“Kiddie stuff,” she said to herself, shaking her head.
A few minutes later, Zoey emerged looking extremely fresh and young in a pink top that hugged her small but perfect curves and darker pink yoga pants and white tennis shoes. She looked completely out of place for this neighborhood. As Jericho trailed her out to the car, her eyes still taking in everything around them, Jericho thought it was insane that this young woman was in a place like this.
“Your parents let you live in a place like this?” Jericho asked when they back in the car.
“They don’t really know,” Zoey said, shrugging, “I moved here to get my doctorate, my parents live back east in Maine.”
“Oh,” Jericho said, ashamed of herself that she knew so little about the girl that had been trailing her for over two weeks now. “I think you’ll like the girls,” Jericho said, “They’re not those cliquey bitches.”
“Cliquey bitches?” Zoey queried.
“Yeah, you know those types that’ll hate you if you wear the wrong shirt one day,” Jericho said, rolling her eyes.
“Sounds like you have some experience with that,” Zoey said, casting a sidelong look at her.
“Oh yeah,” Jericho said nodding. “You haven’t?”
Zoey shrugged, “I haven’t really hung out with too many people around here. But bi’s are usually a lot less like that,” she said, grimacing as she realized that might sound like an insult to Jericho.
Jericho grinned, noting the grimace, “Don’t worry, I know lesbians are judgmental when it comes to bi-sexuals.”
“Judgmental? They pretty much hate us.”
“I think hate is a pretty strong word,” Jericho said mildly, “We just don’t understand bi-sexuals, so there’s a lot of fear there.”
“You don’t seem to have a problem with my being bi-sexual,” Zoey said.
“That’s cause I’m not sleepin’ with ya,” Jericho said, winking at her.
“Oh,” Zoey said, looking surprised.
They pulled into the gym parking lot then, fortunately so Zoey didn’t have to comment.
At the gym, they met up with Skyler and Devin, Jerry Castle, Quinn and Xandy as well as Cat and Jovina.
“The girls,” Jericho explained, “Usually take the cardio dance class with Natalia.”
“And what do you all do?” she asked, glancing at Skyler and Quinn.
“Well, these two are trying to get me to learn the MMA stuff that they do,” Jericho said.
Zoey nodded, looking a little shocked.
At that point, there was a bit of a fuss at the front of the gym, and the group turned to see Midnight Chevalier and Kana Sorbinno walk in.
“Hey!” Cat said, smiling at Midnight and walking up to hug Kana tightly.
Jovina watched as Kana leaned down, hugging Cat right back, closing her eyes and kissing the side of Cat’s head.
“How are you baby girl?” Kana asked, pulling back to look down at the blond, her eyes searching Cat’s.
“I’m good, K,” Cat said, smiling up at her friend.
“Glad to see that,” Kana said, “Now introduce me to your girl.”
Cat smiled, taking her over to where Jovina stood. In the meantime Midnight walked over extending her hand to Jericho, “Good to see you,” she said, smiling.
“You too, boss.” Jericho said, “And I know you’ve met Zoey.”
“Yes,” Midnight said, smiling at Zoey, “How’s it going? She’s not giving you too hard a time is she?” she said, nodding at Jericho.
“No, ma’am, she’s putting up with me nicely,” Zoey said, smiling.
Jericho gestured to Skyler and Devin, “I’m sure you remember Devin, too, and did you ever meet Skyler?”
“I never had that pleasure,” Midnight smiled, “It’s good to meet you,” she said, her look direct into Skyler’s eyes, “Thank you for your service and the sacrifice you made for this country.”
Skyler looked taken back for a moment, then glanced at Devin who winked at her.
“Thank you ma’am,” Skyler said, nodding, not trusting her voice to say much more.
Midnight looked at Xandy and Quinn then, “I know you’re Xandy Blue, love your music,” she said, smiling, “And you’d have to be Quinn Kavanaugh,” she said, “My second says you’re pretty damned bad ass.”
“Your second ma’am?” Quinn asked, confused by the term.
“Joe Sinclair,” Midnight said, “He was my partner from the beginning at the PD. Second is kind of a gang term, it means second in command.”
“Aw,” Quinn said, surprised, she’d heard somewhere along the way that Midnight Chevalier had started out as a gang member, it was almost impossible to believe, but Midnight herself had pretty much just confirmed it.
Across the way, Cat introduced Kana to Jovina.
“Jovi,” Cat said, reaching for her hand, “This is Kana Sorbinno. K, this is Jovina Azcevedo.”
Kana’s dark eyes took in the nicely shaped Latina with the gold colored eyes, and thought that Cat still had excellent taste in women.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Kana said, smiling warmly at the girl.
“You too,” Jovina said, extending her hand to Kana.
Kana just shook her head and took the girl into her arms, hugging her, “I see you caught her again,” she murmured in Jovina’s ear.
Jovina chuckled softly, nodding, “Thanks to some of your advice.”
“Good,” Kana said, pulling back to smile down at Jovina. “Let me know if you need more.”
“More what?” Cat asked, narrowing her eyes at Kana.
“Nothing,” Kana said, winking at Jovina as she assumed an innocent look.
“Oh give that shit up,” Cat said, shaking her head at Kana.
Kana saw Jerry Castle then, turning to hug the model. “How are you Jerry?” she asked.
“I’m good, Kana, I hear our girl is pregnant,” she said, smiling up at Kana, “Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” Kana said, nodding, “We’re waiting for the first trimester to pass before we tell anyone officially.”
“Mum’s the word,” Jerry assured her.
“Yo!” yelled a hot little Latina from the dance floor that they all stood next to, “Class is starting!”
“Got it!” Devin yelled back. “Come on girls,” Devin said, grabbing Zoey’s hand to lead her.
“You doing this?” Kana asked Cat.
“Apparently,” Cat said, grinning, “I’ll see you after?”
“Oh, we’ll be here, if they don’t bounce us out of here.”
As the class started, Jovina looked over at Cat, “Just follow along,” she told her.
Cat nodded, grinning.
At the side of the floor, Skyler, Quinn, and Jericho leaned on the half wall watching, and appreciating some of the fairly sexy moves occurring on the floor. Kana and Midnight had gone back up front to register as guests per the gym policy.
“So, she is a girl,” Quinn commented, looking at Cat and seeing that the girl could definitely move, she was doing a damned good job of keeping up with the other girls.
Jovina, Jerry and Devin had been attending the class for months, Xandy had joined a couple of months before, but Cat was doing just as well as the other three.
“Kinda wondered,” Skyler said, grinning.
“She did seem a bit butch,” Jericho agreed, “Guess that’s the cop in her.”
The other two nodded.
“Hot though,” Quinn said.
“Mmhmm,” Jericho agreed.
“Thought we were gonna even things out a bit,” Skyler said.
“Guess not,” Quinn sighed.
“Okay bois…” Kana muttered having overheard the conversation and referring to them as many lesbians in the community referred to butch women as “boi”, it was a version of Tomboy. “Don’t count Cat out, yet,” she told them.
Quinn raised an eyebrow at Kana, “You see that?” she said, gesturing to the fairly sexy moves Cat was performing.
“Yep,” Kana said, “Seen ‘em naked too,” she said, her look wry.
“Ohhhh….” Jericho and Skyler said together.
“And I’m tellin’ ya,” Kana said, “Cat’ll shock the shit out of ya.”
Quinn and Skyler looked at each other and shook their heads.
Kana narrowed her eyes at the two women, and reached into her pocket, pulling out a money clip, “I got a hundred that says Cat can take one of ya,” she said, her tone confident.
Jericho raised an eyebrow at that, looking at the other two.
“What’s going on over here?” Midnight asked, looking at the three.
Kana glanced at Midnight, “These bois think that Cat can’t handle them.”
Midnight laughed outright at that, “I think you should never underestimate us little ones,” she said with a wink.
Jericho shook her head, knowing that if Midnight had that much confidence in Catalina Roche’ that Skyler and Quinn should pay more heed. But they were young and apparently didn’t know much about the dynamic Attorney General.
When the next song ended, Midnight walked over to where Cat stood drinking water.
“K’s getting you into trouble,” Midnight said, grinning.
“Oh, hell, what now?” Cat asked with a grin of her own.
“Apparently the bois over there think that you’re a girlie girl…” Midnight said, her gold green eyes sparkling mischievously.
“Well to their way of thinking I am,” Cat said, shrugging.
“You’re as butch as either of them,” Kana said, coming up behind Midnight.
Cat shook her head looking at Kana, “I suppose I’m gonna have to prove it now, huh?”
“Kana bet a hundred bucks on it,” Midnight said, grinning.
“What!” Cat shrieked, then she started laughing, shaking her head, “Jesus, K, you really just gotta learn to let go, babe.”
Kana grinned, “Sorry, I don’t like to lose,” she said, “And I’ve seen you fight.”
Cat looked contemplative for a moment, then as Natalia called everybody back to work, she gave Kana a wink. “I want to fight Quinn,” she said, then turned to walk back to the floor.
Kana had the temerity to look shocked, she figured Cat would pick Skyler, Quinn had been proven a major fighter. She looked over at Midnight, who raised her eyebrow at Kana.
“Our girl doesn’t play, does she?” Midnight asked. Kana shook her head.
Back on the dance floor Jovina moved over to Cat, “What’s going on?” she asked, having seen the exchange.
“Oh, my ex is trying to get me killed,” Cat said, her tone mild.
Jovina stopped and looked at her, “What do you mean?”
Natalia came by, smacking Jovina on the ass, “Get to work,” she said with a wink.
Jovina rolled her eyes and started dancing again, “What does that mean, Catalina?” she asked again.
“They want me to fight one of the bois,” Cat said, with a shrug.
Jovina looked horrified, “Infernos não! Eles são loucos?” Saying hell no and asking if they were crazy.
Cat laughed, not even sure if Jovina realized she was screaming in Portuguese again.
Jovina through a vile look at the group on the side, “Cadelas estúpidas!” she yelled, and started to walk in that direction.
Cat grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back, “Easy now,” Cat told her, “Kana is sworn to protect Midnight, I really don’t want to have to fight her if you make the mistake of getting to close to Night. Okay?”
The girls on the side of the dance floor all looked surprised at the heated discussion happening on the dance floor. Even Natalia had given up trying to deal with the two.
An hour later, everyone had made their way to the other side of the gym, where the fighting ring was. Cat was putting up with a lot of ribbing, not saying anything, just grinning. Cat had stripped to her exercise bra and shorts, as had Quinn. There was a definite ripple of approval for Cat’s physique, They’d both donned gloves for the fight, but they were simple fingerless gloves. Jovina was beside herself worried that Cat would get hurt.
Cat walked over to Jovina, leaning into kiss her lips, “I’ll be fine, babe, promise.” She told her.
Then she turned to walk over to the ring. Climbing into the ring, Quinn held the ropes for Cat. She grinned at the Irishwoman, knowing it was already bugging her to be fighting a girl.
“Your shoulder going to be okay?” Quinn asked her.
Cat nodded, “I’m alright,” she said.
Quinn nodded, obviously wishing Cat hadn’t said that.
“It’s cool, Quinn,” Cat said “I chose you.”
Quinn canted her head slightly, wondering at that.
“Ready?” Kana asked from the side.
Cat nodded, her eyes on Quinn, Quinn nodded too.
“Fight,” Kana said.
Cat dropped one leg back, a street fighter’s stance, it had already been established that Cat had no training in MMA. Quinn brought her hands up in a boxing-style position, Cat kept her hands down at her sides, her eyes not leaving Quinn’s. She waited, Quinn came toward her, launching a kick at her side, Cat shifted at just the right moment, avoiding the kick, and shifted away, moving to the side of the ring. Quinn followed at a distance, she went for a jab, and Cat ducked at the last second, coming up and bringing her arm through to knock Quinn’s arm away.
“Oh…” Jericho said, surprised that Cat had managed to make contact.
“Just wait,” Kana murmured.
Quinn corrected and surprised Cat with a fast jab on the left, catching her in the midsection, Cat shifted, making it a glancing blow, but still a hit. Quinn nodded, seeing that Cat was definitely fast, and no easy mark. Cat kept moving, shifting keeping Quinn on her left. When Quinn stepped in to try another jab, Cat’s fist whipped out fast as lighting and caught her in the midsection, Quinn shifted at the last possible moment, and it landed as a kidney punch, but it was a definite hit.
“Son of a bitch…” Skyler breathed, “She’s fuckin’ fast,” she said to Devin who stood with her.
Quinn jumped aside, surprising Cat by launching a kick as she did. Cat managed to jump back, but it cost her. Quinn moved in to take her down, but Cat moved to the right, grabbing Quinn’s shoulders as she tried to adjust, shoving Quinn back, and jumping further to the left to avoid another kick. Just ask quickly though, Cat came back with a kick punch combination, catching Quinn in the face. Cat was not throwing full force, she had no intention of hurting Quinn, and she knew Quinn would do the same.
When Quinn, lowered her head to move in for another takedown, Cat was ready. Grabbing Quinn’s midsection and dropping backwards to use Quinn’s weight against her and taking her to the mat.
“Whoa!” Midnight yelled, grinning.
Quinn was too strong, for Cat to hold, but she was breathless for a moment, which gave Cat the time to roll up and back to her feet. Quinn jumped to her feet, grinning at Cat.
“Damned good, I’ll give ya that,” Quinn said nodding.
“Come on,” Cat said her blue eyes bright, motioning with her fingers.
Quinn blew her breath out slowly, nodding, she stepped back, and bounced a couple of times, faking to the left, which had Cat shifting, but then Quinn shifted into the right, and caught Cat in the head with a punch, fortunately she pulled it at the last second connecting, but not fully as it could have, otherwise, Cat knew she’d have been out. Regardless, Cat ducked low, and threw a jab into Quinn’s midsection, causing the Irish woman to double over. Cat brought her knee up, and would have kneed Quinn in the face but stopped just a hair from the woman’s face, her hands on Quinn’s back.
“Ohhhh!!!” Kana yelled, joined by Jericho and Midnight.
Quinn held out her hand, to show she accepted the draw.
Cat chuckled, as she dropped her leg, and patted Quinn on the shoulder. Quinn straightened, and extended her hand to Cat shaking it while nodding in approval.
; The two women were patted on the back as they climbed out of the ring. Jovina walked up to Cat, pulling her into her arms and kissing her deeply while everyone else issued cat calls.
“Told you not to under estimate us little ones,” Midnight said, winking at Quinn, “But you can be in my gang anytime.”
Quinn grinned, nodding.
“You were great, babe,” Xandy said, smiling up at Quinn.
“Thank you,” Quinn said, grinning.
In the car on the way to the restaurant they were meeting at for lunch, Jovina looked over at Cat.
“Where did you learn to fight like that?” she asked, having been completely floored by Cat’s abilities.
Cat glanced over at Jovina, shrugging, “You learn stuff in the academy about hand to hand,” she said, “But most of it comes from having to deal with people directly over the years.”
“You’ve had to fight like that in your work?” Jovina asked.
Cat looked over at her, “You’re kidding, right?” she asked honestly.
“No,” Jovina said.
“Oh babe,” Cat said, her look almost glowering, “I deal with the dregs of society. I deal with men who have no concept of gentlemanly behavior, manners or even a level of respect for women. Media tells them that women are around for their pleasure and should be used at any opportunity… I fend men off on a regular basis in my job, and it’s rarely a pleasant experience. You either get good at it, or you get hurt.”
Jovina looked over at Cat her eyes wide. She knew Catalina did a dangerous job, but she really hadn’t considered the situations she must have had to put herself into in order to do that job.
Cat could see Jovina trying to assimilate what she’d just said. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to tell her, but by the same token, if they were going to continue to be together, Jovina needed to be aware of some of her daily life. By this time they’d pulled up to the restaurant though, so they went inside.
The group was sitting outside, so the girls who smoked could do so. The discussion was naturally the fight and how it had gone.
Turning Tables (WeHo Book 3) Page 9
