Double Trouble

The guy Cedric was just about to fuck ran off, leaving Cedric’s alone to scramble for an exit strategy, What the hell was he supposed to do? Talk his way out? Run? Fight? Beg?

There was absolutely nowhere for him to hide, the alley had only one single exit, currently blocked by three guys who looked like they were out to kill him.

“Look,” Cedric said, backing up into the brick wall while trying to sound calm and reasonable. “I don’t know what this is about, but I think there’s been some kind of mistake…”

The leader’s voice cut harshly, “Your father’s debt. We’re here to collect it.”

Cedric’s stomach dropped “I’ve been making the payments every single month, like clockwork. You can check with-”

“We want the rest.” The man who looked to be the leader took a step closer, and in the dim yellow light spilling from the street, Cedric could make out more details. He had on an expensive-looking suit, with greying, slicked-back hair and a scar across his left eyebrow. “All of it. Now.”

“Now?” Cedric let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Wait. Are you fucking serious? That’s two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. No one can pay that kind of cash at once, especially with all the interest you assholes keep piling on top-”

The hit came out of nowhere. The second man’s fists connected with Cedric’s cheekbone so hard that he saw fireworks. Pain radiated through his skull and he staggered sideways, his shoulder slamming into the wall as blood filled his mouth.

“What the fuck was that for?” He spat blood onto the pavement, his hand flying to his face. “Do you know how much this face is worth? I need this shit to work, you fucking moron. How am I supposed to make your money if I look like I got hit by a bus?”

The leader stepped closer, closing the distance between them until their eyes met, and Cedric felt pure terror.

His eyes were dead. Empty, emotionless shark eyes that had seen far too much violence and felt too little about it.

“We didn’t come here to listen to your bitching,” the man said slowly, like he was explaining something to a very stupid child. “There’s been a change in management, a new kingpin is taking over operations in this city, and he’s cleaning house.”

He continued, his voice dropping coldly, “That means all outstanding debts are being called in. In full. Upfront. So no more payment plans, and no more extensions.”

Cedric’s heart was hammering so hard he could practically hear it. “Where the hell do you expect me to get two hundred and fifty grand? Do I look like Elon Musk to you?”

The leader smiled. “Two hundred and fifty?” He tilted his head, and something almost like amusement flickered across his face. “No, kid. Try five hundred thousand.”

“What? You can’t just… that’s not… You can’t just double someone’s debt because you feel like it-”

The second bastard hit him again, this time in the ribs. Cedric doubled over with a choked gasp. Something in his torso made a sound it definitely shouldn’t have made. Cracked, maybe. Possibly broken.

“Stop. Fucking. Talking.”

The leader crouched down to Cedric’s level, close enough that Cedric could see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes, the perfect knot of his tie, and the glint of a very expensive watch on his wrist.

“That’s exactly why we had to waste valuable time tracking down a worthless little man-whore like you tonight,” he said conversationally, like they were discussing the weather.

“To personally inform you that your debt just doubled. New management, new terms, new rules."

“That’s not-” Cedric coughed up blood, clutching his ribs. “That’s not fucking fair-”

“Fair?” The leader laughed, genuinely amused. “No one gives a fuck about what’s fair. Six years ago, your father borrowed money from some very dangerous people who don’t accept ‘sorry’ as payment, and when he couldn’t pay, well…”

The man shrugged. “I’m sure you don’t want to end up like he did.”

“Screw you! I’m not-“

The third man, who'd been silent until now, stepped forward and pressed the cold barrel of his gun against Cedric’s temple.

“You’ve got a smart mouth on you,” the man said quietly. “Bet that gets you in trouble a lot.”

Every survival instinct Cedric had left was screaming at him to shut up, to nod and grovel and promise them anything they wanted. But those instincts had been drowned years ago in alcohol and pills and the kind of recklessness that came from having nothing left to lose.

So instead, Cedric grinned, leaning into the gun with a lewd look in his eyes, the same kind he used in his p**n videos. “Why don't you take me somewhere quiet so I can show you just what this mouth can do?"

The gun pressed harder, digging into his skin. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you trying to seduce me, faggot? Do you have a death wish?”

The second guy cut in, “Maybe we should make an example of him right now and save everyone the trouble. One less junkie on the streets.”

“You could do that,” Cedric said, his voice rough but steady. “But then who’s gonna pay your boss his five hundred grand? You really wanna explain to your shiny new kingpin why you put a bullet in his investment? Pretty sure that’s bad for business.”

Then the leader stood, brushing invisible dirt off his expensive suit.

“Two weeks, Cedric. That’s what you get. Fourteen days to come up with five hundred thousand dollars, or we else start collecting in other ways.”

He paused to let that sink in.

“Your mother’s a nurse at St. Vincent’s Hospital, isn’t she? She works the late shift on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” His words shook Cedric to the core.

“What does my mother have to do with-”

“It’d be a real shame if something happened to her. New York is a dangerous city, you never know who you might run into.”

“Don’t you fucking dare-”

“Two weeks. Or we find you, kill you, then the rest of your fucking family.”

They went back into the shadows as quickly as they’d appeared, and for a long moment, Cedric stayed frozen against the wall, listening to his own ragged breathing, and feeling the throb of his face and ribs.

Five hundred thousand dollars. Two weeks. His mom.

His mom.

Then his legs gave out.

He slid down the brick wall, his hands were shaking, his whole body was shaking. The adrenaline was gone now, leaving him hollow and cold and so fucking scared he could barely breathe.

He pressed his palms against his eyes, trying to hold back the tears, but they came anyway, all the fear and rage and helplessness he kept buried under the sarcasm and sex and chemical numbness. Out here, alone in the dark with nobody watching, he could finally fall apart.

Until his phone buzzed in his pocket.

Cedric almost threw the damn thing against the wall, but years of being the responsible fuck-up, the one who always answered when family called, made him pull it out with bloody, trembling fingers.

It was his Mom.

He wiped his face with his sleeve, trying to steady his voice. “Hey, Ma.”

“Cedric.” Her voice was too tense, something was definitely wrong. “I need to tell you something.”

“What happened?” He was trying to stand now, panic overriding pain even though his ribs screamed in protest. “Are you okay? Did someone… did they come to the house? Ma, are you safe?”

“I’m fine, baby. I’m safe. But…” Her voice broke, “They fired me.”

“What?”

“The hospital. They fired me today.” She let out a shaky breath.

“They said debt collectors have been calling the main line. They’ve been showing up at the hospital during my shifts, asking for me, making a scene and scaring all the patients. Then HR said I was creating a disruptive work environment, so I had to go.”

“They can’t do that.” Cedric’s voice was rising, “That’s illegal, Ma. It’s wrongful termination. They can’t fire you just because people are harassing you...”

She laughed, but it sounded like she was holding back tears of her own.“I don’t know what we’re going to do, rent is due in two weeks. Without my paycheck, we can’t… Cedric, I don’t know how we’re going to make it.”

“Don’t worry, Ma,” Cedric heard himself say. “I’ll figure something out. I promise. I’ll fix this.”

“Cedric…”

“I gotta go. I love you.”

He hung up before she could respond.

Cedric stood alone in the alley, blood drying on his split lip, his ribs hurting with every breath, clutching his phone tight in his shaking hand. And for the first time in six years, he had absolutely no idea what the fuck he was going to do.