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Ellis whistled between his teeth. “Very nice.”
I had no idea what I was doing and was nervous that I would look stupid trying to make poses, but Lisa was very helpful. After three outfit changes, I thought it was done, but was told there were a pair of designer boxer briefs in a drawer, and I was to come out in them with nothing else.
And here I thought they’d changed their mind on the underwear photos. Oh well. I looked at the small white pair and slipped them on. Again, very comfortable, and admittedly, my ass looked amazing in them.
After a very uncomfortable photo shoot, I was told I could keep any of the clothes, except the tux, and they insisted I take the underwear. I took the three-piece suit, the jeans, and polo. I was handed a check for two thousand dollars and left the studio happy. I couldn’t believe I’d made that much money for just a couple of hours of work that really wasn’t work.
Two weeks later, I was walking down the sidewalk, on my way to another shoot, and almost shit myself when I looked up in horror at an eye-catching billboard on Hollywood Boulevard. It was me in nothing but the underwear I was ironically wearing today. I put my head down and walked quickly toward the studio.
I blinked my eyes open. I didn’t regret doing those photo shoots but of course once the guys here caught wind and Googled it, I’d never lived it down. Shadow had printed out that ad and hung it in the breakroom. I’d changed all his passwords after that and didn’t give them back for a week.
I slogged out of bed, brushed my teeth, and put on my gym clothes.
After my workout, I headed to the showers and scrubbed myself clean. I thought about what I was going to do now that I couldn’t access the human trafficking site on the Dark Web any longer. I needed to find a way to keep tabs on them—it was my job. I promised Viper I’d keep him updated on the situation. Last I read, these people had been in Texas. It was only a matter of time before they arrived here. They seemed to have hit every major city, starting in Southern California and moving east. LA, Phoenix, Albuquerque, El Paso, Houston, Dallas. I didn’t have proof they’d come here but had a strong feeling since we were the next largest city, and this town had a lot of shady-ass people. The problem was… I suspected they were already here due to the fact those two girls had been kidnapped. But how would I know if I couldn’t access that site? Maybe I could buy a cheap laptop and use that without it being connected to our servers. If they put spyware on it, they wouldn’t see much, just an anonymous, non-registered device looking at it. But then again… accessing that site took a lot of juice, and without all the power I needed, I didn’t think I could pull it off. Dammit.
I was going to have to ask for Rocky’s help yet again. I already owed her a favor, now it would be two. I dried myself off and dressed in my jeans, boots, white tee, and cut. I then pulled out my phone and saw a message on the group text: It’s a boy! Jameson Andrew Lahey was captioned to a photo of a very wrinkly red baby wrapped in a blue blanket.
“Aww,” I said aloud and typed out a congratulations. When I’d gotten up this evening, MyAnna had told me Kalissa still hadn’t had the baby yet. Glad to see everyone was happy and healthy.
I stared down at the phone. Call or text? I looked at the time: 8:15 p.m. Did Rocky have a job, or was this computer help/hacking her only income? I wondered what she was doing right now. Guess I’ll find out. I found her name in my contacts.
Me: Hey, it’s Face. You busy?
Sixty agonizing seconds later, she replied.
Rocky: Depends. What do you need?
Me: I need more help but I’d like to meet somewhere else outside the clubhouse.
Rocky: Computer help? Meet me at Zombies, Theo lets me use his office for business.
Wow didn’t know that. I was a little frustrated, though. Yes, I wanted to see what she thought I should do, but no, it wouldn’t require a computer. I told myself I just needed computer help, but I really just wanted to talk to her. Be near her. Which so wasn’t like me.
Me: I would just like to pick your brain is all. No need for a computer. There’s an all-night diner on Sixth, meet me there?
Another thirty-eight seconds go by.
Rocky: I know the place. I’ll be there in fifteen.
I responded with a thumbs-up emoji because I was lame and sucked at this shit.
After hopping on my bike, I headed toward the diner.
Chapter 9
Revenge Of The Nerds
Face
I drummed my fingers on the tabletop and sipped water while I waited for her. It had been thirty minutes and she still wasn’t here. No texts either. Just when I began to think I was being stood up, I spotted a hooded figure open the door to the diner. Breathing a sigh of relief, I waved her over.
She sat across from me, and her familiar rosy citrus smell drifted into my nose. “Hello, sorry I’m late. Couldn’t get an Uber right away. Friday night and all.”
“It’s fine. You don’t have a car?”
She shook her head. “No, I rarely go anywhere that isn’t walking distance. Didn’t see the use in paying for one, along with the insurance and gas. Car services are cheaper in the long run when I do need to get somewhere.”
The server arrived at our table. “Hello, what can I get you?”
