Vendetta (WeHo Book 7)

by Sherryl Hancock

  It was yet another side of Cody that McKenna hadn’t seen; her pride in Lyric’s heritage. She’d told McKenna that she had no idea what nationality her own family was, so she’d adopted Lyric’s.

  Cody also wore her usual platinum band on her left ring finger, her silver and black class ring, and two other silver rings. She looked very different from McKenna, but definitely with a style of her own. McKenna found Cody’s look very attractive, and every time she saw her in a different outfit, she was consistently awed by her.

  Cody liked McKenna’s style as well. It was sexy, but with an air of sophistication that she hadn’t really gotten to see when McKenna was at the group home. It had been like McKenna had dressed down around the kids. Now that she was out of that environment, Cody felt like she was seeing the real McKenna, and she liked it a lot.

  The drive was uneventful; at one point Cody reached over to hold McKenna’s hand, sensing McKenna’s tension. Cody’s tension increased as they got off the freeway and drove the winding Soledad Mountain Road. The houses seemed to get bigger and more expensive the farther they went and the closer they got to the ocean. When they turned onto Via Estrada Way, there was one house that was entire block long.

  “Jesus cazzo Chirst,” Cody muttered. Jesus fucking Christ. It was something Lyric was given to doing often and a habit she’d picked up when under stress.

  “What was that?” McKenna asked.

  “That was mortal terror,” Cody said, grinning.

  McKenna chuckled. “Oh, sounded like Italian.”

  “Funny…” Cody said, even as she turned into the drive of McKenna’s parents’ house.

  “Holy shit...” she uttered then, beholding the huge Italian renaissance-style home with its terracotta tiled roof and its expansive driveway.

  “You okay?” McKenna asked, amused to see Cody’s trepidation. She hadn’t figured Cody would fear anything, least of all a house.

  Cody looked over at her as she put the car in park. “Did you forget to tell me how rich your family is?”

  “It’s their money, not mine,” McKenna said, shrugging. She looked over at Cody then, her look searching. “Is this going to be too hard?”

  “For what?” Cody asked, her tone mild.

  “You,” McKenna asked, sensing Cody’s tension and seeing the way her thumb was worrying at the platinum band on her finger.

  “I’ll be fine,” Cody said. “I can fake anything,” she said, winking at McKenna roguishly.

  Cody got out of the car then, and strode around it to open McKenna’s door, putting her hand out to help her out of the low-slung car. McKenna moved close to Cody as Cody closed the car door, putting her hand to Cody’s cheek.

  “Thank you for coming with me,” she said softly, looking up into Cody’s eyes. “I’m going to apologize in advance for any stupid thing my mother says.”

  Cody grinned. “I’m going to accept that apology in advance then,” she said and then leant down to kiss McKenna’s lips softly.

  When their lips parted, McKenna heard someone clearing their throat quietly and glanced over to see her mother standing at the gate to the courtyard.

  Cody looked at McKenna’s mother, she could see where McKenna got her beauty from. McKenna’s mother was every bit as beautiful as McKenna, with a few added years, wrinkles, and much more jewelry and expensive-looking clothes. Her mother also had an aristocratic air to her, it was called out in her posture, and in the way she held her head. Also in the way she was looking at the two of them, her gaze steady and icy.

  “Hello mother,” McKenna said, turning to face her mother. Her hand dropped behind her and she extended her fingers towards Cody, who took her hand and squeezed it gently.

  McKenna held onto Cody’s hand and walked toward her mother, only letting go long enough to hug her mother formally.

  “Mother,” McKenna said, stepping back, even as she reached her hand out to Cody again. “This is Cody Falco,” she said, still very formal. “Cody, this is my mother, Rebecca Hayden.”

  Cody’s eyes met Rebecca’s and she inclined her head, a polite close-lipped smile on her face. She saw the immediate flaring of Rebecca Hayden’s nostrils. Cody figured that McKenna’s mother had been expecting her to look ashamed that they’d been caught kissing moments before. Cody Falco didn’t apologize for being who she was, not to anyone. It was something the Haydens would come to find out over the course of their first meeting with her.

  “We’re around the back on the veranda,” Rebecca said. Cody could hear the condescension it her tone as clear as day.

  She turned and led them to the front door and opened it. McKenna held Cody’s hand and felt the hesitation as they crossed the threshold. Glancing back, she saw Cody mouthing the words “holy shit” as she gazed around at the house.

  Cody was quite stunned by the opulence of the house. The entryway was tiled with porcelain tile, and the staircase they faced was made of intricately carved mahogany. The living room was open with vaulted ceilings and the stone and marble fireplace had a mantle that went from floor to ceiling. There were rod iron terraced walkways on the second floor that promised even more opulence upstairs. The walls wore a warm rich brown, with mahogany crown molding and baseboards. Even the furniture screamed money. To say Cody was intimidated was an understatement but to her credit, other than the silent exclamation, none of it showed on her face. McKenna squeezed her hand gently, as her mother continued to lead them out through a pair of double doors onto the terrace.

  The terrace had a view of the ocean, with a huge built-in fireplace and entertainment area that included an infinity pool. Cody did her best to appear unimpressed. The last thing she wanted McKenna’s parents to think was that she was with McKenna for her family’s money. They’d have no way of knowing that Cody wasn’t even aware that they had money until five minutes before.

  A man was waiting for them. He stood from the chair he’d been sitting in, and moved to hug McKenna. It was obvious that he’d been worried about his daughter. It didn’t however keep him from looking Cody over as he hugged his daughter.

  “Dad,” McKenna said, smiling at her father. “This is Cody Falco,” she said, gesturing to Cody, her eyes on Cody. “She’s a special agent for the Department of Justice. Cody this is my dad, Thomas Hayden.”

  “A police officer?” Thomas asked, looking surprised.

  “Yes,” Cody said, taking a step forward and extending her hand to him, her eyes looking directly into his.

  Thomas’s eyes narrowed slightly, even as he took Cody’s hand, shaking it firmly.

  There was a moment where everyone stood uncomfortably. Cody looked out at the view, then looked back over at McKenna. McKenna smiled softly at Cody, so glad that she was there with her, and praying that her parents didn’t make Cody uncomfortable.

  “Why don’t we sit down?” McKenna suggested.

  McKenna moved to sit on a small couch with its back to the fireplace and put her hand on the seat next to her, looking at Cody. Cody got the message and casually sat down next to her. Cody’s body language spoke volumes, these people did not intimidate her. McKenna on the other hand, sat with her hands folded in her lap, was clearly nervousness.

  Thomas moved to sit in the chair closest to McKenna, and Rebecca sat in the chair across from them, her eyes on Cody the whole time. Cody looked at Rebecca, her face composed in a serene, confident look.

  McKenna took a deep breath and expelled it slowly.

  “So I’m sure you’re wondering what’s going on,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. “The truth is that John has been arrested.”

  “What!” Thomas exclaimed, his look shocked.

  He looked at Cody, then back at his daughter. “What was he arrested for?”

  McKenna looked over at Cody, knowing she wouldn’t use the right terms. Cody caught McKenna’s look and knew she wanted her to tell them.

  “He was arrested for three counts of human trafficking, and two counts of money laundering.”

&nb
sp; Thomas Hayden looked pale, as he swallowed convulsively, realizing what that meant for his daughter.

  “We told you that man was no good, McKenna,” Rebecca said, her voice scornful. “You never listen to us, you always have to do things your own way. See what a mess this is now? And don’t think your father is going to clean it up for you, either!” she said sharply.

  “I don’t need daddy to clean anything up for me,” McKenna said, her tone soft.

  “You aren’t foolish enough to think this won’t come around to you, are you?” Rebecca practically snapped, her eyes flashing. “That man was a con artist and don’t think he didn’t figure out a way to protect himself.”

  “Good thing I figured out what he was doing to protect himself before it hit McKenna then,” Cody said, her tone even.

  “What?” Rebecca queried, looking at Cody like she’d just appeared out of thin air.

  “I was the investigating officer on the case,” Cody said, her tone matter-of-fact. “And you’re right, he was setting McKenna up to take the fall, but I was able to prove that he was forging her signature, and cleared her completely before charges were filed.”

  “You investigated the case?” Thomas asked, looking at her, thinking she looked awfully young.

  “Yes sir,” Cody said.

  “No offense, young lady, but you don’t look old enough to be a very seasoned investigator,” Rebecca said, in a steely tone.

  “Seasoned enough to take John down and protect your daughter while I was at it,” Cody replied, her tone pointed, her hazel eyes sparkling with ire.

  “Thank you for that,” Thomas said, throwing his wife a quelling look. “What can we do honey?” he asked then, looking at McKenna. “Where are you staying?”

  “I’m staying with Cody right now,” McKenna said, glancing over at Cody. “And I’m really okay.”

  “How is this going to affect that house we financed for you two?” Rebecca asked, her tone still strident as she referred to the group home John and McKenna had run.

  Again, McKenna glanced at Cody, who grinned at her.

  “Technically,” Cody said, “since you and Mr. Hayden paid for the house when they got married, and McKenna is divorcing John, it isn’t considered a marital asset, therefore not subject to asset forfeiture.”

  Thomas nodded. “She’s right,” he said. “They will, however seize anything you and John bought during the marriage, so that house you were living in...” His voice trailed off as she realized that his daughter would lose her home because of John’s misdeed.

  “I know,” McKenna said, nodding as she saw her father’s pained look. “It’s okay, I wouldn’t want that house now anyway, knowing what John was doing.”

  “What exactly was he doing?” Thomas asked, looking at Cody this time.

  Cody uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, her hands on her knees, to look over at Thomas.

  “He was using the group home as a cover to launder money and lure girls into prostitution through a local street gang.”

  “Oh my God...” Rebecca railed.

  “How were you able to figure out what he was doing?” Thomas asked, curious about Cody Falco.

  “I work for a task force that deals with these types of cases all the time. We know that street gangs are getting into human trafficking in a big way because it’s a high profit industry with not a lot of risk. One of my friends developed an informant that told her about John’s group home and that girls were being culled from it. I went in undercover and got the information I needed to make the arrest.”

  “And clear me,” McKenna added.

  “And clear you,” Cody said, smiling at her.

  Thomas noted the exchange between his daughter and Cody and sensed that there was more there than a police officer and cleared suspect.

  “So you’re an undercover police officer? I imagine because you look so young,” Thomas said.

  Cody nodded, a grin curling her lips. “Well, I’m only twenty-two, but yeah, that’s why I’m able to infiltrate these places so easily.”

  “And that’s how you met McKenna?” he asked her then.

  “Yes,” Cody said, her look direct.

  “And you’re involved with our daughter,” Rebecca said, her tone disapproving.

  Cody looked over at Rebecca, narrowing her eyes slightly. “Yes, I am,” she answered, her voice clear and strong.

  “Is that why you worked so hard to clear her?” Rebecca asked, making it sound like Cody’s motivations were suspect.

  Cody didn’t answer for a moment, letting the question hang in the air. She raised her eyebrow slightly at Rebecca and then said, “I did it because it’s my job to avoid arresting innocent people, it’s usually known as justice.”

  Rebecca pursed her lips angrily, her eyes narrowing. “And you just happened to fall into bed with her?”

  “Mother!” McKenna exclaimed, ready to say more, but Cody’s hand on her arm stilled her. When she looked over at Cody, she saw Cody was looking at her mother.

  “Your daughter is an amazing person, Mrs. Hayden,” Cody said, her voice completely calm, her look direct. “And I found myself drawn to her in a way that I never have with anyone else. If to you that means that I fell into bed with her then yes, that’s what happened. I like to think there’s a bit more to it than that though, but I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”

  Rebecca stared back at Cody, her mouth hanging slightly open from the reproach she’d just heard in this young woman’s voice. She snapped her mouth shut to sneer at Cody.

  “I’m sure the fact that she comes from wealth, means nothing to you whatsoever,” she said, her tone accusatory.

  “Sweetheart,” Cody said, her tone acidic. “I don’t give a shit about your money. If I’ve learned one thing doing this job, it’s that money doesn’t equal class, it never has, and it never will.”

  With that, Cody stood up and strode over to the other side of the terrace, a good five hundred feet away. There she pulled out a cigarette and lit it with shaking hands, keeping her back to them. McKenna threw her mother a reproachful look and shook her head as she stood up and walked over to Cody.

  Thomas watched as McKenna stepped up to Cody. He saw the way her hand slid up Cody’s back, standing next to and leaning into the other woman. There was very definite affection there. At one point he saw Cody turn her head to smile warmly down at McKenna and it tugged at his heart.

  “Can you believe the nerve of that woman?” Rebecca whispered harshly.

  “What I can’t believe is the way you’re acting,” Thomas said, his tone mildly chastising.

  “What does that mean?” Rebecca asked, looking shocked by his reproach.

  “It means that that woman kept our daughter out of jail, and if you open your eyes, you’d see that our daughter cares about her just as much as that woman just admitted to caring about her. Shouldn’t that be enough to keep a civil tongue in your head?”

  Rebecca looked back at Thomas for a long moment, he’d always been easier on McKenna than she felt he should be. She knew it was because of the way that they’d lost their other daughter, Dana, and he was afraid to drive McKenna away too.

  “Look at them, Rebecca,” Thomas said, gesturing to the two women standing at the other end of the terrace.

  Rebecca looked over at Cody and McKenna. She saw McKenna’s hand moving back and forth on Cody’s back, her smiling face upturned to Cody’s As she watched, McKenna reached up and touched Cody’s cheek. Cody turned her head saying something and grinning at her. There was definitely a connection between the two, but Rebecca still didn’t trust it.

  “Are you okay?” McKenna asked as she reached Cody. She slid her hand up her back, feeling the tension there.

  “I’m fine,” Cody said, her lips twitching in self-irritation. “I’m sorry I lost it back there, but she pissed me off.”

  “She pissed me off too,” McKenna said, her tone reflecting that irritation.

  “And this is why I don’t date r
ich girls,” Cody said, grinning.

  “You date anyone?” McKenna asked, grinning too.

  “Well, no, but this is why I wouldn’t date a rich girl if I dated,” Cody replied.

  “Uh-huh,” McKenna said, smiling up at Cody. Then she said, “We can go, Cody. It’s okay if you want to go.”

  “No, it’s okay, I’m okay,” Cody said, shaking her head, lifting the cigarette to her lips again. McKenna saw the tremor in her hand.

  “Cody your hands are shaking,” McKenna said reaching her hand up to touch Cody’s cheek, concern evident in her voice.

  Cody blew her breath out. “There’s only so much Lithium can do, babe,” she said, grinning.

  “I’m sorry,” McKenna said again.

  “It’s okay,” Cody said, finishing her cigarette. She picked up a foot to put it out on the bottom of her boot, then pocketed the butt. “Let’s go back.”

  As the two turned, Cody took McKenna’s hand firmly in hers, her look at Rebecca pointed. She was done playing nice. They walked back over to the couch, Cody waited for McKenna to sit first, then she sat down, looking at Rebecca. Cody sat forward, her body language showing that she was now in the conversation fully, no longer a simple spectator.

  “So where were we?” Cody asked, her tone sarcastic. “Oh yeah, the part where you think I’m a gold digger,” she said, putting her finger up in a kind of tabulating gesture, then she twirled her finger in a semi-circle. “Carry on.”

  Rebecca looked shocked by Cody’s change in demeanor but Cody didn’t look like she cared.

  “You have to understand the way it looks to us,” Rebecca said, her tone placating.

  “No, I actually don’t,” Cody said strongly, shaking her head. “Because you don’t know a thing about me. You think because I’m a cop I can’t be worth anything, right?” she said, her look direct. “But what you don’t know is that my mother’s family goes back many generations in Sicily, and they have plenty of money. I don’t consider any of that money mine, just as I don’t consider any of the money you and Thomas here have is McKenna’s.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’m dating your daughter because I love her, and if that’s not a good enough reason for you, then I’m sorry, your priorities suck.”