Vendetta (WeHo Book 7)

by Sherryl Hancock

  Jet laughed. “If she lived in the office at the bar, sure…”

  McKenna’s eyes widened. “She had sex with someone at the bar, in an office?”

  Jet grinned. “While the girl was on a break,” she added.

  “How long of a break?” McKenna deadpanned.

  Jet laughed out loud at that question. “Twenty minutes, but apparently long enough to have no less than ten orgasms, according to the girl.”

  “She had ten?” McKenna asked her look stunned.

  “Cody’s good,” Jet said, smirking.

  “That good?” McKenna asked, blinking a couple of times.

  Jet nodded, her light green eyes sparkling mischievously.

  McKenna closed her eyes for a long moment, trying desperately to ignore her body’s reaction to this news. It made sense, even when Cody had just looked at her for a long moment, she’d had a reaction.

  “You okay over there?” Jet asked. She knew that McKenna was supposed to be “straight,” but she could easily see how affected the other woman was by what she’d just intimated.

  McKenna looked back at Jet, narrowing her eyes. She sensed that Jet was definitely a smart ass. She also bet that Jet was just as good as Cody in the sex department; it was an inherent confidence that she could read on both women.

  McKenna shook her head. “Every time I hear something else about her, I wonder if I know her at all…” she said, with a wistful smile.

  Jet looked back at McKenna, her look considering. “Well, whatever you decide to do…” Jet said seriously. “Please just be careful with her.”

  “What do you mean by careful?” McKenna asked, sensing easily that Jet was very serious at that point.

  “I think that Cody is a lot more fragile than people think,” Jet said softly. “And I think it wouldn’t take much to completely shatter her.”

  McKenna looked back at Jet, surprised by what she said, but realizing that she’d already felt that way about Cody all along. She assumed she thought that way because of what she’d believed about her as Cody Wyatt. It made sense; Cody definitely had a lot going on in her head. With bipolar depression, which McKenna seriously doubted many people knew about, Cody would be manic at times. She wondered if that was what had been going on that night at the bar.

  McKenna finally nodded, indicating that she understood what Jet was saying. After a couple more minutes, they went back inside.

  “Whoa…” Jet said when they walked back into the main gym. Lyric and Savanna were standing watching the class.

  “What?” McKenna asked, glancing back at Jet.

  “Lyric and Savanna have never shown up here before…” Jet said looking pointedly at McKenna. “They must really be worried…”

  McKenna looked out to the floor where the class was going on. Cody going through the steps, but she kept glancing over at Lyric and Savanna with a sardonic look on her face. When the next song ended, Cody walked over to the wall where Lyric and Savanna stood, as McKenna and Jet joined them.

  “What are you two doing here?” Cody asked her mothers.

  “We’ve been meaning to check the place out…” Lyric said, not so convincingly.

  “Bullshit,” Cody said, her eyes narrowing slightly. Lyric’s eyes narrowed as well.

  “Honestly, Cody,” Savanna said, making a point of getting between the two. “I’ve wanted to see what Natalia’s class was about for weeks now.”

  Cody’s eyes shifted to Savanna, her look wry. “And I’m supposed to buy that?”

  “Watch your tone little girl…” Lyric said, her voice low.

  Cody looked at Lyric then, and it was obvious that Cody was warring with the need to obey Lyric and the need to fight against their concern and obvious hovering.

  “I know it’s tempting,” Lyric said, her tone even. “But do yourself a favor and let it go…”

  Cody’s jaw twitched with the clenching of her teeth, the tension clear in her eyes. Finally, she turned and walked away, grabbing her bag and heading out the back door of the room.

  Lyric started to move to follow her daughter, but Savanna stopped her, looking at McKenna.

  “Will you please go check on her?” Savanna asked McKenna.

  McKenna nodded and headed in the same direction Cody had gone.

  Jet, who’d watched the entire scene, looked over at Lyric. “Is she that bad right now?”

  “We’re worried, yeah,” Lyric said, as Savanna nodded agreement beside her.

  Jet nodded. “I think she’s on edge too. But I also think that she…” She nodded toward McKenna who had just gone out the door. “Might be what Cody needs right now.”

  “Why?” Lyric asked.

  Jet grinned. “She cares about her, and I can tell you that she’s what Cody was keyed up about last week.”

  Lyric nodded. “Yeah, we know, she was a suspect in Cody’s case.”

  Jet looked surprised; McKenna never did say how she knew Cody. “Not still a suspect I hope?”

  “No,” Lyric said, “but that’s thanks to Cody busting her ass to clear her.”

  Jet nodded, narrowing her eyes. “Then Cody cares about her too,” she said. “This might be a really good thing.”

  “We’ll see,” Savanna said, sighing.

  “Cody?” McKenna queried. She was standing smoking her back to the door, leaning against the building with her head bowed.

  “What did Jet tell you?” Cody asked without looking back at her.

  “Just about Friday night,” McKenna said.

  Cody nodded, turning around to look at her.

  “All of it?” she asked.

  “About the girl…” McKenna said. “Was there more?”

  “Just the part where I passed out and Baz and Jet had to get me home,” Cody said, shrugging.

  “Oh, just that…” McKenna said, rolling her eyes and grinning.

  Cody started grinning too.

  “They love you Cody, and they’re worried,” McKenna said. “And you’ve said more than once that you’ve given them plenty of reason to worry.”

  Cody nodded, taking a drag off her cigarette before stubbing it out. “I have,” she said.

  “Then let them off the hook a little bit,” McKenna said.

  Cody looked back at her. McKenna was playing peacekeeper and for some reason she didn’t mind it at all.

  A little while later they were getting on the freeway to head to the animal shelter. Cody was accelerating past a block of traffic.

  “LAPD on the right ahead,” McKenna said.

  Cody looked over at her sharply, then started to grin.

  “Are you cop spotting for me?” she asked.

  “One less call from Lyric, right?” McKenna asked, her look pointed.

  “Yeah…” Cody said, her eyes sparkling in mischief.

  “Then yeah, I’m cop spotting for you,” McKenna said, winking at Cody.

  Cody shook her head, grinning.

  Later at the animal shelter, McKenna watched transfixed as Cody worked with the dogs. She was lying on the ground on her belly, her chin on her folded arms talking softly to a terrified little Chihuahua. McKenna couldn’t help but be fond of someone who would take that kind of time and energy to do such a thing for a shelter animal.

  Cody had explained that the group she was working with at the shelter handled the most timid of the dogs. It was their goal to get the dogs used to people so they would be more likely to be adopted when they weren’t cowering in their kennel. McKenna met Skyler, who looked fairly similar to Jet, with dark hair and light blue-green eyes, but with a completely different personality. She also met Shenin and Tyler Hancock.

  McKenna sat in the play yard at the shelter and watched in awe at the patience and effort put forward by the group. She was amazed by Cody’s ability, and the others in the group were telling her that Cody was always incredible with the dogs.

  “They’re easier than people,” Cody told her later on the way back to the house.

  “Why?” McKenna a
sked.

  “Because they don’t care what your problems are, they just want to love you,” Cody said shrugging.

  To McKenna that was quite telling.

  McKenna hadn’t wanted to go back to the house she shared with John so Cody had offered to let her stay with her. McKenna had agreed, wanting to spend more time getting to know “this” Cody. The truth was, McKenna was also avoiding having to think too much about what John had been doing behind her back. Staying with Cody gave her a safe haven for the moment. Since she had nothing with her but the clothes on her back, she and Cody had made a quick shopping trip so McKenna could buy a few things.

  “You’re going to have to go back there at some point, you know?” Cody told her, if nothing else to pack some stuff.”

  “I know,” McKenna said. “I’m just not ready to deal with that yet.”

  “Okay,” Cody said.

  Chapter 6

  That evening, the Cody and McKenna got ready to head out to The Club, as Cody had promised. McKenna looked sexy in a short jean skirt and a sapphire-blue blouse with knee high brown leather boots. Cody wore simple faded jeans that were tight on her slim shape, and a black top with her black Harley Davidson boots. Around her neck she wore a byzantine-style black chain and a thick black banded watch. She had a very sexy cool look about her, more so when she picked up her black leather biker style jacket.

  At The Club, Cody got out and opened McKenna’s door, already being called to by women in the parking lot. Cody handed the valet girl the keys to the Ferrari, winking at her.

  “You remember what we talked about last week, right?” she said to the girl, who nodded. “Speaking of which,” Cody said, pulling some bills out of her jeans pocket. She handed the girl a folded bill and leant close to her. “For last week, sorry I left before I got a chance,” she whispered, then moved back to wink at the girl again.

  McKenna looked at the girl as Cody turned away, and saw that longing in the girl’s eyes. It wasn’t the last time she saw that look that night. Cody was definitely an “A Game” player that was for sure. They were sitting out on the patio, Cody was smoking and drinking a beer, the rings on the hand holding the bottle sparkling under the lights. So many women greeted Cody and she smiled and nodded in return. She even kissed a few girls who came up to her. McKenna surveyed Cody, she was sitting with her legs slightly bent and wide apart, and hunched down in the chair very casually and relaxed looking. It was obvious to McKenna that this was how Cody always was at the bar. It was yet another side to the woman.

  “So, you are here…” Jet said as she walked out onto the patio.

  Cody shook her head. “You don’t come here on Saturdays,” she said to Jet.

  “I’m making an exception,” Jet said, grinning. She leant down to kiss Cody’s cheek quickly, and then hugged McKenna.

  “Hi,” McKenna said, smiling up at Jet.

  “Where’s your wife?” Cody asked.

  “She’s got a test tomorrow,” Jet said. “So, I’m solo.”

  “That sounds like trouble,” Cody said, grinning.

  “Uh-huh,” Jet said. “By the way, Maggie’s already heard you’re here and she’s looking for ya.”

  Cody looked back at Jet blankly. “Who?”

  Jet looked back at Cody for a long minute, trying to discern if her friend was joking or not. “You never even got her name?” Jet asked.

  Cody gave her a sidelong glance, closing one eye like she was trying to remember.

  “The DJ, Cody, Jesus!” Jet said, laughing.

  “Oh,” Cody said, looking slightly embarrassed.

  “You didn’t even know her name?” McKenna asked looking shocked.

  “Uh,” Cody stammered, rolling her eyes.

  Both McKenna and Jet shook their heads at her.

  “Alright, I don’t need you two teaming up against me here,” Cody said, narrowing her eyes at them both.

  Just then a black-haired woman walked out on the patio and spotted Cody.

  “I’m gonna go get a drink,” Jet announced wanting to get out of the way of what could be an uncomfortable conversation. “Cody, you drinking beer?”

  Cody nodded.

  “What are you drinking McKenna?”

  “White wine?” McKenna replied.

  “You got it,” Jet said, winking McKenna then turned and walked into the bar.

  McKenna looked at the girl as she approached and thought, If I had even half the body… The girl walked straight over to Cody and, grabbing a handful of Cody’s hair, she pulled her head back and kissed her. Cody kept her hands on the arms of the chair for a full minute, but as the girl obviously deepened the kiss, Cody’s hands reached up to hold her arms. When their lips parted, the girl stared down at Cody.

  “Hi,” she said, smiling.

  “Hi back,” Cody replied, grinning.

  The girl then walked away and over to the DJ’s booth.

  “That’s the DJ?” McKenna asked, looking at Cody.

  Cody pressed her lips together, waggling her eyebrows. “You wanted to come here, remember?”

  Jet came out of the bar then, and handed Jet a beer and McKenna a white wine.

  “Holy shit,” Jet said, grinning at Cody. “Do ya still have your tonsils?”

  Cody laughed, shaking her head at Jet but she kept her mouth shut, unable to think of a clever reply.

  The DJ started playing music then, and called out the first song.

  “All you Cody!” she called over the microphone.

  When the music started, Cody started shaking her head, and Jet started laughing, McKenna had no idea what was going on but could guess easily enough. The song was Ricky Martin’s “Mr. Put it Down” and it did seem to fit Cody pretty well.

  As the song ended, the waitress came over to the table, handing Cody a shot.

  “What’s this?” Cody asked, looking at the waitress.

  “You’re doing a shot with me,” she said, winking at Cody.

  “Uh…” Cody stammered. “I don’t think…”

  “Oh, so you’ll do one with Maggie, but not me?” the waitress said, pouting prettily.

  Cody shook her head. “Okay, okay,” she said, holding up her hands in surrender.

  The waitress, sat on the arm of the chair, holding a saltshaker and leaning down across Cody. Cody looked at McKenna over the girl’s shoulder and saw that she was watching avidly. Cody narrowed hazel eyes at her, as she slid her tongue over the spot where the waitress’s neck met her shoulder. She shook salt onto the spot and then licked it again, then turned her head she did the shot. The waitress moved back, holding out the lime wedge between her fingers. Cody sucked on the wedge, licking the girl’s finger seductively when she finished, grinning up at the waitress. The waitress leaned down, taking Cody’s face in her hands and kissed her lips.

  McKenna found that she was feeling rather warm after that particular performance. As the waitress got up and walked away winking at Cody, Cody looked over at McKenna.

  “You wanted to come here tonight, remember?” she asked again, grinning.

  McKenna stuck her tongue out at Cody, smiling. “I remember, and I’m thinking I need to buy you a shot,” she said, winking at Cody.

  “Ohhh…” Cody said, smiling as she reached for her beer again.

  A few minutes later, it was Jet who handed Cody another shot.

  “I’m not doing one off you,” Cody said, grinning.

  “I bought your girl Casa Noble,” Jet said, winking over at McKenna

  “She’s not getting anywhere near you,” Cody said, her tone serious, even though her eyes were sparkling with humor.

  “It’s for her to do off of you,” Jet said, winking.

  Cody shook her head. “You are such a troublemaker,” she told Jet. Then she looked over at McKenna. “You don’t have to do this.”

  McKenna looked back at Cody, her eyes already a bit heated. “Oh, no, that’s fine, I’ll do it,” she said, smiling as she stood up.

  Cody looked up in
to her eyes, looking amused. She looked less amused when McKenna pushed the bottom of her skirt up so she could straddle Cody’s lap. Cody’s breathing increased, and her eyes grew heated, never leaving McKenna’s.

  “You’re going to need to tell me how to do this…” McKenna said.

  Cody licked her lips, as she slid her hands over McKenna’s hips. She pulled her a little closer, causing both of them to breathe heavier.

  “You lick,” Cody said, her voice slightly husky, “wherever you want.” Her eyes sparkled attractively. “Then you shake the salt, lick again… Ohhhh…” She moaned softly as McKenna leaned down and licked her neck at the base of her throat, making Cody shudder. McKenna’s eyes connected with hers as she shook the salt, and then lowered her head once again to lick the salt.

  “Take the shot,” Cody said warmly, as she handed McKenna the shot.

  McKenna drank the shot delicately, as Cody looked on biting her lip. Cody then held up the lime wedge that Jet handed her.

  “Then you suck,” Cody said, putting the lime to McKenna’s lips.

  McKenna did as she was told, her eyes looking down into Cody’s the entire time.

  “Now, that’s how you do a shot…” Jet said, her voice low.

  Cody and McKenna laughed. McKenna put her hands to Cody’s shoulders as she moved off her lap, sliding her skirt back down a moment later and sitting back in her chair again.

  “I need another drink…” Cody said standing up and winking at McKenna as she walked inside the bar.

  Jet grinned, watching Cody go, then looked back at McKenna.

  “You’re gonna kill her at that rate,” she said, smiling widely and giving McKenna a wink.

  “Or me,” McKenna said, blowing her breath out. “Jesus… is it hot in here or is it me?”

  “Oh, it’s definitely you, sweetheart,” Jet said, smiling.

  McKenna looked back at Jet and knew that she was definitely every bit as sexually dangerous as Cody. She thought that Jet’s wife as probably crazy to let Jet be at the bar alone. Then again, McKenna hadn’t seen Jet look at one woman yet, so it was pretty obvious that Jet was in love with her wife.