Page 6 of The Job

I briefly contemplate texting the guys and letting them know but think better of it. They would most likely want to come down here, and I think that’s probably even more confrontational and guaranteed to cause a problem.

Joe’s is a big store; I am reasonably certain that I can get around the store without them noticing me.

Chapter Four

Cash

Iremain alert as I walk around the store trying to locate the lock box that we need for tomorrow so we can put the keys in it securely, and only the person with the code can get them out. I don’t see Billy, but I do hear Lucky and him talking the next aisle over and I follow their movements until I watch them leave the store.

It's only when they have finally gone that I relax and I’m able to find the thing that I’m looking for.

“Hello Cash, I haven’t seen you for a while,” Joe greets me with a smile as I approach the counter.

“Hey Joe,” I reply. “How are you? Have you managed to convince any of your kids to take over yet?”

Joe smiles as he rings me up, “Not yet, but I’m still hopeful. Are you and all of your friends staying out of trouble?”

“Of course we are,” I reply.

He chuckles quietly as I pay, and he hands me a bag with the lockbox before stepping around the counter. “I will lock up behind you. It’s closing time, and I’ve got dinner waiting for me at home.”

Smiling, I say, “No problem, tell Mandy I say hello.”

“Will do,” he replies, as he shuts the door behind, and the lock clicks into place.

As soon as I’m back outside, I realize that Billy’s car is still here, and it shouldn’t be. He left the store a while ago. I hope it’s a coincidence and they just decided to have a smoke in the car before they head out, but somehow, I doubt that. It didn’t take me very long to notice that his car was in the lot, so the chances are he had spotted mine.

A shiver of anticipation goes down my spine.

I don’t speed up; I simply keep my pace as I walk to my car. My eyes are sharp on my surroundings, I’m not about to get caught off guard. Especially not by Billy.

Sure enough, as I get to my car two dark figures dart out from the tree line, heading straight for me and showing no signs of stopping. I drop the bag with the lock box to the floor and lift my hands preparing for the impact.

Billy and Lucky don’t even attempt to talk, they are intent on causing harm and two against one isn’t exactly fair odds. Fortunately, I’m not your average fighter and I have been training with Jensen, that gives me a slight advantage but it’s still not great odds.

Fuck.

For a few minutes, I manage to hold my own, landing as many hits as I block, but Billy gets mad that I’m dodging his hits and starts to swing erratically. A hit lands, causing a stab of painthrough my eye, and blood starts to drip into my eye, shit. The hit landing seems to fill both of them with renewed vigor, and they come at me with more force. Lucky manages to jab me in the side, and I curse; that really fucking hurts; if he has broken my ribs, I’m going to be pissed.

I can’t stop fucking fighting. I have no idea how far they are willing to take this. As I fight, I begin to feel backed into a corner, and that cold starts to take me over.

I stop feeling the pain of the hits, easily pushing it away as I fight back more fiercely. I strike Lucky hard, making blood spurt from his nose as he stumbles back, his eyes widening. My attention turns back to Billy. He strikes out again and splits my lip.

My control snaps.

I advance, catching him with an uppercut as he dodges the hit from my other fist. Lifting up my leg, my booted foot meets his chest and shoves him backward, making him land on the floor with a thump, and I quickly follow after him, not allowing him to get up. I have no idea where the fuck Lucky is, but I need to knock one of them out if I have any hope of surviving this. Billy bucks beneath me, trying to throw me off as I strike, he lands a couple of hits on my side as I rain hits down on him.

The cold darkness takes me over completely.

“Cash!” Lucky shouts loudly, snapping me out of my haze.

I stop, looking down at Billy’s bloodied face and then immediately jump off. He’s still moving, and thankfully still alive.

My chest is heaving, the anger still burning through me as I watch Lucky quickly move over to Billy and help him stand up. They are both bruised and bleeding, although Billy is in a considerably worse state.

“You’re a fucking psychopath,” Billy growls, spitting out a mouth full of blood.

I smile. It’s not a kind smile; it’s sharp, jagged, and made all the more terrifying thanks to the split lip and the blood all over me. I feel a wave of satisfaction as fear crosses their eyes, and they quickly hobble back to their car. I stay exactly where I am. My arms crossed over my chest as I watch them drive out of the lot, their tires spinning as they try to get away as fast as possible.

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