Chapter Seventeen
Denis
He pulled in a few hard breaths and rolled away from Cherry. But he misjudged the distance and rolled himself flat on the floor. He was staring up when Cherry’s face came into view.
“Babe, you okay?”
The bastard had the bad taste to grin.
By the time Denis had shoved his way to a sitting position, Cherry was up and standing with one hand out. Denis considered not taking the help for about half a second, then he reached for the assistance. A moment later, he was on his feet.
“That’s annoying.”
“What, babe?” This was Cherry, doing his best to hide a smile.
“And that’s extra annoying. First you push me off the couch, then you yank me up in like an instant, and now you’re laughing at me.” He straightened his collar. “Business meeting protocol means not throwing me on the floor, no matter the injuries I might acquire.”
“Protocol.” Cherry took a step forwards. “Acquire.” He took another step. “You’re extra hot when you go all lawyerly.” The next step had them chest-to-chest. “Extra hot.”
Denis wrapped his arms around Cherry and pulled him closer. “What are you talking about?”
Cherry initiated the kiss, stretching up to press their lips together. “I’m talking about how hot you are when you pull out the lawyer side of you. I foresee some roleplay in our future.”
“The motion to allow roleplay of lawyer and client or any other option of said roleplay is hereby approved by said lawyer.” He chuckled and gave Cherry another squeeze.
“Commencement of said roleplay is to be at initiation by either party to this agreement. But not before today’s business meeting is concluded to everyone’s satisfaction.
” Cherry chased his mouth for another kiss.
“Commencement of said business meeting to begin in five, four—” another kiss interrupted the countdown “—two, one.”
Cherry stole another kiss before stepping back.
“Was that really your mother?”
“Oh, yeah. That was Carlotta at her...well, not finest, because she can get on a roll and stay there. But yes, that was my mother. And Carole is my aunt, her twin sister. Who I get on with so much better than Mother.” He pulled in a breath and turned to face the windows.
“Give me two minutes to get my libido under control.”
Breath ghosted across the back of his neck as Cherry chuckled. “Libido is a more interesting word than a pending motion.”
Denis tipped his chin up, staring at the ceiling. “Zeus give me strength.”
“Zeus? The god Zeus? Is there something you wanna tell me about your daddy?” Hands gripped his traps, fingers and thumb working deep into the tense muscles. “Because that’s not a meeting I think should be left up to chance.”
“No, my dad was not a god. Not even close to it. He’s the reason I went into law to begin with, because he was a politician.
Was, not is, because he didn’t stick with that any longer than he did the role of dad.
” Denis let his head hang loose, enjoying the impromptu neck rub.
“He’s somewhere in Taiwan, last I heard news.
Doubt he knows I still exist, much less that I’m now back in Baton Rouge.
Coast is clear as far as I’m concerned.” Breathing slowly, he deliberately relaxed the muscles Cherry was working over.
“Your folks still around?” The fingers on his neck paused for a couple of beats, then resumed.
“Nope, they died in a car accident while I was deployed. Buried and memorialized long before I learned of the accident. Only one sibling, a brother. He went in the Marines about eight years behind me. Still in as far as I know. And that’s my unclose family in a nutshell.
” Cherry gave his neck a final squeeze and stepped back.
The skin of Denis’ neck felt chilled, and he wondered if he’d turned over the wrong rock with his question. Gotta believe he’ll tell me if I did. “So, the business end of this. Wanna sit and have a conversation?”
“Here as opposed to me finally getting you on the back of my bike?” Cherry grinned and winked at him. The opportunity hadn’t yet come around that they were both ready to be vertical instead of horizontal, and on the road instead of behind closed doors.
“Here, I guess. I have a couple of favors to ask, and I want your honest response to them both.”
***
Cherry
“Lay it on me. Can’t advise if I don’t know the topic.” Cherry looked around and pointed to an upholstered chair near the couch. “Mind if I sit there? I’ve been on the road since about this time last night.”
“Yes, please. Sit. Want a bottle of water?” Denis walked behind the desk and opened the door of a mini-fridge. “I’m getting one.”
“Sure.” He shook his head. “How do you switch gears so fast? Ten minutes ago we were both about to come in our pants, and now we’re making small talk?”
Denis grinned as he tossed the bottle to Cherry.
“Compartmentalization, my guy. I’m still half-chubbed up.
” He pulled the second chair closer to where Cherry sat.
“So the business part.” Denis blew out a stream of air.
“Before we met, I started a case pro bono for a small-time drug runner. His grandmother was adamant he wasn’t in as much trouble as the charges indicated.
I put one of my PIs on him, and sure enough, nothing is as it seems. He’s a runner for a larger player, Caine—”
“I know of Caine. He’s a real asshole.” Cherry grimaced. “Sorry, it was just a name I knew. Carry on.”
Denis shook his head. “No worries, it’s not a timed presentation, just me talking through what I know.
So, back to what I know is that Caine isn’t trusting this kid anymore.
He’s only sending him out on less lucrative runs, and he’s got a babysitter.
Kid is named Marcus Warner, and we, me and my PI, think he’s turned confidential informant to his cousin.
Said cousin is a rookie in the brPD who’s building a name for himself on successful drug arrests. ”
“Okay.” Cherry shook his head. “Not sure where I come in. I expect you could get your pro bono client off lightly if there’s police corruption for the press to focus on. Where do I come in?”
“I’d like you to talk to this kid, Marcus Warner, about his cousin. But that cousin is sort of attached to you. Kind of. In a way I don’t want to bring up.” Denis screwed up his face again, this time as if smelling something rancid.
brPD, rookie, kind of attached to me. Cherry met Denis’ gaze head on.
“LaBlanc, right? That’s the cousin?” Denis gave a short nod.
“So I talk to this Marcus Warner, verify what you think is going on, and then what? Am I supposed to give the kid protection or something? Would you expect me to go testify in court? Wouldn’t our relationship come up, along with the dismissed charges brought by the LaBlanc asshole? What am I supposed to do here, Denis?”
“That’s what I hoped we could talk about.
Ricky, my PI, doesn’t think Warner would talk to either of us.
We don’t know if he’s got a connection with the club, but if a random biker appeared in a bar on a stool next to him, that biker could give some wisdom about Caine.
I know there’s a ton of suppositions in that statement alone, but there’s something about this kid.
It hit me, and it hit Ricky. Warner could be something, anything other than a short, doubled runner for a scumbag like Caine. ”
“Okay. Gotcha, gotcha.” Cherry ran a couple of possible proposals through his head. “Does he need a full change of range? Like leaving the ‘hood? Does he have any interest in motorcycles or clubs?”
“That would be the best option. Get him right out of the zone.” He grabbed his phone off the desk and dialed a preassigned number.
Need to get him to tell me what my number is. Bet it’s sixty-nine. He gave himself a mental shake. Focus, man.
“Ricky.”
A deep voice answered, “Boss?”
“To your knowledge does Warner have any interest in motorcycle clubs or bikes in general?”
There was a pause, then that deep voice said, “Pleased to meet you, Cherry.”
Both Denis and Cherry laughed.
“And you, Ricky the famous PI.”
“Not as famous as you, Mr. Enforcer of the Baton Rouge IMC. You’re pretty damn famous in certain circles.”
“I try to keep my business under wraps as much as I can. Must be slacking. I’ll get right on that.”
Ricky laughed this time. “Maybe I’m just that good.”
Denis broke in and when Cherry looked at him the man seemed half pissed. “Back on track, gentlemen. Does Warner have an interest in MCs?”
“Actually, yeah. He does. He’s been hanging around the Zebra Tail with some RC guys.”
“I know that bar. For IMC it’s a halfway point between just being a rider and exploring being a member. We’ve picked up quite a few hangarounds from there. That’s interesting.” He looked at Denis. “Do you have a pic of the kid? I can tell you pretty quickly if he’s already one of our potentials.”
“Yeah, let me just”—Denis picked up the phone—“send you the details.”
A moment later, Cherry’s phone rang out the top line from an 80s love anthem.
“Fuck.” He silenced it as quickly as possible but not before both Ricky and Denis were cackling like little old women.
“Shut up. I’ve heard my ringtone on your phone, and it’s not something that should be shared publicly. ”
“Okay, okay.” Denis was still laughing as Cherry pulled up the image.
“Yeah, this is Marcus Warner, right? The name didn’t hit me until now.
We’ve had him on a couple of charity runs.
He’s not a hangaround, not yet, but wouldn’t take much to bump him up.
But if we need him to be disappeared, I’m planning to work on a prospect group in a few days.
I’d have to clear it with my bosses, but we could maybe wrap him up in that.
We keep a couple of trailers out at the clubhouse for prospects to stay at while going through the wringer.
That’s what they call my section of education. Cherry’s wringer.”
***