by Ali Vali
After taking the freight elevator to the first floor of the hospital, Muriel exited in the delivery area. She ducked around a truck unloading carts of clean linens and headed for the steps that would leave her close to the one destination the watchers would never notice her.
The bus pulled up to the stop, and after a brief ride Muriel hopped off and headed to the upscale mall close to the aquarium.
Along the way she passed the new casino, laughing as a group of tourists headed for one of the entrances. No matter how hard the legitimate gaming places tried to compete with people like this who were probably headed to the nickel slots, the man she was going to see was still doing a profitable business. Ramon’s regular clientele was used to the special perks that were a part of the service he provided.
In a private back section of a dark bar on the eleventh floor, she greeted Emile, who had been with Ramon from the time he was a teenager and would gladly sacrifice his life to keep the crime boss safe.
“Muriel.” Emile nodded and held out his hand. “Good to see you again.”
“Thanks, Emile.” She took his hand and watched as hers disappeared in it. “Is it me, or do you get bigger every time I see you?”
He laughed and put his other hand on her shoulder. “Go on in. He’s waiting on you.”
Ramon sat at the back table sipping from a glass of dark rum and smoking a very good Cuban cigar. Now in his mid-sixties, Ramon was still very attractive. His black curly hair, slightly graying at the temples, was thick, and his clothes were stylish in a conservative way. He looked like a businessman or lawyer unwinding with a drink after a long day.
He stood as Muriel got closer and rested the smoke in the ashtray. “It’s been a while, amiga.” Holding her hands in his, he kissed both her cheeks before pulling her into a long hug. Despite his years in the States, Ramon still had an accent.
“You know how it is, Ramon. Sometimes life gets away from us and all we can do is try to keep up.”
“And sometimes it’s just a pain in the ass, no?” He chuckled and pulled a chair out for her, signaling the bartender for another round. “Sit and have a drink with me and tell me what it is you need.”
The cigar lighter came out again, and Ramon relit his cigar while the server put down two new glasses and carried the empty one away. Muriel looked at the blue flame coming out of the small blowtorch and enjoyed the aroma of the expensive smoke. She picked up her glass and took a small sip of the amber liquid, liking the way it warmed her as it went down. “You heard what happened?”
“Two explosions that big are hard to miss. How many did you lose today?” He turned his face away from her and blew out a stream of smoke.
“Too many, but I’m not here to complain about that.”
“You know I’ll do whatever you ask, Muriel. I have much to thank Dalton for from when I first got to this country, and I’ll be forever in his debt. Without his backing and that of Vincent, I’d be a poor man. When he died I swore to help his children any way I could. I’m sure Cain would do the same for either Ramon or Remi.” The way the Rs in the two names rolled off his tongue made Muriel smile.
“How are they? I’m sorry for not asking sooner.”
“They are both wonderful. Remi’s getting ready for a move to California, and Ramon is in Vegas running the Gemini. Their mother misses them, but they try and come home as much as possible. My wife spends most of her time trying to find a girl for Remi, especially after seeing how happy Cain has been after settling down. She won’t be satisfied until she has a brood of grandchildren to spoil.”
It was hard to miss the pride in his voice, and just as quickly his face became sober. “You have no children, but Cain understands what I do about family. What happened at her home today, that is unforgivable and not the work of a real man. It takes no cojones to shoot at women and children.” He leaned back in his seat and clenched his fist. “I’ve spoken to Vincent, and we agree this action and everything else that happened today shouldn’t go unpunished.”
“Thank you for your concern, Ramon. Our family greatly appreciates the willingness of the other families to stand with us.” She reached across the table and put her hand over his. “You’re right, of course. For years we’ve all been happy to make a living from our respective businesses, but our common enemy has grown greedy. However, that’s not why I’m here.” She leaned farther in and spoke softly almost into his ear, conveying all that Cain had put in her note.
“That’s all she wants?” He seemed surprised.
“For now. When it’s time, we’ll have to sit together again and decide how the city will be restructured so that everyone is happy, but for now she just needs time.”
Blue smoke circled above his head for a minute after he exhaled, and Ramon finished his drink. From his inner jacket pocket he pulled out a card with only a number printed on it and handed it to her. “When she’s ready, just call. There are ways to do this without anyone having to know. I’m thinking that’s what she wants.” He smiled, still biting the cigar in his mouth.
“There’s a reason you’re still at the top of your game, Mr. Jatibon.” The card made its way into her inner jacket pocket. “You never have to have it spelled out for you.”
He spread his hands out to his sides and shrugged. “I try,” he said, making her laugh. “This is a favor I look forward to doing. Surprises are sometimes the best part of this job. I’m still laughing at what those policemen must have been thinking when they opened those crates.”
For the longest time the Caseys had been supplying his clubs with liquor, and some of the more requested choices were illegal in the United States, even if the taxes on them were paid. Sort of like the cigar he was enjoying. Just because the government couldn’t appreciate a good Cuban smoke and a glass of Havana Club twenty-five-year-old rum didn’t mean his customers didn’t.
“I was there when they finally figured it out, and I can safely say they didn’t find it as humorous as we do.” She finished her drink in one swallow, then squeezed his hand. “Thank you for coming out of your way on such short notice. I won’t keep you away from your lovely wife any longer.”
They exchanged kisses again before Ramon and his bodyguard walked her to the elevator. Outside the sun had set, and, from the look of the trees, the wind had picked up coming off the river. She still had plenty of time to stroll to the luxury hotel the Piquant to meet Shelby for a drink.
Muriel buttoned her coat as she veered away from the river and walked up Canal Street thinking of the FBI agent. Shelby Daniels was the first woman who’d ever invaded her thoughts in the course of her day, and it was starting to concern her. It was dangerous enough to lose your head over a woman, but it was disastrous to be interested in one set on trying to catch you in a mistake only to lock you up for it. As logical as that sounded to her, Muriel still picked up her pace, wanting to see Shelby again.
“Let’s just go see if there’s anything to this luck-of-the-Irish thing,” she whispered. Perhaps for a little while she could forget what had happened that day by losing herself in a pair of pretty blue eyes, because, from the expression on Cain’s face, the storm was coming.
And Muriel was sure that when it did, Shelby would be the last woman in the world who’d offer her a safe harbor.
Chapter Nine
“Lose something?” Cain asked without opening her eyes. She smiled when she heard the orderly’s breath hitch.
“I’m just getting you some fresh water. I’m Todd, by the way.”
“Thanks, but you finished pouring quite a while ago. Do you need something else?” It was the same guy she’d seen planting the bug earlier that morning.
For a split second Todd wondered if the guy listening in from wherever would make it there in time if something happened to him. He thought hard before opening his mouth and saying anything that would put his life in danger. “I was just hiding out for a while. My boss is the bitch from hell. You know how it is.”
The smile that followed the
statement was insincere since it was more of a smirk than a smile, and Cain fought the urge to force-feed him the surveillance equipment. “Trust me, buddy, there are worse things in life than a boss who’s a little hard on you.”
Her smile widened, but instead of offering Todd comfort, it made him suddenly want to get out of there.
“Much worse.”
He practically ran from the icy tone of her voice, and she laughed as the door slammed behind him. For Cain the hospital flunky was just a minor annoyance, but she did want to know who had put him up to bugging her room. She had no proof but wanted to believe that it wasn’t Shelby. She wondered if the friendly feebie had any knowledge of Todd and his little caper.
“Scaring the help again?” Emma poked her head in and gave Cain a mock glare.
“It helps pass the time while I’m being bored to death in here. Of course, there are other ways to do that which are much more fun.” Cain held out her hand in invitation. She’d sent Emma on a small errand and found herself missing her more than she wanted to admit. It had been much too easy to fall back to the sense of completeness Emma brought to her life.
“That would be wonderful, but you have to be good. Nothing but kissing for a while yet, honey. Doctor’s orders.”
“Then come over here and kiss me.”
Emma stretched out next to her and stroked Cain’s cheek. She couldn’t get enough of the feeling that came from touching her partner after four years of missing her. Slowly she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Cain’s for a fleeting moment. Then she pulled back just enough that she could trace the full lips with her tongue, liking the way Cain moaned.
When Cain cupped her breast, squeezing gently as if to convince herself she really did have Emma there with her, Emma inhaled sharply. “Be good, honey.”
“I’m trying, but I can’t prove it if you keep on holding my hands captive.” Cain laughed as Emma covered her hand to keep it from roaming but didn’t remove it from her chest. Emma groaned at both the answer and the touch, so Cain moved her hand to Emma’s back. “I’m sorry, love, I’ll behave. Did you get the kids squared away?”
“Your uncle took them in for the night and said he’d have them back here first thing in the morning for a visit. Getting Hannah to leave here was a nightmare, though. She’s madly in love with you already and didn’t want to go anywhere if you weren’t coming with us.” Emma couldn’t stand to maintain eye contact as she said the words. The more she saw Cain and Hannah together, the guiltier she felt. “I’m so sorry.” The apology was muffled by Cain’s hospital gown when Emma buried her face in her chest.
“You know what’s important here and now, lass?”
Emma shook her head, and Cain could tell she was crying.
“That you and she are here with Hayden and me now, and we want you to be. Some things will take time, and we might have some setbacks, but we’ll get through those together.”
“I’m so lucky.”
“Yes, you are,” Cain joked. “I’m good-looking, have money, and am a wonderful catch.”
“And so modest.” The light teasing pulled Emma out of her funk, and she thanked God again not only for Cain’s willingness to try, but for her willingness to forgive. “I love you so much. I never stopped.” She kissed Cain again and tried to express through her touch just how much.
“I’ve missed hearing you say those words.”
“Not as much as I miss saying them.” The words were as open and honest as the expression on Emma’s face.
Some days in the four years they’d been apart she had yelled them into the wind when she walked her father’s land. She’d found some comfort in imagining the wind carrying them south to find Cain.
Cain brushed her fingers over Emma’s cheeks, wiping away the last of her tears. Now free to let her heart feel again, Cain found her own comfort in the smooth, familiar skin. “You want to help me up?” Cain wanted to tell Emma something but didn’t want to share it with a stranger. In reality she’d let the conversation go on long enough.
“Are you all right?”
“Just fine, love. I have to go to the bathroom, and the group of Nazis they call nurses around here want me to get up as much as possible.”
Cain had to laugh when Emma took the opportunity to explore a little as they walked. The gown Cain was wearing gave her plenty of real estate to work with.
“I thought you had to go,” Emma said when the door closed and Cain pulled her close.
“The orderly left a little gift earlier, and I wanted to tell you about it before our talk got any more intimate.”
Emma shivered as Cain whispered in her ear. Even in the earliest days of their relationship, Cain could merely have recited the alphabet and Emma would melt from the sound of that low burr.
“I need you to get my robe and find a closet somewhere so we can talk.”
“Who’s he working for?”
“Robe and privacy first, lass.”
They flushed and started a conversation about the house and repairs to give their eavesdropper the impression of domestic bliss. Throughout the exchange Cain started yawning, making it clear she was headed for another nap. Instead, they made their way to the empty patient room next door.
“Can the feds do that?” Emma was frustrated that Cain had to exhaust herself just so they could converse. It was one thing for their enemies to pursue her partner when she was healthy and able to make the chase interesting, but this was cheap and petty. “You’re in the hospital because one of their people shot you, for God’s sake.”
“We don’t know it’s the feds.”
“Who else would it be?”
“If it’s them, then I’m sure some judge signed something along the way that makes it all right, but I don’t want to talk about that now.” She motioned Emma closer. “They can tape me all they want when I’m at work or out, that I’m used to, but when I have to talk with my wife, that’s off-limits.”
“Am I still that? Or should I say, am I still that in your eyes?”
Cain ran her hand through Emma’s thick blond hair until it came to rest behind her neck. “When you left, or when it finally hit me that you were gone, I tried for the longest time to hate you. I figured if I could get to that place, it would be easy for my heart to cut you loose.”
Emma understood the way Cain felt, even though it was painful to hear. “Why didn’t you?”
“Two reasons.” Cain reached for one of Emma’s hands. “One, because of Hayden. At night I told him stories about you and about us. He would lie there and listen, enjoying my little forays down memory lane until the day came that he didn’t want to hear them. That’s when I found myself lying in bed thinking about our time together because it was the one thing that brought me peace.” She brought their linked hands up and put them over her heart. “I started as a way to comfort our son, then found you were ingrained in here.” Cain bumped their hands over her heart. “No amount of anger or any other emotion is going to erase you from my heart. I love you, Emma Casey, and no matter your choices you’ll always be my wife in here.”
“I’ll never give you cause to doubt me again. I swear it.”
“If that’s true, then nothing will ever harm us.”
“What do we do about all this mess we’re in, honey? You need to get better before anything else happens.”
The big smile and slight tug encouraged Emma to sit in her lap.
“We’re going to take all the time you want. Then and only then will we live up to my reputation as a Casey.”
Careful not to put pressure on Cain’s injured side, Emma leaned against her and pressed her lips to Cain’s neck. “I’m not sure what that means, but at the moment I don’t care.” She placed a small kiss on the pulse point, enjoying the way it beat steadily against her lips.
Dr. Donald Elton hesitated before entering, but kept walking when Cain waved him in. “I thought you’d run off on me. And I’d ask how you’re doing, but I can see that you’re doing better than
I am.”
“Sorry, Dr. Elton,” Emma said, moving off Cain’s lap.
“Don’t be sorry. I’ve always felt love is the quickest healer. You keep up the good work and she’ll be back to full steam in no time.” He looked at Cain and held out his hand. “What can I do for you?”
Cain started by explaining what had happened at their home and her business, finishing with what she wanted from him. It was difficult for the doctor not to give her what she wanted, especially after seeing the size of Emma’s smile when she heard what Cain had in mind.
“You’ll still need care,” he warned.
“I’m not in any way suicidal, so don’t worry,” she assured him. “When certain people start asking, and they will, the last time we saw each other was a couple of days ago, and I left without your consent.”
“You don’t have anything to fear from me, Cain. Just promise me you’ll come by and let me see my handiwork. It’s not often I get to work on someone with such great muscle tone and bone structure. I’d like to see it when it’s all working.” When Emma’s smile faded, he put his hands up in her direction. “I really am only interested from a medical point of view, so don’t worry.”
Cain chuckled and pulled Emma back down on her lap. “You got a deal, Doc. As soon as this is over, I’ll run laps for you if you want.”
In spite of her good mood, it still bothered her that she was running, since the Bracatos would think she was weak, but Cain had no choice. She didn’t know what the future held, and in Cain’s world that was reason enough to sweat.
Chapter Ten
When Muriel entered the bar at the Piquant, the jazz ensemble was just stepping off the small stage for a break. She’d been there often, and she knew that the musicians were always as good as the drinks the bartenders poured. Shelby sat at a table in one of the alcoves, her back to most of the patrons in the room. She had let her hair down and was running her finger up and down the stem of her glass, seemingly deep in thought.