Jesse & Caden - The Renegade Lovers

Chapter 10: Revenge

The dingy motel room reeked of stale cigarettes and desperation. Jesse paced back and forth, his agitation palpable in every jerky movement. Caden sat on the edge of the bed, methodically cleaning his gun, his face a mask of cold determination.

"Jess, what are you doing?" Caden snapped, not looking up from his task.

Jesse whirled on him, eyes blazing. "How can you be so fucking calm? That prick Rico took everything from us!"

Caden set the gun aside with exaggerated care. "And wearing a hole in the carpet is gonna get it back?" He stood, crossing to Jesse in two quick strides. Grabbing the younger man by the shoulders, he forced Jesse to meet his gaze. "We're gonna find that snake and make him pay. But we gotta be smart about it."

Jesse deflated slightly, leaning into Caden's touch. "I know, I know. It's just... fuck, Cade. We were so close. We had it all, and now..."

"Hey," Caden said softly, cupping Jesse's face in his hands. "As long as that's true, we're not beat. We'll get our money back, and we'll make Rico wish he'd never been born."

A ghost of a smile flickered across Jesse's face. "You promise?"

Caden's answering grin was all teeth. "Cross my heart and hope to die, cowboy."

Their lips met in a bruising kiss, all teeth and tongue and desperation. Jesse clutched at Caden like a drowning man, pouring all his fear and rage into the embrace. When they finally broke apart, both were panting.

"Fuck," Jesse breathed, resting his forehead against Caden's. "I love you, you know that?"

Caden's hand found the back of Jesse's neck, squeezing gently. "I know. Now let's go get our fucking money back."

The next few days were a blur of seedy bars and even seedier contacts. They called in every favor, leaned on every snitch they knew. Slowly but surely, they pieced together Rico's trail.

"Cabo," Caden announced, tossing a burner phone onto the bed. "Little birdie says our friend Rico's been living it up at some fancy resort down there. Spending our money like water."

Jesse's hands clenched into fists. "That fucking cunt. When I get my hands on him..."

"Easy, tiger," Caden cautioned, though his eyes gleamed with anticipation. "We gotta play this smart. Rico's got connections, remember? We go in guns blazing, we might not make it out alive."

Jesse flopped onto the bed with a frustrated groan. "So what's the plan, then? We can't exactly waltz into some bougie resort and drag his ass out."

Caden's grin was downright predatory. "Oh ye of little faith. I've got a few ideas."

Two days later, they were touching down in Cabo, armed with fake IDs and a trunk full of weapons that had cost them their last dime to acquire. As they stepped out of the airport into the sweltering heat, Jesse squinted against the sun.

"Fuck, it's hot," he grumbled, tugging at his collar. "How the hell are we supposed to blend in looking like this?"

Caden just smirked, leading the way to a waiting taxi. "Relax, pretty boy. By the time I'm done with you, you'll fit right in with the jet set crowd."

An hour later, Jesse barely recognized himself in the mirror. Gone were his usual ripped jeans and tank tops with maybe a plaid button up, replaced by designer swim trunks and a linen shirt that probably cost more than his first car. His hair was artfully tousled, and honest-to-god designer sunglasses perched on his nose.

"Holy shit," he breathed, turning this way and that. "Is that really me?"

Caden whistled appreciatively, coming up behind Jesse to wrap his arms around his waist. "What can I say? I've got good taste."