Jeremy raised a brow. "Sex?"
D laughed. "Don't knock it until you try it. When you're fucking someone so hard all you can do is focus on that, it takes you away from the real world for a while. It's the only time I can forget the past, forget all the things I've seen."
"Hmm, guess I'll have to give it a chance. Out of all the hobbies I could pick up, sex is the most pleasurable." He shook his head as he laughed. "Guess I need to go skiing now so I can pick up someone on the slopes."
"Fuck that. Too cold. I'm hoping there are some good clubs around here I can hit up. Driving over here from my house, I didn't see much."
"Yeah, me neither, but I bet once you get into the city there's more. Did you like your house?"
"Yeah, I did. It's bigger than my last one, but it's nice. I like that it's secluded and not in the middle of a neighborhood. The Jeep they got me is kick-ass. I'm going to enjoy that, but I really want to get a truck before winter comes."
"I was thinking the same thing. Maybe we can go look at them together one night," Jeremy offered.
"Sounds like a plan, but I've got to lay low for a few weeks at least. My face is still all over the news. I heard a news update on the radio on the way over here. If it's on the local radio stations, then I know it's on the national news on TV."
"Fuck, seriously? I never watch the news, so I had no idea it was that serious." Jeremy sat back, shocked that D was still wanted. "I got out of town and never heard another word. I'm sure they are looking for me, but it didn't make national news."
"Yeah, well, being that they told the media what I did for a living, and there was all kinds of press on my crimes, then I managed to escape jail—"
"Whoa! You broke out of jail?" Jeremy was impressed. "I thought I was doing good just skipping town, but to break out, yeah, you've got to be careful. Fuck, that's crazy." He stared at D, trying to imagine what he'd been through. "Do you care if I ask about it?"
D shrugged. "I had just finished the sting and walked out, thought everything was good. I'd been fast, got in and got out quickly. When I walked out, I ran right into the cops. Seems the neighbor was up with her baby and saw me breaking in. She called the cops on me."
"Sting?"
"Yeah, that's what we call it when we go in and take care of the pedophiles. We did stings a few times a week. Anyway, I had gone in, thought everything went as planned, but as I walked out, there were cops waiting for me. I didn't fight. They had me. I had supplies on me, a man in the house castrated, and I knew I was done. We'd always had a plan that if we got arrested, we would make sure to do everything we could to get that person out of jail. Well, it took four weeks, but they did it. I was lying in bed in my cell when they told me to roll up. I guess Carter hacked the system and had me listed as either bailed or time served or whatever. I never asked. I walked out, heard the code word we'd always agreed to use, and went with them. Was in hiding for four days, then came here." D shrugged. "I don't know everything Bryon and Carter did, but I seriously owe them my life."
Jeremy nodded. "I owe people mine too." He stirred his Mexican rice around with his fork. "You must trust me to admit all that. I was afraid we'd have to build up the trust between us to work together."
"We do somewhat, but if Bryon says I can trust you, I know I can. He wouldn't do me wrong. I don't have a clue about who you are or what happened, and if you want to tell me, I'll listen, but I also won't push. All I know is we're supposed to start a new team. You've got the brains, I've got the… Well, know-how to castrate people, I guess." D laughed. "Seriously, I don't know how to begin finding people to work with us. I've asked Bryon to get one guy, but he's locked up right now. I'm not sure they'll get him out. So, that leaves us to figure out how to work together and make all this happen."
Jeremy sighed. "You need computer skills, I've got those, but up until about two weeks ago, I had no clue teams like this existed. I was given the option to join to get me out of my situation. I used to work with Carter years ago. When he contacted me, I was stunned, but I jumped at the chance to do this instead of ending up in prison for the rest of my life."
"Are you morally okay with what this team will do? It's one thing to escape going to prison, but you have to be committed for this. You have to have the stomach for what we see and do. It's not pretty, and it leaves you pretty fucked up after you do it for so long," D told him.
"Honestly, I don't know, but I think so. After everything I've seen while setting stuff up with Carter, and after what brought me here, I'm pretty sure I can handle it. I know I couldn't do your job, but computers, hacking, finding evidence, yeah, I can do that. I don't know what the set up was like where you came from. Carter said you'd know what we needed here."
"I do. I'm going to start buying some stuff soon, starting with a new couch for the living room." D smirked. "But I also want a game room downstairs so we have a place to unwind and get away from it all. The bedrooms are great. We'll use them when we're too tired to go home or we're injured. As for the medical room, well, I can find out what we need and get it here, but it's up to us to find a doctor who is willing to work with us. It's got to be someone who is willing to ignore the fact that we're hacking parts off people. I'd like to find at least two more guys to work the computers with you. They don't have to have your skill, but at least know how to hunt online for the predators, and be able to tolerate hours of digging through the dark web. Then, we need at least two more like me who are willing to cut. I'm not expecting us to be up and running overnight. This is going to take time. It's not like we can just approach anyone with what we do, especially if both of us are wanted. Even with the new names, we look pretty much the same." D ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm dyeing this back tomorrow."
Jeremy laughed. "It's not horrible, but you can tell it's not your natural color. Whoever did it, missed a few spots where the dark shows through, then some spots are a bit brighter than others." Jeremy grinned. "I'll just call you Blondie for now. It fits."
"Fuck you." D flipped him off.
Jeremy grinned. "They made me dye mine too. I dyed it back two days after I got here. I just couldn't look in the mirror."
"Yeah, I'm with you. They want me wearing dress clothes, like suits and shit. Said to keep my arms covered. I get it, I really do, but I don't wear suits, ever."
"That's kinda the idea. Make us into who we aren't."
"Can't teach an old dog new tricks. I'll go get new tats to cover up these, but I have my limits and this hair and wearing a suit push those limits." D reached for his water. "We need to hit the store tomorrow. Stock this house like we would our own. We'll be here more than not over the next few weeks, so we might as well have what we want. We'll make a list." He pushed his food back. "So, I've told you what I have planned for the place. You got anything you want?"
Jeremy shrugged. "If I'm going to be spending time behind the computer all day, I want more comfortable chairs in there. The ones they got suck. Maybe a few office things, nothing much."
"We'll get whatever you need. I haven't had a chance to go over our funding, but I know Bryon, we don't need to worry about money for now, and once we get hunting, money comes in fast. I'm guessing Carter talked to you about how we funnel money out of the pedophiles' accounts to us?"
"Yeah, ingenious. Even I wouldn't have been able to figure that all out. Carter set this all up to be hidden from anyone who might come looking. I'm just stunned."
"Years of practice." D smiled before standing up. "Okay, why don't we get a grocery list going, then do a walk through and figure out what we need around the house. I want to start ordering things tomorrow. You okay hanging out a few more hours?"
Jeremy sighed. "Sadly, this is my life now. No hot dates waiting for me. I'm yours for the night."
D winked. "Careful what you ask for."
Jeremy rolled his eyes, but there was a part of him that wondered what D would do if he asked for more. He wasn't in the mood to get his ass kicked the first night they met, so he held back any comments. D might take it as a joke, but the last thing he wanted was to have D uncomfortable around him. He didn't know how D would take him being gay, and tonight wasn't the night to find out.
