The Cain Casey Series

by Ali Vali

  “It’s been years but I still miss the sound of Dalton’s voice,” Andrew said. “Are you bringing the family out today?”

  “Later on, when Hayden gets out of school. He never knew my father, but he likes bringing flowers for Marie.” Cain unlocked the door of the crypt and stepped in. Slowly she ran her hand along Dalton’s name on his grave marker. The date was in early March exactly fourteen years ago, but the pain of losing him was etched into her soul as it was in the stone.

  “Derby, you have to let go of your guilt.”

  “We all have our crosses to bear, don’t we, Father? This is mine, and I’ve done some things to ease the hurt of loss. But I’m afraid the guilt is eternal. There really isn’t any rest for the wicked.”

  “Do you think that’s what Dalton would’ve wanted for you? To live half a life by holding back from your partner and your children?”

  “I’ve learned my lessons about holding back, don’t worry. My family is the most important thing in my life, but I haven’t forgotten the family I’ve lost.”

  She pressed her hand harder into the stone and he stood back. “You still blame yourself for all the names in here, don’t you?”

  “Why wouldn’t I? Giovanni isn’t that good,” she said, carefully emphasizing the present tense. Little slipups like that could sink her.

  “Do you think you were just negligent?”

  “My father was a surprise, but the others…” She moved her fingers over her mother’s name, then her brother’s, and made a fist when she got to Marie’s. “They were my responsibility. My father expected me to keep them safe.” It had taken some time, but Cain had enlarged the crypt to make room for Marie’s body, and even though she still hurt from her loss, that she was back among those who loved her most in life brought Cain comfort. And it’d been easier for Hayden this time around with Emma and Hannah there as they interred Marie again.

  Andrew moved closer and placed one of his hands over her head. “May the Lord bring you peace then, because now they are His responsibility. Take care of your family, Derby, and the rest will take care of itself. Your father was like a brother to me, and I’d bet my eternal soul he doesn’t blame you for any of it. The one to blame isn’t of consequence anymore, so pay attention to the people who love you. I’m sure you’ll keep them whole.”

  “Thank you.” From her breast pocket she pulled a flask full of Dalton’s favorite whiskey. She passed it to Andrew first, took a sip after him, then poured the rest over Dalton’s grave stone. “To you, Da. Rest, knowing that I’m almost done.”

  “God bless you then,” Andrew said as he moved his hand to her back.

  “Be careful with your blessings, Father Andy. I’ve warned you before of my intentions to sin again.”

  “I’m also smart enough to know my flock, and like God, I have infinite patience to wait for you to find your way. The Lord loves even black sheep, Derby.”

  “The devil has a liking for us as well,” she said as the prepaid cell phone in her pocket chirped.

  It signaled an incoming text message of only one word that normally could hold a multitude of meaning, but for Cain it meant the Bracatos were that much closer to being a memory only a few would bother with. The word “DONE” meant another batch of Giovanni’s henchmen on the street had shared his fate.

  Some of Giovanni’s foremen had tried to start their own businesses after his disappearance and had moved in on some of the storeowners Cain did business with. Cain had been willing to ignore them, but a couple of the storeowners had been attacked and one had been killed for their non-cooperation with the new entrepreneurs.

  Once they’d gone after the people who depended on her for protection, she’d started taking the trash off the streets. All the kills weren’t hers, but after she’d retaliated, no one had invaded her territory. With that situation resolved, she could plan something that would give the feds a show they wouldn’t soon forget.

  “I’m sure my wife and my beloved mother hope you’re right when it comes to heaven and black sheep.” She put the cell back in her pocket and pointed to the gate. “But for now you’ll have to keep praying for the sinner I am.”

  Chapter Two

  Key West, Florida

  The dragon soared to the top of the hill again, sending a stream of fire down on the dark knight’s shield and igniting the wheat fields around him to a roaring blaze. The head encased within the armor was drenched in sweat, making the beast harder to see, but he wasn’t ready to surrender and take cover. With sword upraised he spied his opening to vanquish the evil serpent when—

  Beep. Beep. Beep.

  Remington Jatibon reached out and quieted the Blackberry sitting on the cooler, then read the message on the screen.

  Time to go, great knight. Your kingdom awaits and there are dragons to slay.

  “Damn, and I just got to the part where they actually used the word ‘vanquish.’”

  The curse shattered the peaceful atmosphere created by the waves gently lapping on the shoreline. Remi punched in a phone number, and reality invaded her haven under the umbrella. “How far out are you, Simon? Your timing absolutely sucks, by the way.”

  Simon Jimenez, the Cuban-born middle-aged woman who served as Remi’s main bodyguard, spoke. “The day you tell me one of the flying lizards actually wins, I’ll leave you alone. We’re five minutes out, so start walking to the landing pad. Juno’s waiting at the airport in Key West with your itinerary for the next couple of days, and it’s not looking pretty.”

  From her seat on the private island, Remi trained her eyes to the east, trying to spot the approaching helicopter. The island, just a patch of sand and some palm trees a few miles south of Key West, was one of her favorite spots.

  Instead of getting ready, Remi sat back in the chair, pulled another beer from the cooler, and gazed out over the blue-green water. She wanted a final respite before the itinerary her assistant Juno had put together kicked in.

  “I thought I told you to start walking?” Simon asked fifteen minutes later.

  “And I thought you worked for me, Simon?”

  “That would explain your signature on my paycheck. Just remember to tell Juno who delayed us, because I’m not taking the blame again. Why can’t you go to Palm Springs like everybody else? The travel arrangements would be easier,” Simon stepped close to Remi’s chair, holding her hand up to shield her face from the sun.

  “If I was like everybody else, your life would be infinitely boring. Besides, we aren’t late. The reception isn’t until tonight, so relax and have a beer.”

  “Your brother called and wants to review the casino contract again before the meeting. He called Cain, your father, and even Muriel Casey for a sit-down this afternoon.”

  “Once this thing is done I’ll treat you to a bottle of champagne.” Remi took a sip of beer and slowly faced her. “Come on, old girl, let’s see what else hell can dredge up for us today.”

  Simon’s smile faltered and she pointed at Remi. “Watch it. Don’t tempt the fates.”

  “It’s what I live for, Simon. It’s what I live for.”

  New Orleans, Louisiana

  “Are you sure?”

  “Today, baby,” Emma said after she drank a little of her juice. Her usual cup of coffee was absent.

  Emma and Cain had been back in New Orleans for two months, living with Jarvis and Muriel Casey again while the contractor finished repairing their house. As Cain had promised, their life had returned to normal after they’d returned from Wisconsin, or as normal as life with Cain ever got.

  The one thing hard to miss was the FBI surveillance that had been stepped up from the moment Cain had hit their radar again. The invasion of privacy aggravated Emma, but the authorities were still wondering what had happened to the Bracato family, so Cain had warned her in advance what to expect.

  “Today?” Cain asked again as she pushed away from the table.

  “If you’ve got something else planned, then I suggest you reschedule.”
Emma leaned back in her chair and tried to sound menacing. When Cain chuckled she realized she’d failed.

  “Would you think less of me if I told you I’m scared?”

  Emma laughed along with her. “I’m sure you’re quaking in your shorts.”

  “Are you questioning your ability to make me quake in my shorts, lass?” Cain put her hand on her chest and widened her eyes.

  “I just don’t want to waste the opportunity, love.”

  Before Emma finished her statement, Cain had risen from her seat and dropped to her knees next to her. “You can’t think I’m not going with you. I’ve been waiting for this day from the second we talked about it. I love you and I’m ready.”

  “I was just teasing you, honey. If anything, I’m enjoying my final days of you letting me lift my own glass.” Emma put her hands on Cain’s cheeks, then kissed her. “So are you free at ten?”

  “Since my buddy, Dr. Casey, gave me a call and told me not to be late, I’ll be there.”

  “Want to go upstairs and do everything we can to relax before our appointment?” Emma kissed her again. “Mook just left with the kids.”

  “Then come with me, Mrs. Casey.” Cain stood and offered her hands. “Relaxation is my specialty.”

  “Cain?” Katlin Patrick, Cain’s cousin and guard, stopped at the door of the dining room. “Sorry to interrupt.”

  “What’s up?”

  “Ramon called to remind you about today’s meeting.”

  Cain glanced down at Emma before turning to Katlin. “Call him back and tell him today is out. Muriel can handle our end of things.”

  Emma rested a hand on Cain’s chest and exercised her new partnership with Cain. “Katlin, please tell him if the meeting is after one this afternoon, Cain will be happy to be there.” She patted Cain’s chest when she felt her take a breath to start speaking. “We’ll be done by then, and I’ll be happy to nap while you’re out.”

  “Call him then, and don’t bother us unless the house is on fire.”

  “True, honey, you have other fires to start,” Emma said as she slipped her hand into the front of Cain’s pants to lead her upstairs.

  Chapter Three

  Key West, Florida

  “Dallas, why pick this fucking place? This dump is like a furnace.” The sweaty, red-faced Bob Bennett ranted while he walked through the Key West airport. He kept a firm grip on Dallas Montgomery, who was trailing him. “At least the plane should be here soon, and we can get the hell out of here.”

  “No one asked you to come. It was my vacation, remember?” Dallas said. “Besides,” she jerked out of his grasp, “I thought you said it was a studio plane. It’s not like you can miss that.” She tried to reason with Bob because once the irritating man got going, her life became that much more difficult.

  “How about you shut the hell up. You’ve been nothing but a screw-up all your life, and it’s time you start asking me before you plan these little excursions. You better resign yourself to the realities of your life because, believe me, whatever you’re doing, it’s going to be with me.”

  Dallas stayed quiet but mentally added another entry to her list of “ways to kill Bob”—5614—setting him afloat one hundred miles offshore with nothing but a bloody rump roast around his neck.

  He was right, though. He wasn’t going anywhere, and instead of enjoying her budding career, she had to deal with the leech who could take it all away. He knew a lifetime of secrets that could break her in ways she wasn’t willing to think about.

  In the air above the landing strip, the Jatibons’ private jet was receiving its clearance to set down when Doug Price, the pilot, saw the helicopter cruising in from the east. “Might be the boss, so prepare for a quick turn-around,” he told his copilot and navigator. They had flown the Jatibon family for years, shuttling the family around for business and pleasure, and had over the years become trusted employees. Their greatest asset was their short-term memory. Once the flight was over, no matter who they were escorting, they forgot the name and face as soon as the wheels hit the tarmac. No one could talk or testify about something he had no memory of.

  The wheels of the jet touched down and the crew taxied away from the commercial side of the airport toward the section with a multitude of private planes sitting idle. Once the two men had shut down everything, they stepped from the cockpit to let Rosa, the attractive attendant, know they should be on the ground no longer than an hour.

  They headed out into the ninety-degree heat in their pressed chino shorts and white polo shirts with the Jatibon name and snake-eyes logo stitched on the breast pockets. The same image of the hooded and slitted eyes of the king cobra was painted on the tail of the plane.

  They were there to pick up not only Remi, but her two business partners, Dwayne and Steve, and their wives, Molly and Lisa. Remi’s father, Ramon, affectionately referred to them and Remi as “the crew.” The guys had attended school with her, and when it was time to conquer the world, Dwayne and Steve had signed on willingly with the ambitious Jatibon family. They had two kids each, with Remi the only holdout. She was still single, but the group meshed as well now as when they were prowling the campus at Louisiana State University, then later in law school.

  Remi had met Dwayne in their freshman year at LSU and built an instant rapport with him. Steve joined the tight-knit group in their junior year after befriending Remi. Wanting to keep them together, Remi asked Ramon to invest in their future.

  He had paid for all of them to attend law school, and the three graduated at the top of their class. They were by far the best negotiators Ramon had seen in corporate America. And after Remi took over the firm that protected Ramon’s company from the sharks constantly circling the waters he chose to swim in, she had won every litigation.

  “Steve, is that Rosa?” Lisa, his pretty brunette wife sitting on his lap in the overcrowded terminal, asked.

  “Yep, that’s her, which means our ride’s here. Let me get up and start loading all this stuff. Remi should be back soon, and our schedule just got tighter.”

  In a few minutes, Steve and Dwayne were joking their way over to the plane, fighting to see who was going to sit next to Rosa, when they noticed the commotion at the bottom of the steps.

  Doug was standing by the plane, blocking the entrance and trying to prevent the irate man who was confronting him from boarding.

  “Troubles?” Steve asked. Not that he was the spokesman for the group, but at six-feet-five inches, two hundred and eighty-five pounds, he was by far the most intimidating in the bunch. The only thing taking away from his tough-guy image was the hat shaped like a parrot he was sporting. Even with that, he cast a shadow over the two men arguing by the door.

  “I was trying to explain to this guy that this is the Jatibon jet, not his charter flight home from Gemini Studio.”

  Steve listened, then held out his right hand to the fuming man. “I’m Steve Palma, and you would be?”

  “Bob Bennett,” he said, and ignored the offered hand. “My girlfriend and I were waiting for this plane, so step aside, asshole, and I won’t have to get you fired.” Bob glared at Steve and his companions. The sound of the landing helicopter drowned out any further comments.

  After they were on the ground, Simon stepped down as soon as the blades slowed. She motioned for Remi to stay put.

  “While you’re busy guarding me, I’m going to run in and get something for my mother,” Remi told her.

  Simon looked over at the standoff by the jet to see if a walkover was necessary. But when Steve made eye contact with her and waved her off, Remi stepped down from the helicopter.

  Simon removed the Glock she kept in a shoulder holster and checked the clip. “If you can help it, try to stay out of trouble. And see if you can find Juno and the other girls. We’ve got to get going.”

  “Try not to shoot anyone, Simon. Just think of the paperwork involved, not to mention ruining Steve’s great hat if there’s any spray.”

  Getting to the
main building, Remi headed toward the only gift shop in the Key West Airport. After she spotted a wall full of gorillas carved out of coconuts, she was removing the tackiest one from the rack when she heard the screaming.

  Stepping out of the store, Remi looked at Simon, who was in the middle of the melee, because of the guy who was at the moment pitted against Steve, Dwayne, and Doug. Standing next to the screamer, though, was Dallas Montgomery, costar of the latest Gemini Studio’s action adventure movie, The Lady-Killers.

  “Bob, cool it before we become front-page news for the tabloids,” Dallas said as Remi neared. “If you don’t stop, that’s what’s going to happen, and I can’t afford the publicity right now.”

  Remi ignored the angry tableau for the moment and extended her hand. “Ms. Montgomery, what a pleasant surprise. I’m pleased to meet you. I’m—”

  Bob pushed between them. “Back off, dyke. My girlfriend may be the wet-dream fantasy of a lifetime, but she ain’t gay. She just plays a lesbian on the big screen, or so people like you want to think,” Bob said, glaring at Remi. The group behind Bob stiffened.

  In her thirty-four years Remi had grown accustomed to the bigotry of others but not to stupidity, and this guy was no doubt an idiot of biblical proportions. At an even six feet, Remi had to look down at him, finding pleasure when he took a step back as she clenched her fists. A lifetime of training and pushing herself to the limit had given her the confidence to know she could do some serious damage to his looks without any help. The thought had never seemed so appealing.

  “We can—” Doug stopped when Remi raised her hand.

  “What’s the problem?” Remi asked, never taking her eyes off Bob.

  “Mr. Bennett thinks we’re his ride this morning. I tried explaining that he was wrong, and he threatened to report me to my superior.”