Page 109 of Devilish Debt
Dial a number I rarely do.
Silently pray to the tech lords he isn’t too busy to pick up.
The first ring is expected – he’s a busy guy, especially nowadays.
The next causes me to shift in my seat.
However, the third…the third tightens my lungs to point I’m not sure air could even reach them if it tried.
“This is Kipp Nolan,” comes from the other end after the fourth ring is cut in half.
“Zero.”
“My favorite hacker,” he warmly coos on a small chuckle.
“Such an overused term,” I mirthfully tease in return.“Given the shit I’ve done for you, my guy, I deserve something better.”
“Like the Ducati of the keys?”
Referencing back to a conversation we had during a major time of crisis forhimgets me doing my best to grin.“Something higher.”
“The Aston Martin AMB 01 Pro of Programmers?”
“Flattered but still undervaluing my skills in comparison.”
“You think you’re rarer?”
“You know I am.”
“Than a limited-edition track only bike that they made a hundred of?”
“Eighty-eighty, my guy.”
“Fuckkkkk,” he practically groans into the device prior to caving, “alright.How about The Ecosse ES1 Spirit of cyber information procurement?”
“Nowthat,” the corners of my lips manage to curl all the way to the ceiling, “F1 engineers’ creation is much more like it.”
“The fact that you know that little F1 detail is one reason why I could never ignore your call.”
“I’m in the fuckin’ room,Rugrats,” Nolan good naturedly gripes.“Maybe act like it?”
“You gettin’ jealous?”Kipp lightly laughs again.
“Nolan,” I greet in between in their bickering.
“Zero,” he retorts before stating to his husband, “I don’tgetjealous, Kidd.”
Small gurgles of an objection can be closely heard prompting Kipp to argue, “Our son here seems to disagree.”
“His mother probably would too,” I jokingly interject.
“Yeah,” Kipp snickers.“Likely.”
“I don’t get jealous,” Nolan casually repeats.“I know who put a ring on that dick.”
“Metaphorically or you pierced?”escapes me without hesitation.
“Don’t answer that,” huffs the older male.
