Raiden tightened his hands into fists, and then the whole story spilled out of him. He rambled incoherently, cursing about Cash and explaining how Lawrence disappeared and apologizing over and over again for everything he’d done wrong. Seb listened patiently and slid Raiden coffee and food as they were ready. Raiden knew that he’d fucked up in more ways than he could count, but Seb was so kind, and Raiden was so exhausted that he didn’t even try to hide the truth.
“Did you just say Reed?” Declan’s voice rumbled from the stairs. Raiden turned in his seat, and the older man paced their way. He was in a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, and Raiden’s gaze caught on the tattoos and scars that decorated his bare torso.
“Declan, I—”
Declan’s hand landed on Raiden’s shoulder with a hard squeeze. “Did I just hear you say that Reed snatched Lawrence?” he asked urgently.
“It’s just what Cash said,” Raiden tried to explain. “This guy. I don’t even know if I can believe him.”
Declan let out a puff of air as he released Raiden’s shoulder. “Fucking believe it, Raiden.” He turned to greet Seb and pulled his boyfriend into a quick kiss. “Do you know what this means?” he asked Seb.
“It must be the same guy who hired Reed to come after me,” Seb answered. “I knew we should have figured out a way to stop him.”
“What?” Raiden barked, startled. “Reed came after you too, Seb?”
“It was an attempt to get at Seb’s father,” Declan answered. “Damn it, Raiden! I told you to keep me in the loop! If we knew you were mixed up in something with Horizon and Reed, we could have helped! We could have protected you and Lawrence both!”
