Josie is a sales associate by day and a lollipop-sucking hacker by night. She likes to stay in and feel the keys underneath her fingertips. When she decides to grace her friends at a club, she stumbles across a man who seems to send every part of he...
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This Black Butterfly has been giving us the run around—as if she didn't know who Josie is and didn't know how to contact. When she realizes she is not going to leave this mall without trying to contact Josie in front of me—it's damn near seven at night before she finally caves in.
We sit in the food court, and she powers up her laptop. I move around, standing behind her, watching the screen. Not sure what the fuck I'm looking at, but when I see a logo of fucking lollipops, I know she is connecting to Josie, and my heart starts beating faster.
BB: Hey, someone named Storm is snooping around. Wants to know where you are. I met him.
BB: 1,2,20,21,1,2,18,2
BB: Sorry, copy and paste. Anyway, where are you? Do you need me to help you?
"Can you back up? You're making me nervous." Black Butterfly says.
I step back, half to give her space and half because I'm damn curious about what Josie is going to say. The mall buzzes around us, but it's like we're in our own little bubble—me, Black Butterfly, and the looming presence of Josie somewhere in the digital ether.
Me: My condolences that you had to meet him. He is a fucking asshole with an ego the size of Jupiter and a dick as small as a pinky toe. But no, I'm safe. I'm in Kansas City. If he asks you again, tell him I'm in Cali. I'll reach out to you later. I'm at work.
Black Butterfly laughs and then coughs, trying to cover it up.
When I get my hands on Joise, I will show her just how small this dick of mine will have her screaming my name.
I pull out my phone as Black Butterfly closes her laptop. I text Tony to get the jet ready, and I'll be leaving in an hour. I gesture for Yannick and Luca to come over.
"Josie's in Kansas City. I want a team ready to go." I look down at the Butterfly and pull an envelope out of my jacket. "Here is fifty grand. I will wire you the rest once I have Josie."
"No worries, fifty grand is more than enough. I usually charge ten. I didn't think you would agree to a hundred. You must really care for Sugar Rush." She smiles, gathering her things. "When you do find her, don't tell her it was me who ratted her out."
"Sugar Rush?" Yannick questions.
"I hope you don't think we use our real names when hacking. If so, you're a dummy. Jojo goes by Sugar Rush." she lets out a deep breath. "I hope to never see you guys again."
I watch Black Butterfly disappear into the crowd, a mix of relief and irritation bubbling inside me. Luca leans in close, smirking. "So, we're heading to Kansas City to grab Sugar Rush, huh?"
"No, California," I sigh and slip the phone back into my pocket. "I'm sure those numbers the Black Butterfly sent were no mistake. Probably a code to let Josie know I was watching."
