Chapter 14
I rubbed my temples as I sat behind the computer, looking at the screen.
On rare occasions, I took house calls. This particular client was a special case.
When he contacted me about a breach, I thought it was going to be a routine thing.
Then I got in his computer and found all kinds of encrypted folders.
To the untrained eye, they would have never been found.
A professional had hidden them, but they also didn’t possess the skills I did.
When I stumbled upon them and opened one, I was sick to my stomach.
This man had thousands of pictures and videos of underaged kids.
Not only that, he was selling the pictures online.
I’d immediately call Titan and put him up on game.
He took the info back to Mia’s grandfather, and that set the plan in motion.
Mr. James told me to give Mr. Williams here a reason to call me back, so I put a virus on his computer.
He’d come back to me a week later, and here I was.
Unbeknownst to him, I’d installed software that would allow me to access everything on here, encrypted or not.
Titan and his team were outside watching as my computer gathered the names and addresses of every person he’d sold the images to.
They were just waiting for the word to come in.
This nigga looked like he was on some shit.
First off, the guy was shady as hell. He’d been looking over my shoulder the whole time.
Every time I clicked on something, he started pacing or asking what I was looking for.
I kept my gun on me. In this business, I never knew when someone was a standup individual or a fucking creep.
Either way, my goal was to make it home by any means necessary.
“Did you find anything?” Mr. Williams asked.
“I’m running diagnostics. Mr. Williams, I’m gonna be real with you. Something ain’t adding up. What kind of sites are you visiting for this type of virus to gain access to your computer?”
“What do you mean? Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“I’ve just never seen this before. This looks like some black-market type of shit.”
He swallowed hard. “I wouldn’t even know how to get on the black market. Look, just focus on removing this virus, a’ight? I don’t want them coming back and looking for anything else. How can I get my security upgraded? This shit is crazy.”
“Hold up. I can’t fix this properly without understanding what happened.”
“I told you what happened. Somebody put spyware on my shit, and the same muthafucka probably put the virus on there. I need it off before they ruin me.”
“Financially, as long as you have insurance?—”
“It’s not just financially.”
I eyed him skeptically. Yeah, he was about to spiral. The wide-eyed crazed expression on his face was a dead giveaway. He was in panic mode and trying to figure out how to get out of this shit.
“To dig deeper into this, I’m gonna need to take the computer with me,” I said.
“What?”
“Everything I need is back at my office.”
“Then why didn’t you bring it? You came highly recommended, but so far, you seem unprepared and unqualified.
There ain’t no way I paid you what I paid you and not even a week later, I get a virus.
Maybe you’re the one that put it on there.
Is that how you stay in business, Mr. Michaels?
You fix a problem only to create a bigger one? ”
I chuckled. “Mr. Williams, you seem suspicious, if we’re being honest. What don’t you want me to find on this computer?”
“Look, they already accessed secure client files. If that list gets out, I’m fucking dead. You don’t know the people I work for, man.”
I slid the chair back and stood to my feet.
“I think I’m gonna go. I can’t be part of this. You’ve been acting shady since I got here. Like whatever you’re hiding might be some shit you do federal time for.”
“I’m not asking you to be part of it! Just fix my shit so I can handle my business. I’ll pay double your rate. Triple. Whatever you want.”
“It’s not about the money. If I help secure systems that I know or suspect are being used for illegal activity, I could be charged as an accessory.
I like my freedom, and I ain’t going to jail for nobody.
Plus, there’s a good chance this wasn’t a random hack—could be law enforcement already on your trail. ”
At the sound of that, he started pacing again. I watched him, discreetly clicking the button on my watch that gave Titan the signal. As he talked to himself, I calmly packed my belongings.
“Where are you going?” he asked, looking over at me.
“Home.”
“You can’t leave! You have to fix this shit!”
“I already told you what it was.”
He left the room, and I could hear him rummaging for something. Not taking any chances, I retrieved my gun from the leg holster and aimed it just as he walked back in with his own gun in his hand.
“Now, Mr. Williams, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Me? I’m just your local cyber security tech. It’s not me you have to worry about.”
There was a knock on the door, causing him to look back.
“I’d answer that before they invite themselves in,” I said.
No sooner did the words leave my mouth did the locks disengage, and in walked Titan, Romero, DaVinci, Silas, Noah, and Booker. Titan held a sinister grin on his face as he always did when he was ready to fuck some shit up.
“Phillip Williams,” he said, advancing toward the man, “I’ve been waiting to meet you, my nigga.”
“Who the fuck are you?” Williams asked, backing up.
“The fucking Grim Reaper for niggas like you. I hear you like fucking with kids.”
Mr. Williams’s eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t? So I guess you don’t know anything about the thousands of pictures of underaged kids on your computer either then, huh?”
Mr. Williams’s head snapped in my direction. “You set me up? You planted that shit there!”
He charged at me but hit the floor when Titan sent a bullet to the back of his leg. As he howled in pain, Titan and the guys surrounded him.
“Take his shit and wait outside.”
“Bet.”
I grabbed the computer and left the house to wait in my car.
Williams lived on the outskirts of town, off by himself.
That should have been red flag number one with his ass.
I’d been sitting out front for about five minutes when my phone rang.
Pulling it out, I saw that it was an unfamiliar number. I frowned as I answered it.
“Hello?”
“This Quaid?”
“Who’s asking?”
“It’s Kerrion.”
“Dillinger?”
“Yeah, nigga. You know any other Kerrion?”
“Whatchu’ want, man? And how did you get my number?”
“Don’t worry about all that. Whatchu’ doing tonight?”
“Why?”
“We’re gonna be chillin’ at one of Deuce’s spots in the city. You should come through.”
I pulled the phone from my ear and looked at it to make sure I heard him correctly.
“You said what?”
“You heard me. Pull up. Have a few drinks. Smoke a lil bit. Just vibe with us.”
“Why the fuck would I do that?”
He chuckled. “Bullshit aside, I promised my sister we’d give you a chance since she seems to like your square ass.”
“Your brothers know you spoke for them?”
“They know. They don’t like the shit, but they’re with it.”
“And you expect me to show up by myself to hang with a bunch of niggas that don’t like me?”
“If you pussy, just say that.”
It was my turn to chuckle. I wanted to tell him the only thing pussy about me was my breath after eating his sister’s. I’d pick my battles, though.
“I’ll play your game.”
“Bet. We’ll be at Silk around nine.”
“I got you.”
“Aye. Don’t be late.”
“Get the fuck off my line.”
He laughed in my ear as I disconnected the call.
I shook my head. It was against my better judgment to go anywhere with those unstable ass Dillingers, but I was gonna go so they could once again see that they pumped no fear in my heart.
Going to her contact, I gave Jaeda a call. She answered on the second ring.
“Hey, baby,” she said sweetly.
That shit made me smile.
“Hey, love. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
“Baby, . . . why is your brother asking me to go out with them tonight?”
She giggled. “Steel promised me they would try to give you a real chance. I didn’t expect him to follow through. Are you gonna go?”
“I’m going ’cause I’m not afraid of them, but I can’t promise hands won’t be thrown.”
“Don’t worry. I made sure they behave themselves, . . . well, at least, Smoke, Deuce, and Maceo.”
“How?”
“My sisters. If they touch you, there will be consequences. Just a little extra insurance for you tonight.”
I chuckled. “Look at you being protective.”
“Well, I’m sure my man would protect me.”
I bit my lip, a subtle grin coming through. “Your man, huh?”
“I’m sorry. I know we haven’t made things official?—”
“Nah. I told you that you were mine when I tasted you. I meant that.”
I could almost see her blushing in my head. She was so fucking adorable at times.
“Well, okay then,” she said softly. “You’ll let me know how it goes?”
“Of course.” I looked up to see Titan coming out of the house. “Baby, I gotta go, but I’m gonna call you back before I head out, okay?”
“Okay.”
We said our goodbyes, and I got out of the car.
“Everything good?” I asked as he approached.
“We good. They have that nigga hog-tied. I’m gonna see what else I can get out of him before I do him in.
I appreciate your help.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope I knew was filled with cash before handing it to me.
“Mr. James thanks you too. He told me to tell you the offer still stands to put you on officially.”
“I’m good, man. Thanks, though. If you really wanna thank me, you’ll come out to Silk with me tonight.”
He frowned. “Come out with you where? You don’t volunteer to go to the club, Q. I have to twist your arm to get you to hang with us.”
“The Dillingers invited me off the strength of Jaeda.”