by Ali Vali
“I’d like to look somewhere else before I quit.” Mano handed Ramon another folder. “Instead of hunting for something we may never find, why not start with the person who made Remi want to know about Dallas in the first place?”
The folder had the name Bob Bennett on it. Mano had already started the search for answers about Dallas through the only link they had. “This one has a few more pages,” Ramon said, quickly flipping through the whole thing.
“It’s a lot more interesting reading too. Bob’s tried to distance himself from his beginnings, but he didn’t go about it as intelligently as Dallas did.”
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t think we’d find anything on either one. The fact that Dallas is such a mystery disturbs me since your sister is busy spinning theories of her own.”
Mano stood up and clicked his briefcase closed. “Are you sure you don’t want my help?”
“I trust you with my life, and if Remi was here, I’m sure she’d tell you the same thing,” Ramon said. He put the files in his top desk drawer and locked it. “But maybe this is something you shouldn’t know on the off chance Remi gets serious with this girl. You’d never betray her, but if you knew the whole truth it might embarrass both Remi and Dallas, and that might come back to haunt them.”
“Let me know if you run into a dead end, or if you need my help.”
Ramon walked with Mano to the side door of his office that led outside and kissed his forehead before he opened it. “You’ll be my first call. Stay out of trouble.”
“Are things still on track? I didn’t mean to insult Cain at our last meeting.”
“I’m sure your question didn’t put Cain off, unlike some of the others we deal with. She likes everyone to be upfront, just like your sister. If she’s got a problem she won’t hesitate to bring it up.”
“I’ll keep in touch with Muriel then, as soon as we’re ready for the next step.”
Ramon nodded and watched Mano walk to his car. Of all the deals he’d made since arriving in the States, this one had the most twists and surprises. When Ramon added what they didn’t know about the one girl Remi had ever shown an interest in for more than one date it only added to the unknowns he had to deal with as they tried to close the casino deal. He figured his retirement wouldn’t be anytime soon.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The Steak Knife was famous for all its infamous patrons. Those who didn’t personally know the owner always had to wait six months for a reservation, but they waited because for one night it didn’t matter if they were accountants or podiatrists—they could sit next to someone they read about all the time. These were the people who, no matter what, never followed the rules.
The owner stood by the host stand, a smile breaking across his face as Lou held the door open for Emma and Cain.
“You finally decided to grace me with the company of this beautiful woman,” he said to Cain as he held both of Emma’s hands and kissed her cheeks. “Welcome back, bella Emma.”
“Thank you, I missed you,” Emma returned his welcome. “And we brought friends.” She stepped aside so he could see Dallas and Remi.
“One of these days you two are going to have to share your secret for finding beautiful women,” he said, kissing Dallas hello. Four waiters stood behind him ready to escort them to their table and start bringing out drinks. “But let me feed you first.”
“Do you all come here often?” Dallas asked. The whispers and the not-too-discreet finger-pointing had begun as they made their way to the table.
“Not enough to raise our cholesterol,” Remi said as she pulled Dallas’s chair. “This is one of those places that’s like family. It doesn’t matter how often you come, they’re just glad you’re here.”
“Then for once the whispering might not be about me. How long did it take you to get used to this, Emma?” Dallas asked. “Going somewhere with Remi is like realizing I’m the only person in the city who didn’t know her.”
“Part of me will forever be a dairy farmer’s daughter who won’t get used to the attention, but for the most part I’m so in love it doesn’t bother me. I just enjoy my life and the interesting people in it because of Cain.” She ran her fingers through Cain’s hair. “Given your career choice, being noticed must be commonplace.”
“It’s not something you really ever get used to,” Dallas said, clicking her mouth shut so quickly Emma figured she had more to say on the subject.
She’d stopped when Lou rose from the next table and stood behind Cain so he could whisper in her ear. “Katlin called from outside. It’s about to get crowded in here.”
Cain didn’t need to ask who, since she could see Nunzio Luca making small talk with the owner, and Rodolfo and Juan Luis hanging back and scanning the room. Juan’s face held signs of his recent run-in with her, with a bruise around his mouth and one over his eye.
“This might answer how long Nunzio was willing to wait,” Cain said, cocking her head in the direction of the door so Remi would turn around. “The mountain has come to us, Mohammad.”
“Too bad he brought the trash with him,” Remi said. “It looks like Juan either pissed somebody off or hit a brick wall with his face.”
Emma put her ice water down and laughed. “Maybe a little of both, but you have to admit my brick wall is cute.” She smiled at Cain.
“Cain—Remi.” Nunzio stopped at their table. “I was hoping to run into you when I got to town. Lady Luck’s on my side.”
“Or maybe you called my office on the off chance someone would tell you where I was,” Cain said. She wiggled her fingers in Juan’s direction and smiled.
“You really should warn them about that,” Nunzio said, stepping in front of Juan. “You never know who’s calling.”
“Your concern is touching, but I’m sure you’d rather enjoy the menu here than worry about my employee disclosures.” Cain picked up her drink and took a sip.
“Before I head back, I’d like to meet with all the parties involved in our deal. It’s time you spoke to me directly about this issue with employee problems before we have any more misunderstandings.” Nunzio nodded, and Kim led Juan and Rodolfo away. “Is tomorrow good for the two of you?”
“I’ll talk it over with my father,” Remi said, “but I’m afraid we might search out new options. Of course, I’m only speaking for my family, though I’m confident Cain will join us on this venture.”
“Remi, I’ve never known you to be hasty.” Nunzio was leaning over trying to keep their talk private, but it was difficult in such close quarters. “Why not give me a chance to negotiate?”
“I know Ramon seldom does business on Sundays,” Cain said, glancing at Remi, who nodded once in return. “So make it Tuesday at my office. We’ll have one of our guys pick you up and drive you. No sense in giving the feds any more clues, right?”
“You want me to come alone?”
“I actually don’t want you to come at all,” Cain said, and Emma laughed. “You’re the one who wants to meet.”
“Until Tuesday, then.” Nunzio’s smile appeared forced. “Ladies, it was a pleasure,” he said to Emma and Dallas.
As he walked away Dallas shivered so noticeably Cain couldn’t help but ask, “Are you all right?”
“He reminds me of someone I used to know. The same dead eyes.” Dallas shivered again and rubbed her arms as if she were really cold. “Sorry. Remi, I’m sure you and Cain have some stuff to talk over. Do you need us to head to the ladies’ room?”
“Let’s not give them a choice,” Emma said. When she rose, Lou stood up with her. “Merrick?” She looked at her guard.
“We flipped a coin and Lou won,” Merrick said. “He’s the only person who hates Juan more than Cain does and would love to add matching bruises on the opposite side of Juan’s face.”
“Come on, Lou, you two spent so much time fighting over me, I really do have to go.”
Cain laughed and watched them walk away. Since the owner had put Nunzio and the Luis family i
n the next room, she didn’t have to look at them. “It’s a good thing we’re going to Pescador’s after this.”
“You want to talk to my father?”
“More like I want you to talk to him—I already know how I’m going to handle Nunzio.” Cain stopped talking when the waiter arrived with a fresh round of drinks.
“You backing out on us?” Remi asked, but Cain could tell she wasn’t angry.
“I gave you my word and I’d never back out, but I don’t like this guy. Nunzio’s going to tell us whatever we want to hear just to get his hands on the money. Once that happens, we’ll have to deal with the consequences of the monster we’ll have helped create.”
Remi nodded. “I agree but don’t see a lot of options here. If we want what he’s selling, we can either talk him down or move on to something else. Mirage Properties will probably hold their noses and deal with him if they can add another property to their holdings.”
“I’m sure we’ll think of something,” Cain said. She stood as Emma and Dallas made it back. “We have until Tuesday to come up with a better deal.”
“Have you solved all the world’s problems?” Emma asked. She kissed Cain’s chin before sitting down.
“Everything okay?” Cain cocked her head in the direction of the restrooms.
“For once it was a bathroom trip without incident.” Emma laughed at Dallas’s look. “Long story that I’ll tell you the next time we have lunch.”
Their appetizers had arrived when Juan strode toward the front of the restaurant. He stared directly at Emma, puckered his lips, and blew her a kiss. He laughed when Emma put a restraining hand on Cain’s shoulder, but stopped when Lou stood up as if waiting for him to pass. He stayed at his table for the remainder of the meal.
After dinner Remi led them to Ramon’s club, where it was hard to miss Shelby and Claire having a club soda at the bar. But the agents were stuck there as Remi took her party up the stairs to the private section.
Dallas looped her arm through Remi’s as they walked toward the cashier’s cage. After Remi signed a voucher, the girl pushed a stack of chips toward her, repeating the process when Cain laid her money down.
“Craps?” Remi asked Cain.
They played, sharing their chips with Emma and Dallas, who, by the time Ramon arrived, were doing better than they were. Ramon gave them some hints on how to bet, obviously enjoying Dallas and Emma’s enthusiasm.
“Nunzio Luca’s in town and wants a meeting,” Remi said as she and her father moved to the bar to get water for everyone.
“What answer did you and Cain give him?”
“Tuesday, if he comes alone. But Cain’s not sounding too hyped about this deal anymore.” Remi waved the bartender off, wanting a few more minutes with her father.
Ramon draped his arm around her shoulders and kissed Remi’s cheek before letting her go. “I’ve taught you everything I can, and I know you weren’t sure why I wanted to partner with Cain on this and the studio. Doing business with her will give you a new perspective. Cain surprises a lot of people all the time, but I’m seldom in that group because I seldom underestimate her.”
“So you don’t think she’ll back out?” Remi asked.
“She gave us her word—to Cain that still means something. Before we’re done, we’ll own the Capri. It just might not come from the deal Nunzio Luca has in mind. If that’s the case, we’ll end up with a bargain we didn’t expect.”
When the waiter appeared again, Remi nodded. “How about the other thing I asked you to work on?”
Someone shouted from the craps table, and Ramon turned around as Dallas clapped and laughed. “I met with Mano about that this morning. We haven’t found anything yet, but after I started reading what he has so far, I can see what made you curious.”
“Nothing,” Remi said, staring at the Evian bottles.
“Let me check one more thing before you jump to any conclusions. For the most part, she’s who she says she is, and she’s got the talent to back it up. That part is more than clear. But we don’t know how she got there.”
Remi cracked open one of the bottles and took a gulp, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She joined her father in watching Dallas and her friends having a good time. “Sometimes it’s easy to identify a woman with no past,” she said, making Ramon step closer to her again.
“Give me a couple more days,” he said in a gentle tone.
“If she’s undercover, you’re not going to find anything except what whoever she’s working for wants you to find.”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
“Why not?” Remi waved back when Dallas made a motion for her to rejoin them. “She’s got the perfect cover. Damsel in distress under the thumb of an overbearing manager. I was bound to notice her sooner or later. Our taking over Gemini has been in the works for a couple of years, so it hasn’t been a secret. I’m not saying she’s a cop, but if she is, you have to give them credit for the elaborate setup.”
“If it’s there, I’ll find it. If there’s anything to find.”
“I trust you, Papi. Let me know, and follow the money trail. Her work experience isn’t extensive, but this last film has been lucrative.”
“Go on.” Ramon handed the tray over and pushed her in her date’s direction. “You’ve spent so much time with me you’re being rude.”
“And about Tuesday?”
“Tell Cain I’ll be glad to follow her lead.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Dallas, it was great seeing you again,” Cain said as they came down the stairs of the club. Shelby was still sitting on her stool, but Claire was nowhere in sight. “Have a good night.” She shook hands with Remi before accepting a friendly embrace.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Remi told her before she stepped back.
“Whenever you like, we’ll be home.”
Remi and Cain stood back as Emma and Dallas said their good-byes. They hadn’t known each other long, but Remi could see they were becoming good friends. The conversation she’d had with her father returned to her, and suddenly the possibility of Dallas not being who she said she was hit her in the gut. If there was even a remote chance, Dallas would be betraying not only her family and her—she would also get to Cain via her partner.
Taking her aside, Cain asked, “You all right?”
“I need your help.” Remi hoped her father was right about Cain’s creativity. “My father and Mano are working on something, but they haven’t had much luck.”
“Remi,” Cain said, winking at Emma when she took a step toward them, “we’ve known each other a long time. If you need anything, just ask. It’s that simple.”
“This has nothing to do with business.” She glanced at Dallas before giving Cain her full attention. “But until we talk, please tell Emma to be careful on any future lunch dates.”
“You know how I feel about Emma. Give me a hint so I can sleep tonight.”
“Not here, not now, but I promise first thing in the morning.” Remi pointed to Shelby, not caring if she could see her. “I have your word it’ll stay between us if I’m wrong?”
“You’ve got no worries, no matter what it is. Go on and get Dallas home, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”
Emma kissed Remi’s cheek before following Cain out to the car. “Anything wrong?” she asked when the door closed, leaving them alone in the back.
“If there is we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. You had lunch with Dallas, right?”
“I told you about it, remember?”
Lou headed out of the Quarter but wasn’t driving them to Jarvis’s. They were going to their house. “Did she ask any strange questions? Anything on the verge of snooping?” Cain asked, not questioning their direction.
“You mean more about business and less about girl talk?”
“I’m not asking to be insulting.”
“I know. You’re asking because of that serious and sudden talk you just had with Remi. What’s the prob
lem?”
“I don’t know if there is one, but it sounds like Remi’s trying to find out some information on Dallas, or she has Ramon working on it.”
“How romantic,” Emma said, clearly being sarcastic.
“Something must’ve prompted it, lass. Don’t go crucifying her yet.”
“Did you do that to me?”
“I didn’t have to.” Cain laughed at the menacing glare Emma had plastered on her face.
“Why’s that?”
“After our first date, I knew all I had to about you, and I was right.”
“So I didn’t send off warning bells in your head?” Emma moved closer and lifted Cain’s arm around her shoulder.
“In my head and in other parts of my anatomy,” Cain teased. “I saw past the clumsy waitress and into my future and the mother of my children. I had no reason to question what was in my heart.”
“You,” Emma ran her hand up Cain’s leg until she reached her crotch, “are a very romantic soul, but I think you took a little longer to see all that in me. The night we met was more of a question of whether to fire the hayseed or not.”
“And give someone else a shot at you? Not on your life,” Cain said, then tapped on the window. “Are we going to study more paint swatches?”
“We’re going to study something, and eventually it’ll require more painting, but it’s more to rev you up for a threat I made today.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this, Mrs. Casey?”
“Trust me, baby, you can’t be any madder about the situation than I am. I wanted to show you something, then I want you to talk to our contractor in the morning. However you decide to handle the situation I’ll gladly back you, but it needs your unique persuasive charms.”
They drove through the new gate and Cain spotted the van across the street already in place. The guards waited in the car as Emma took Cain’s hand and led her through the front door. From the time they made it inside until they stopped at the stairs, Cain counted over a hundred holes in their walls, most of them in her study.