by Ali Vali
Simon interrupted her thoughts. “I’ll wait at the car. Call when you’re ready.”
Dallas unlocked the door and led Remi into the house. “Would you like anything?” She opened one of the kitchen cabinets and took out a vase. “If you don’t want to tell me anything, it’s okay. Just forget I asked.”
“If you want to know something, I want you to ask. I’m having a hard time because I’ve never bothered to explain my situation to anyone.” She watched Dallas’s hands as she trimmed the tips off the stems and placed the flowers in the vase.
When she finished, Remi accepted the hand Dallas held up and followed her into her living room. The house contained a mixture of antique and comfortable pieces with tasteful artwork, but very few pictures. The style fit the little bit of Dallas she’d come to know.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” Dallas asked as Remi took a seat next to her on the sofa.
“Just a few minutes to talk would be good.” Remi studied their hands pressed together. Compared to hers, Dallas’s hands were small and delicate, but her grip was strong. “I like spending time with you, but you need to know what you’re getting into. Once I’m finished, if you feel like you can’t or don’t want to continue, you’ll still have a future with the studio. You have my word. The woman who disrupted dinner tonight is with the FBI.”
Remi gave her a tame but clear explanation as to why she and her business associates would bear federal scrutiny, or at least why the federal authorities thought they did. Dallas could have gathered these facts from reading the newspaper stories about them. Fair warning was one thing, but blatantly confessing to someone she didn’t know much about was pure insanity.
In the middle of her account, Dallas turned away, then reclined against her and pulled Remi’s arm around her. Remi was surprised but kept talking until Dallas had a clearer picture why she’d never heard of her and Cain, and why they fought so hard to keep it that way.
When she finally stopped, Dallas asked, “Are you done?”
“That’s enough for one night.”
“I have a question.” She moved so they could face each other. “Did you tell me all that because you don’t want to be here anymore?”
“I told you because I wanted to give you an out, if you want one.”
“Truthfully, I’m looking for an in.” Dallas had started to return to the spot at Remi’s side when she sat back up. “You haven’t been accused of selling drugs, have you? You didn’t mention that.”
“No, we’ve never been under scrutiny for that. If you work for my father, it’s actually the quickest way to get fired. That’s also true for the people we deal with, like Cain.”
“I only have one more question,” Dallas said, turning within the circle of Remi’s arms to get comfortable again. “Am I just another notch on the famous bedpost of Remi Jatibon? I might not have known you, but I’ve heard a little gossip in the last few months.”
“No, you aren’t, unless you want to be. I won’t deny my reputation. I do have one that I truly deserve.”
Dallas faced her again and ran her hands up Remi’s arms. Reaching her collar she slipped the fingers of one hand into the curls at the base of Remi’s neck and pulled her down, stopping before their lips met. She ran her index finger lightly over Remi’s bottom lip, waiting to see if she would object. When she didn’t, Dallas let herself do what she’d wanted to since they met. She kissed Remi and slid her fingers through Remi’s hair.
The kiss lasted until Remi’s hands landed on her back. Then she pulled back and wiped her lipstick off Remi’s lips. “Don’t get mad, but I want to take this slow. I think it’d be prudent since we just met, and I don’t want you to get the wrong impression.”
“I gave you flowers, doesn’t that count?”
“That was sweet, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you.” Dallas moved to the buttons on Remi’s shirt, plucking at them nervously.
“We could just have sex. No sleeping has to be involved,” Remi whispered in her ear.
Dallas tapped the end of Remi’s nose with her finger and laughed. “We could, but we’re not.”
“That restroom break must have been very informative,” Remi teased. “But we’ll go as slow as you want. Kiss me good night then.”
“It’s still early.” Dallas kissed her chin. “And I have a few more questions.”
“I’m sure you do, but I’m trying to impress you with how good I am. How about we get together tomorrow?” Remi stood up, taking Dallas with her. Without her heels their height difference was more noticeable.
Before leaving, Remi pulled Dallas close enough that almost the full lengths of their bodies were touching and she kissed her. “Good night.”
“Sure you won’t stay a little longer?” When Remi shook her head, Dallas sighed and kissed her one more time before letting go. “Good night.”
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Remi said as she opened the door.
Dallas locked it behind her, confident Remi could make her way out, and got ready for bed. She thought about Bob, knowing he wouldn’t be thrilled with this development, and realized he was the reason Remi had asked earlier about cutting in on anyone.
It shocked her that Remi hadn’t asked outright about him, but it was just a matter of time. Lying in bed she tried to relax enough to get to sleep, figuring it would be a waste of time to start worrying now. She didn’t want to piss Bob off, but she didn’t want to miss out on getting to know Remi.
At 4:01 her eyes were still open. “I’m going to look like hell in the morning.” The ringing phone on the nightstand scared her out of her musings. Dallas picked it up, thinking it was a wrong number, and tentatively said “Hello.”
“Hey,” Remi’s voice rumbled from the other end. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“It’s four in the morning,” she said, dragging out the word morning.
“I couldn’t sleep and figured you might be in the same boat.”
“Actually I was lying here watching the time tick away.”
“How about that drink you offered me?”
Dallas sat up and laughed. “You want a drink right now?”
“You did offer, but if you’re tired, I’ll understand.”
She put her robe on. In the kitchen she began to brew some espresso. “Where exactly are you?”
“Across the street. The idea of picking your lock crossed my mind, but I didn’t want to freak you out.”
She laughed, then realized Remi probably could do it. “If you want coffee, I suggest you get to it.” As she poured, she heard the lock on the back door give way to whatever Remi had done, and she smiled as she put Remi’s cup down. “You could come in handy if I ever lock myself out.”
“You’re an interesting woman,” Remi said as she picked up her cup.
“I’m actually a woman who gets a little upset if I make coffee and don’t get a kiss in return.” She took her cup and headed for the sofa.
They sat together on Dallas’s sofa until the sun came up, finally finding sleep. Right before Dallas gave way to her dreams, she thought of what Emma had told her earlier. Give in right away and you’ll be what she knows. If you want a future, then set yourself apart by respecting yourself and demanding the same of her. After she had discovered how wonderful it felt to be in Remi’s arms, she wanted a future with her.
She’d worry later about everything that could spoil things for them. And at the top of that list was something that could break her quicker than Bob could.
Would Remi accept her once she knew the whole truth?
Chapter Eighteen
Richard drove from Biloxi to Cain’s offices on the riverfront, drumming his fingers on his steering wheel and trying to center himself and rev up his bravado. Nunzio had impressed on him what he needed to do, and his palms were sweating as he thought about what he’d pay if this meeting didn’t go well.
“Hello, sweets, you want to tell your boss I’m here,” he told the reception
ist. “The name’s Richard.”
The attractive brunette rolled her eyes, looked down to see where Richard’s eyes were glued, then rolled them again at the frank way he was staring at her cleavage. When she got instructions from someone, she merely pointed. “Bitch,” Richard thought, and strolled down the mahogany-paneled walls into the office, located almost in the center of the building for Cain’s protection.
“What can we do for you, Richard?” Cain asked, not rising from her seat, and neither did Remi, Mano, Ramon, or Muriel.
“Thanks for agreeing to see me,” Richard said softly.
“After thirty phone calls, we thought we’d agree just to get some quiet around here,” Cain said, sounding like she wasn’t kidding. “What’s on your mind?”
“Wanted to chat and maybe do a little business. About our last meeting—I may’ve been a little adamant in my views. You all were right on the personnel issue. Once I sell, the place is yours to do whatever you want, so I’ll go along with the contract as is.” Richard folded his hands over the girth of his stomach. “If you have the papers ready, I’ll sign. I could provide the best security for you, but if you want to do your own, then have at it.”
“If that’s why you wanted to meet, you should’ve mentioned that in all your messages and saved yourself a trip,” Cain said. “We’re looking into another property with a less colorful past, one that wouldn’t require the kind of pest control your place needs.”
“Don’t be too quick. I’m sure we can work something out.” Richard sat up, thinking his life wasn’t worth much without a deal.
“It’s too late to work something out. Besides, the location we’re looking at is newer and connected to other sites we could get an option on after we’re up and running. You did us a favor turning us down. In the long run this location makes more sense for us,” Remi said, and everyone nodded.
“You all were hot for this a couple of days ago, so cut the shit.” Richard was on the edge of his seat, wiping his brow with his handker-chief. “I know the business, and nothing but my place is for sale. I don’t know what kind of scam you’re trying to pull, but it won’t work.”
Ramon laughed as he twirled his lighter between his fingers. “Your sales pitch needs work. You of all people should realize everything’s for sale if the price is right.”
“If I walk out now, the deal’s off. I don’t care what you offer me after that, I’ll sell to someone else,” Richard said, trying to control the slight waver in his voice. “I’m not kidding.”
“Then unless my partners disagree with me,” Cain said, the springs in her chair creaking a little as she slowly rocked, “we’re out.” When Richard sprang out of his chair she put her hand over her letter opener.
“You’ll be sorry, Cain. I can promise you that.”
“I’m already sorry I’ve wasted this kind of time on you.” Cain stood up and leaned on the handle of the letter opener. “If there’s nothing else, get out of here, Richard, and take your empty threats with you.”
When he turned to leave, Cain noticed the sweat marks under the arms of his suit. Considering the weather was still coolish, the reaction had to come from nerves.
“I figure Guido’s about to piss his pants,” Remi said, laughing. “If he’s smart he’ll point his car any direction but east and find a nice dark hole to slither into.”
“If he’s smart he’ll give Nunzio a heads-up as soon as he hits the door. Once that happens and Nunzio knows we’re not willing to deal on his terms, he’ll contact us.” Cain was still holding the letter opener that was sharp enough to cut through leather. “He needs us more than we need him, so he’s not in a good position.”
“That’s the position of a desperate man, and we both know how smart that makes some people,” Ramon said.
“You think he’s there now?” Mano asked. “Desperate, I mean.”
“That depends on who’s supplying him,” Cain said. “Your father and I both believe that the Luca family plans to move a lot of product soon. All that white powder makes money, but you have to pay up front,” Cain said. “If Junior somehow talked his way around that, he might be in a crack now.”
Muriel snapped her fingers. “Remi, Cain, that reminds me. Vinny asked for a sit-down with the two of you whenever it was convenient. After our recent reshuffle he’s in position to start, but there’s no way Vinny has the capital to compete with Luca.”
“I’ll be there whenever you can make it, Remi,” Cain said. “Also, Muriel found out that Rodolfo and Juan are back in town, so let me know if he contacts you, Ramon. I want to keep an eye on the pissant, and that means every move he makes. I don’t need to remind you what kind of problems he gave Emma the last time he was in town.”
“We saw the headlines this morning,” Mano said to Cain. “Someone took out Barney Kyle last night, and Remi tells us Agent Philips visited you right after it went down. Are you at the top of her list for a reason?”
“Whoever did this thing,” Ramon said, holding his hand up to Mano, “they did us all a great service. You work for trash and sometimes bad things…they happen to you.”
“I saw the paper too,” Cain stabbed the morning addition of the Times Picayune and slid it forward, “and yes, Shelby Philips asked me some questions last night. She’ll ask quite a few more before all this plays out, but I have a hunch the investigation will head in a direction she isn’t planning. Kyle worked for Big Gino, and he has the most to gain from taking him out, not me.”
“With what he did to your family, the feds will think otherwise,” Mano said.
“If you have a problem with continuing our business together, now would be the time to tell me,” Cain said. “You either trust me or you don’t. I don’t plan to consult you when I need to do something for the sake of my business or family, just like I don’t expect you to consult me. I didn’t think that needed to be said.”
“I don’t have a problem with you, and neither does my brother,” Remi said as she cut her eyes to Mano. “I mean it.”
“No hard feelings then.” Cain stood and pointed them toward the conference room where she’d had breakfast delivered.
*
Emma put her hand on Cain’s pillow and sighed at how cold it was. Lately Cain had been forced to get up early too often. Emma was worried, since it really hadn’t been that long since Kyle had tried to kill her. The wound had healed, but the memory of Cain’s possible death remained vivid. She tried not to think about it, but the scar on Cain’s chest represented all that she could lose.
“Don’t dwell, Emma,” she told herself, forcing herself out of bed and into the shower. “Time to move on.”
The early spring weather was still cool enough for the sweater and skirt she’d picked up on her last shopping spree. Merrick was waiting downstairs, drinking a cup of coffee. The front page of the paper featured a large shot of the outside of the jail and more than one vehicle with the letters FBI stenciled on the side. At the bottom of the page was Kyle’s picture from his days with the Bureau.
“Are they reporting on the hero killed last night?” Emma asked, tapping her finger on the photo.
Merrick folded the paper. “The op-ed piece was more like a laundry list of Barney’s sins. For once the media got it right, so with a bit more digging our Dudley Do-Rights will surely pick up the correct scent and leave Cain alone.” Emma sat down across from Merrick as she drained her cup. “What’s on our agenda today?”
“We need to stop by the house first.” She picked up a piece of toast and was about to butter it when she decided plain would be more palatable. “Then I need to make a few stops for Hayden’s birthday party.”
“Let’s get to it then,” Merrick said after Emma took one bite of the bread and threw it down with disgust. Per Cain’s instructions, the car was waiting for them out back.
A few minutes later they reached the house and drove through the new security gate Cain had installed, along with a new brick fence that now completely surrounded the grounds
instead of three-fourths of it as before. Inside, all the rooms had been painted, and the back of the house appeared as if nothing had happened. Cain’s study had been restored to as close as Emma could get it to the original; even most of the leather from Dalton’s office chair had been retained. The bulletproof glass was the one major change she’d made, so she could sleep better. Its cost had made even Cain’s eyebrows rise, but she didn’t care about anything but keeping Cain whole.
Jimmy Pitre the contractor said, “Just a few more touch-ups and you’re ready to roll, Mrs. Casey. They’re so minor, though, if you want to move in, go ahead, and we’ll work around you.”
Emma stood at the large window in Cain’s office. The backyard hadn’t changed much except for some playground equipment Cain had ordered installed for Hannah, but Emma could see those killers breaching the walls, intent on destroying her family. She shivered at the macabre memory and dwelt on the major difference between Giovanni and their other enemies.
Giovanni was a sadist with a penchant for ambush, but at least when he did come after you he approached in the open and you knew how to respond. Their home was repaired and safer, but now they needed to contend with the enemy who hid in dark places trying to catch snatches of their secrets. As Cain had said from the beginning—the feds operated without honor.
“Just one more thing, Mr. Pitre.” Emma turned and faced him.
He glanced at Merrick before answering. “More changes?” He kept his smile, but Emma could tell he was close to cringing.
“Not on my part, no.” A wave of dizziness made her sit at Cain’s desk.
“I don’t follow.” He moved aside when Merrick bumped into him on her way to Emma’s side.
“Are you okay?” Merrick asked.
“Just missing my morning coffee, I guess…I’m fine.” She smiled up at Merrick, wrapping her fingers briefly around her wrist to keep her from moving away. “What I mean is,” she said to Jimmy, trying to get back on track, “when you took this job we made a deal about who you’d allow to work here. You agreed you’d only use guys you could vouch for.”