Page 180 of Ready to Cash Out

“It was important to make it as convincing as possible to anyone watching?—”

“Including me?”

“As if you would have been able to act your way through that knowing it wasn’t real.”

“Fuck you! You don’t know!” Trev gasped as Jupiter squeezed him.

Jupiter cleared his throat softly.

Trev grunted. “Okay, fine. Whatever. I get it. And…” He took a deep breath. “Thank you for… you know.”

“No, I don’t know.” Cold smiled sweetly. “For which part? Saving your life, freeing your partner…?”

“All of it.” Trev surged forward and hugged Cold tight. “Thank you.”

“Oh.” Cold stiffened. “You’re welcome.”

“Don’t make this fucking weird. Just hug me back, asshole.”

Cold lifted one arm to wrap around Trev, his body slowly but surely relaxing as he gave Trev the world’s most awkward hug. “Are we done now?”

“Almost.” Trev smiled.

“Ugh.”

“Okay, there.” Trev let go, grinning. “So. Uh, now what?”

“We go home. I believe Juicy could use medical attention.” Cold glanced over at him. “And some clothes.”

“It is a bit breezy in here,” Juicy remarked.

“Wait, uh.” Trev pulled himself away from Cold. “What about the waiter? The crime scene? Hello?” He scoffed. “Aren’t we witnesses? And uh, aren’t you dead?”

“It is very unfortunate that young man decided to take his own life right in front of us. I needed medical attention following such a traumatic experience.” Cold shrugged. “Quite a tragedy.”

“That’s it?”

“What else could there be?”

“You…” Trev’s head hurt. “But I heard more shooting. I heard?—”

“You heard an off-duty police officer responding to a mugging that happened to coincide with the waiter’s tragic suicide.”

Trev stared.

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s really that easy?” Trev said. “You just… rewrite what happened? Just make it up to whatever fits what you want?”

“Yes.” Cold arched his brow. “And?”

“Right. So. That’s a whole new level of fucked up, but hey! Gangsters.” Trev retreated back to Jupiter’s side. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

“Let’s,” Cold agreed.

“Thank you, Boss Cold,” Jupiter said. “I appreciate what you did?—”

“I did not do it for you,” Cold cut in briskly, already headed to the door. “Save your gratitude for Trevanion.”

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