Business and Pleasure: Chapter 21

[saiya-tina.livejournal.com]

Title: Business and Pleasure
Rating: PG-13 for a couple of swear words.
Pairing: Brad/Ryan
Summary for the chapter: Plans are made and feelings are discussed. 

Overall Summary: Brad's running his own large business and has everything but what he wants the most: someone to be there for him. After 'purchasing' Ryan from the Utopia group to serve the purpose, he slowly realizes that he's breaking their most important rule: he's falling in love with him. After two years together, two years of love, the time has come for Ryan to be taken away. The rules will change, the game will too and the three friends are going to go through the ultimate test.

A/N: Please leave a comment! Well, this is the second part of the previous chapter and it'l have to tide you people over for the net couple of weeks because I'll be out of town for the next week on vacation and I haven't even got the next chapter done yet cuz I'm a little stuck on how to proceed. Also, I'll be off-line so I won't get to read the new fics but I'll comment when I get back! See ya guys later!

“That’s your plan?” Brad looked at him incredously, “To turn Ryan into a hitman?!”

 

“No, of course not!” Colin looked at him like he was crazy, “Ryan’s by no means a killer! You saw him, he avoids killing as far as possible. He hasn’t taken a life yet and I’m not going to make him start! Not to mention the fact that Proops is a big man in business and murdering him would be a stupid idea. The police would be on your tails in a moment.”

 

“Then what are you planning?” Brad frowned.

 

“Greg isn’t nearly as innocent as he appears to be to the public,” Ryan spoke up, but his voice was hard as he spoke of Greg. Brad turned to look at him and was slightly disconcerted as he saw the cold anger Ryan’s eyes as he spoke of his ‘customer’ for the past few years. It was obvious that whatever compassion Ryan had for human beings did not extend to Proops and he couldn’t blame him in the slightest.

 

“We know that,” Wayne snorted, “But what are we going to do?”

 

“Proops has been in a drug ring for nearly ten years,” Colin spoke up, folding his arms, “Dealing in cocaine, heroin, marijuana, the good stuff.”

 

“You’re going to get him busted for drug dealing?” Brad sounded skeptical.

 

“No. But we’re going to use that to our advantage,” Colin looked up, dead serious, “Proops hired me for a reason. There have been threats of an attempt on his life and some of them have even been followed out, but I’ve thwarted all of them. Soon after that, they stopped trying.”

 

“Why? If you want Greg to die, why didn’t you just let him get assassinated?” Wayne asked in confusion.

 

“Because he knew, without a doubt, that if Greg were killed by them, I would be the first suspect,” Ryan said softly.

 

“Why you?”

 

“Oh, come on, Brady,” Colin rolled his eyes, “He’d be the only one in the place with a motive. Those killers could cover up their tracks easily and the cops’ trails would lead them to Ryan or you two. After all, Proops has been mistreating him for years, who wouldn’t want to kill the bastard after all he’s done?”

 

“I know I would,” Brad growled, clenching his fists. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Ryan shake his head. Brad relaxed immediately and, without thinking, moved his hand to take Ryan’s in his. It was odd to feel the leather instead of warm flesh, but he knew Ryan had his own reasons for wearing the glove.

 

“As would we all,” Colin nodded, “Anyway, Proops gave me info a few days ago, telling me of a deal that’s going down next month. It’s huge and when I mean huge, I mean that he’ll be meeting with all the big-wigs. I’ve seen the stash and he’ll easily get nearly fifty million dollars for it. It’s pure cocaine.”

 

“So we’ll call the police and bust him?” Wayne asked eagerly.

 

“No. Proops cannot be apprehended by the police and if he finds out that I’ve been going back on the contract, he’ll either fire or kill me. If I’m gone, Ryan doesn’t stand a chance.”

 

“What we’re planning is something much more difficult,” Ryan spoke up, “Like Colin said, that meeting is big and I bet you anything, a fight will break out.”

 

“It’s to be expected. No one will pay fifty million for a stash when you can just kill the seller and take it for free,” Colin nodded.

 

“The location of the meeting is in the abandoned warehouse district outside the city. Remote, quiet and filled with hiding places,” Ryan withdrew a folded map from his pocket and spread it out on a crate in the alley, pointing out the location to Brad and Wayne.

 

“I’ll be there anyway, since it’s my job,” Colin supplied, “Ryan can sneak in there easily.”

 

Brad frowned at that, “How do you know there won’t be guys there to catch him?”

 

“You can trust me on that,” Ryan answered, “They won’t catch even a glimpse of me. Colin’s taught me enough to sneak around undetected.”

 

“But then what are we here for?” Brad asked in confusion, “There’s no way we can do any of the things you guys apparently can.”

 

“We need your help to make sure this gets carried out perfectly,” Colin stepped forward, “We don’t have enough time to explain the entire thing to you and since we’ve wasted an hour trying to revive you, Bradley,” Colin glared at him for a short second, “we’ll have to get back quickly before Proops gets back.”

 

“Great,” Ryan let out a sigh, “I hope the bastard hasn’t been drinking again.”

 

Brad automatically squeezed Ryan’s hand and the latter smiled at him slightly, returning the squeeze before gently drawing his hand away and turning to Colin, “Let’s get moving then.”

 

“Right,” Colin agreed and then directed his next words to Brad and Wayne, “Do you two know where Proops lives?”

 

“I do,” Brad volunteered, “I went there some years ago when I had to talk business. Left without a deal however.”

 

“Well, you know that he’s fenced it up like Fort Knox then. Getting in is near impossible, but I can get you two in. Proops will be leaving for a business trip soon. Meet me at the back wall one week from now and I’ll get you two in. We need to discuss the rest of our plan.”

 

“And be careful,” Ryan looked at them, making no attempts to hide his concern, “If you two are caught, he’ll kill you in a heartbeat.”

 

“He won’t find us,” Brad promised and then ticked his eyes over at Colin. The man caught the glance and drew Wayne away, saying something about wanting to ask him about his club. Wayne gave him a weird look but, on glancing back at Brad, quickly caught on and followed Colin obediently.

 

That left the two of them alone and Brad was taken back to the first day when he brought Ryan to his home. He remembered how awkward it had felt at first but they had gotten comfortable with each other in a matter of days. It was the same situation as before, he wanted to touch Ryan, but was too afraid of his reaction. He didn’t think he could take it if Ryan flinched away from him, but the other side of his brain argued that they had already embraced several times and Ryan had welcomed the touch.

 

“We’ll get you away from him, okay?” Brad spoke up, pushing the other thoughts away for a while. If Ryan gave any indication that he wanted to be touched, Brad would comply and otherwise keep his hands to himself.

 

“You might,” Ryan said back, feeling more and more awkward, tugging at his glove insistently, “But I don’t want you two risking your lives for this, do you understand? If you feel you can’t do it, you’re welcome to say so.”

 

“Why do you think that I won’t do this?” Brad asked, feeling mildly offended.

 

Ryan snorted, giving him an incredulous look, “Brad, this isn’t a game. I meant it when I said Greg will kill you. The fucker is ruthless and, if I had my way, I wouldn’t have gotten you involved in this in the first place. Quite frankly, I think you and Wayne should go home and just forget about this entire thing.”

 

Brad moved forward suddenly and Ryan took an involuntary step back before keeping his ground, “And what about you?”

 

“What about me?” Ryan shrugged, “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to get away, but not at the cost of you two getting hurt. If I feel this is too dangerous for you two, I’m sending you guys back.”

 

“If you think we’re going back when we know what’s been happening to you, you’re insane,” Brad scowled, “I’m not leaving you with that bastard a minute longer than I have to.”

 

“I don’t care what he’s been doing to me!” Ryan shouted in frustration, “I’m not going to let you two risk your lives for a stupid reason!”

 

“A stupid reason?” Brad shouted back, moving forward and grabbing Ryan by the arms, “You think saving your life is a stupid reason?!”

 

Ryan opened his mouth to respond but Brad overrode him easily, “Because if you think that, you have absolutely no idea about what Wayne and I feel! We’ve been wrecks ever since you left us, you jackass! Did you know that Wayne actually considered giving up improv because he hated going up there without you? Did you know that I went into depression after you left me?! I love you, you ass, and if you think I wouldn’t give up my life for you, you’re damned wrong!”

 

Ryan stared at him with wide eyes and Brad suddenly realized that he had backed Ryan into the wall while yelling at him and they were standing barely inches apart, close enough to feel the heat of each other’s body. He cursed himself mentally and pulled back.

 

“Ry....Ryan, I’m sorry-”

 

He didn’t get the chance to say anymore because Ryan grabbed his face and pulled him forward into a deep, passionate kiss. Brad gasped in shock but then closed his eyes as the familiar taste flooded his mouth, wrapping his arms around Ryan’s back and pulling him closer. Ryan moaned into his mouth and Brad felt a surge of heat in his stomach as he moved his hands under Ryan’s sweater, feeling a hard stomach and the contours of what felt like the beginnings of a six-pack. He had a second to chuckle at the thought of Ryan as a body-builder before he pulled away to breathe, resting his forehead against his partner’s.

 

Ryan didn’t meet his eyes, but looked down at where his own hand was resting against Brad’s heart, “I-I’m sorry....”

 

“Don’t be,” Brad murmured, pressing another feather light kiss on his lips, answering his unasked question, “I never stopped.”

 

“Really?”

 

Brad pulled back a bit and tilted Ryan’s face up to his, “I love you.”

 

Ryan let out a withheld breath, “I wish you didn’t.”

 

Now that was unexpected. Brad pulled away from him harshly as if Ryan had slapped him. Ryan didn’t look at him, focusing on a spot on the ground, trying to find the strength to do what he felt he had to do.

 

“What do you mean by that?” Brad asked, feeling his heart thump harder as Ryan refused to answer.

 

“What did you mean by that, Ryan?” he asked again, this time adding a bit of steel to his voice.

 

“I can’t love you, Brad,” Ryan said, but his voice was shaking, lacking the conviction he so desperately wanted to convey.

 

“Why not?” The feeble tone couldn’t have fooled anyone. Brad moved forward again, his hand moving to Ryan’s face to cup his cheek, “do you not love me anymore?”

 

“I don’t,” Ryan tried to say forcefully, but Brad’s touch was forcing his mind to simply shove all protests up it’s metaphorical ass. When Brad’s lips descended to kiss along his throat, Ryan simply closed his eyes and gave in for a few seconds before shoving him away.

 

“Don’t do this, Brad. Please.”

 

“Why can’t I love you, Ryan?” Brad asked, keeping the distance that Ryan wanted between them and folding his arms. Last thing he wanted was to make him uncomfortable.

 

“You just can’t,” Ryan took a few deep breaths to steady himself then looked at Brad, his eyes closed off but determined, “Get away from here, Brad. Go home with Wayne and forget about all this.”

 

“I’m not going to forget about you!” Brad snapped.

 

“Well, you’ll have to!” Ryan snapped back in a tone that brooked no compromise, “I don’t want to see you two anywhere near this mess, do you understand?!”

 

Brad looked like he was about to shout back, then seemingly decided against it and sighed, “Fine. We’ll leave for now.” He turned to go but not before turning to give Ryan another look over his shoulder, “But whether you like it or not, we’re going to get you out of there. We came here voluntarily and I’m not going to just go back to my life, whatever’s left of it, and leave you. You can deny it all you want, Ryan, but I know you still love me. You’ve never been able to hide from me. I know you want me to save my life, well, you are my life. I will get you back. I promise you.”

 

Ryan watched him walk away in Colin and Wayne’s direction and chuckled bitterly, moving his hand to touch the scars on his face and muttering too low for Brad to hear.

 

“Don’t make promises you won’t be able keep.”