Chapter 3

What most people get wrong is that we didn't need the money. That between my modeling, Liam's modeling and the money Joey got from the shop he worked in that we were doing okay. Truth is that we did need money, we didn't at first. Lauren had been funneling it in from somewhere and we didn't ask. But when Liam and Lauren started dating he got her to stop, something about how he wasn't too keen on visiting her in prison.

So she stopped and took an online tech job and stayed straight, well as straight as she can be. I was working as many gigs that I could get and got a waitressing job at a local club. Lauren had made me a full proof alias of Maggie Fitzgerald a 21 year old local.

We tried living clean for as long as we could stand, but it was hard, like an addiction, or a very irritating itch. Liam didn't understand this; he grew up with a different way of life. He had grown up on a farm with his mother, father and two brothers.

Lauren had been a ward of state from three until she aged out. Joey had run away from a druggie mom and an abusive stepdad. Joey then got locked up for armed robbery, I had been a pick pocket since third grade and Lauren had been using her computer skill for money since she was very young. It wasn't always legal work.

So when the shit started hitting the fan and she got offered a pretty big finder's fee for finding another hacker who had screwed over some high profile CEO, she came to her family to discuss it.

"No"

Liam had been the first to answer with a very serious face.

"Babe I know I said I would stop but we need the cash."

"I'll pick up some extra shifts Lauren, I don't mind"

We were in the empty space of our loft we called the common room. I had just got off an eight hour shoot and trying to rest before my late shift at the club. I had changed into a soft bra, a loose tank and comfy shorts after washing my face. My feet were in Joey's lap and he was trying to massage away some knots but he was tired too after doing a freelance job in the Bronx. Liam was exhausted; he had been working on a construction crew for the last few weeks.

When I mentioned taking a few more shifts Joey tightened his hold on my bare foot and shook his head.

"You've been working too hard Keir; you haven't been studying for your GED."

"Joey's right Keira, if I do this it'll set us up for a while, long enough to get on our feet completely." She was pleading with Liam now, who had schooled his face into a blank mask.

"Is it dangerous?"

"No" she answered quickly "I know what hacker they want and he isn't as great as he thinks he is." This time as she spoke she was smirking "It'll be a piece of cake"

"It's not…?" I trailed off as I made eye contact with Lauren

"No, I wouldn't do it if it was" she shook her head

I nodded and put my head back against the couch and tried to find some energy I knew I needed soon. I had to get ready for work and eat something. When Joey heard my sigh his hand moved up my leg in a soothing matter.

"I'm all for it" Joey said at length "And so is Keira"

I blinked at his words but none the less nodded. It would be helpful and I could tell Lauren was really excited by the prospect of a job. She had missed that life the most, and so I agreed. Liam was tight lipped and staring at Lauren's face, she was giving him her best puppy dog look. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Fine but you do it from here and you have to get the buds"

"I hate those things" Joey muttered and I had to laugh.

Lauren had developed ear buds, some high tech things that kept us connected while we were in trouble. There had been cons in our first months of living together in New York but when we went clean we stopped using them. Joey claimed Lauren put something in them to exclusively annoy him.

They had been small jobs; simple things that helped us establish our little home. Liam had never really approved but he did it for Lauren and me. Joey just wanted to stay out of jail and he was down for anything. But things change when hearts get involved and so we stopped.

"Yay! Thank you!" she smacked a kiss on his lips and bounced out of the room.

Liam shook his head and stared after his very happy girlfriend and then swiveled his head around to where I was laying with Joey.

"You'll keep her from getting too close?"

The question was for me, and as I looked into his eyes I wasn't surprised to see worry there.

"Of course I will, I doubt she'll cross their paths." I said it casually

"How long do you think it'll be until he figures out she's been piggy backing his system?" Joey asked still running his hand up and down my sore legs

"Well if they were as good as they should be he would've figured it out already" I shrugged "but he hasn't so I don't know. When he does we'll know and we'll deal with it"

I was in my room a few hours later, sitting at my small vanity and I was holding a curling iron to the last piece of my hair when Joey came in and made himself comfortable on my bed. I had already finished applying my makeup and after teasing the crown of my hair I was finished with my hair too.

"What time do you get off?" he was laying on his back and staring at the light above my bed.

"Around four"

He grunted as a response and I stood to find something to wear. The dress code for the club wasn't very strict; I just had to wear black and heels. I had figured out though the more I show the better the tips were. So I put on a black bustier top and black sequin shorts over some sexy stockings and finished it off with a pair of black ankle boots.

Joey had turned his head to watch me dress and as I finished he got up and brought me my coat.

"I don't want you to come home alone, I'll pick you up" he held my coat up and I shrugged into it

"No it's fine get your sleep"

I fastened the buttons and tied the belt; I smiled at Joey and brought my arms up around his neck. He settled his hands on my hips and pecked my lips.

"I'll pick you up and Liam's gonna drop you off" he leaned in for another kiss

"Joe, I'll be fine" I pulled back and he huffed

"It's not a discussion Keir" he tightened his hold on me and I took notice of the way his eyes were very fierce

"Yeah I know" I stepped back

He shook his head and tugged me back forward. This time he let his hand dive into my hair and kissed me softly and intensely. It was his way of saying sorry and I accepted it by clinging to him. We broke away for air and he put his forehead to mine.

"Be careful alright?"

"Alright"

"I'm gonna be at the shop until midnight"

I nodded and he walked me to the door where Liam was waiting for me. I shouted my goodbye to Lauren and pecked Joey's lips. The elevator in the building didn't work so we started down the numerous flights of stairs. Liam was quiet and offered his arm to help me as we went down.

"He still isn't over it." It wasn't a question but more of a statement.

"Nope, and I don't think he will be anytime soon"

We lapsed into silence once again. By the time we were on the subway and chatting away about his next shoot and when I was going on one again. He had been the one who wanted to be a model and he was the one who encouraged me to sign the contracts but it was also he who hated it the most.

It had lost its luster a few months into our contracts. At first it was sort of fun, meeting new people, being gawked at, and the fashion but when I found Joey again I just wanted a normal steady life and modeling was anything but steady. Liam was the same way, especially because Lauren wasn't too fond of the whole modeling underwear thing.

When it was our stop he walked me the few blocks to the club and all the way to the back door.

"Have fun" he said sarcastically

"Oh yeah, loads" I kissed his cheek and disappeared into the music and flashing lights.