Chapter Sixteen
Denis
The phone at his elbow rang, dragging Denis’ attention off a brief he’d been reading for one of his junior associates. He picked it up, expecting Carole, but got Ricky instead. After brief pleasantries, very brief, Ricky gave him a readout off the Marcus Warner investigation.
“Kid’s a short runner. Caine, the supplier, doesn’t give Warner a lot of leash to deal.
That’s one of the reasons he got picked up, someone had called in about a suspicious youth who’d been at a known dealer’s house multiple times over a weekend.
” Ricky’s voice deepened. “He’s a scared kid, but he might have reason to be.
I think in addition to being a short runner for motherfucking Caine, he’s being an informer to his cousin.
That would be his second cousin twice removed on his momma’s side, name of Herbert LaBlanc.
That cousin being the same asshole that tried to book your IMC guy. ”
Denis let the silence grow between them for a moment, then took a deep breath and blew it out.
“I find it interesting that he’s tied in with that guy.
” He and Ricky were both on the same page about the rookie, especially since Ricky had taken it upon himself to check into the man.
What they’d found was the asshole was rapidly making a name for himself with drug arrests.
“You think he’s feeding LaBlanc details? ”
“Enough to get him to the right place at the right time for probable cause. He claims the arrest, touts it as instinct or a hunch, and looks good to the brass.” Ricky made a grumpy sound. “Those arrests doubled after Marcus Warner was picked up. That’s a suspicious coincidence to me.”
“When you say Marcus is a short runner, how short?” That role was typically given to the least trusted member of a dealer’s crew.
Couple of hundred dollars of dope, single transaction.
“Is he doubled on yet?” Being doubled would mean Marcus was right on the edge of being eliminated.
Having to send two runners for a short run was not an efficient use of the dealer’s crew.
“No, not doubled up, not yet. If another customer falls to the asshole LaBlanc though, it might be enough suspicion to bring Warner down without even further management.” Ricky grunted.
“He’s just a kid, Denis. I doubt he understands the danger he’s in.
We need someone to talk to him who isn’t a PI or a lawyer. ”
“You’re thinking Cherry? I don’t want to involve him if we can help it. Especially with LaBlanc being Marcus’s cousin.”
“I think we’re at the place where there aren’t any other real options, Denis.” Silence hung between them for a moment, then Ricky said, “Give it a think. Let me know. I’ll stick to the kid for now.”
“Like glue.”
The line went dead and Denis lightly rubbed circles on his temples. After a couple minutes he picked up his cell phone and sent Cherry a text, *Might need your help on a case. No pressure. Let’s discuss soon?*
A few minutes later he got a response, *Be at your place by 8 2nite*
The shorthand text made him grin. He knew it killed Cherry to be less than a hundred percent correct in his communications, so he had to be on the road.
“One more endearing trait for my guy.”
“When do I get to meet this man who is so endearing?”
Denis looked at the woman in the doorway. “Mother, I didn’t hear Carole announce you.”
Carole appeared over his mother’s shoulder. “I didn’t. She beat me to the door.”
His mother turned around, hard eyes narrowing as she stared at Carole. “I don’t need announcing.” She tipped her head to the side. “What do you know about Denis’ endearing guy?”
Carole lifted her chin. “More than you do, apparently.”
“Ladies, please. Don’t fight. Not today. Leave that for the family reunion.”
Carole shook her head but his mother turned to look at him. “We don’t fight.”
“You literally were just fighting.” He rose from his desk chair and crossed the width of the room. “Hello, Mother.”
Carole snorted, “Mother. That’s a riot. I’ve mothered you more than Carlotta here.”
“Just because you’re my twin doesn’t mean I want to share my child with you.” His mother scowled, the expression enhancing the wrinkles on her face telling everyone that was a standard look. “Get your own. Denis is mine.”
“Denis is mine, actually.” Cherry’s voice came from just outside the room.
His mother and Carole whirled around so fast, Denis started laughing.
“Cherry, I’d like to introduce my mother Carlotta, and her twin who is also the heart of my practice, my Aunt Carole. Ladies.” Denis pushed past them and into the hallway. He pulled Cherry in for a quick kiss, then turned to look at the two women, both with their mouths open. “This is my Guy.”
***
Cherry
He nearly laughed, but held in the amusement because both women looked like someone to take offense easily. He didn’t want his introduction to them to go sideways because they both looked like a cat had pissed in their favorite pair of shoes.
He took the more peaceful route, with a “Ladies, good to meet you.” His arm went around Denis’ waist, and he gave a squeeze, receiving one in return. “Denis, I believe we had some business to deal with?” Lifting one eyebrow, he looked up at Denis, waiting for a cue of how things were going to go.
Denis swooped down and stole another quick kiss. “Yes, we have so much business to deal with.” He didn’t quite grind on Cherry’s leg, but it was a close movement. “So much.”
“Carlotta, why don’t you and I go have a cup of coffee. You can catch me up on the family news.” Carole turned the woman and bustled them both up the hallway to the elevator. Cherry lost sight of them when Denis pulled him backwards into his office.
“I didn’t know Carole was your aunt.” He lifted his chin in a clear demand that Denis met with a slower, deeper kiss.
“I don’t want to talk about your female relatives right now, though.
” Another kiss, this more demanding, Denis’ tongue lashing across the seam of Cherry’s lips and he opened invitingly.
This kiss stole all thoughts as Cherry followed Denis’ lead. They wound up sprawled across a loveseat, Denis pulling Cherry down on top of him. Now there was most definitely a crotch grinding on his leg, and he groaned.
“Gonna make me come just like this.”
Arms locked around Cherry’s neck, holding him in place. The kiss deepened again, growing more erotic as Denis alternated teeth and tongue to steal Cherry’s sensibility.
“Denis, I’m gonna come.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
“The door is still open.” He broke the kiss and looked over his shoulder to see the door slowly closing. Carole and Carlotta both were peering around the edge of the door. “Goddamn, Denis.”
When the door finally settled into its frame, Denis rolled them towards the back of the little sofa until they were face-to-face.
“That’s my mom. She’s a piece of work. Carole was a savior for me, both a safe place and an understanding adult to help me through the realization that girls would never do it for me.
Carole’s in the only family picture I own, in my home.
” His hands cupped around Cherry’s jaw, pulling him closer.
“And I don’t want to talk about them again, not now, and not ever when we’re being intimate.
” His nose wrinkled like he smelled something foul. “No, just no.”
Cherry pushed forwards, gaining a little leverage so he could hover over Denis, even if it was at a slant. “I don’t want to talk about anything except my cock in your ass. And I wasn’t thinking of it, not really, but I did bring a condom and some lube. To our business discussion.”
“Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?” Denis grinned and angled his head for another kiss. “Cock in ass sounds like a solid plan. I’m happy to be the bottom today.”
“Before or after our business meeting. If there actually was one?” He arched an eyebrow. “Was the text a ruse? I’m fine with it either way, but just checking.”
“Gah.” Denis ground hard against Cherry’s thigh. “We should do business first.” He pulled his hips back in small increments. “Goddamn it to hell.” He lunged in for a hard kiss. “I fucking hate you.”
“And I hate you,” he responded, grinning.