The Devil's Due

by Ali Vali

  “If the cops were there because of that apartment, every bit of our extra stash is gone. That’s what I was going to use to start buying from Cesar and Roth.” God, he should’ve killed Freddie the second he took him to that hotel room full of bottles of liquid coke. But he didn’t have time to worry about shit he couldn’t do anything about, much less change.

  “The only move we have left is to call Cesar and tell him we’ll take the shipment and do what he asked. If we can pull off getting Pombo out of that hellhole, then we won’t have to worry about inventory—we’ll be swimming in it.”

  “You don’t think Cesar or Pombo won’t double-cross us if they get the chance?”

  “The secret here is to divide and conquer.”

  He wanted to punch something again and didn’t care if it turned out to be his grandfather if he didn’t speak clearer. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “That the first step is to get Pombo out and on more familiar ground. Our ground.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  The club always appeared so different in the light of day, but the cleaning crew made sure it never smelled like old booze. Cain always insisted on that since it set them apart from so many places. She sat at a table and stared at Emma’s name etched into the mirror behind the bar. Once the city became busier and people returned, she planned to open a few more places, but this would always be the jewel in the city.

  “Tell me you did not get me up early to gloat,” Hector said when he entered with a few people and Marisol. His daughter resembled a prizefighter after a night in the ring, with no gold belt to go along with the ass kicking someone had given her. “I’d think that wasn’t your style, but I’m glad you called. I have a few questions that your past rudeness makes me have to ask you.”

  “I called not as your friend, but to prove I’m not your enemy either.” She waved to the chair across from her and waited.

  “For someone who claims not to want to do business with me, you call quite often.” Hector sat, and Cain wanted to give him her full attention, but the blonde close to Marisol was hard to look away from. It was like seeing a ghost from Nunzio’s past get up from having her throat cut to walk into her club.

  Her face, though, was younger and the gaze not quite as calculating as Kim Stegal’s. This girl had to be her sister, and from the way she was glaring, Cain knew exactly who she blamed for her sister’s bad luck.

  “You could go into politics with lies like that, Hector,” she said, not wanting to waste too much time with this fool, but it was important to load him like a cannon and aim him in the right direction. “You’ve evidently been having a bit of bad luck lately and don’t know where to point your gun to make it stop.”

  “And you do?” Hector laughed, but he was the only one in his party who did. Whoever the blonde was, she was pissed, and Marisol seemed to be in the same mood, but her eyes never left the back of Hector’s head. It was a big clue as to who was to blame for her appearance.

  “Not long ago I heard someone got hit and lost some people in what the rumor mill said were safe houses for large amounts of coke. After they got taken out, the owner couldn’t exactly call the cops to file a report, so I imagined what I’d do if that happened to me.”

  One of her crew put down two espressos and went back to sit at the bar. “Are you going to tell me something important or talk me to death?” Hector asked.

  “I could just leave you here to your coffee and curiosity,” she said, taking a sip of the strong brew. They’d have to set up a machine at home so she’d be functional until the baby slept through the night. Hector held his hands up and bowed his head a little. It was as much a sign of surrender as she’d ever get out of him. “I’m not sure how many friends you’ve made within the police department, but a little bluebird told my people something important to whoever lost all that coke happened last night.”

  “That’s a lie. Nothing was reported to us,” the blonde said, and Hector turned around so fast, Cain thought he would get up and slap her. The move made the woman click her mouth shut and cock her head back.

  “Then I guess you truly don’t have many friends in the police department. Last night the cops raided an apartment downtown and recovered a large amount of coke. About three-fourths of it had a dragon stamped on the bags.” She took another sip as Hector continued to glare at the woman. “Any idea who those might belong to?”

  “This place that got hit by the cops, where was it?” he asked, looking at Marisol now.

  “Surprisingly it was in Remi’s building, but neither of us had a clue until the cops showed up. If any of it was yours, it’s all sitting in an evidence locker now.”

  He turned around and faced her. “I’m sorry for my rudeness before. I’ve had a long string of days trying to put out fires. Do you know who the apartment belonged to?” He took a breath and emptied his cup in one swallow. “I believe you when you say you didn’t know. I’ve asked too many times for you to suddenly change your mind about my business one way or another, as you Americans say.”

  “The bags were being repacked for street sale,” she said. She’d gotten that nugget from Katlin that morning when one of the guys who’d been inside called her with the information. “The tables were full of small bags with a bull’s head with horns.” She waited a beat to get the reaction she wanted. “Does that sound familiar?” She’d lined the shot up perfectly and maybe hit the bull’s eye dead center.

  “Hijo de puta,” he screamed, and for the first time Marisol’s expression changed to one of almost glee as she glanced at the blonde. “You sure about this?”

  “I didn’t see them, but that’s what my contact said.”

  “Why call us with this?” the blonde asked, and Hector put his hand up as if for silence.

  “No, it’s a good question. Hector, we’ll never be business partners, but we’re neighbors. This has nothing to do with me, but I heard this and thought you’d want to know. I don’t want you to think I’m moving against you in any way, despite what my refusals might seem like.” She held her hand out and he readily took it. “Maybe one day you might be in a position to return the favor.”

  “You have my word, and I won’t forget this. Thank you.”

  “No problem, and if I hear anything else I’ll give you another call.”

  She almost wished to be a fly on the wall of the car as they headed wherever Hector was going, since everyone appeared tight and wound up as they walked out. Nunzio was now on Hector’s list of people to kill with as much pain as possible, and he had the network to get it done, so for the moment she’d bought them some room to maneuver until Nunzio resurfaced.

  “Where to now, Boss?” Lou asked.

  “Let’s go see what Colin has gotten himself into. Knowing my cousin like I do, it’s either his mouth or a woman.”

  “Which are you betting on?” Lou said and laughed.

  “I’d lay even odds on both. He’s like a hyperactive horny teenager.”

  “Hey. I was one of those once upon a time.” Lou laughed harder.

  “The horny part disengages your brain, which makes you lose control of your mouth, and the hyperactive part doesn’t help, so I’m glad you’ve outgrown that part. I love him though, and since we’re related it prevents me from shooting his balls off,” she said and laughed along with him.

  *

  Freddie stared at the ceiling in the bedroom Nic had put him in before she left and tried to think about what his next step should be. It seemed strange that this woman, whoever she was, would be doing all this for him, but he didn’t care why at the moment. For the next few hours he was safe in a small apartment at the cusp of the French Quarter, and he promised not to move until she got back.

  He didn’t plan to leave, but he had a strong urge to go see if all that shit from the night before had to do with Nunzio’s place. If it did, the mound Nunzio was stoked about was gone, and his punishment would be a bullet to the brain. His only redemption this time would be t
o find another shipment of shit before Nunzio got back, but no one was that lucky twice.

  The door opening made him freeze on the bed, and he held his breath, wanting to become as invisible as possible. “Freddie.” When he heard his name in that sexy French accent, he almost wet himself in relief.

  “Yeah,” he said, his voice hoarse and raspy. “In here.” He walked out and joined her at the small table in the tiny kitchen.

  “I tried to find out what happened, but the police are keeping everyone away. They are carrying many bags out, so I think it’s what you feared.”

  “Thanks for checking.” That was the end of his rope with Nunzio, so his only hope now was to run. “And thanks for hiding me, but I gotta get out of here.”

  “First I want to ask you a few things,” she said, opening the bag she’d brought and pulling out an assortment of stuff to eat. “But promise me you won’t run when I’m honest with you.”

  “Sure,” he said, trying to be casual, but the ball of ice in his stomach was growing.

  “My father and I have business with Hector and Marisol Delarosa,” she said, and he jumped to his feet.

  He needed to run but was paralyzed. Hell, Hector’s goons were probably waiting outside to skin him for stealing his shit. “What kind of business?” His voice rose along with his panic. He felt the sweat on his hands and his ass clench.

  “Sit down, please,” she said, but her commanding tone didn’t make her request sound as polite as the words did.

  “What do you want from me?”

  “I want to know how you knew where to go to steal from Hector, and I want to know Nunzio’s plans for the future of his business.” She bit into a croissant and made a downward motion with her finger for him to sit. “Let us be honest with each other, Freddie. You left Nunzio’s place, and the cops show up a few minutes later.”

  “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “In the end it’s the best thing you could’ve done to avoid a lot of jail time, but do you think Nunzio will see it like that?” She shook her head and took another bite. “I don’t think so, and if you have even a little intelligence, neither do you.”

  “I’m smart enough to have found him plenty of product and those places Hector owned.”

  She smiled at his outburst, and he knew right then that she’d played him. “Going forward you have one chance to survive this, and that’s with me, because where I come from, people with your luck are seen as snitches. You try to double back to get in either Hector’s or Nunzio’s good graces, and I’ll gut you and watch you trip over your entrails.”

  “And if I say no?”

  She pushed the plate of pastries closer to him. “No man should have this as their last meal. They are good, but there are so many more better last suppers than muffins and croissants.”

  “What do you want?”

  “So many things, but let’s start small.”

  *

  Colin Meade stared out at the big houses going by as the Town Car the hotel had provided traveled to the address he’d given. New Orleans was one of his favorite places, but this time around his visit didn’t have anything to do with fun. The driver said the house was coming up, and he told him to give his name at the gate so the guy could drive in.

  As the driver dealt with Cain’s gatekeepers, Colin glanced around and saw Fiona sitting in a car close by. The memories of her as a child running around the front yard when he’d come to visit her mother came to him, but they didn’t bring any fondness. Fiona had always been too holier-than-thou for his tastes even back then.

  When the car stopped, he turned his head back toward the house and smiled when he saw Cain standing outside holding a blue-wrapped bundle. If there was a way to go back to those days in his own life, he’d take the chance, if only to undo some of his decisions that had led to some bad mistakes.

  “You look like a proud papa,” he said when he got out, not waiting for the driver.

  “Something like that,” Cain said, tapping on the window with a twenty. “You can take off. We’ll get him back.”

  “Thanks for seeing me,” Colin said, placing his hand on the baby’s back. “What’s his name?”

  “William Cain, but he’ll grow up to be another Billy, I’m guessing, so that’s going to be his nickname. The kids voted, so I think the little guy’s stuck with it.”

  “Your brother was one of the finest men I have ever known, so may this little one live up to the name and may it bring him good fortune.”

  “Thanks.” Cain led him to the kitchen, and he went and hugged Emma, glad to see her again. His cousin had done well for herself, and that only made him feel more a fool. “Congratulations, Emma,” he said as he hugged her. “You did good with this one too. He’s beautiful.”

  “Thank you, and I hate to run off on you, but it’s snack time for our boy.” She took the baby from Cain and slowly made her way toward the back of the house with an older woman.

  “Come on. Let’s get comfortable,” Cain said, going to the table in the corner, and the only other woman in the room walked out. “I’m happy to see you, but you don’t look too happy. What’s wrong?”

  “I have to do something, but I wanted to talk to you before I do, so I’ve come asking for permission, if that’s what you want to call it. I didn’t want to act without your blessing.”

  Cain nodded. “Colin, I know we don’t exactly conduct business the same way, but I’d never shoot you down if you have to do something.”

  “I have to kill Judice O’Brannigan, and if I don’t, I don’t think Salvatore will let her live out the week,” he said of Salvatore Maggio, the other mob boss Colin did a lot of business with. “You remember that Judice works for both of us.”

  Cain stood up and patted him on the shoulder before going to the counter and picking up the pitcher of iced tea and two glasses. She tried not to show too much emotion, but what he’d said made her react completely opposite to what she would have ever guessed.

  The memory of Judice in her office that night as she’d rocked Cain down to the very solid foundation Dalton had forged came to her, and she thought what Colin was asking should’ve brought the kind of closure death almost guaranteed. Only it didn’t bring her one iota of relief.

  “This is the same woman you were interested in keeping, as it were?” she asked, trying to buy herself some time.

  “You obviously know her, since you called about her and that bitch of a kid of hers, so yeah, she’s someone I’m willing to spend time breaking my marital vows over. But she’s fucking me over instead of fucking me.”

  “Colorful and cute,” she said, shaking her head at his words. Colin Meade was the closest thing she had to seeing what Billy her brother might’ve been like with a few years on him. Colin liked to have a good time, was fun to be around, but didn’t always think things completely through. “What’s the problem?”

  “A lot of money is missing from both Salvatore and me, and there’s only one logical explanation. Salvatore has already made up his mind, so I have to go along with him.”

  “Go along with him how?”

  “I need to have a conversation with Judice to get the money back, and I don’t think after that she’s going to be happy about just letting it go once we’re done talking. So you realize what has to happen.” He slapped his fist into his palm and looked at her as if begging her to give him the right answer. “You know like I do she’ll go running to Fiona, and that kid will end up right where she is now outside your door. She’s there now plotting on how to get in here and fuck you over.”

  “Colin, I don’t really have the right to tell you how to run your business or how not to run it, but I am going to ask you for a favor for the very reason you just gave me. Fiona’s been like a pit bull since she got here, so I don’t need that situation getting worse.” She wanted to keep Judice’s secret right now as fiercely as Judice had done all her life, so she’d have to bargain for her life. A conversation with Colin meant that to get answers out
of Judice might have more consequences than she was willing to gamble on.

  “I’m more than willing to let you handle it, but I’m not the only one out here. Salvatore isn’t as nice and forgiving as we are.”

  “How about you hang out here for a few days, and if I can’t fix it or get your money back you can call him and you both try your best to get what was stolen from you?” She placed her hand on his shoulder and waited, glad it didn’t take him too much time to nod. “Good. You comfortable where you are, or do you want to stay with us?”

  “The Piquant’s good, and I don’t want to be underfoot with that new baby around, but I wouldn’t mind spending some time catching up. The reception at your wedding wasn’t a good time for that.”

  “I’ll have one of the guys be your driver for the days you’re here, and they’ll bring you back tonight for dinner. We’ll get all the cousins together and talk about good times and all the ones yet to come. How about that?”

  “You’re blowing smoke up my ass, but you’re so nice about it, how can I say no?”

  “You can’t, so go get a massage or something and let me take care of this for you.”

  She walked him out and waited until he was out of the gate before making the call she never thought she would. “Before you hang up, listen to what I have to say.”

  “I didn’t think there was anything left to say between us,” Judice said but did as directed and stayed on the line. “We should both let rabid dogs lie.”

  “You can question my motives later, but what I’m going to do isn’t for you or your daughter. It’s for my father. What happened and what you did was wrong, but something about you must’ve softened his heart, so I won’t leave you out in the cold.”

  “You’re more like him than you know, and by that I mean you’re both full of shit. You could care less about me or Fiona.”