“Where are we going? Riley asked as he and Dash crowded onto the train car.

"We are going to the bar that Gabriel was at, the night he got spooked. I found the place, and the bartender working tonight is the same one who worked that night. He saw everything.”

“If he already told you, why do I have to go?” Riley asked.  

“Because you still think this is all in my head, so you are going to hear it from the horse’s mouth.”

“I don’t--” Riley froze, feeling a twinge of guilt. He did think it was possible Gabe had left voluntarily, but he didn’t think that was the only possibility. But he wouldn't get anywhere trying to convince Dash that sometimes people, even the ones closest to you, just leave.  

They traveled only a few stops before Dash dragged him off the train. They were in the heart of downtown now, the brightness of the city lights obscuring the stars above. Dash led him down a few blocks of densely packed crowds before turning off into a side street, directing him under a faded awning into a dingy little pub.  

“Hey, um, just go with it,” Dash murmured before he sauntered forward, noticeably swaying his hips. The bartender, a young man with slicked back hair and rolled up sleeves, seemed to appreciate the display, especially as Dash hopped up onto a barstool and leaned forward with a toothy smile.  

Riley wasn’t sure what Dash had meant by just go with it, but he followed behind in his usual lumbering stride. The bartender, who’d been grinning wolfishly at Dash, noticed Riley’s approach with disdain.  

“Wow, you leave me here stuck at work just to go round up another guy? That’s cold, baby.”

“Maybe I should, cause jealous is kind of sexy on you,” Dash purred, canting his head to the side. “But there’s no competition here; this is my cousin that I told you about. It’s his boyfriend I was asking about.”

“Hmm,” the bartender said, looking Riley up and down. “If you can’t manage to keep your man I’m not sure why I should help you.”

Riley remained impassive as the bartender smirked up at him. Dash leaned closer, arching his back slightly. Riley hadn’t realized at first that the tee Dash wore was cropped, but in this position most of his midriff was exposed. Riley's eye was caught by the hexagonal tattoo that ran down the side of his abdomen; it looked like honeycomb. 

“Please, Trev, just tell him what you said? About his boyfriend, not about our plans later,” Dash added, with an outrageous wink. Riley couldn’t believe he was managing this with a straight face. Of course, he didn’t know Dash's life; it was entirely possible his flirtation with Trev was genuine.  

“Alright, but you’re going to owe me,” the other man said, flicking his bar towel in a manner Riley thought was supposed to be suggestive. It wasn’t much of a wonder the place wasn’t busy, with service like this.  

“Few weeks ago, your boyfriend came in with a group of five or six other guys, maybe. Nothing remarkable about them, until your fella ran out on his bill. Like, literally ran. He ditched out through the kitchen, scared the shit outta some of the guys. I only really remember what he looks like because he came back the next day to apologize and settle his tab. Left a pretty fair tip, for our troubles.”

“Did he say why he ran out?” Riley asked.

“Nope,” Trev said unhelpfully. He smirked up at Riley until Dash shifted again, drawing his attention with an oversized pout. 

“He didn’t say, but I do remember he bolted as soon as this guy came through the door. Maybe it’s another boyfriend he’s avoiding.”

“This other guy have a name?”

“He's only come by a few times so he’s not exactly a regular. But it’s something with a k-sound. Cam, or Ken, or--”

“Kade?” Riley prompted. Trev considered it.

“Kade, yeah, that sounds right. He knew a couple of the guys here and I think that’s what they called him. Sounded like he used to live around here. Rough look to him, too. If he’s your competition he might be a match for ya.”

Riley had already stopped listening. Jimmy “Kade” Kadence was a longtime Saben associate, something of the bruiser of his crew. If Kade was looking for him, Gabe had been right to run.  

“Well, no wonder he’s been upset if his jerk ex-boyfriend is back in town,” Dash said, keeping up his ruse. “See, cuz, I told you he wasn’t upset with you. He's probably home waiting for you now.” 

As he spoke, Dash had slipped down off the barstool and started to tug Riley back towards the door. Trev the bartender noticed.  

“You aren’t leaving me again, are you, cutie?” he asked. “You have some promises to keep.”

“I’m just going to point my cousin in the direction of the nearest flower shop so he doesn't go home empty handed. I’ll be back in time for you to get off,” Dash said with an audacious wink. Riley was very grateful that his task was leaving, and he was more than willing to submit as Dash dragged him out.  

The night air was bracing after the smoky, smarmy atmosphere of the bar.  

“So?” Dash said excitedly as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. He looked up at Riley, expecting an answer to a question Riley didn’t know. Instead, he said the first thing that came to mind.  

“What kind of idiot would believe I’m your cousin?”

“The same kind who thinks I’m about to go fuck him in an alley," Dash said impatiently, throwing up his hands. "But come on, did you hear what he said? Clearly you already know who Kade is, and if he’s messed up in things, it’s got to tie back to Saben!”

“It could still be a--”

Before Riley could finish a sentence that would inevitably lead to another argument with Dash, his phone dinged. He retrieved it from his pocket, eyes widening as he read the message. 

“What’s wrong?” Dash asked. Riley shook himself.

“It’s A- my contact. He wants to meet me first thing tomorrow morning. Outside of the office.” Riley reread the message twice, absorbing the context. “He must have something... if he was going to tell me to piss off, he could do that over the phone.”

“Good,” Dash said, his voice breathy like he was trying to keep control over himself. “If he has a lead on where Saben is, we can use that to find Gabriel!”

“Yeah, I’ll, um--” Riley started to back away down the block, pausing as Dash kept in step beside him. “Oh, so you didn’t want to keep your date with Trev?” Riley asked. Dash looked up at him and rolled his eyes.

“Of course not, dummy,” he said. “Obviously I’m going home with you.”