by Ali Vali
They ran different sections of the family business but shared the major decisions with him. Only Ramon was privy to some jobs they had done, and he would carry his knowledge of them to his grave. He was sure that both his children commanded respect, not only because of their last name, but because of their hard work.
*
Remi let her reading glasses slide down her nose and stared out the window. Thinking of her parents always made her smile because each visit began with the same conversation. Her mother wanted to know if she had met a nice girl to settle down with, and her father told her to live the carefree life as long as she could.
Ramon Jr., or Mano, as everyone knew him, had acquiesced and given their mother what she had always wanted—grandchildren. Two more Jatibons with black curly hair running around Marianna’s house bringing children’s laughter back into the big place.
The buzzing in the office brought Remi out of her musings, and she rose to answer Doug’s call. “Just wanted to let you know your brother took care of everything, including accommodations, if they’re going to the reception tonight.”
“Thanks, I’ll pass the information along.”
Walking toward the large living area of the jet, Remi noticed the girls were pumping Dallas for gossip. “I hate to break up this obviously important meeting, but I wanted to inform you, Ms. Montgomery, the studio will have a car waiting and hotel arrangements have been made,” Remi said, looking only at Dallas.
“It’s about time you made it back here.” Bob said. “Do all Jatibon employees slack this much?”
“I’m sorry, did you need something, Dick?” Remi responded with an even tone.
“The name is Mr. Bennett, and yes, a beer would be great.”
“Coming right up, Dick. I’ll see what’s available on board.” Remi loitered nearby for a minute so she could overhear Bob and Dallas’s conversation.
“Bob,” Dallas said in a heated whisper.
“Relax. You have to show these types of people that they need to take their interests elsewhere.”
Dallas smiled to the others as if in apology for Bob’s behavior, then her eyes turned to Remi.
Remi headed into the galley before she gave in to the overwhelming feeling of wanting to strangle Bob. She came back quickly with a bottle of beer in one hand and a pitcher of Mojitos in the other.
“Here you go, Dick. In my bartending days I took great pride in my ability to match a beer to a person’s personality, so drink up.” Remi handed him the bottle, then started refilling the ladies’ drinks.
“Again, shit for brains, the name’s Bennett, not Dick. And what in the hell does a Dos XX have to do with my personality?” Bob held up the bottle she’d handed him.
“Well, the way I look at it, you’re just a strike three waiting to happen.” Molly and Lisa started laughing. “Enjoy your drinks. We should be landing in about forty-five minutes.”
Remi left the pitcher and walked toward the private room at the rear of the plane to change.
“Bob Bennett, you fucking idiot, and fuck you!” Bob screamed to the retreating back.
He turned his attention to Molly and Lisa, who were still laughing. Using his best smile, he decided to do a bit of fishing, since Dallas was in contract negotiations for her sequel and any information on the new management couldn’t hurt.
“Do you ladies know Remington Jatibon?” he asked in as smooth a voice as he could conjure up.
Lisa looked at Molly and smiled before opening her mouth. “Why yes, we do. What would you like to know?”
Bob thought again just how stupid women could be. At times they made it too easy. “What’s he like?”
The two friends asked in unison, “He?”
“Is that a hard question or would you like for me to go a little slower? There isn’t a lot of information out there about him, just a lot of gossip around the studio, but no pictures to back up the talk.”
“Depends on who you ask,” Lisa muttered. “There are so many facets to Remi it’s hard to know where to begin.”
Bob looked at them, wondering if they’d downed one drink too many.
“Well, what are his plans for the studio?” Bob started with what he assumed was an easy question.
Molly spoke up next. “Remi plans to turn the studio into a more lucrative venture by putting out a better product. For the past four years only about half of the films have made a substantial profit, while cost overruns bleed the winners like Dallas and Jenny’s picture. Then I imagine it’ll be back to the family business. That’s where Remi’s true heart lies.”
“Is he the lady’s man everyone says he is, or is he a legend in his own mind?” As he waited for the answer, Bob considered which outfit Dallas should wear that evening. The laughing women brought him back to the conversation, making him think again they were intoxicated.
Wiping tears from her eyes Lisa turned to Molly and asked, “If I gave him a hundred bucks, could he buy a clue?”
Dallas leaned forward, obviously wanting to hear the answer to his question.
“Remi has a unique way with the ladies. They find the looks combined with the devastating smile, style, charm, and lots and lots of money hard to resist. The money’s only secondary, though, because Remi’s a good listener who’ll move mountains just to see someone smile.” Molly finished, with Lisa nodding in agreement.
“Does that happen often?” Dallas joined the discussion for the first time.
“No, sweetie.” Lisa smiled at her. “The woman who captures that heart is in for a lifetime of bliss. Remi has a huge capacity for love. We see it all the time. It’s just that the right one hasn’t come along yet.”
“What are Remi’s hobbies?” Dallas asked, and Bob snorted over the stupid question.
Molly glared at him, then answered. “Everyone would say work and winning, just because they don’t know the real Remi. But the Remi we know loves to read adventure stories. You know, the ones with a damsel in distress, a dragon flying around somewhere wreaking havoc, and a knight who saves the day. The only requirement is that the word ‘vanquish’ appear somewhere in the text.” Molly paused.
Lisa took up where Molly had left off. “Remi loves to work, don’t get us wrong, but when the clock strikes quitting time, you’ve never spent time with a more fun-loving person. And we all know there’s a romantic hidden in that big heart somewhere. It’ll just take the right girl to bring it out. We know this because the idiots we’re married to get all their romantic hints from Remi.” Lisa patted Dallas’s hand.
“Sounds like someone who’ll be easy to work for,” Dallas said.
“Please return your seats to the upright position and down your drinks, people. We’re almost there,” Remi said in her low voice, walking back into the room to sit by Steve and Dwayne.
“It’s true Remi’s easy to work for, and I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough,” Lisa said, smiling at Dallas.
The suit Remi now wore fit her tall, muscular body perfectly, accentuating the tanned skin, and the black cowboy boots added over an inch to her height, making even Bob take another look.
Chapter Four
New Orleans, Louisiana
“Good God, Casey, you look like shit,” Cain told Dr. Sam Casey when she stepped into the exam room.
“Wait until you’re only getting an hour of sleep a night. Then we’ll see how great you look.”
“Don’t listen to this comedian.” Emma squeezed Cain’s fingers as a sign for her to behave. “I’m sorry we weren’t here for the blessed event, but we wanted to pass along our congratulations.” She handed Sam a gift for the birth of Sam and Ellie Eschete’s baby. “How are Ellie and the baby doing?”
“Thanks, Emma, they’re wonderful. I’d give up sleep for the rest of my life in exchange for holding that little angel when I get home.” Sam put the gift down and rubbed her hands together. “Let’s see what we can do about you losing some sleep,” she teased Cain.
Emma smiled and said, “Today’s the d
ay, from the chart I’ve been keeping, so whenever you’re ready, Sam.”
Sam excused herself, and Cain helped Emma undress. “What are you thinking about, lass?” Cain rubbed her thumb just above Emma’s nose.
“How much better my ring will look when we add a stone to it.” She lifted her arms so Cain could slip the gown on for her and tie it. “If you’re having any second thoughts, it’s now or never, because I think I’ve proven how fertile we are.”
“I haven’t had many second thoughts from the day you came into my life. You, lass, and moments like this, balance out the bad I’ve done. You’re my salvation.”
Emma heard the rawness in Cain’s voice, and her perception of herself pained Emma. She placed her hand over Cain’s heart and pressed hard against her chest. “Do you think I’m a bad person?” Cain shook her head. “You love me enough to forgive me my mistakes—you love your children, and you’re the most honorable person I’ve ever known. Don’t say that about yourself again. I realize evil people exist. You, my love, are far from evil.”
“Aren’t you a wee bit biased?”
“You bet, but you’ll never convince me you’ve got a bad side. A mischievous streak as wide and long as the Mississippi, but not bad.” Emma kissed her and scratched the back of her head. “So tell me, mobster, are you feeling lucky?”
“Lucky enough to try for another girl, only blond this time, like her mama.”
“I’m not sure how specific an order we can place, but I’ll give it a shot.” She kept her arms around Cain’s neck as Cain lifted her up on the exam table. “I love you.”
“When you say that, you make me think I’ve done something right in my life.” Cain pressed her forehead against Emma’s and kissed her.
When Sam came in, their lips were still locked together. “Should I come back?” she asked.
Cain sat at the head of the exam table to get out of the way while Sam set up. After a quick exam, she handed Cain a syringe so she could push the plunger. Then she left them in peace.
Cain wiped away Emma’s tears. “You okay?”
“Just happy. These past months with you have been even more than I wished for when I was stuck in Wisconsin alone. Now I realize what an idiot I am.”
“You’re not an idiot.”
Emma put her hand on the side of Cain’s face. “I am, and I’m not just talking about the time apart I forced on us.”
Cain kissed her palm before kissing her lips, knowing how much Emma loved the sensation. “I’m sorry you feel that way.” She had moved back enough to see Emma’s face and outlined her lips with her finger. “Since I’m not really sure what you’re talking about.”
“I’ve been with you for so long because I love you,” Emma said, pausing as if to gather her thoughts. “But I never wanted to mess up the perfect picture of you in my head.”
“Oh, lass, I’m far from perfect.”
“My head might know that, but my heart doesn’t. I could’ve tried harder and a lot sooner for the kind of relationship we have now. You and our children are the most important people in my life, and I’m looking forward to bringing this little guy home in nine months.”
“Just remember what Sam said about having to try more than once.”
“Just once is all it’ll take.” Emma accepted Cain’s hand and sat up.
“How do you know?” Cain dressed Emma and glanced up from putting her shoes on when she didn’t answer. “Well?”
Still no answer as Emma took her hand and led her out of the office to the waiting car. No one on the house staff bothered them when they got home and headed for their room. When the door closed and Cain locked it, Emma stripped for her.
The way Emma walked toward her made any curiosity about her answer fly from her thoughts. When Emma pushed her forward, the bed bounced under her as she gave in to her wishes and sat down. She was rewarded by a naked Emma straddling her lap.
“Tell me you remember the last step in this process,” Emma said.
“Maybe.”
Emma lifted Cain’s hand to her mouth. “Then perhaps you need a refresher course.” She took Cain’s middle and index fingers into her mouth to the knuckle and sucked on them softly. Even though Cain closed her eyes and her breathing deepened, Emma had her full attention.
Emma opened her mouth and licked the length of her fingers, then just as quickly took them in again. “Is it coming back to you at all?” she asked before biting just the tips.
“Vaguely.” Cain opened her eyes and wanted to keep them on Emma’s face, but when she leaned back and spread her legs she couldn’t help but admire the length of her.
“Need more hints, huh?”
“Just a couple.”
Emma grasped Cain’s wrist and dragged her hand down her stomach, then back up to her left nipple. “Pinch,” Emma ordered, and Cain happily complied. She got only a brief touch before Emma moved her hand to her other nipple.
“With me now?” Emma asked.
“Just one more clue and I’ll be good.”
Emma laughed deeply, sounding sexy as hell. “Then I should make this one count.” She took Cain’s hand and put it between her legs.
The way Cain’s fingers slid easily along Emma’s sex proved just how turned on she was.
This little tradition had started when they were trying to conceive Hayden. They’d go to the doctor, then come home and make love. Even though Hannah had been a surprise to Cain, Emma had talked Cain into an afternoon in bed. She wanted to create lives based on the love she and Cain shared.
“Please tell me you can take it from here,” Emma said. She moaned as Cain’s fingers teased her opening and her thumb stroked her clitoris.
“I love you,” Cain whispered in her ear. “So very much.” She pushed her fingers in all the way.
Emma’s muscles clamped down on Cain’s fingers, but she didn’t move, not wanting to come right away. That was difficult when Cain pulled out, then just as quickly pushed all the way in. “So good,” Emma said.
“Then come for me,” Cain said before kissing her.
Emma did just that as she brought her hips down to meet Cain’s touch and moaned into her mouth. As the orgasm started, she pressed her legs into Cain’s sides and let her head drop onto Cain’s shoulder. Emma shuddered from the intensity as Cain rubbed her thumb over her clitoris one more time, and she grabbed Cain by the wrist again to stop any other movement.
“You’re criminally good at that.” She held Cain’s hand in place, enjoying the way her sex was still pulsating around her fingers.
“You get an automatic head start when you’re an actual criminal.”
“Tsk.” Emma clucked her tongue and pulled the hair at the base of Cain’s neck. “When I get to spend time with you like this, you make me feel absolutely adored.”
“That’s a given, Mrs. Casey, so how about cluing me in as to why today’s the day we made a baby.”
“That’s easy.” Emma finally released Cain’s hand so she could pull out. “I’ve been to the cemetery with you every year. A new baby can’t make up for the loss of Dalton, but it’s a good way to celebrate your father’s life. I know how important family is to you, and you learned how to be a wonderful parent by following his example. He’s not here, but he’s still watching over you.”
“I’d like to think he’s watching over all of us.”
“Then I’m sure he’ll give us what we most want. After all, what’s impossible for a Casey?”
“Depends on which one you ask.”
“I’m asking this one.” Emma placed her hands on the sides of Cain’s face and kissed her, moaning when Cain’s mouth opened and accepted her tongue.
“Then I’ll do what I have to in order to make it happen. All I want is you, our family, a new baby, and peace. We’ve started on the baby part, and later on I’m going to lay the groundwork for the kind of peace that’ll let us relax and enjoy the life we’ve built.”
Emma had learned that, sometimes, happiness came at a
price. She closed her eyes and prayed that this time the beast called fate would simply give them what they wanted and not demand the heavy tolls it had in the past. Emma fully agreed with Cain’s wish list, but a sense of foreboding made her shiver and pull Cain forward in an effort to chase away the demons that fear sprouted.
She sensed that this time they’d have to walk a gauntlet before they received the peace and happiness they both wanted. So Emma added just one more prayer, one that Casey wives before her had recited—for the strength and perseverance to keep her partner and children free from harm, no matter the sacrifice.
*
Cain buttoned her jacket as she walked downstairs and ignored the smirk on Katlin’s face. Merrick Runyon, Cain’s longtime guard who was now assigned to Emma, was sitting close to Katlin on the antique settee in Jarvis’s foyer. Katlin and Merrick’s relationship was still new, and Cain had been holding off expressing her opinion about it until now.
“Ready to roll?” Katlin asked.
“In a minute. I need to talk with Merrick first.” Cain passed them, continuing to the sunroom and expecting Merrick to follow.
“Problem?” Merrick asked.
Cain pointed to the chair across from hers and studied Merrick as she strolled across the room. Merrick was still fit and beautiful, but something in her appearance had softened. Her clothes were different—more stylish with a hint of femininity, and her hair was longer. All these subtle signs that she was trying to keep Katlin’s attention bothered Cain.
“You look nice today,” Cain said, trying to keep her voice even.
Merrick blinked and opened and closed her mouth several times before answering. “Not our usual conversation, but thanks.”
“I’ve noticed a few things these past months.”
The disjointed tapping of Cain’s fingers filled the room for a long minute. From the way Merrick’s eyes shifted from her hand to her face, Cain knew she was searching for the right words.
“Like I asked, is there a problem?”
“I’m not going to tell you how to live your life outside your job, but I’m concerned.”