CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 82: BLUFF

As soon as Spiney walked away, Diesel pulled out his backup plan.

"Rockie, I regret to inform you of this," he said, "but your so-called friend, Crypto, has been sneaking around with your girlfriend behind your back."

"Come on," I said. "Do you really think he's gonna fall for that one?"

"Would you like to see the pictures, Rockie?" he asked him.

"He doesn't have any pictures," I told Rockie, but in reality, I was freaking out on the inside, hoping he didn't have the photos with him.

"I would like to see the pictures," Rockie told him, "if you have them."

"Good. I'll show you tomorrow."

"He's probably just gonna photoshop them," I said.

"I don't even have photoshop," Diesel said.

"Sure you don't," I said.

"How about you come over to my place after this and I'll show you," he told Rockie.

"If you had proof, why would you wait until just now to tell Rockie?" I asked.

"He has a point," Rockie said.

"I didn't have a reason to before," he said.

"I didn't take you for the petty type," I said. "I didn't even do anything to you. You're just mad Gavin started rumors about us. I'm a victim too, you know."

"Victim?" Diesel laughed. "Is that what you call it?"

"What would you call it?" I asked.

"I would say we were misjudged."

"Right. We were misjudged. That's not my fault."

"I don't know about you guys," Duke said, "but I wanna see the pictures."

"You know what," Diesel said. "I'm not gonna show any of you the pictures since you contributed to the rumors. Also, I don't want to start extra drama in the Family."

"Wait. Are there pictures?" Rockie asked him.

He smiled. "I guess you'll never know." He looked at Duke and then at me. "See you around, Honored member." He turned invisible. I assumed he didn't want us to see him limp away, or maybe he was going to stick around to listen in.

"He has no pictures," I reassured Rockie. "He wouldn't have backed out if he had proof. I only spent time with Birdie that one time, but you already know about that."

"Yeah. I knew he was bluffing as soon as he invited me to come to his place," Rockie said. "Diesel doesn't trust anyone but the Boss to know where he lives."

"Well, if anyone had proof, it would be Diesel," Jordan said.

"I think he's just covering it up for Crypto," Duke said.

"You're just jealous, Duke," I said.

"I'm not jealous of your homo relationship," he said.

"You're an idiot," I told him. "You just got your toe blown off and you're going to bring that up again?"

"He doesn't have a gun anymore," he said.

"Let's just leave it alone," Rockie said. "No more drama."

Someone walked up to us. I recognized him as the guy with Nitro who commended me on being a cop.

"You're a brave kid, standing up to Diesel like that," he told me. "You stuck to your guns without getting nasty. I respect that."

"I don't think I know your name," I said.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Victor." He put his paw out.

I shook his paw. "Nice to formally meet you, Victor."

"Congrats on being an Honored member by the way," he said. "I think you'll do well on your mission. I'm rooting for you."

"Thanks," I said.

"I think I should get this bandaged up," Duke said, referring to his paw. "It's bleeding a lot... Not that I'm complaining."

"Yeah. We should probably go, Crypto," Rockie said.

"You guys go on ahead," I said. "I'm gonna stay here a while longer. I'll catch a taxi."

Victor smiled.

"Alright," Rockie said. He and his gang left.