{"id":950,"date":"2024-08-23T01:01:15","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T01:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=950"},"modified":"2024-08-23T01:27:12","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T01:27:12","slug":"chapter-04","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=950","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 04"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 04 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Bella loved the French Quarter. There were no real street poles beaming a lot of light down on you, but every building had these tiny lights that illuminated just enough. And, during the day, you could see all the different colors of the houses. She didn\u2019t know exactly where to go to visit the Michaels, but they had a home on Bourbon Street, and it was painted in rich jewel tones, as well as on the inside as outside, from what she had been told. And on the walls on the outside were stone Ms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her family had visited the Michaels. Not her, and to be honest, she was really nervous about it. She had heard that the family was ruthless. Then again, the Cullens thought of themselves as good and righteous and now that she had a different view of things, that thought wasn\u2019t all that correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not that everything had been bad. There were good times, such as playing baseball while younger and visiting family in Alaska. It had been terribly cold, but it had been a lot of fun because after every match there would be hot cocoa waiting with her name on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even learning how to pickpocket on the Strip in Las Vegas were fun day trips. The fun changed, however, when something went wrong during a mission and they had to leave Grant behind. The family then went to dark for a few months and during that time, nothing was the same anymore and Bella was to move in the shadows at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was so good at it, that even she forgot she existed at some point. Uncle Garrett changed all that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If only he had prepared her for dealing with yet another crime family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She would have loved to have learned some diplomatic skills. Then again, being a diplomat and political sucked anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it was still the best decision she\u2019d made to buy her home in the French Quarter. \u201cOh, this is it,\u201d she said as she pointed to the building. It was not heavily painted in jewel tones, it was more earthy on the outside, big windows and big doors. It was a Creole Mansion like her home, but then twice as big, if not more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella liked to see the balconies filled with flowers and that was something she\u2019d like to do as well in a later stage. Maybe instead of flowers grow herbs and strawberries and other types of food. But that meant that she\u2019d have to stay in New Orleans for a longer period of time and she wasn\u2019t sure if that was going to happen right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll follow your lead,\u201d Neal smiled at her before laughing upon seeing the look on her face. \u201cWhat? Your family has history with them, not me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She rolled her eyes at him as she walked towards the open gate and peered into the courtyard. It was freakishly empty, devoid of people but with furniture out. To her right, there was a huge bell so she decided to ring it to see what would happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took a few minutes before the younger brother appeared in the little passageway. \u201cWow, who died?\u201d He was slightly taller than Neal and likely closer to Bella\u2019s age, but she couldn\u2019t be sure. He looked at them with an inquisitive look on his face before realizing he\u2019d seen Bella before. \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHi,\u201d Bella smiled at him. \u201cI\u2019m Izzy Sheppard, this is Neal Carter, can we come in? Talk?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a Cullen, and you lot cost us a lot of money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded, understanding what he was saying. \u201cI was, and I\u2019m here to make amends, can we please come in and talk to you and your family?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He sighed and nodded. \u201cI\u2019m Cole, come on in,\u201d he said as he stepped aside to allow Bella and Neal to enter the courtyard. \u201cWhatd\u2019ya mean, you was?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll explain,\u201d she smiled at him. \u201cCan you call your brother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cole nodded. \u201cNick! Myriam! We have visitors!\u201d He called out as he looked up to the balconies over the courtyard. Like Bella had expected, the home was bigger than it looked from the outside. The inside was painted in rich jewel tones, emerald green, topaz yellow, ruby red, from what she could identify of the colors. Like her home, the balconies were made out of wrought iron railings, looking absolutely beautiful and in every corner there were candelabras. It was almost as if they had stepped in time. It looked antique, but it was beautiful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick and Myriam soon emerged from one of the rooms upstairs and made their way down the stairs towards the courtyard, and Nick immediately recognized Bella. \u201cYou have a lot of nerve coming back,\u201d he said as he straightened himself up, a menacing look on his face, causing Neal to take a step in front of Bella. \u201cYou and your family cost me a lot of money!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Bella said calmly. \u201cI\u2019m here to rectify that, make amends. I was only doing what I was instructed to do, even though it was a shitty move. But things have changed and I wish to talk to you about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave a seat,\u201d Myriam smiled kindly as she took Bella\u2019s hand to pull her away from Neal and towards the comfortable looking couches. \u201cI\u2019m Myriam Michaels, I\u2019m Nick\u2019s wife.\u201d Myriam had neatly cut brown hair, dark brown eyes and she looked simply stunning in that white dress she was wearing, complimenting her olive skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIzzy Sheppard,\u201d Bella replied as she sat down next to Myriam. \u201cThat\u2019s Neal Carter, he\u2019s with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, but we all know Neal Caffrey,\u201d Nick said as he eyed him. \u201cLooking good for a dead guy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Neal smiled brightly as he made his way over to one of the chairs next to Bella, to make sure she was safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Nick and Cole sat down too, Bella told her story. Everything. The Cullens. How she left. Why she left. The Volturi. \u201cWhen we were in New Orleans and you got the short end of the stick, I fell in love with the city and I bought a house here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh! That house on Dumaine? Practically next to the Voodoo Museum? I always wondered what was going on in there!\u201d Cole said brightly. \u201cThat was your doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded, a smile on her face. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful place, I couldn\u2019t help myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI bet!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnyway, I hope that it\u2019s alright with you if Neal and I live there. We won\u2019t get into any trouble or find marks here in the Quarter,\u201d she said as she looked at Myriam, then at Nick and then realized Nick was looking at his wife. So Bella had been right, Myriam was pulling the strings in this family. \u201cAnd to make up for what I did to help my family, I\u2019ll happily pay you the money owed and offer my services.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both brothers looked at Myriam with an \u2018I don\u2019t care\u2019 kind of look on their faces before Nick spoke. \u201cI believe she\u2019s telling the truth. Matches up with a lot of recent activity we\u2019ve discovered and what Cole found with his friends on the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myriam nodded as she smiled at Bella. \u201cFuck that. We have enough money, your family has no honor and that\u2019s the most frustrating event from that job we allowed them to do here. And they want you dead? For leaving them? What kind of a shitty family is that?\u201d She exclaimed, shaking her head. \u201cNo, you don\u2019t have to pay us back. Instead, I want to offer you our resources and ourselves to go after your family. Set them up real good and put them away for years and years to come. How does that sound?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella was surprised to hear that. \u201cHuh?\u201d That didn\u2019t quite sound intelligent but she really didn\u2019t know what to say about this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe took a chance with the Cullens all those years ago. Everyone\u2019s heard of them, what they do, what they\u2019re capable of, and we were merely curious if all those rumors were true,\u201d Nick said as he leaned back in his chair, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. \u201cWe\u2019ve been planning on going after them for years but never found a reason good enough other than \u2018because we can\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause we can,\u201d Cole nodded. \u201cWe already have a plan and people on retainer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s that easy,\u201d Neal said as he scratched his head. \u201cIf something is too good to be true, it\u2019s usually fake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myriam let out a breath. \u201cWe pride ourselves in honor and kindness. We do things for the rush, and we are very good at taking revenge,\u201d she motioned around them. \u201cLook at this place. We don\u2019t have to pull off jobs, we\u2019re set for life. But we want to. And the Cullens are on our bucket list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I am a Cullen,\u201d Bella piped up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHoney, you introduced yourself as Izzy Sheppard. You may have grown up with the Cullens, but you\u2019re no Cullen. You know what they did and still had the balls to come here, ask for forgiveness and if it was going to be a problem if you lived in the Quarter,\u201d Myriam put an arm around her and smiled widely. \u201cAnd if Neal fucking Caffrey chooses to hang out with you, you\u2019re alright in my book.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBesides, it\u2019s always fascinating when a family wants a relative dead,\u201d Nick quipped, earning him a stern look from Myriam. \u201cWhat? It\u2019s true!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut first things first. You\u2019re a hacker. Otherwise you couldn\u2019t have had them escape New Orleans like that. What\u2019s your handle?\u201d Cole asked, curiosity on his face. \u201cI\u2019ve been dying to know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella scowled. \u201cI\u2019m going to retire the name, I\u2019ve used it for a long time now and I\u2019m starting to get noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on, what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBel\u2014 Izzy, you said you\u2019d share everything,\u201d Neal coaxed her. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure your secret is safe with these people too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m retiring shitface, I only need to\u2014\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShit!\u201d Cole cried out. \u201cYou\u2019re 5h1tF4c3? I always thought it was a dude! I always imagined having a drink with Shitface, play some pool and shit like that but you\u2019re really him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal had this big goofy grin on his face, beaming with pride. \u201cThat never gets old.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI never purposely revealed my gender. But if I want to fully be free from the Cullens, it\u2019s a name I have to retire,\u201d Bella replied. \u201cPlease tell me you\u2019re Mingus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Cole shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m Tr0uble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, yes you are,\u201d Nick nodded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard of you, seen your work,\u201d Bella smiled. \u201cI like your stuff!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded. \u201cThe schematics and code you posted for bricking a physical pc in a few seconds was amazing, got a real kick out of that, and I included some of your other code on my tablet for when I hack things on site like security alarms and whatnot because I couldn\u2019t figure something out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, don\u2019t flatter him,\u201d Nick rolled his eyes at her. \u201cHis ego is big enough already.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s true! His code helped me, a lot,\u201d Bella replied with a nod, seeing Cole\u2019s smile growing bigger and bigger. \u201cI\u2019m more of a code girl instead of a gadget girl so yeah. With you sharing your inventions so openly, I took advantage of that, sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh no, that\u2019s why it\u2019s out there, I have more ideas in my workshop, all fully functional but didn\u2019t want to share that. Wanna see?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh, no, sorry, I\u2019m still a little shocked how you want to help a complete stranger,\u201d Bella said as she ran her hand through her hair. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not sure if I should accept the help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI get that,\u201d Myriam nodded knowingly. \u201cYou don\u2019t know if you can trust us, and that\u2019s a good thing. You don\u2019t believe we\u2019re not doing this out of the goodness of our own hearts\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhich we aren\u2019t, we simply enjoy taking down assholes,\u201d Cole added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNobody sends hitmen after their own flesh and blood and gets away with it. You need a crew, Izzy, and we can help you out with that. Again, we already have a plan, and we already have a crew, and feel free to make any changes,\u201d Myriam continued, shooting an annoyed look towards Cole, who shrugged in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal wasn\u2019t sure what to think. He had thought going to the Michaels had been a bad idea after what Bella had told him about them, but here they were, being the complete opposite. They were\u2026 normal. To be honest, he\u2019d never met other conmen and women who were this upfront in the first meeting, which made him believe that the Michaels were truthful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then again, it could be a ruse, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTell you what,\u201d Myriam said as she looked at Bella. \u201cWe\u2019ll write down the plan that we have, give you the names of our crew, and if you like what you see, you can hire us to help you. I mean, I think your next move was to find a crew anyway, wasn\u2019t it? This way, if we betray you in anyway, you can withhold payment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, that sounds good,\u201d Bella said after thinking it over. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, it\u2019s just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI understand, cherie, don\u2019t you worry,\u201d the other woman smiled kindly. \u201cI\u2019ve been where you are, right in that exact same spot, many many years ago. There\u2019s no honor amongst thieves, that\u2019s true, but that\u2019s not how we work, and after what you\u2019ve told us, that\u2019s not how you work. Not sure about your man, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be good,\u201d Neal replied, slightly offended. \u201cDo you honestly think she\u2019d allow me to stick around if I weren\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, yes,\u201d Myriam replied as a matter of factly. \u201cYou\u2019re eye candy. I\u2019d do you in a heartbeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal\u2019s face broke out in the stupidest grin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDown boy,\u201d Bella told him playfully. \u201cI can assure you that Neal\u2019s on his way to become an honest conman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood to hear,\u201d Nick replied. \u201cSo do we have a deal then? We offer you our services, work with you with the plan, and if it fails, you won\u2019t have to pay us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Bella shrugged. \u201cWhat do I have to lose?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGreat!\u201d Nick was ecstatic. A wide grin on his face. \u201cTo protect our potential employer from those who will eventually come to New Orleans to kill her, I\u2019d like you to have one of my trusted men to keep you safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I am safe,\u201d Bella replied sheepishly. \u201cMy house is protected, we both know how to shoot a gun when needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, but when you go out, you\u2019re going to need a shadow. Don\u2019t worry, he works discretely. You won\u2019t even see him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnyone I know?\u201d Neal asked curiously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoubt it,\u201d Nick replied. \u201cWhich is why working with us will benefit you taking your revenge, Izzy, it\u2019s likely your family hasn\u2019t heard of the players either. Your family won\u2019t know what hit them. However, what we need from you is a list of who\u2019s who, and what they can do so we can anticipate and see where we can put our assets in play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh, yeah, sure, I can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCole will pick it up tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella wasn\u2019t quite sure what had happened as she and Neal walked home. For some reason she had a very bad feeling about the Michaels and maybe, just maybe, she had made things worse. \u201cDo you think your friend Mozzie knows about these people?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe might, why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, you trust him, so\u2026\u201d Bella shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know, I feel weird about this. It\u2019s too easy. I can\u2019t believe it\u2019s this easy. So I\u2019d be really happy to get a second opinion from someone you know and trust, and, for a third opinion I might ask Mingus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou trust him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot completely, but he seems to be knowledgeable and he knows a lot of hackers, seeing as Cole is one and I know his handle\u2026 Yeah, Mingus might know about them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a plan then,\u201d Neal replied as he pointed at a pastry place. \u201cBinge on pastries?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOhh, pastries,\u201d Bella cooed agreeably. \u201cLet\u2019s get a bunch of them, and maybe a good bottle of wine from that liquor store next to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once they got back home, they settled on the couch in the reception area, turned on the TV on low and Bella pulled her laptop in to her lap as she bit down on a pastry. \u201cMozzie first?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded as she booted up her phone software and finished chewing her first bite. \u201cIf he does know the Michaels and know that they\u2019re in New Orleans, do you think Mozzie can keep it to himself?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, he won\u2019t tell Peter,\u201d Neal laughed as he poured them a glass of wine. \u201cAnd if he wants to come over, I can ask him to stay in New York to keep an eye on Peter, to make sure that Peter\u2019s not looking into you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat makes you say he won\u2019t look into you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMozzie will likely tell him I\u2019m still in France,\u201d Neal shrugged. \u201cAnd even though I\u2019m now a new man, on paper, doesn\u2019t mean that Peter won\u2019t move heaven and earth to prove that I\u2019m Neal Caffrey again. Or arrest me for those crimes again or whatever. Not that I think he will. He just wants to see me, I suppose. Maybe a day trip to the Big Apple?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you want,\u201d Bella replied as she dialed Mozzie\u2019s number. \u201cJust know that I won\u2019t come with you,\u201d she stuck out her tongue to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling popular, this is the most amount of times you\u2019ve called me in a short amount of time, Neal.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry, Moz,\u201d Neal apologized. \u201cI\u2019m looking for some intel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI could just come to you, it\u2019ll be like old times.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe once this is all over, I really would like you to meet Shitface.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStill not saying her name, are we?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust respecting her rules,\u201d Neal smiled at her and Bella let out a sigh of relief and continued to eat her pastry. \u201cAnyway, have you ever heard of the Michaels family?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d <\/em>Mozzie replied. \u201cThey\u2019ve been around quite some time and in our world, too. It started off with their great-great grandfather or something. I hear that there are pockets of them all over America.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your take on them?\u201d Neal reached for a beignet and <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe only family that I\u2019ve ever encountered was when I was in Michigan. Michael Michaels was one of the bigger players, sort to speak. Hard ass. Didn\u2019t appreciate his children very well, and last time I heard of him was after he got killed under suspicious circumstances. They never found out who did it. Oh, and there\u2019s a family down in New Orleans. They\u2019re alright. Bit whimpy if I must admit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal let out a snort. \u201cAnd why\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause they work in the grey area! You and I it\u2019s black and white. We steal pretty things for it being pretty and if we get bored of it or don\u2019t use it as a secret stash, we sell it off through a fence. These guys steal for fun, making our lives a lot harder by exposing security flaws in museums and whatnot. They might be out of the game. I\u2019m not sure. I\u2019m not sure if that counts for all of them though. Where are you?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWashington.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDC?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, well, if there\u2019s a Michaels family there, you need to be careful with them. They don\u2019t hesitate to stab you in the back. If you\u2019re in New Orleans, you\u2019re in luck because they\u2019ve gone soft. They\u2019d rather help the helpless, be like Robin Hood or something.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMuch like Shitface.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHa, she\u2019s just rebelling. Her true colors will show in time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so, Moz.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see, my friend, we\u2019ll see. Don\u2019t allow her to make you go soft if she\u2019s not rebelling. You can\u2019t lose your edge.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoz.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know, I know, you went to France after you died because you needed a fresh start.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t change who you are, that\u2019s all I\u2019m saying.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks, Moz, you were very helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, please stop treating him like a small child, thanks,\u201d Bella said annoyed before she disconnected the call and looked at Neal. \u201cWhat? You\u2019re okay with this? With him questioning what you\u2019re doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s trying to control you now that you\u2019re not dead,\u201d Bella countered kindly. \u201cHe\u2019s acting like you\u2019re a child, but you\u2019re a grown man. He forgets you\u2019re in your early thirties.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal barked out a laugh. \u201cGreat to know I pass for early thirties still.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella then realized she didn\u2019t know how old Neal was. Carlo had put 30 on his passport. Neal didn\u2019t know how old she was, either.  \u201cJust how old are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWow, you make me sound really old now,\u201d Neal ran a hand through his hair, also realizing that he knew that she was mid twenties, but, she too, could look younger. Why did this make him nervous? Getting old sucked, and if she was much younger than he was\u2026 she could choose to stop whatever they were just beginning with. \u201cAge is just a number.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I know,\u201d she smiled at him. \u201cAnd don\u2019t worry, I don\u2019t care how old you are, but it\u2019d be nice to know how many candles I need to put on your birthday cake when it\u2019s your birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m 37.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow was that so hard?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know, admitting that you\u2019re getting old is hard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not old, Neal. And besides, you\u2019re as old as you feel. Like you said, age is just a number,\u201d she retorted as she shifted a little to look at him, her laptop still in her lap. \u201cSo yeah, Mozzie should stop worrying about you, you\u2019re more than capable of taking care of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that, but it\u2019s nice to entertain him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal nodded. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d he said as he took her laptop and set it on the table before pulling her into his lap. \u201cI find it extremely hilarious that he fears hacker you,\u201d he softly brushed her lips with his. \u201cBut he doesn\u2019t know you and that scares him a little. Mozzie doesn\u2019t do well with change.\u201d Neal tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as he looked at her with those beautiful blue eyes of his. \u201cHe\u2019ll stop in a month or so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d she replied and smiled at him. \u201cIf you\u2019re sure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m very sure,\u201d Neal kissed her lips briefly. \u201cNow, I told you mine\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike you said, age is just a number,\u201d she replied teasingly. While she didn\u2019t care about the age gap, he might, and she didn\u2019t want to lose him. Neal made her feel safe and seen, and it was intoxicating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care how old you are, but it\u2019d be nice to know how many candles I need to put on your birthday cake when it\u2019s your birthday,\u201d Neal replied, using her own words against her as he kept his eyes on her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c25.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust as I thought,\u201d he slightly nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re far too mature for me, but that\u2019s okay, I\u2019ll get you to play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella laughed. \u201cReally now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Neal said huskily, remembering their conversation from a couple of hours ago before they set off to meet with the Michaels. \u201cWe\u2019ll start off with having some fun,\u201d he kissed her then, his hands making his way underneath her shirt. Oh, he felt her stiffen a little under his touch before she relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella answered his kiss as she shifted a little in his lap to get closer to him and dug her hands into his hair. It had been too long since she was touched like this, at least this caring and warm. Neal\u2019s hands were soft, delicate as they moved over her skin. She gently tugged on his hair before one of her hands moved to the nape of his neck, causing Neal to giggle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking off the kiss for air, she looked at him with an amused smile on her face. \u201cTicklish?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot at all,\u201d he laughed. \u201cBut seems like you\u2019ve found a spot anyway!\u201d She grinned as she moved her hand back to the spot he had such a reaction to, looking at him with fascination as he burst out laughing, his shoulders going up in the air towards his ears, trying to make himself smaller, squirming as he did so. \u201cYou\u2019re mean!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAm I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes!\u201d Neal laughed as he pulled his legs up, making them fall sideways onto the couch but he was fast enough to roll her on top of him before she\u2019d fall off. \u201cAre you ticklish?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Bella said as she let go of him and immediately crossed her arms over her chest, protecting her sides, and then realized what she\u2019d done. \u201cAh, crap,\u201d she responded as she looked at Neal, who had a devious look on his face. She scrambled to get off of him and the couch and ran away. \u201cNope!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He caught her with ease and scooped her up in his arms, laughing. \u201cOh yes, I need to get my revenge,\u201d Neal said as he walked towards her bedroom. \u201cAnd I\u2019m going to take time with getting it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She giggled as she put her arms around his neck and batted his lashes at him.  \u201cIs that a threat or a promise?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She lost count of the times she\u2019d seen stars as she laid curled up against Neal\u2019s naked body, still feeling his hands and fingers everywhere on her body. Bella felt satiated as she almost nodded off, feeling the rise and fall of Neal\u2019s body, hearing his breathing, his heartbeat and feeling his fingers drawing circles on her back. So good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now she knew what he looked like underneath his clothes. Perfect. While she didn\u2019t care about age and what bodies looked like, but everything about Neal Caffrey was fucking perfect. The way he dressed, the way he took care of himself, his grooming routine\u2026 his skin was soft. He was blessed with a sixpack and some muscle tone, even his arms were yummy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And not to mention the rest of him. It was almost as if he was made to fit just inside of her. Slightly bigger than normal, but fuck, she\u2019d seen stars that afternoon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And compared to Neal, she was a slob, in every way, except when she was doing a job. But he took pride in taking care of himself, and making sure he looked good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHungry?\u201d he eventually asked as he kept drawing circles on her back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t feel my legs,\u201d Bella murmured against his skin, causing Neal to laugh. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat just means that I\u2019ve done a job well done.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella hummed and nodded for an answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeeing as I\u2019m still able to walk, how about you stay in bed and I\u2019ll make us some food and get you something to drink.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut that means you\u2019ll have to leave the bed,\u201d she tried crawling into him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHmm\u2026 I love you being clingy. Next time we have to bring water into your bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUntil then, one of us has to leave the bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed and nodded as she managed to let go of him. \u201cCome back soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: I know it\u2019s like the middle of the night. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Yep.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Didn\u2019t think you\u2019d still be awake.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: I am \ud83d\ude42 How are you doing?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Great, actually!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Good to hear that, what\u2019s up?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Well, one, I\u2019m going to retire this handle.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Okay.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Secondly\u2026 have you ever heard of Tr0uble?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Of course, he\u2019s trouble. He has brilliant ideas, the codes he posts are mental, but he doesn\u2019t seem committed, you know. Might be the people he\u2019s hanging with.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: I thought some of his work was useful.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: LOL. Okay. What about him?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: I dunno, is he trustworthy? Like\u2026 does he have honor and won\u2019t actually fuck me over?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Yeah, he\u2019s decent and about as elegant as an elephant in a porcelain cabinet, are you sure you want to work with him? You\u2019re more than capable of doing the hacking yourself.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: It\u2019s more his associates I\u2019m curious about. I figure that if he hangs out with the right people\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Well there are rumors he\u2019s running with a crew, based in New Orleans I believe. Not sure. Met him once at ComTech. Very charming, smart. Unfocused. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: But if he\u2019s running with a crew\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Well yeah, it\u2019d save you the trouble of recruiting them yourself, would it? Just be expected to pay dearly. Have you come to the States yet?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Cool \ud83d\ude42 Did your friend make it too?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yep. Also erased his previous life completely from law enforcement servers. Was piss easy to do.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: But what if they have old backups?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Should be good for now. If not, he\u2019ll just has to get plastic surgery hahahaha<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Okay. So what\u2019s the plan now? Get Tr0uble\u2019s crew to help you get even?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yeah, maybe. Likely. Will be fun. It\u2019s just that I\u2019ve always been alone and now there are people. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: You\u2019ll be fine. Didn\u2019t you grow up in a big family?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: I never told you that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took far too long for Mingus to respond after their quick messages back and forth before she told him off. Something wasn\u2019t right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: No, but the last name you had did.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Right. Are you working for them now, is that it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: WTF, where does that come from?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: If so, you can tell them to go fuck themselves and that I\u2019m coming after them. Good night, Mingus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella angrily disconnected the call and started the process of deleting every mention of 5h1tF4c3 off the web, which was easier to do than deleting Neal from government servers. She still had her other handle to work with, 5w4n, that she used for more low key hacks or information. Bella liked that handle, she could act like a complete noob with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus\u2019 response to her still didn\u2019t sit well with her, even thinking back to the conversation she had about Neal back in France. No one needs an ID like the one you and I created for you. Trust me on this. She had brushed it off as Mingus refusing to do it again as they had ran into some trouble to begin with, but he was the go-to guy. She\u2019d been referred to him by someone in the community, that he was a solid guy. I am interested in helping you set up whoever wants you dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And she had just told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surely it was just her paranoia talking shit about Mingus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHmm, I don\u2019t like that look on your face,\u201d Neal said as he set down a glass of water next to her on her desk and pulled up a chair. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Bella sighed, shaking her head. \u201cProbably nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid you talk to Mingus?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did,\u201d she nodded as she ran a hand through her hair. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not adding up and I fear that I\u2019ve been set up. He might be working for my family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, or something else is at play here,\u201d she said as she started looking for her former hacker friend who brought her into touch with Mingus. Just as she suspected, that handle hadn\u2019t logged in in a very long time, but was still around. Digging some deeper, she found a list of suspected law enforcement hackers. And her hacker friend and Mingus were on there. She wasn\u2019t sure if she could trust the list, seeing as 5h1tF4c3 was on there too and some other people who definitely weren\u2019t law enforcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to do something incredibly stupid,\u201d she said as she made sure they were extra secure and opened a software for extra brute force. \u201cIt\u2019s going to take some time but someone of Mingus\u2019 caliber should totally be on the FBI watch list, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe, but I\u2019m great at covering my tracks,\u201d she smiled at Neal. \u201cIf Mingus isn\u2019t on there, I could do a search in the personnel files,\u201d she added before looking at him again. \u201cOr am I taking this too far?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal shrugged. \u201cYou know what they say, don\u2019t trust anyone on the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t, but something just feels off about Mingus, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019s one of you guys, he\u2019s helped you with your ID, didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She should have thought of saving every conversation she\u2019d ever had with anyone on the dark web, really. \u201cYeah but it\u2019s just the way he said certain things, and in the beginning, he knew things that I never told anyone but I brushed it off as him being a great hacker even though I covered my tracks so clearly,\u201d when Neal remained quiet Bella sighed. \u201cWhat would you do if believed you didn\u2019t know someone as well as you should have? If your sense of danger kicked in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAsk Mozzie,\u201d Neal shrugged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPass. I remember telling him to stop being a helicopter parent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re making things far too difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I want to know who I\u2019m dealing with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho do you usually turn to for advice?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHacking advice? Mingus. I\u2019m all alone. I was the hacker of the family. I didn\u2019t have that many friends off the internet and certainly none online. Everyone\u2019s either afraid of 5h1tF4c3 or there\u2019s some mad, twisted respect. I don\u2019t have anyone but you at this point, Garrett and Liam don\u2019t know stuff either. I\u2019m alone. Hacking is a solitary job, especially when you don\u2019t want to get noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, it\u2019s okay,\u201d Neal smiled at her and gently rubbed her back. \u201cWhy not reach out to Cole? You know his handle, you\u2019ve met him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we\u2019re still not sure if we can trust them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal let out a breath and nodded. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t hurt sometimes to take a leap of faith. You\u2019re not alone, Bella, I\u2019m here. You can be a bit more trusting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as she wanted to give in to Neal and take that leap, someone was at the door. Pulling up the video footage she was a but surprised to see Cole standing there. \u201cWell, speak of the devil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, you were supposed to make that list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight,\u201d she then giggled as she looked at Neal. \u201cBut I was otherwise engaged last night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal smirked and kissed the top of her head. \u201cWant me to invite him in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, take him to the courtyard, I\u2019ll be down in a second. I need to dress my lazy ass.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I love that ass.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure you do,\u201d she shook her head laughing and watched him go downstairs before going to the bedroom and getting dressed. Bella really needed to start caring of herself, because she wouldn\u2019t remain looking like the way she did now when she was older, and even now, she felt she could lose a little. Bella hated her thoughts right now and wasn\u2019t sure where they were coming from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She got dressed in a cute flowery dress and put her hair in a braid before joining Neal and Cole in the courtyard with her tablet in her hands. \u201cHi! Sorry, completely forgot about that list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d Cole smiled widely. \u201cI can wait. I love what you\u2019ve done to the place.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Bella smiled as she started to compile the list. \u201cI think we\u2019re both really enjoying the fruits of that investment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTotally,\u201d Neal nodded. \u201cSo, how do you and you family work, though? You\u2019re doing things for fun now, but how did you get where you are now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, old money mostly,\u201d Cole replied with a shrug. \u201cGood investments. A job here and there, but our mother was one of those hippies, she wanted us to share our wealth with those who were less fortunate with every job that we did. We currently are patrons of various charities here in New Orleans, even fund a local Krewe around Mardi Gras. We enjoy what we\u2019re doing and the rush that comes with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAm I really the only one who likes to steal stuff and keep it for himself? You\u2019re making me sound like an egotistical asshole,\u201d Neal laughed, shaking his head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I lived like that,\u201d Bella said, not looking up from her tablet. \u201cUncle Garrett taught me a different way, especially because I felt miserable between my siblings and cared enough about the aftermath that I sometimes donated to the victims. They didn\u2019t even go after the rich, but after the ordinary person sometimes, especially when they were bankrolled by rich people. It was just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSounds awful,\u201d Cole replied. \u201cEspecially with them wanting you dead, what did you do to piss them off?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Bella replied with a sigh. \u201cI suppose leaving, choosing for myself. Maybe they\u2019re afraid I report them to the authorities or something, which I won\u2019t ever do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, loyalty is a good thing, shame that your own family doesn\u2019t trust you enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t a nice feeling, I can tell you,\u201d she said as she kept typing on her tablet. \u201cWhich is why I want to go after them myself, to show them that I can do what they can do. Just no deaths. Just arrests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGot that,\u201d Cole nodded. \u201cWe don\u2019t like using guns anyway. Ronon and Henry might, but they\u2019re our hitters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRonon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Cole laughed. \u201cFun story, his name is Jason May, right? But he\u2019s this huge guy, tiny heart, doesn\u2019t speak much and honestly, he looks like someone from a show I used to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStargate Atlantis?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes! Which is why I nicknamed him Ronon, and he doesn\u2019t care. If he does, he\u2019s not saying anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella let out a snort as she shook her head. \u201cIt\u2019s the show that keeps on giving, gone too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeal\u2019s last name was picked from that, and so was mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou two are such nerds,\u201d Neal laughed, shaking his head. \u201cI\u201dm going to leave you alone for a moment and get us something to drink.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo you work on your tablet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella looked up and shook her head. \u201cI have a laptop and a pc. I only use this one when I\u2019m on the go, but I figured it would take notes as well,\u201d she smiled at Cole. \u201cGreat source of distraction, kinda makes it hard to forget I actually have to interact with real people sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s alright, I\u2019m merely wondering what you are,\u201d Cole leaned on the tiny table and smiled up at her. \u201cBecause you see, I\u2019ve spent some time last night doing some research in to you and your family, get an idea of how they work, my brother was reading along and profiling them from the snippets we could find. Most cases they didn\u2019t need a hacker to clean up their shit, but instead it was either a cop involved or foreigners or in some cases the area would be closed up and cleaned up. You can\u2019t tell me that was all you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Bella nodded. \u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI won\u2019t tell you that was all me, or at least people that I had to find and then pay well,\u201d Bella replied as she kept typing. \u201cI know a little about a lot, I\u2019m not the best at grifting or cold reading people, but I can get by. Hell, I even fooled Neal Caffrey, and that\u2019s saying something. Hacking is what I love doing and unlike everything else that I know, I taught this myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTaught?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded. \u201cI was the youngest, but we were all trained by people in the field. Reading letters from Matthew Keller, books on Charles Ponzi, Gaston Means, Daniel Levey\u2026 Frank Abagnale Jr\u2026 Natwarlal, of course, with the added bonus of books on psychopaths and killers, having unsavoury people teaching us\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut you were taught?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah? You weren\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Cole laughed. \u201cWell, not like you. It was just passed on to us, and I didn\u2019t want it. So I left and faked being a hacker for a while before I realized I was one after a couple of months. I have this\u2026 gift to learn new things fairly quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCool,\u201d Bella smiled and looked at Neal who was returning with a soda bottle and three glasses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re out of wine,\u201d he sulked as he sat down. \u201cWe need a wine cellar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Bella laughed. \u201cSounds great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally? But you don\u2019t drink that much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shrugged for an answer then before sending the file over to Cole. \u201cIf you have any questions about my family, let me know, I could clarify stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cole looked it over and nodded. \u201cI see no mention of your twin brother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have a brother?\u201d Neal said surprised as he poured himself a glass of the soda that Bella liked so much. Maybe, it wouldn\u2019t be vile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHad,\u201d Bella replied, slightly angry that Cole had found out about him. \u201cHad a brother and I\u2019ve been trying to forget him ever since he\u2026 died.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella remained quiet as she poured herself a drink and finished her glass with a sigh. \u201cWe were nine or ten and we were used as a tool in a con that they were running,\u201d she eventually said. \u201cI fucked up and my brother came back for me, took my place, made sure I escaped okay while he got taken by the cops. I was told that he died in foster care because the police kept asking him about his family, but we\u2019d never tell. And he was the strongest of us. So yeah, I needed to be better, and keep my mouth shut. Make sure everyone would get out, stay away from the authorities, and remain safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou were just kids,\u201d Neal gently rubbed Bella\u2019s back. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, it was. I fucked up. If I hadn\u2019t fucked up, Grant would still be with me. We\u2019d be doing this together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr not,\u201d Neal pointed out. \u201cYou never know.\u201d He now understood where her obsession came from when it came to staying away from law enforcement, why she didn\u2019t like it that one of his friends was an FBI agent. It all made sense now. She\u2019d lost her twin brother and felt guilty about it. He could only imagine what it\u2019d feel like to carry that guilt with him for 15 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, best is to look to the future and live my life as best and safe that I can,\u201d she then looked at Cole. \u201cAnd just how did you know about my twin brother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNews articles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a good enough reason for her. \u201cSo yeah, the notes I sent you are on every member of the family. Emmett, the twins Alice and Jasper, Rosalie and Edward. You could also try to include Carlisle and Esme in the plan, but they\u2019re squeaky clean on paper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrilliant, thanks. I\u2019m sure we can work with that. If not, I\u2019ll shoot you a message.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are also other players involved, the Blacks. Jacob used to be one of the approved friends I could play with as he was closer my age than anyone else around us,\u201d Bella replied. \u201cSo I included them as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Blacks are pure filth,\u201d Cole sighed before breaking out in the biggest, goofiest smile ever. \u201cThis is going to be so much fun!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

After Cole had left, Bella took a phone out of her pocket and started to scroll through it with a satisfied smile on her face. \u201cThat was fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWas it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded, still that smile on her face. \u201cSee, I don\u2019t keep anything on my phone. I jailbroke my phone, and there\u2019s an app on there that resets my phone to factory settings after every time I make a phone call. I take pictures of marks on another phone with no card in it or other information.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYep, you\u2019re paranoid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She glanced over to Neal then. \u201cI have good reasons to be, and I\u2019m not going to explain myself again,\u201d Bella replied before pointing at the phone she was holding. \u201cCole isn\u2019t that careful and I cloned his phone, so I can see all the images, all his contacts\u2026 He likely cloned mine too, but he\u2019ll have nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, yeah, I did that a few times,\u201d Neal replied as he took a sip of his drink. \u201cDid you get anything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d she grinned as she grabbed a special cord to hook the phone up to the tablet and loaded it up so Neal could see as well. There were some pictures on there of the whole Michaels family and the texts between him and the rest of his family were quite eye opening to read; they were absolutely normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re really really normal,\u201d Neal was surprised to see that. \u201cGroceries and stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded and blinked when a message came in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well played, Izzy Sheppard, well played. Now, add our numbers to your own phone and message me back so I have yours. – Cole ps: get a life, your phone is suspiciously empty!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She pouted as she looked at Neal. \u201cBut I like my phone suspiciously empty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBuy a phone just for them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I like that idea,\u201d Bella laughed. \u201cBut you know, not even you have my phone number, so maybe I should start using it properly. Phones are useless when I use my software anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen don\u2019t,\u201d Neal shrugged. \u201cSend him a message back on his phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a shame that I hate phones – Bella<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WTF. How do you make your phone calls? – Cole<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wouldn\u2019t you like to know? – Bella<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella disconnected the phone from her tablet, turned off the phone and moved so that she was sitting in Neal\u2019s lap. \u201cWhat\u2019s your take on them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that behind all the normalcy hide very smart minds, and they sort of remind me of you,\u201d Neal replied as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and looked at her with a smile on his face. \u201cI\u2019d never do business with people like them, or used to not do business with people like them because they are far different from what I know. I\u2019m used to the backstabbers, it comes with the territory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut you know I don\u2019t work that way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd neither do they. At least not from what I can tell,\u201d Neal shrugged. \u201cWho knows? They could become friends or at least very good allies to have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed and nodded. Neal was right. Maybe she was too closed off for normal contact with others in her personal life and maybe she should take more of her grifting courage to connect with people and make that her own. \u201cDo you think that maybe I\u2019m a little\u2026 I dunno\u2026 anti-social?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Neal said wholeheartedly. \u201cBut, that\u2019s alright, you\u2019re really cautious, and it takes you a while to fully trust people. I don\u2019t trust the Michaels either, but I do believe they\u2019re good people and like I said, they could become friends or very good allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella softly kissed him. \u201cYou\u2019re right, it takes me too long to trust people and I might push them away in the process. I need to show you something,\u201d she got off his lap and kissed him again as she ruffled his hair. \u201cStay there, I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella went inside and retrieved her most priced possession that she always had on her in her bag before returning to Neal and sat back down in her lap with the item in her hands. \u201cNot a lot of people have seen this, and this is the only thing I have left of him,\u201d Bella continued as she held the photo to her chest. \u201cThis was taken a week before I fucked up, causing him to be taken by the cops and then die in foster care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She turned the picture around so Neal could see. The photo was worn, the image had somewhat faded and he could tell that it had had a life, just like her. Bella looked unhappy in the picture but her brother had a million-watt smile on his face. \u201cLock picking competition while balancing on a giant circus ball, he won.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCircus ball?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, like the size of those balls elephants play with. It was all about balance. I don\u2019t do balance very well. I always failed those kinds of tests, I could pick locks and lift things out of pockets just fine with both my feet on the ground. I\u2019m not a gymnast,\u201d Bella deadpanned, wrinkling her nose in disgust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal let out a snort. \u201cThat does sound a bit too\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the top?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d he laughed. \u201cThis is a great photo, why not buy a frame for it and put it down somewhere in the house?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause, if for some reason or another, we have to evacuate, I won\u2019t be able to have it with me. It\u2019s the only thing of him that I have left,\u201d Bella replied and sighed. \u201cAnd it sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have anything to remember lost loved ones by. Either I never had anything or left it all behind. Or used it,\u201d he shrugged. \u201cAnd you know what? That\u2019s okay. I\u2019ve had my answers, didn\u2019t like them, and it would be stupid to get stuck in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not stuck. Losing Grant was one hell of a lesson for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou said it yourself, you were nine or ten.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou should have been a normal kid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, but what is normal?\u201d Bella said as she pushed the photo in her back pocket. \u201cAre we normal? I think we define our normal ourselves. It gets boring to see everyone else\u2019s normal and try to fit the mould, doesn\u2019t it? Best to be just ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSounds great,\u201d he brushed her lips with his. \u201cWhat are we going to do with the rest of our day?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A corny smile appeared on her face. \u201cPaint me like one of your French girls?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal barked out a laugh. \u201cFine, but then you\u2019re going to paint me like one of them too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wait, no, that\u2019d be disastrous. She\u2019d have to be naked. \u201cOr I could just paint you, literally on you,\u201d she said thoughtfully. \u201cBut we\u2019d need to get edible paint.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella,\u201d Neal playfully warned her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDefinitely going to have to pick that up next time we\u2019re out in town,\u201d she mused as she looked at Neal, who had a strained look on his face. \u201cOh, you\u2019d like that, wouldn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d he nodded as he got to his feet with her in his arms. \u201cBut first, I\u2019m going to paint you like you ask. I\u2019m going to take my time undressing you and\u2026\u201d Neal paused as he felt her stiffen in his arms. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI might not have the best body to be put onto canvas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh fuck that, Bella,\u201d Neal said as he continued to walk inside. \u201cYou\u2019re absolutely beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel fine the way that I am but\u2026 you take such good care of your body and I\u2019m just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou,\u201d he kissed the top of her head and smiled at her as he continued to walk towards the art room. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t take that much care of my body, not anymore. It just never bounced back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou and your body are perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd so are you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was thinking to acquire some gym things, maybe we could work out a little together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you want to, but don\u2019t think that your body isn\u2019t perfect as it is. It is, deal?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded. \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m still going to take my time undressing you,\u201d he said as he gently put her down on the couch. \u201cAnd maybe we\u2019ll have a little fun on this couch\u2026 followed by me painting you while you\u2019re so gorgeously blissed out\u2026 best idea ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day was spent inside as well, with Bella painting Neal and then them both admiring each other\u2019s work. Hilariously, they both decided to paint each other while heavily influenced by impressionism. They were going to discuss where to hang the partings later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following day, Neal took her out on a riverboat cruise with some good music and food, followed by a visit to the Burlesque theater before they realized they were being followed. Laughing, they tried getting rid of their follower and after an hour or two managed just that. Whoever had followed them was good. However, Bella and Neal were better. Especially seeing as Bella knew that there were old tunnels underneath New Orleans and one of them lead to her home. She had made sure that the entrance was well protected, with a keypad, normal keys, CCTV and an extra security door before opening it and coming into the courtyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the adrenaline was pumping, they didn\u2019t think too hard about it and had fun for the rest of the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the third day, she had messages from Tr0uble in her inbox. She had given him her new handle in case he needed to get a hold of her on the list she\u2019d given him earlier that week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: You pissed off our giant. Did you forget that we wanted someone to shadow you at all times to protect you seeing as you\u2019re our boss for this job? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: Would have been nice if he\u2019d said hi.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella and Neal had completely forgotten about that, but that\u2019s what made last night so incredibly funny. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: Ah.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: Hope his feelings aren\u2019t too hurt.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: Oh, no, he\u2019s impressed. Anyway, word is that there\u2019s two Suits in town looking for a dark haired, blue eyed, 5\u201911-ish guy. Not sure if they\u2019re looking for your friend, but it\u2019s a bit suspicious. They\u2019re staying at a hotel in the Warehouse District. The Marriott on St. Joseph. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: Thanks, we\u2019ll handle it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella pushed purge on the chat and headed to her computer to check CCTV. One Suit would have been fine, it would likely have been Peter, but two? Maybe they weren\u2019t looking for Neal. The Marriott security was easy enough and she had found Peter easily. But who was the other agent with him? \u201cNeal!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCould you come here for a second?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeveral seconds, I just loaded up the washing machine.\u201d Neal laughed as he walked into the room. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah I\u2019m going to clean the kitchen in a bit but I received a message from Cole that two Suits were in town looking for a man with your description,\u201d Bella replied and pointed at the screen. \u201cI recognize Peter from the photos I found online, but who\u2019s that other one? Is that Mozzie?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, that\u2019s not Mozzie,\u201d Neal replied thoughtfully as he ran his hand through his hair, not knowing whether he should be excited or disappointed that Peter had come to New Orleans, but he was curious who the other guy was. \u201cForget cleaning the kitchen,\u201d he eventually said as he\u2019d come up with something. \u201cTime to stretch your game muscles. You\u2019re going to find out for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, Peter knows my face, but if you\u2019re right, nobody knows who you are. You\u2019re the perfect person for this,\u201d he kissed the side of her head. \u201cAll we need is to get our hands on an NCIS badge\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNCIS? Navy Cops?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. Their New Orleans office is close by, and you\u2019re going to get us a badge to use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause you\u2019re rusty and I\u2019m not,\u201d Neal stuck out his tongue to her. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll be close by. For backup and just to see you work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed and nodded. \u201cYou know, it\u2019s entirely different to do things with preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, but this is fun,\u201d Neal grinned as he followed her out. \u201cIt\u2019s harmless fun. You get the badge, we\u2019ll put your picture on it and then you\u2019ll go and find Peter and his friend and find out what they\u2019re doing here. NCIS doesn\u2019t like the FBI pissing in their jurisdiction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, now I\u2019m liking it. I can play bad cop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They didn\u2019t have to look long for an NCIS agent to go out for lunch, and Bella stepped out with a map after taking a few sips of alcohol. Bella had always liked lifting things from people, it was the one time where her clumsiness was an asset and not a risk. Giggling, she stumbled into the NCIS agent and dropped her map. \u201cOh, sorry!\u201d she apologized with another giggle. \u201cIk kan mijn hotel niet vinden!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnglish,\u201d the agent replied as he grabbed the map from the ground and handed it back to Bella, but by that time she\u2019d already located and lifted his badge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnglish is very hard,\u201d Bella slurred her words as she pointed at the map, making sure she had the Dutch accent down. \u201cI might have had a little too much fun and my friends left without me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all right ma\u2019am, what\u2019s the name of the hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoyaal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoyal?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded and bit her lip as she looked up at the agent with an innocent look on her face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, c\u2019mon, I\u2019ll take ya, it\u2019s not far,\u201d he replied as he looped her arm through hers. \u201cMy name is Chris.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m Joke,\u201d she replied as she stumbled back into him. \u201cOh, you have muscles. Are you a model? Someone famous?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris barked out a laugh. \u201cNo ma\u2019am, I\u2019m just your regular kinda guy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou look famous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris just laughed. \u201cAre you enjoying yourself in New Orleans, ma\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s my uhm\u2026 party, I\u2019m getting wed next week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, congrats!\u201d Chris exclaimed as he turned a corner with her, taking her straight to the hotel. \u201cWho\u2019s the lucky guy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSiebren. He\u2019s the son of a very wealthy farmer. He\u2019s perfect, everything you want in a guy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? Money?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNooooo,\u201d she shook her head. \u201cSiebren\u2019s kind, warm, cute, smart and attentive. Butttt\u2026 I may have been lead astray last night\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDontcha worry, ma\u2019am, whatever happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans,\u201d he winked at her as he pointed at the hotel. \u201cWe\u2019re nearly there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you soooo much, I could do with a good sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes you could.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWant to join me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNah, I have to get some lunch before going back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can eat me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood night, Miss,\u201d Chris laughed as they arrived at the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood night, hottie,\u201d Bella giggled and watched the NCIS agent leave and smiled widely when Neal came up to her with two coffees in his hand. \u201cThat was fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal handed her the coffee as they started to walk back to the apartment. \u201cI bet! You were enjoying yourself, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe just a little,\u201d Bella admitted as she took a sip of the coffee. \u201cFor an NCIS agent in a town like New Orleans he\u2019s really not paying much attention, is he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal shrugged. \u201cSo what language was that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHmm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat you spoke to him? I mean, your accent sounded German but you didn\u2019t say that in German.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Dutch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy on Earth would you learn how to speak Dutch?\u201d Neal laughed. \u201cOut of all the languages, you learn a pretty useless one!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked at him for a moment and shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s not useless when you can just walk into the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, convince the curator that you work for the Queen herself and that you want a tour of the paintings and behind the scenes area where you can then plant bugs, skimmers, use an USB drive to gain access to their systems and come out of the experience with a small portrait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded. \u201cOf course, I didn\u2019t keep it, I didn\u2019t really know a good fence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFound a sleazebag, discovered he was a salesman on the Waterlooplein Market and put the painting in the middle of his stuff. Then made an anonymous tip to the police,\u201d she said innocently. \u201cAnd do I need to remind you that some of the best painters come from The Netherlands?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I love history. The Dutch history, aside from all the art, is quite interesting. Like, The Netherlands is a monarchy and basically all the royals are related, even to the Queen of England,\u201d she replied excitedly as she opened the door to her home. \u201cYou never know when you may have to use a language only maybe 30 million people in the world speak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the languages I speak is Swahili, so\u2026 you don\u2019t hear me knock it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSwahili?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I got bored,\u201d Neal shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 04 Bella loved the French Quarter. There were no real street poles beaming a lot of light down on you, but every building had these tiny lights that illuminated just enough. And, during the day, you could see all the different colors of the houses. She didn\u2019t know exactly…<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":933,"parent":935,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-950","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nChapter 04 - MeekoBuggy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chapter 04 - MeekoBuggy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chapter 04 Bella loved the French Quarter. There were no real street poles beaming a lot of light down on you, but every building had these tiny lights that illuminated just enough. And, during the day, you could see all the different colors of the houses. She didn\u2019t know exactly... 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