Double Down (Bad Boy Security Book 3) Read online

  “What?” Raiden asked, alarmed by the look on his face.

  “I just figured out what we should do with the recording.”

  Cash

  For all the shit Cash got himself tangled up in as a mercenary, the situation he found himself in that afternoon was entirely outside of his realm of experience.

  “What do you think of this wig?” Tyler asked, displaying a red beehive, curled up with rolls of toilet paper and accentuated with a few streaming squares of Charmin. “Does it work?”

  Cash grinned, then stuck his hand on his hip. “It’s beautiful.”

  Tyler smiled, then popped the wig on. “Thank you. Miss Merry Tyler Morehead will be ready in no time.”

  Cash laughed warmly. “I’m delighted, of course.”

  They were in Lawrence’s apartment, and the space bustled with his friends. Merry Tyler had dragged along four suitcases filled with wigs and dresses and accessories, and Derrick and Mayer were set up together on the couch, each typing furiously into their phones, computers open in their laps. Lawrence busied himself running around the condo and grabbing what seemed to be random kitschy objects, while Raiden stood back near Cash, grinning at the whole production.

  Cash had spotted Lawrence’s friends at a brunch, back before their lives got all tangled up. He liked them right away and had spent an evening at home, laughing along with their public facing social media accounts and watching their videos, all of which had healthy and enthusiastic fanbases. It was a different world than the one Cash lived in. He’d always been focused on training himself in the skills he needed, whether that was at school, a martial arts class, or locked up with another technical manual.

  Getting lost in the fantasy of something different, the kind of life Lawrence led, felt like riding a wave of pleasure.

  He shook his head, his attention returning to Reed. He’d sent the asshole a basic portfolio, a mix of some obvious information about Lawrence and some very incorrect surveillance to throw him off the case. The path out seemed pretty damn easy after that. Lawrence planned to send along the wrong bank files next, then call Reed in the morning a few days in a row, which the man fucking hated. Since he already ignored a phone call from him the night before, Cash was confident he would get fired, just as easily as that.

  He turned to Raiden, then smiled softly. That was the part he wasn’t looking forward to. Getting fired would fuck up his reputation in New York, but that hardly mattered anymore. What really sucked was that afterward, he’d have to come clean to Raiden and to Lawrence. Reed would surely send someone else eventually, and if they were going to keep Lawrence safe, Cash was going to have to spill his sneaky little guts and let them know he’d still held onto some unpleasant secrets.

  Just not yet. Not when he was having the best time of his damn life and kicking ass against Horizon Zed, too.

  Cash turned to Raiden. “You do any of this social media stuff?”

  “Nah,” Raiden answered. “A photo of me was in all the magazines one time, but my face was blurred out.”

  Cash cocked up an eyebrow. “Is there a story behind that?”

  Raiden frowned. “I don’t think I’m allowed to tell it to you yet. Anyway, I don’t need my face all over the internet, you know?” He grinned, flashing his teeth. “It’s way better to be anonymous.”

  “I thought so, too,” Cash replied. “But I guess there’s something to be said for clout.”

  Lawrence returned with a large pink bowling trophy, which he set by Merry Tyler’s suitcases. He was wearing a simple gray jumpsuit, and he had pushed his curls back with a headband, somehow managing to look all-business and all-Lawrence at the same time.

  “What are you two doing?” he asked, turning to face Raiden and Cash.

  “Just debating whether I should get you all coffee and donuts,” Cash answered.

  Raiden snorted. “I won’t mention what I was thinking of.”

  Lawrence laughed, then skipped forward and planted a kiss on both of their cheeks. From the corner of his eyes, Cash noticed all the friends, looking on with approving looks.

  “I hope you both know, Lawrence hasn’t seen anyone for so much as a second date since I can remember,” Mayer said from across the room, still typing into her phone.

  “Mayer,” Lawrence hissed, spinning on his heel. “You all promised not to humiliate me. We’re not even…” He trailed off.

  “Oh no,” Raiden laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Please, Mayer. Continue.”

  “Yeah, go on,” Cash said with a tease. “We’re not even what, Lawrence?”

  “Oh, god,” Lawrence groaned, sitting on the armrest of a floral yellow chair. “What have I done, bringing you all in the same room? Can’t we focus on the audio file drop like we all agreed on?”

  Mayer and Derrick both lifted their phones in the air. “We didn’t stop working,” Mayer said.

  Merry Tyler stood in front of a full-length mirror on the living room wall, applying lipstick that extended well beyond her lips. “A little gossip never slowed me down.” She turned over her shoulder, then shot Cash an intense glare that almost made him yelp. “Just don’t you two go hurting our Lawrence. He has a beautiful heart, and if you men break it, the three of us will ruin you.”

  There was a slight pause, and then Cash and Raiden tripped over each other, swearing they would never.

  Lawrence smiled smugly at them from across the room, then winked before turning to the group. “On that note, are we all set to drop?”

  Cash headed over to the love seat, and Raiden followed him. “Watch and learn,” Cash mumbled, mainly to himself.

  Derrick took a sip of his fizzy water. “The audio file is uploaded with backups to a few different servers.”

  “We’ve got some posts on Reddit,” Mayer added. “It’s up on SoundCloud, all the regular places, and there’s a lovely version with a video of a dancing clown ready on YouTube.”

  “Great,” Lawrence said. He took out his own phone and started to play with it, then sat on the arm of the loveseat, his hand on Cash’s shoulder. “I’ll monitor from here since I’m not posting anything myself. And we’ve got a few other friends ready to share as soon as they hear the word. Let’s blow this up!”

  Cash wasn’t sure what he had expected, but dead silence wasn’t it. As Lawrence’s friends all played with their phones, he knew they were posting carefully crafted messages to all of their followers, from outraged Twitter rants about creepy old executives to the newly formed #HorizonCriminals. They’d explained it carefully, showing him and Raiden how they intended to blast the “anonymously uploaded” audio file through the wilds of social media until it was so loud, the roar would take Mr. Rios down.

  Raiden and Cash both had their reservations. They’d objected that Rios might try to take revenge on Lawrence. Even with the audio files carefully edited and remixed, and with Lawrence’s half of the conversation removed, it wouldn’t be hard for the man to place two and two together. But Lawrence insisted he wanted to go forward and just made them promise a few more times that they’d stick around and keep him safe.

  At least that part was easy. Raiden had no intention of going anywhere, and Cash seemed to be on the same page. By timing the social media campaign to coincide with all the other bad news Rios had coming, they hoped the overwhelming effect would knock him out of power before he could plan a counterattack.

  “Do you think it’s working?” Cash asked Raiden.

  Raiden shrugged. “I don’t see why it wouldn’t.”

  “It’s working,” Merry Tyler said. She’d changed into a dress that clung tight to her form, printed with a checkered pattern of the Horizon Zed logo in different colors. “And once the evening comes around and we throw some custom drag content behind it, it will kick up to the next level.” She lifted the pink bowling trophy, then made an exaggerated, outraged face. “Miss Merry Tyler Morehead says, Horizon Zed executives win first place in the category of Major Creeps. I wouldn’t even wipe my asshole
with Horizon toilet paper after hearing this prick!” She shrugged. “Something like that.”

  Cash laughed. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to work,” he said to Raiden.

  “Want to hear?” Lawrence asked.

  “What do you mean?” Raiden asked.

  Lawrence cleared his throat. “Volume on.”

  Immediately, the room filled with the noise of all their devices, chiming and ringing out with the sound of their social media. It was musical, the way the likes and shares kept tumbling in so fast, the bells barely finished ringing before the next chimed out.

  Lawrence fell down across the loveseat, landing in both of their laps. Looking up at the guys, he had a nervous smile on his face. “I guess we’ll know in a day or two if it’s going to work?”

  “The Panama trip is this weekend,” Cash said. “We might not see the resignation of Rios before then, but we’ll at least be able to do some damage, and we can figure out next steps when he gets back.”

  “Fingers crossed,” Raiden said. He pushed his hand through Lawrence’s curls, and Cash was surprised to feel his heart warm at the gesture. “These assholes can’t get away with this forever.”

  Cash leaned back, closed his eyes, and listened to the sweet music of the audio file being shared. It might not be everything, but at least for that moment, he had the upper hand.

  LAWRENCE

  Lawrence was quite satisfied when the resignation of Mr. Rios came, in fact, the very next day.

  Cash and Raiden both sat on his living room couch, cable news scrolling along the mounted television as they stared, jaws hanging open. On the screen, the disgraced executive hurried through a crowd of reporters while he held an envelope up to hide his face, lawyers and security following closely behind.

  Justice Department opens new inquiry into Horizon Zed allegations after public outcry.

  Cash dropped down onto the couch. “I can’t believe he’s gone,” he said. “I’ve wanted to take down one of those executives for years. They’ll do everything in their power to swallow up the scandal, but Horizon’s dirty laundry is going to be all over this town. It’s amazing!”

  “And I can’t believe how quick that Instagram shit worked,” Raiden said with an approving nod. “Kickass, Lawrence.”

  Lawrence beamed. “Thank you!” He felt like he’d been floating ever since he made it safely back from the office, like everything was suddenly light and easy and falling into place perfectly. But actually seeing one of those men face accountability for his actions gave him a totally different kind of thrill.

  He felt powerful. In fact, he felt like he could accomplish practically anything, especially with Cash and Raiden looking at him the way they were.

  Cash nodded. “The way things these normally go, his lawyers should do a press conference and make it official by the end of the day.”

  Lawrence sucked in his bottom lip. He was sitting in the floral armchair across from them, his legs crossed beneath him. “Just because we’re taking down Rios, that doesn’t mean this is all over, right?” He was nervous to ask the question, but it had been itching at the back of his mind for days.

  Cash crossed his leg at the knee, and Lawrence spotted the flash of a turquoise sock. “Depends on what you mean,” he said slyly, then draped his hand over Raiden’s knee, which made Raiden squirm back in his seat. “If you mean chasing down Rios? We’re definitely done with that project. Consider him neutralized.” He traced his hand up further along Raiden’s thigh, and Raiden pulled his mouth back in a grin as he gripped the cushion. “If you mean taking out Horizon Zed? I might still have work to do on that front, but you two should stay safe and hang up your hats. I don’t expect you to help with my personal vendetta forever.” He swiftly pulled his hand the rest of the way to Raiden’s crotch and palmed his thick bulge. “This, though? I’m not even close to finished.”

  Pleasure started to hum at Lawrence’s base, like he could feel the way Cash was rubbing into Raiden. He stood up, then swayed his hips as he crossed toward his guys.

  “That’s nice,” he said, then fell to his knees and palmed Cash’s hard cock through his trousers. “And this is nice, too.” He looked up at them and fluttered his eyes. They were so fucking perfect together, each uniquely handsome, their faces twisted with pure want as they looked down on him. Lawrence could stare up forever, and he pursed his lips, eager to give them what they all wanted.

  “What would be really nice,” he said, “would be if you both stuck around for a little more than this, too.”

  In a flash, Raiden leaned forward, then swept Lawrence up, depositing him with a laugh across both of their laps. “Oh yeah?” Raiden asked with a soft growl, then pushed his hand through Lawrence’s hair. “Are you asking us to be your boyfriends, Lawrence? Because I’m still technically your bodyguard, you know.”

  Lawrence laughed. Cash and Raiden both had their hands all over him, and he wiggled happily against their laps. “I’ve got a pretty nice body,” he teased. “You should probably both keep guarding it, don’t you think?”

  Cash squeezed his ass. “I’ll stick around if this guy promises he will, too,” he said, then leaned sideways to surprise Raiden with a kiss on the cheek. “He really grows on you, you know?”

  Lawrence spun onto his back so he could look up at them both. “Really? You both want to do that? I know some other people who have three-person relationships, triads or whatever.” Another thrill shot up his spine. He hadn’t quite admitted to himself that this was actually possible, but now that they were all talking, he was certain he wouldn’t be happy any other way. “I’ve never even had a serious relationship with one person,” he said with a self-conscious laugh.

  “Sweetheart, that’s the thing,” Raiden said, his fingers still dancing through Lawrence’s curls. “It kind of looks like we’re already in one of those triads, don’t you think?”

  “And none of us have much experience or success in the standard one-on-one relationship model,” Cash added. “We’re kind of special people in that way, don’t you think?”

  Lawrence laughed. “That’s a nice way to say it.”

  “The point is,” Cash said, “we’ll figure it out together. Isn’t that right, babe?” he asked, turning to Raiden.

  Raiden grinned. “Sure. We can do whatever the hell we want, as far as I’m concerned.” He twisted up his face. “Babe,” he added. “We’re fucking unstoppable.”

  Lawrence pulled himself up on his elbows. “I’m so glad to hear you say that,” he said, then draped his arms around their shoulders and pulled them into a slow, shared kiss. “Because tonight, I’m taking you boys dancing.”

  Lawrence

  Lawrence pulled his lips away, whimpering as he stepped back from Raiden and Cash. The flashing disco lights cast shadows over their corner of the dance floor, and Raiden slung his arm casually over Cash’s shoulder, while Lawrence gave them a good look up and down.

  “What?” Cash asked. “You want another cocktail?”

  “Just two tonight,” Lawrence replied. “You both said you like me better when I’m fresh.”

  “The freshest,” Cash teased. He and Raiden swayed their hips to the electronic music, which made Lawrence feel giddy. “You want to dance some more?”

  “Or we could just keep making out in the corner,” Raiden added. “That works, too.”

  Lawrence laughed, then took them each by the hand. He walked backward, dragging them toward the middle of the dance floor. If he was going to go and jump into a relationship with two guys as hot as Raiden and Cash, Lawrence definitely intended to show them off.

  And that night, even Raiden indulged him. He danced in a funny way, kind of pumping his fists and throwing his head back sometimes. It was probably more appropriate for a mosh pit, but it was hot as hell, and it weirdly worked with the thumping, pulsing music. Beside him, Cash was all hips and shoulders, and he writhed up easily between Raiden and Lawrence, pulling them all together and then spreading out again.
/>   They were surrounded by other men, Lawrence realized, but their eyes were only on each other.

  He’d spent so many nights out dancing and chasing strangers, but it was much nicer knowing who he would go home with. The three worked up a slow steam, and Lawrence grinded himself against Raiden and pressed his body between the two men while he rode the waves of the music.

  The night was a long, edging tease, and Lawrence was desperate for it to go on forever.

  Finally, he tore himself away and headed off to the restroom. Lawrence’s heart pounded, and his cheeks hurt from smiling so much. While his father’s crooked company crashed around them, Lawrence’s world felt like it had finally come together. Even his friends had approved of the guys, which was kind of like passing the boyfriend LSAT.

  He let out a puff of breath. Sweat was dripping down his neck from dancing so hard, and he remembered how the temperature had dropped. Catching a sight of the bathroom line, he decided to step out onto the street first and catch a breath of the cool night air.

  The night was quiet, and Lawrence let out a relaxed laugh as he felt the relief of the fresh air. He thought about running back in, grabbing the guys, and calling it a night right then, but he wasn’t quite done dancing yet. Instead, he closed his eyes and used his clear head to appreciate the evening. When he was done, he spun on his toe to head back inside, but a hand roughly grabbed his shoulder.

  Lawrence yelped.

  A cloth covered his mouth, and a chemical smell invaded his nostrils.

  And then, on what Lawrence thought had been the best night of his life, the world went dark.

  CASH