by Ali Vali
“Are you sure?”
“The men I posted said Giovanni drove a van into the garage and left about forty minutes later, with Gino. And earlier in the day the two live-in workers left, with what looked like all their possessions. A cab took both women to the airport, where Gino’s people put them on a flight to Mexico City. We know one lady was the full-time housekeeper and the other was Little Gino’s nanny, but we don’t know why they were let go.”
“Why indeed?” The memory of Gino’s wife from the night before popped into Cain’s head. The amazing food in front of Eris had sat untouched, but she’d consumed glass after glass of wine.
“Our men followed the two Bracato idiots to their final destination, then took a short swim to find what was in the bag they dumped. It was definitely Eris. No visible wounds except some nasty bruises to the face, most probably courtesy of Gino.”
“What do we know about Gino’s wife?”
“She’s dead, boss. What does it matter?”
“What do we know about the woman?” Cain asked again.
Almost as if she’d known Cain was going to ask that question, Katlin handed over a file complete with pictures. “Her name was Eris Dubois, and she was twenty-eight years old. She hooked up with Gino about three years ago. Dumb move. She was a little into the blow, and that’s how the connection between them came about. Last year she checked herself into rehab, and a few months after that she was pregnant.”
Cain flipped to the next item in the folder and chuckled, amazed that her cousin had gotten this information. “Is this an original?” She pointed to a sheet pulled from Eris Bracato’s obstetrical file.
“Me, involved in such illegal activities?” Katlin joked. “Stop asking questions and pay attention.”
Cain returned her attention to the page Katlin handed her.
“A few months after she gave birth to the next Bracato generation, Eris got pregnant again. Only thing is, the second time around they weren’t so lucky, and she lost the baby about two months into the pregnancy. After that, she spiraled back into drugs and handed off the responsibility for the baby to the woman who boarded a plane yesterday.”
As soon as Katlin stopped talking, Cain started tapping her fingers. She drummed in staggered intervals, stopped for a while, then resumed her disjointed cadence.
When Cain refocused, Katlin asked, “Do you want me to do any more?”
“Eventually, but for now keep your people on Gino’s house and see what happens next.” Gino was probably in an emotional tailspin. No matter what a cold bastard he was, the woman was his wife, and he had to feel some remorse. “Remember, when I tell you to move, Katlin, I want you to be fast and invisible. Do you understand?”
“I know I disappointed you last night, but if you need me, I won’t do anything else wrong.”
“Don’t go making promises you don’t expect to keep.” Cain laughed and put her hand behind Katlin’s head, then looked beyond her at Merrick. “Are you sure you haven’t found other alliances that invalidate ours?”
Katlin also looked at Merrick, who was standing next to Emma. “If you think that, you missed the point of last night. My alliances—I should say our alliances—are to you. When this started we had five problems, and now we have two, at least as far as the Bracatos are concerned. If that’s not good enough, then I’ll apologize again.”
Cain squeezed the column of Katlin’s neck and smiled. “I know why you did it, but if you do something like that again without my say-so, I’m going to kick your ass.” Her voice was low, but the smile never disappeared. “Just this once, though, thanks. Because of you and Merrick we do have only two left, but it’s those two that concern me.”
“I’d be worried if Dalton Casey had raised Giovanni and Gino, but he didn’t. We’ll be fine, I’m sure of that.”
On the other side of the room Emma continued to listen to Muriel talk, but her eyes never left Cain. She still needed to tell her about Juan Luis.
Almost as if he’d read her thoughts, Lou took Muriel’s place and put his hand on Emma’s knee. “How you doing, Mrs. Casey?”
“I’m working on my poker face, Lou, but aside from that I’m doing great.”
“Have you had a chance to tell her what happened this morning?”
“Not yet.”
He nodded again and sighed. “I guess you haven’t gotten around to telling her about last night either?”
“Lou, I know you’re unhappy with me, but when she got home last night, Juan the idiot was the last thing on my mind.” Emma placed her hand over his. “I swear tonight over dinner, I’ll tell her everything that happened. Just start praying now that she doesn’t shoot me for waiting this long to bring the subject up.”
“Aren’t you glad you have Merrick and the others to keep you safe?”
Whatever else Emma was going to say died on her lips as Cain stood and buttoned her jacket. “How about an early dinner?”
“Sounds good.” Before she got to her feet, Emma looked at Lou one last time and smiled.
The door of the car closed behind Cain a few minutes later, and she embraced Emma as they started to move.
Emma said, “Something happened last night and this morning you need to know about.”
“Are you all right?”
Emma kissed a small scar on Cain’s first knuckle. “I’m fine, and I want you to keep that in mind when you hear what I have to say.” Before she lost her nerve she described the two brief encounters with Juan Luis, swearing she felt Cain growl when she told her what had happened that morning in the French Quarter.
“Did he touch you?”
Emma could have taken the question a number of different ways, but she took it for what it was—concern. Though Cain often told Emma she belonged to her, their relationship wasn’t built on possession. Emma knew Cain belonged to her just as much.
“Lou was there both times, love, so no, he didn’t. I also told him on both occasions who I’m with, but he didn’t seem to want to get the message.”
Surprisingly Cain laughed at the comment, making Emma squirm. “I’m not laughing at you, sweetling, or the situation.”
“What’s so funny, then?”
“After the last couple of weeks and what we’ve been through, I would’ve enjoyed seeing you put that asshole in his place.” She kissed the top of Emma’s head and pulled her closer. “And of course he didn’t want to get the message. Men like Juan were raised to think the world and all the women in it are for their pleasure. In this case he’s going to succeed.”
Emma shot up at the comment, ready to face off with Cain. “I did not give this guy any encouragement.”
“I know. I meant, if the attention of a Casey woman is what he wants, then he’s getting it. Only once I’m done, he might not find it all that pleasurable.”
Emma laughed, but worried that the last thing Cain needed was another battle to fight.
*
As the waiter brought out the desserts Cain and Emma had ordered, the phone on Merrick’s hip buzzed once, signaling she had a message. She flipped it open under the table, not wanting to draw attention to herself, but just as soon as she read the message, she smiled.
Have u eaten yet?
With one more glance around the room to make sure everything was still all right, she tapped Lou on the shoulder and pointed toward the ladies’ room. Once there, she inhaled deeply before hitting the Reply button and sending a return message. She felt like scolding the sender for bothering her at work, but left the door open for whatever possibilities the night held.
“Problem?” Cain asked Merrick as she helped Emma out of the restaurant.
“Katlin just had a question, nothing serious.” Merrick moved ahead of them to open the car door and avoid any more questions.
“Let it go, baby, we’re on our way home,” Emma said as Cain opened her mouth to say something else. “If it’s something Katlin thinks needs your attention, I’m sure she’ll be waiting for you when we get there.”
>
“And if it has to do with our talk in Haywood on your father’s porch?”
“Then I say we take a bottle of champagne up to our room and toast my good fortune.”
Creases formed on Cain’s brow when she tried to figure out what Emma was talking about.
“Your good fortune?”
“If Merrick has found someone who can take her mind off you, then yes.” She kissed Cain on the nose. “My good fortune.”
Merrick stayed long enough to see the couple retire upstairs, then set the house alarm before walking out the back door. At dinner she’d been thinking of her bed in the condo she owned not far from where the new club was going to open. One little question, though, had realigned her focus.
She opened the door to the pool house without knocking, then crossed her arms over her chest, the perfect picture of annoyance. “Do you usually bother people when they’re working? Considering what we do, that could be a dangerous habit.”
“You’re not working now,” Katlin said from the small kitchen.
“Your point is?” The phone on her hip buzzed once again with a new message.
Behave or there might be consequences.
“Is that a threat?” She took her suit jacket off and threw it on the sofa.
“The way I want the night to end”—Katlin finally stepped into the room and put a bowl of strawberries on the nightstand—“it wouldn’t be prudent for me to make threats.”
“Then what’s this about?”
Katlin spread her arms out and shrugged her shoulders. “Call it settling a bet with myself.”
“This ought to be good.” Merrick picked up a piece of fruit. She bit into it, her eyes on Katlin as the juice ran down her chin.
“Before I tell you my bet, I’ve got a question for you.”
Merrick nodded her head once as if to give permission for her to ask, but Katlin wasn’t in a hurry. She sat in the chair across from where Merrick stood and looked her over from head to foot. “Do you plan on running out to find any more gifts for Cain tonight?”
“I think the last two we got her should suffice for now, so tell me your bet.”
“Part of me thinks you’re a tease.” Katlin stopped and laughed at the scowl her statement produced.
“What’s the other part of you think?” Merrick dropped her arms and spread her feet apart almost as if she were expecting an attack.
The dark shirt Merrick was wearing pulled tight across her breasts, but Katlin decided the shoulder holster she was wearing rather than the cut of the shirt caused the pleasant sight. When she took a deep breath the material pulled even tauter, and Katlin noticed her nipples harden.
“That you’ll make good on your promises.” Katlin crossed her legs and pointed in the direction of Merrick’s chest. “By starting with the gun and the shirt. You’re just dying to show me something that’ll make me wet.”
“Am I now?” Despite the flip question, Merrick removed the holster and the Glock, dropping them on her jacket. “What are you going to do for me?” She opened the buttons on her shirt with the patience of a woman who had all night to reach her goals.
The navy bra looked exotic next to Merrick’s skin, and the sight of so much skin made Katlin stand up and say, “I’m going to show you something I don’t think anyone has bothered to in a very long time.”
Stepping behind Merrick, Katlin lifted her fingers and with a quick twist unfastened the bra. She moved in close to reach for the button on her pants, and just as quickly they dropped to Merrick’s ankles.
“Aren’t you overdressed?” Merrick asked Katlin.
“I see now that you aren’t a tease, darling girl, so we’ll worry about me soon enough.” When Katlin pulled her backward into her body, Merrick’s abdomen muscles tightened under her hand, but that was her only reaction. Katlin guessed it was Merrick’s way of trying to maintain control. “Kick your shoes off for me.”
Free to move Merrick without tripping her, Katlin walked her to the chair she’d been occupying, stopping when Merrick’s hands were on the back of it. Katlin mapped out Merrick’s body with her soft yet strong hands, staring at her stomach, then moving around to her back, never stopping and going nowhere near where she knew Merrick really wanted her.
“Who’s teasing now?” Merrick asked, having to look behind her to get a glimpse of her torturer.
“Teasing is arousal without the promise of release,” Katlin said as her hands slid down until she was at the last barrier between her and Merrick’s skin. But instead of removing the navy striped bikinis, Katlin slid her fingers just under the elastic. “I can promise you won’t go wanting.”
“That sure of yourself, baby?” Merrick laughed softly and turned her head even more, so she could see Katlin’s face.
“You’re telling me you’re not turned on?” Katlin squeezed Merrick’s nipple until it felt like a small stone between her fingers. At the same time her other hand went down between Merrick’s legs, finding her wet and hot. “Something tells me you believe my promise.”
Merrick parted her lips to accept a kiss, groaning into Katlin’s mouth as her fingers started to move. Every sweep downward coated her fingers so that they slid easily over Merrick’s diamond-hard clitoris. Katlin never broke their kiss as she stroked faster, enjoying the way Merrick’s ass pumped into her groin. As her excitement built, Merrick brought one hand up to cover the one Katlin had on her chest, making Katlin squeeze harder.
“Uh…don’t stop,” Merrick panted as she tightened when her orgasm started. “Don’t stop.” With one final push back into Katlin, Merrick came on her hand, glad for the strong arms holding her up.
When the spasms finally stopped, she went willingly when Katlin turned around and sat down with Merrick on her lap. She reached for Katlin’s still-wet hand and linked their fingers together.
“What is it you think no one’s bothered to show me in a long time?” Merrick asked, remembering something Katlin had said earlier.
“You’re very good at your job, which takes strength and a certain attitude to pull off.” Katlin stopped to kiss her again. “People respect your strength, but they sometimes forget to look past it and see how beautiful you are.” Another kiss made Merrick move closer. “My job is going to be to remind you of just how stunning you are when it’s just the two of us.”
“Such sweet words”—Merrick stood with the grace of a cat—“make me want to make good on my promise.” She unfastened Katlin’s pants and with help threw them over her shoulder.
“What promise was that?”
Merrick dropped to her knees and spread Katlin’s sex open for her pleasure. “I believe I promised to go slow enough to make you beg.” She sucked Katlin’s clitoris into her mouth, making the meaning of “slow” rather dubious, but then just as quickly she stopped. “And only when you beg am I going to give you what you want.”
When she sucked on Katlin again, she had to laugh at the pained “please” that leaked from Katlin’s mouth. It was then that she stopped teasing and gave them both what they wanted.
Chapter Forty-One
The next two weeks were quiet. No one had spotted the Casey children yet, but the watchers saw their parents almost every night sharing quiet dinners at some of their favorite spots. Lou and Merrick were never too far away, and Katlin was barely a blip on the FBI’s radar.
Muriel’s offices and Emerald’s were almost complete, and the club would open soon. Shelby and her team figured Cain would make whatever move she’d been planning then.
The one team of agents assigned to the Bracato family was working overtime to piece together what was happening and why they were missing so many players. After hours on the street and monitoring their wiretaps, they had concluded that Giovanni had sent three of his sons out of town to finalize whatever business they had with Rodolfo Luis.
“There’s nothing new with Casey?” Annabel asked. After one too many embarrassing moments, she’d taken a more active role in all their ongoing investigat
ions.
“No, ma’am,” Joe answered. He opened the file in front of him in case Agent Hicks wanted a more detailed account. “Since they’re set to open in a couple of days, we’ve added a few more guys at the warehouses and other places she might not think we’re watching.”
“You’re delusional if you think she’s not aware,” Anthony interjected.
“Agent Curtis, do you have anything constructive to add to what your fellow agent is saying?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Then why are you talking? I suggest you stay quiet and listen from now on, or I’ll reassign you to desk duty. Are we clear?”
He lowered his eyelids a little, but merely answered, “Crystal, ma’am.” He was convinced that he hadn’t been transferred or bounced out of the agency because no one had found out about his illegal wiretap operation when Cain was in the hospital.
“You were saying, Joseph.”
“We’ll be ready if something happens. The shooting at her home, along with the two bombings, won’t go unanswered. We predict a turf war between the Casey and Bracato families.
“But we don’t know how the other families will react or if they’ll get involved. If they want to gain more territory, they’d be smart to let the two families battle it out, then divide the city once they’re done. That leaves us with one good scenario. Once the dust settles, we can put two of the four families out of business.”
The agent assigned to Giovanni’s family opened his file next. “Gino was bragging about both jobs, so we concur. If Casey moves, it’s going to be against him first.”
Agent Hicks nodded and placed her hands flat on the table. “Then let’s keep our eyes open, people. I don’t need to remind you how ill-advised another fiasco like the warehouse incident would be.”