From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Denny kicked my door open at dawn, face blazing, knuckles split and bleeding.

I grabbed the first aid kit without a word and started cleaning him up.

“Who was it?”

He flashed me that stupid grin of his.

“Caught Zachary skulking around outside. Thought I’d pull him aside. Have a word.”

I pressed the alcohol pad harder than I needed to.

“Lucky for you he didn’t swing back. One punch from him and that pretty face of yours is gone. And I need that face–it’s how I pay rent.”

Denny froze. Then his eyes went wide.

“Oh shit. That’s why he just stood there like a fucking mannequin. Didn’t even flinch.”

He laughed.

“Man, I really did a number on him though.”

I saw the damage myself a few days later.

Denny had exaggerated–Zachary just had some fading bruises along his temple and a healing split lip. Nothing dramatic.

He showed up in full dress uniform. Pressed. Perfect.

“I need new headshots,” he said. “The ones they use for press are ancient. Figured I’d come to you.”

Work is work.

2018

I nodded and positioned him against the white backdrop. Took maybe five minutes, Printed the contact sheet.

He stared at the photo for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely there.

“You used to draw me all the time. I wasn’t careful. Lost every single one.”

A pause.

“Now you’re behind a camera. And just being in front of your lens again… I don’t deserve that.”

13:19

From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer: Smile, Ex

5.8%

Chapter 9

“I won’t bother you anymore, Wren. But if you ever need me–anything at all–just call.”

I didn’t say anything. Just smiled and motioned toward the door.

“Take care of yourself.”

The bell chimed as he left.

Curtain closed.

Book shut.

Except there was

s one last act.

That headshot never saw the light of day.

Because Quinn got arrestedday.

Turns out Zachary kept her on a short leash financially.

She couldn’t pay back the twenty–eight grand. And she was too terrified of what it would do to her marriage to go to the police.

So she did what cornered people do–she leveraged her husband’s name. Started taking bribes.

When it all came out, it buried him too.

He had nothing to do with it. Didn’t matter.

His career was torched.

He couldn’t set foot in public without cameras in his face.

Pull

I heard through an old classmate that Zachary was looking for a divorce lawyer.

I was backstage at Paris Fashion Week with Denny when the text came through.

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