The Devil's Due

by Ali Vali

She stood as Emma took her belt out of the loops of her pants next and threw it on the growing pile. “After a conversation about Hector’s problem I now know where he’s making all that money, but I don’t know who’s skimming, so I bought Judice perhaps a few days. Colin will be easy to hold off, but from what I remember of Salvatore Maggio, her luck might not last.”

  “You know Fiona will come knocking on our door first if that happens.” Emma dropped the simple, shapeless dress she’d chosen for the night. “Are you ready for that?”

  “Lass, I think my father would be mighty disappointed in me if I let someone kill the mother of one of his children. I may not agree with what Judice did, what she stole from my da, and how she handled this whole situation, but I’m not going to leave her for the wolves to finish off.” She dropped her pants and wrapped her arms around Emma. “I’m not a fan of Fiona, but her mother is all she has.”

  “Eventually she might have you as well.”

  She hadn’t even thought about that, but like Marie and Billy, Fiona was her blood—her sister. “If I were inclined to accept that kind of relationship with her, I doubt Fiona would. Finding her true family tree would only drive up her hate for me.”

  “Never say never, lover.” Emma let her step under the spray first and stood behind her. “But don’t say it right this minute.”

  She smiled when Emma brought her hands forward and down so they landed between her legs. “I’ve missed this,” Emma said when she ran her index finger the length of her sex. “Have you?”

  A certain insecurity always came with being pregnant with Emma, and then even more insecurity once the baby was born, leaving her body, in her words, in shambles. “I’ve missed your touch, starting about an hour after we had to take a break or risk sending you into labor. I love you, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever been lucky enough to lay eyes on.”

  “You’re a charmer, you are. A charmer capable of lying when need be, but I love you for it.” Emma stepped in front of her and put her hand back between her legs, stroking her clit until it was stone hard and she was really wet. “You’re mine, aren’t you?”

  “All yours, love,” she said, having a hard time thinking because she needed to come so bad. “And everything I have is yours.”

  “I’m just interested in this.” Emma stroked harder and faster, and she had to put her hands on the wall to stay on her feet. The orgasm was intense, and she had to keep her hands on the tile to keep from taking Emma the same way. That would have to wait awhile.

  “I think that pudding tonight was stiffer than my legs feel right now,” she said, and Emma laughed. “Even though I feel a bit selfish, thanks for that. You do know how to get your ownership rights across and understood.”

  “As soon as Sam and Ellie give me the green light, make sure you’re ready.”

  “My mother didn’t make them tall and sturdy for nothing.”

  Emma slapped her on the butt and smiled. “True, and with any luck I’ll do as well as your mum did.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “Are you sure?” Cain asked as she dressed the next morning. “I can take them.” Emma had just informed her she was taking the kids to school.

  “I know you can, but I have to get out of the house for a little while or risk driving you mad, and if I’m gone my father will have no choice but to finally talk to you.”

  “Be careful and don’t strain yourself.”

  “I’m dropping them off, mobster, not carrying them both in. Don’t worry. I’ll be careful, and I’m sure Merrick will make sure I follow orders. The baby’s fed, and I really do want you to put Daddy out of his misery today.”

  “You have anything else today?”

  “I’m having lunch with Dallas, but she’s coming here, so put that vein in your forehead away.”

  She smiled and helped Emma down the stairs to meet the children out front. Her good mood quickly disappeared when she saw the healing scratch on Hannah’s face, but it didn’t seem to bother her daughter as she skipped around the car.

  “Have a good day, you two, and watch out for your mama. Don’t let her get out of the car.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Hayden said before he hugged her, followed by Hannah.

  Inside, Ross sat at the table rolling scrambled eggs around his plate in what seemed to be a daze. She loaded her own and went to sit by him. “You know something?” she said to break through the iceberg in the room.

  “That you regret bringing me here?” he said, quickly making eye contact before dropping his head forward.

  “No. I was telling Remi recently that I miss my father, but your being here has made that part of my heart not ache as much.” She put her arm around his shoulders and shook him gently. “Hannah’s a bright little girl who’ll forget what happened much sooner than any of us give her credit for. In her heart she knows no one will ever take her from here, and I’m doing what I can to find Carol.”

  “I still can’t believe she did that.”

  “She did, and it had nothing to do with you.” She turned in her seat a little so they could face each other. “From the beginning of all this divorce business, the only thing I haven’t understood was her reluctance to give you what you wanted, even with all the money we put on the table. I guessed spite first, then settled on getting back at you for loving Emma.”

  “It eats at me how I let that woman treat Emma. From the day she was born she was nothing but a joy and wanted nothing more than to be loved.”

  “My mum used to say some people were broken inside for whatever reason and sometimes no matter how much we give, we love, and accept, they can’t be fixed. You need to put all that behind you and think about what comes next.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Hannah went through that with Carol and we found her, but our little darling girl has delivered us once and for all from the wicked witch of Wisconsin.” She pushed his plate toward him and handed him his fork. “Eat up. We have an appointment today.”

  Ross insisted on changing clothes before they left and stayed quiet as they entered the temporary courthouse that had been set up after the city’s historic flooding. Muriel had filed with Judge Mary Buchanan on Ross’s behalf, and they were adding some requests that morning. Usually Cain tried to avoid any kind of legal proceedings, but she wanted to have a chat with her old friend.

  Mary had graduated a few years before her, but when it was time to do something about her political ambitions, Cain had cleared the path by sweeping away some potential concerns on the campaign trail. That had been a while ago, and Mary had gone on to a successful career on the bench.

  “Come on in, Cain,” Mary said from the door. She shook hands with her, Muriel, Sanders, and Ross. “What can I do for you all?”

  “You can give me what I want most.”

  “They don’t actually have any free passes out of prison, no matter what people have told you,” Mary said and accepted the file Sanders handed over.

  “I’m still working on that, but today I want to make my father-in-law a free man. He’s ready to date and needs to cut the old ball and bitch off his ankle.”

  “That’s funny, and I got the paperwork, so it’s in the system. It’s just a matter of months now.”

  “There’s more,” she said, tapping the file.

  “With you there always is.” Mary opened it and put on her glasses.

  “No need to get cute. I helped you out but didn’t destroy the files your first opponent was dying to find.”

  “Come on. I was joking. What happened here?” She held up the picture of Hannah’s face.

  Sanders gave her a long and overly detailed explanation of what had happened and the fact that Carol was still missing, followed by Muriel and her reasoning for a protective order. “It’s simple. I want her nowhere near Ross, Emma, or my children. Nothing illegal, just the facts, and I don’t want anything holding it up.”

  “My clerk will file all this tomorrow, giving Mrs. Verde plenty of time t
o appear if she so chooses. If she doesn’t, considering the seriousness of the charges and your proof, I’ll grant your requests whether she’s here or not.”

  “Thanks for that, but you still owe me that pass when it’s available. Can you do me one more favor?”

  “Sure. It’s early yet and I’m feeling generous.”

  “If some little dweeb attorney from Wisconsin contacts you about this, can you give Sanders a call? I don’t want anything delaying the final outcome. Ross and my family deserve peace.”

  “Just remember that if she resurfaces, any move against her will only slow the process down.” Mary closed the file and put her hand flat over it. “Leave this one to me.”

  “That’s why I’m here, Mary. I trust you to understand what those pictures of Hannah are doing to me. I’ll never feel comfortable with Carol being around any of us, but I have no other fight with her. I just want her out of the city and back where she belongs.”

  “Consider it done, and I’ll call if I hear from anyone in regard to this.”

  “Easiest campaign contribution you ever earned for the next election.”

  *

  Cain had Lou drive her to the office to make the next few calls, not wanting them tied to the house in any way. She’d looked around, trying to see if Fiona was still sitting and following them, waiting for something to happen. All that was out there was her usual tagalongs, so she had Katlin change the song for their enjoyment.

  “Any requests?” Katlin asked from the front with Lou.

  “How about that purple-dinosaur song. That would drive me to retirement if I had to listen to it more than once.” She got out inside, not needing to poke the bears across the street today. “If you two have anything to catch up on, I’ll be about an hour.”

  “Merrick gave us some homework, so let us know when you’re ready. We’ll be in the conference room.”

  Cain sat at her desk and picked up the phone, pressing it to her chin so she could go over what she had to say. It rang only once before someone answered it with total silence on the other end. “I need you to come here and not let Fiona know you’re doing so.”

  “Tell me what this is about first, or I’ll take a pass on that.”

  “I know that Colin and Salvatore have been dabbling in a new business that’s been really lucrative. Colin told me.”

  Judice sighed, but she wasn’t complaining or trying to get off the line, so that was progress. “Not my thing, but that’s not my job with them. All I do is try my best to launder as much money as I can, and I’m only admitting that because I know Colin told you that too.”

  “He didn’t give me any kind of percentage to go by, but enough money’s missing from that new deal that they noticed. He’s not an accountant by a long shot, so it had to be significant for Colin to realize it. Only one person has their ass in a vise over this, and it’s not me.” This wasn’t going to be easy since she had no idea who all the players were.

  “Did you help convince him it was me? It’s the easiest way to get rid of your father’s mistake.”

  Cain flipped through the mail as she talked to Judice, who gave stubborn a new meaning. “If you want to figure this out all on your own, then go ahead. I did my part by calling you, but I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t leave the meeting they’re going to drag you into alive. Love makes people do strange things, but money makes them focus on finding answers. The people we’re talking about will be very creative.”

  “So you’re going to protect me?”

  “I’m going to give you a chance to discover whatever the truth is.”

  Judice sounded tired and resigned, all of a sudden, since she was just breathing into the receiver. “I didn’t steal from Colin or Salvatore. I know better than that.”

  “For once I believe you, Judice, but do you want to leave Fiona here alone? You know they’re not going to stop with you, especially Salvatore.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “I already took care of the reservation. Your flight leaves at nine tonight, so you’ll be here in the morning. Drive to the grocery as if you’re shopping, and leave your bag right inside your unlocked door. Someone will meet you there and take you to the airport. Once you get here, someone will pick you up.”

  “You were so sure I’d say yes?”

  “I bought the ticket and made the arrangements. That’s as far as I was willing to go.”

  “For once I’m ready to believe you.”

  Cain laughed at her change in attitude.

  “When I said you were a lot like Dalton, I was right. He didn’t leave much to chance, and he was as good a guardian angel as there was.”

  “Try to keep your head down, and I’ll do my best to keep it in one piece.”

  *

  “Will you be home soon?” Emma asked as Cain and Katlin finished all the business paperwork that had piled up.

  “One more stop, but I need the sun to go down first. I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long. How’s the baby doing?”

  “He started reciting poetry so don’t dawdle. You’ll miss his next reading.”

  “Funny girl. Remind me to spank you when I get home.” Cain packed away the files in the safe in the wall and locked it. “Everyone else doing okay?”

  “Hannah wants us to let Lucy move in with us, so I’ll leave that one to you.”

  “I’ll talk to her.” That added one more stop to her day before she called it quits. Katlin hadn’t mentioned it, but she wondered if Merrick had found anything.

  “What aren’t you saying?” Emma asked, just as the baby began to cry.

  “You’ll know as soon as I find out, but I had Merrick look into who these people are. I’m not completely sure about this, so it’s me being me.” She sat and massaged the back of her neck. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

  “More like I’m crazy about you, and I think you’re right. While you were out today, Lucy’s mom called and asked to meet me.”

  “Did you arrange something?” The information made her sit up straight and pay close attention.

  “I’d rather you at least be in the house when that happens, so I told her I’d get back with her.” Emma spoke in a sing-songy tone to get Billy to calm down. “Don’t take too long, okay?”

  “I promise.”

  She sent Lou and Katlin out and waited to see what happened across the street. Like clockwork the van pulled in behind them, so she waited another thirty minutes and walked along the river for about four blocks. From the bar not too far away, after going two blocks in from the river, she took a cab to a block from where she was going. She went through the back door and sat in the darkness, hoping she could keep her word to Emma.

  The front door opened less than an hour later, but the cat on her lap didn’t move. “Shelby, don’t turn the light on,” she said softly and hoped she wasn’t about to get shot.

  “Are you crazy?” Shelby said in a hiss but sat down across from her.

  “No. I’m being a good friend and seeing how you’re doing. Muriel mentioned you saw her so I wanted to check on you, but I can’t just stop by, you know. All your other good friends would get the wrong idea about us.”

  Shelby lifted her legs and sat on her feet. “How’d you do it? Live through this goddamn pain, I mean.”

  “When my father got killed I tried to do everything he would’ve wanted and expected me to do, so being strong for my mother and family made it easy to bury the ache. But when my mother got killed, followed by my brother, I almost lost my mind.” She took Shelby’s hand. “In the end it wasn’t the revenge or anything like it that gave me something to live for.”

  “The thought of killing the bastards didn’t drive you?” Shelby said, and hung on to her like Cain would keep her head above water.

  “My sister did, believe it or not. Marie couldn’t take care of herself, so I had no choice but to swallow what had happened and help her through it. And then there was Emma. Love does heal a multitude of pain and forgive
s as many sins.”

  “Do you want to volunteer her to come over here and sit with me?” Shelby said and laughed. “Most nights I think I’m losing my mind, and the only person who understands me is the woman I spend my days watching. There isn’t much more for me to do but to take your gift and do something about it.”

  “I’m never going to make your job easy for you, but wait on that for a little while longer.” The cat jumped from her to Shelby’s chair, and she saw the gift of a lap full of cat hair on her dark pants. “You won’t live to get what you want doing that alone.”

  “Who’s going to help me?” Shelby asked, and Cain could hear the tears in her voice. “You?”

  “I’m not going to answer that, but give it more time and the answer will come just like the names did.”

  “How long do I have to sit on this?” Shelby held on tight when she went to stand up. “You wouldn’t wait. I know that much about you.”

  “Everything we want comes when we least expect it. However it comes and from wherever it comes, that shouldn’t be important as long as it does.”

  “Don’t steal this from me, okay? That’s all I ask.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of that. When it comes, it’ll be you in control, and the knowledge it’s done might ease that load some.” She patted Shelby’s knee and stood up. “All I’m asking is that you live to see that day.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Nunzio and Santino landed in Lafayette, Louisiana, not wanting to take the chance they’d run into anyone who would cause a problem. The stress of going through customs in Houston with a passport that wasn’t Nunzio’s had exhausted him, so he wasn’t thrilled when Mike told him they’d checked into another hotel, leaving all their stuff behind, when they noticed a suspicious group of men in the lobby. They’d had the same suite for a few months with no problems.

  “How long have they been there?” he asked, putting his head back to try to get rid of the headache starting to take hold in the base of his skull.