arguing about it.” His voice drops a notch. “So drop the ‘kill me or use me’ act. You’re still here because you’re useful but that doesn’t mean you’re disposable.”
Ray doesn’t move for a second just watches him, jaw tight, eyes steady like he’s measuring every word Benito just threw at him.
Then he exhales through his nose, slow, controlled.
“You done?” he asks flatly, not loud, not angry just tired of the performance.+++
+ "You want to, draw your weapon make up some story, I don't give a shit."
Benito relaxed into his seat, hoping this ride would end soon and he could get doing what Ray wanted him to. Or get to dying.
is… you’re not the only one in that equation. The second you open your mouth, it’s not just your life you’re gambling with, and you know it.”He sits back now, less tense, but not softer. Just… certain.
“And for the record? If I wanted you dead, we wouldn’t be sitting here++
“Because the second it’s not?” Ray shrugs slightly. “That deal you’re so confident about disappears real fast.”He looks back to the road, voice settling again.
“So yeah—be useful. That’s the only thing keeping you in this car instead of a cage.”
Ray’s grip on the wheel tightens just a fraction at the mention of cuffs, but he doesn’t look over right away. He lets Benito talk lets him fill the space, lay out all the angles like he’s got it figured out.
+++
have me. I can't control them but I can tell them a life sentence isn't worth one DEA agent."
"So, you better have a solid plan, like I know you do. And your partner, Wash, he meeting you there? Make sure Benito stays in line."
A pause.
“What you do need to worry about is whether the intel you give me is worth the risk I’m taking keeping you breathing.”
His tone stays even, but there’s an edge under it now.
++
Ray didn’t answer right away.
His grip on the wheel stayed steady, eyes forward on the road like Benito hadn’t just asked a question that actually mattered. The silence stretched just long enough to feel intentional.
Then, finally Ray huffed a quiet breath.+++
direction in El Paso, he spent his days in Mexico. Was Ray playing him? Or simply planning to keep him in some off site DEA prison of sorts til he decided to kill or let him go.
"You're not bringing me to prison, are you?" Benito raised an eyebrow.
“As for where we’re going?” he said, one corner of his mouth twitching faintly. “Let’s just say it’s a place where you’re useful… and I can keep an eye on you without someone else screwing it up.”He looked back to the road, tone settling again.
++