Code-Switching

by Zena Wynn

  Luis rose and went to the bar. “I’m pouring you a drink so you can calm the fuck down. Zach, you want something?”

  “Whiskey neat,” I said.

  I followed him to the bar. He poured a shot of whiskey and a shot of tequila. He slid the whiskey toward me and pushed the tequila towards Catherine, who stood next to me gripping the wooden bar. I took a sip of my whiskey and found it to be pretty decent. The tequila he’d poured for Catherine was first rate. She picked up her shot glass and downed the liquid in one swallow. Luis immediately poured her another.

  She cradled the glass and looked at him. “You sure I should walk away from this?”

  Luis reached across the bar, caught her by the nape, and drew her forehead to his. “Yes. What would your grandmother want you to do?”

  Catherine pushed away from him, glared, and tossed back the second shot. “Low blow, Luis, bringing her into this. Fine. I’ll let it go.”

  “Good, ‘cause you don’t need to be doing nothing to fuck up that fancy job you got in Manhattan.” Turning to me, Luis said, “I keep telling her she’s a fucking role model. She’s the reason we went legit. We make our money the legal way now. A lot of people that leave the neighborhood forget where they came from. Not Tikki. She gives back.” The look he gave Catherine was full of admiration and pride.

  “We got kids finishing high school and talking about college because of her,” he added. “Speaking of, Megan wants to see you. She’s got some potentials she wants you to look at.”

  Potential what? I wondered.

  Catherine asked Luis something in rapid fire Spanish. Luis responded in kind. This bilingual shit was getting on my nerves.

  “Tell her I said okay.” Catherine drained her glass and pushed it toward Luis. “Give me another hit.”

  “Whoa!” I laid a restraining hand on her arm. “Don’t forget you rode here with me on the bike.”

  In all the years I’d known her, I’d never seen Catherine drink more than one glass of wine. She always declined anything harder and eschewed the fancy mixed drinks women usually preferred.

  Luis’s mouth broke into a wide grin, revealing uneven teeth in his brown face. “You’re shitting me, right? My girl, Tikki, can hold her liquor. She could probably drink you under the table and then drive your bike home.” He laughed uproariously and the look he shot Catherine was reminiscent. “Remember that bike we stole? What was it, a Honda or Kawasaki? We had a lot of fun racing on that thing.”

  Catherine glanced at me and said something sharp in Spanish to Luis. He looked at me, too, and flushed. When he responded, his tone was apologetic. The open, welcoming expression of a fellow kindred he’d bestowed on me changed to one of deep wariness.

  My eyes narrowed as I made a mental note to learn their damned language. I was sick and tired of being the subject of conversation and not understanding what was being said. Not to mention, it was offensive and beginning to piss me off.

  Catherine tapped the glass as a reminder. Luis poured her another shot and then stored the bottle. She may be able to hold her liquor, but apparently he’d decided she’d had enough.

  “Gracias,” she said and took a sip.

  “If you have time, I have paperwork I need you to review,” he said.

  Her gaze lifted to the clock on the wall, flicked to me, and bounced back to him. “Unless there’s a rush, I’ll come back Friday after work. It’s been a long ass day, and I have work tomorrow.”

  Her tone still held a hint of the Bronx, but it had slipped into business mode. I was beginning to become in tune with her various nuances of speech. So, what business did Catherine have with a gang leader?

  “We have that dinner with Manning Friday night,” I reminded her.

  She cursed under her breath, and I bit back a grin. Catherine didn’t like Scarsdale’s representative. She’d never come right out and said it, but I could tell by her demeanor whenever he was around. Unfortunately, business didn’t allow for personal feelings and Manning was the key to a lucrative account Berkley-Adams tasked us with acquiring.

  “I’ll come Saturday. The train will be less crowded, and I’ll have a better idea of what’s going on with Jamie. He wants to move in with me,” she said.

  Luis shrugged. “So let him. He’s better off with you than your Ma. You know that. How long before she brings home the wrong guy again? This time, one who likes little boys?”

  I stiffened at the implication. Had Catherine’s mother once brought home a man with a taste for little girls?

  She sighed. “Ma knows I’d bury her, but you’re right. It’s only a matter of time.”

  “You were planning on it anyway. Why wait?” Luis asked.

  If Deke was an example of the type of men her mother liked to play with, no wonder she wanted her brother with her. He’d definitely be safer. Nothing burned me more than scum who preyed on innocents.

  “True, dat. Look, I gotta bounce. I’ll chat with you later. Zach, let’s roll. I need my beauty sleep.” She hopped off the bar stool and strode for the door.

  “Nice meeting you, Luis. I’ll make sure you get an invite to the wedding,” I said, making sure he understood I was no passing fancy.

  Luis’s eyes widened and then narrowed. “You do that. Tikki’s hard to pin down. If you manage it, I want to see.”

  “Oh, I’ll manage it,” I promised.

  “What about the boy? She’s a packaged deal, and Tikki’s got a lot of shit going on you don’t know about,” he warned.

  “So do I.” I pulled a business card out of my wallet and handed it to him. Catherine had long gone and wasn’t there to stop me. “Here’s my number. If there’s any trouble, let me know. You’re not the only one with resources.”

  Luis gave me the once over, taking my measure. Slowly, he grinned. “Our girl Tikki just might have met her match after all.” He held up the card. “I’ll hold on to this. I won’t bother with the usual warnings of what will happen to you if you hurt Tikki. You fuck up or hurt her in any way, she’ll take you out herself.”

  I took two steps toward the door and stopped. “Before I go, how is she connected to all of this?” I circled my finger, indicating the headquarters and the painted insignia on the wall which read, OUTCASTS.

  Luis’s eyebrows rose as his eyes widened in surprise. “She didn’t tell you? Before she stepped down, Tikki was our founder and leader.

  Chapter Eight

  Zach

  On the return ride to Brooklyn, I pondered all that I’d learned today. Life was funny. I’d pursued Catherine with the goal of gaining myself a corporate wife, never knowing I’d find my old lady in the process. I couldn’t wait to introduce her to my brothers.

  When we arrived at her apartment complex, despite her protest that it wasn’t necessary, I escorted Catherine to her door. As we waited for the elevator, I asked, “When does your brother get out of the hospital?”

  “Tomorrow, if infection doesn’t set in and I have someone to tend to him. Otherwise, they may keep him for another day,” she said.

  “You know you can call a temp agency to arrange someone to sit with him while you’re at work. When are you moving him in? Given the situation with Deke, I don’t think he should go back to your mom’s until this thing is settled,” I said as the doors opened.

  She slid me a sideways glance as we entered, and the doors closed. “I thought you were against Jamie living with me?”

  I shrugged, not wanting to go into the reason I’d changed my mind. “I was wrong.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Look, after today, I’ll understand if you want to withdraw your marriage proposal. I’m not sure things would have worked between us anyway. Might be best to keep things as they were before we began dating,” she said, watching the floor numbers as they lit up.

  Oh, hell no. She wasn’t getting away from me that easily. I crowded her against the wall and planted my hands on either side of her head. “If you think that, it shows you understand nothing. I want you, Catherine Tikki
Brown, and I intend to have you.”

  She drew up to her full height and glared at me. “And if I decide I don’t want to be had?”

  “Then I’ll try harder to convince you. We were made for each other.”

  We stared at each other as the elevator came to a halt and the doors opened. I stepped aside for her to exit. She walked past me and down the hall to her door. Catherine had the key in the lock when I caught up to her.

  “You know, Catherine always gave me a polite kiss at the door and sent me on my way. Let’s see what Tikki does.” With that warning, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her.

  She opened her mouth to me, and I deepened the kiss. My cock, which had been semi-hard all night, hardened further and I lifted her by the hips and pressed her up against the door so I could grind my dick into her sex. Catherine met my passion and returned it, full scale.

  Just when I was ready to carry her inside, strip her naked, and bury my cock in her, Catherine snatched her mouth from mine and pushed at my chest to end the embrace. She breathed heavily as she said, “Tikki is still going to leave your ass standing at the door.”

  With those words, she twisted the doorknob, stepped inside of her apartment, and shut the door in my face. I rested my forehead against the wood and willed my breathing and arousal to settle. Damn, I was beginning to love that woman. If Catherine really wanted me to leave her alone, she never should have challenged me. There was no way I could walk away now.

  Grinning stupidly, I turned and strolled to the elevator, tossing my keys into the air. The next few days should be interesting.

  

  On Friday evening, I picked Catherine up for our business dinner with Manning. As usual, she was ready to go when I arrived. “Hi. You look...delicious.”

  She wore a black business pantsuit that managed to be chic and sexy at the same time. The slim-legged pants tastefully outlined the curve of her hips and thighs. The fitted blazer was held together by one button at her waist. Underneath the deep V of its neckline, a shimmery gold camisole toned down the sexy to business conservative. Noting her increased height, I glanced down to see she wore boots with a stack heel that added three inches to her stature.

  Catherine arched an eyebrow. “Is that your professional opinion?”

  “If I say yes, will it earn me a kiss?” I hadn’t touched her since Wednesday night, and I was craving a taste.

  Her lips curved as she stepped forward and placed her lips against mine. It was a quick peck, over before it started. She twisted to lock the door and when she turned, I was right there. “That wasn’t quite what I had in mind.”

  “Really.”

  “This is more what I wanted.” I placed my hands on the door by her head and leaned in. The kiss I laid on her was for Tikki, and I was careful not to place my hands on her body. If I did, I wouldn’t stop with just a kiss.

  I’d spent the last forty-eight hours thinking about her nonstop, anticipating tonight. This might be just another boring business dinner but when it was over, it was Tikki time. Maybe, if I played my cards just right, dinner with Tikki would roll over into breakfast in bed. If I were really lucky, she’d spend the weekend with me.

  I pulled away and studied her flushed face. “Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  “You have the files?” Catherine was very good with the details, but it never hurt to ask.

  She held up the portfolio.

  “Let’s go. How’s Jamie?” I asked as we walked down the hallway.

  “Recuperating. They discharged him from the hospital yesterday. Ma said she’d stay home and tend to him,” she said.

  I glanced at her. “I thought he wanted to come live with you when he got out?”

  “We talked and he will, eventually. First, he needs to heal from the gunshot wounds and finish out the school year. It’s too late for him to transfer, and I’m not having him take the train two hours every day. He already spends the weekends with me. Once he’s better, we’ll pick up where we left off,” she said.

  We entered the elevator.

  That explained why she’d never been available on the weekends. I thought I was good at compartmentalizing. Catherine Tikki Brown had me beat. In fact, I could take lessons.

  “What about Deke? What’s the word on him? I thought your mom’s wasn’t safe,” I said. Luis hadn’t called and I hadn’t thought to get his number.

  “I had a long talk with Ma, and she understands the repercussions should Deke be allowed anywhere near the house. She swears she didn’t know any of what went down. In the meantime, Luis has someone watching out. They’re protected,” she said.

  Luis or Tikki? Catherine may have stepped down from leadership, but Tikki still had a lot of pull. I’d asked around and it had taken some doing, but I’d finally learned what I wanted to know.

  At the age of fourteen, Tikki had pulled together a group of likeminded individuals. They’d kicked the reigning gang out of their newly claimed territory and held it against all comers. Tikki was suspected of many things by the cops, but they’d never been able to prove anything.

  Her behavior and grades at school had always been exemplary, earning her several college scholarships and grants. Whenever the law came sniffing around, there was no shortage of people willing to vouch for her. Teachers and staff—hell, even her neighbors—had nothing but good to say. She’d never been suspended, never skipped school, and never so much as got into a fight.

  Her reputation in the streets told a different story. Again, nothing that could be proven but it was repeated enough that you knew it was true. As Tikki had said, the Outcasts didn’t go looking for trouble but if you fucked with them, they fucked you up—plain and simple. They looked after their own, and their own included everyone who lived in the territory they called home. That was a code I believed in.

  As we made our way into Lower Manhattan, we discussed the sales points we wanted to make. Manning was playing coy. He liked being wined and dined, and his perceived position of power over us. I knew his kind and was about ready to say screw it and move on to greener pastures.

  I think Manning sensed he was losing us because he’d called Monday, dangling the lure of one more meeting and then he’d be ready to make a decision. Catherine and I had discussed it and decided to give it one more shot. I knew on a personal level she would have been happy to see him go, but if we could land this account, the bonus we’d receive would be worth the headache.

  After parking in one of the paid lots, we walked the few blocks to the hole-in-the-wall restaurant I’d found. The food was great and plentiful at a low price, but the ambiance was less than stellar. One look at the place would send a clear message to Manning—put up or we’re through.

  Before we entered the Italian eatery, Catherine placed a hand on my arm. “If he doesn’t agree to sign the deal tonight, we’re done. I’m not playing his game anymore.”

  “Agreed,” I said.

  We walked inside, ready to do battle one last time.

  Chapter Nine

  Tikki

  I wiped my mouth and set the cloth napkin on the table. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me. I need to visit the restroom.”

  Both men stood when I did.

  “That’s not a bad idea,” Manning said. “Where are they located?”

  I pointed toward a hallway set to the side and rear of the restaurant. The restaurant lighting was kept soft and low, creating a sense of intimacy. It was easy to overlook the sign in the semi-darkness.

  “I’ll just follow you,” he said.

  Manning was every bit of fifty years old. He had a receding hairline, bushy eyebrows, and a square face with the beginning of a jowl. His stocky build and round belly displayed his love of fine foods and wine. With my boots on, we stood about the same height.

  As we walked to the restrooms, I could feel his eyes on me. Normally, Manning brought his wife with him, but tonight he’d said she was sick. Had I known she wouldn’t be present, I’d have bowed o
ut and let Zach handle this on his own. We both didn’t need to be here. I’d come to make the numbers even.

  Manning and I separated as we each entered our designated facilities. The women’s restroom was further down the hall and out of view of the main dining room. On this end of the hallway were a couple of doors marked Employee Only and a rear emergency exit.

  I used the toilet, washed my hands and freshened my hair and makeup. Both were fine, but I wanted to allow Manning plenty of time to return to the table before I did. Finally, when I risked Zach coming to look for me, I exited the bathroom.

  As soon as I stepped into the hallway, Manning said from behind me, “It’s about time. I thought I was going to have to come in there after you.”

  Cursing under my breath, I pasted a pleasant expression on my face and turned to face him. “Excuse me?”

  “I said, I thought I was going to have to come in and get you. Step over here out of the doorway. I’d like a minute to speak privately with you,” he said.

  My creep radar was pinging, but it always did with this guy. “I’m sure you understand that I’m part of a team. Anything you want to say to me needs to be shared with Zach.”

  Manning rubbed his jaw. “Well, now see, Zach’s good. Don’t get me wrong. I like the guy, but I think you’re the brains of this operation. If we could just powwow a minute, I’m sure we can come to an understanding.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way. As I said, Zach and I are a team. We don’t make decisions independently of each other.” I made to leave. There was a room full of people just feet away, but I didn’t feel comfortable being alone with Manning. Between the soft music playing over the speakers, the muted conversations, and sounds of cutlery clinking on plates, it felt like we were isolated.

  He grabbed my arm and stopped me in my tracks. “I don’t think you understand. I’m trying to offer you a deal.”

  I turned to face him, my inner Tikki beginning to rise. My voice got very cold and proper as I asked, “And what sort of deal would that be?”