by Ali Vali
With a soft click of the door, Emma and Cain were alone again. Emma watched Cain take as deep a breath as she could, knowing it was the buildup to the storm.
“What in the hell was that?” Cain’s question came out in a rush.
“Shut up.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said shut up. It means be quiet and listen.” She moved to the bed and fought the urge to poke Cain in the chest. “I’m not going anywhere, and I refuse to be left out of the loop anymore, so get used to it. Call it a hunch, but New Orleans is big enough for both of us because I’m not going back.”
She stopped to take a breath and went with poking the air in front of Cain’s chest. “You’re going to spend time getting to know your daughter, as I will our son. That means we’ll be spending time together, sometimes even in the same room maybe. I’m sorry for what I did, I truly am, but it’s the last time I’m going to say that.”
“Did you just tell me to shut up?”
She couldn’t help it and hoped Cain had no head injury when she slapped the top of her head. “For God’s sake, is that all you just heard?”
“No, I heard the rest. Don’t worry. You hit me again, though, and injury or no, I’m putting you over my knee.”
“Too late, your cousin’s already threatened that.” Her father’s words about taking chances made her roll the dice. “Tell me you don’t care anything about me, and I’ll walk out now. We can arrange something with Muriel to see the children. You tell me, though, or I’m not leaving.”
“Emma, you know I can’t do that. You’re the mother of my children, and I have to respect that.”
“For once forget about your traditions and your honor. This is about you and me. Tell me you don’t care.”
Cain closed her eyes and tried to force herself to say the words “I don’t care.” It would be so easy to never look at the greatest betrayal she’d ever experienced again. “I can’t. As much as I want to, I can’t.”
The joy in Emma’s eyes came back when Cain spoke her heart.
“But that doesn’t mean we can go back. I can’t do that either.”
“I don’t want to go back, Cain. I want to move forward.” Emma took another chance and held her hand out to Cain, not expecting too much. She blinked back tears when Cain took it. “If all else fails I’ll spill a bunch of beer on you, since it worked so well for me in the past.”
“I’m willing to be civil, Emma. Don’t expect too much else. We had our chance, and we blew it.”
“Is it Agent Daniels?”
“It could be anyone, but our time has passed.” Emma began to pull away, and Cain squeezed her hand. “I can’t, Emma. I barely survived the first time. I won’t set myself up like that again, and I’ve got Hayden to think of.”
“Fair enough. My fault, right?”
“Tell me more about Hannah?” A safe topic was what they needed to defuse the moment. Just because Cain had spent years cursing Emma’s existence didn’t mean she’d forgotten how soft her hands were, or how wonderful she smelled. Being this close was dangerous, but the part that did still care couldn’t turn her away.
“How about I let Hannah tell you about Hannah? It’s her favorite subject, after all. Unless you’re tired.” Emma moved her other hand to Cain’s wound. It seemed like just a few hours earlier that she had looked so fragile.
“It hurts, but no more drugs. I’m alive and I can move all my parts, so the rest is just an inconvenience.”
Forty minutes later Hannah had fallen asleep on Cain’s bed after covering all the highlights of her life with great animation. From the moment the blue eyes turned her way, Cain lost her heart, and the past four years almost didn’t matter.
“What happened with Hayden?” asked Cain in a whisper. The small little body pressed to hers felt like a dream.
“I told him about Hannah and he got upset.”
She nodded slowly. “You told him I knew, didn’t you?”
“Something else I have to apologize for. I said it without thinking, but I swear it wasn’t to hurt you. He got angry and said something like he was being replaced and he wanted to be alone. I’m sorry, Cain. He must’ve run off after he dismissed all of us.”
“Hayden knew better and he’s smart, so he’ll be fine as long as Bracato behaves.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Emma kept her voice low, but Cain could hear the panic in it.
“He’s dealing with a child who’s a little advanced and who’s a master wordsmith when he wants to be. Hayden starts taunting Big Gino, and I can’t promise he won’t come back without a bruise or two.”
Green eyes opened in shock. “And you’re okay with this?”
“That happens and I’ll feed Bracato his kidneys with a spoon.” The threat was real and delivered with the same calm tone. “Now, about tonight.”
“I’m going, and you can’t stop me.”
“Just listen, okay? I want you, no matter what happens or how Hayden looks, to trade Bracato’s for ours. I mean it, Emma. Nothing fancy. Don’t let Merrick or anyone talk you into something stupid.”
“This Bracato idiot gets away with all this? He took our son and had you shot.”
“And he’ll be dealt with in time. I don’t want to wait, but he’s left me in no shape to act now.”
“But I can—” Emma started to give her pitch.
“You can milk cows, but this is out of your league. I’m not telling you that to insult you. It’s to keep you whole. We are who we are, Emma, and what needs to happen to Giovanni isn’t in you.”
“What do you want me to do?”
*
The room had only one small window, but it did have a good view of the sky. Not that the gray clouds were much to look at, thought Hayden, as he sat gazing out at the constant drizzle that had been falling almost as long as he’d been sitting in one of the hardwood chairs. What had started as a ride to clear his head had turned into a nightmare he couldn’t begin to imagine how to explain to Cain.
He had barely moved since the three men who had grabbed him had turned the lock and left him alone. He had wanted to cry, but he couldn’t give in to the weak part of his mind. So he did the only thing he could think to stem the tide of fear; he imagined how Cain would act in the same situation.
Behind him someone put the key in the lock and opened the door with a loud squeak. Hayden squeezed the arms of the chair, but he didn’t turn around.
Giovanni Bracato, a handkerchief in one hand to wipe away the drool from his numb mouth, sat down in the chair across from him. After his meeting with Emma, the big man had spent the afternoon in the dentist chair repairing the damage. When this situation was over, he and Emma would meet again.
“What you looking at, kid?” Almost every word out of Gino’s mouth began with a distinct ‘s’ sound.
Hayden couldn’t help but laugh. “Mouth problems, Sylvester?”
“My name’s Mr. Bracato, remember that. Who the fuck is Sylvester?”
“The idiot cat in the cartoons. You must not watch much TV, Sylvester. You want to let me out now? I’ve had a wonderful time here today, but I don’t want to be late for dinner.”
“Just like that bitch Cain, aren’t you? She’s not so big now, little man. All those wisecracks of hers aren’t doing her any good since she’s flat on her back. Cain found out what I’ve known all along. I’m better at the game and I won. Get yourself a watering can, kid, ’cause you ain’t got nothing but a vegetable now.”
“Oh yeah, then who’s responsible for your dental work?”
“I owe the blond spawn who brought you into the world a return visit once I get my family back, so let’s go.” Gino got up so fast the chair slammed up against the wall, rattling the window.
“Where’re you taking me?”
“I’m dropping you off where we found you. Don’t think I’m doing this because I’m worried. I have all the time in the world to take care of your family. I promise I’m coming back to skin you alive,
kid, only I want to do it in front of your innocent little mother. Sort of a payback for touching my grandson.” The overweight man grabbed Hayden by the neck and led him out of the room to the garage of the building. Twenty minutes later he let him out a block from Cain’s house.
“Put that bitch on the phone,” Gino ordered, when the number Emma had given him was answered.
“I see your trip to the dentist did nothing to improve your vocabulary. What can I do for you, Giovanni? I can call you Giovanni, can’t I?” Emma hadn’t been back in the house an hour when the cell phone ringing surprised her.
“Open the door and cut the crap. If my grandson isn’t by the curb before the kid hits the door, I’ll have him shot.”
She dropped the phone and ran to the front door, calling for Merrick the whole way. Three houses down was the most beautiful sight she’d seen in forever. A healthy-looking Hayden was ambling back to the house, and if she wondered why he was moving so slowly, the gun pointed out the window of the large car behind him was her answer.
“He needs to see some kid before I can come in.” Hayden’s voice quivered, and he felt as if his knees would give out before he crossed the threshold, but he kept moving.
“Merrick, get Little Gino, and make it fast.” Emma shouted the order to the running footsteps behind her since she refused to take her eyes off her son.
Carmen handed Gino to Emma and retreated into the house. In case of trouble, she wasn’t going to be caught in the middle.
“Mook, give a heads-up to the guys along the fence. Anything happens and that car is a piece of history, got me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Emma eased out of the house with the infant. “It’s all right, Gino. It’s your grandfather coming to pick you up. I’m going to leave you right here, and he’s going to drive up.” In a louder voice, she spoke to Hayden. “Go on and get in the house. It’s going to be all right now, Hayden.”
“But what about you?”
“I’ll be fine. Just go so I’ll know you’ll be safe.” She turned her back on the approaching car long enough to see Merrick pull Hayden into the house.
Giovanni had ordered the car stopped and had gotten out so as not to scare the boy in Emma’s arms.
“I’m not real sure why you moved up the timeline for this, but thank you for returning my son.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Put him down, and my man will come and get him, so tell your dogs to keep their cool.”
The boy was scooped up off the front lawn as soon as Emma put him down, but Giovanni wasn’t in the mood for sentimental reunions and waved his man toward the open door. When he and the baby were safely back in the car, he turned his attention back to Emma. “Where are my sons?”
“Give me your word you’ll leave my family in peace, and I’ll make a phone call and have them released.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’ll let Cain decide what to do with them.”
Giovanni swiped the white cloth in his hand across his mouth before he answered. If he despised Cain, this little woman was quickly gaining on her. “The bitch’s in a coma.” He saw Emma flinch.
“Then think of how long you’ll have to wait.”
Behind Emma, Merrick was warring between cheering the woman on or running out and slapping her. “Emma, what in the hell are you doing? We got the kid back. Let the rest go.”
“I give you my word, I’ll leave you all alone to lick your wounds. Just release my family and stay out of my business.”
The car door slammed so hard Emma thought the window would shatter. With a squeal of wheels audible for blocks in the quiet neighborhood, the car took off toward the river.
The heavy oak door shut the world out when Emma closed it, and she had to take a minute to lean against it. Her heart felt like someone had electrified it, so she closed her eyes to get it to calm down. When she opened them again she saw something missing from her life for too long—her son, looking fragile and in need of his mother.
She moved slowly toward him, wrapped her arms around him, and waited. Hayden stiffened at first but finally gave in to the tears that had threatened all day. The staff disappeared into the house as mother and son sank to the floor. No matter the difference in their sizes, Emma never lost her grip and Hayden cried into her shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” cried Hayden, saying it over and over.
“No, Hayden, you have nothing to be sorry about. I should’ve waited until both Cain and I could tell you about Hannah. But you have to know I love you both. I left here because I was a fool. Please don’t make your sister pay for my mistakes.”
“I’m sorry I ran away.”
“Just promise me you’ll think things through next time. I’m so glad you’re home.” Emma tried to push his hair out of his eyes. “I sure have missed you, and there’s someone here dying to meet you. Think you’re up for that?”
Hayden nodded and leaned more into his mother’s body. “I thought about her when I was sitting in that room.”
“What’d you think about?”
“What it would be like to have a little sister, nothing big. Does she look like you?”
“Honey, if you look at the million baby pictures we have of you, you’ve seen Hannah. Let’s go in the den, and I’ll run and get her.”
With a strong hold, Hayden kept Emma from getting up. “He’s coming back, he said.”
“Who, Hayden?”
“Mr. Bracato. He said he wants to hurt all of us. He’s the one who had Mom shot.”
“He won’t touch you again, I promise. I know what he did to Cain, but I’m going to do the one thing I should’ve done four years ago.”
“What?”
“Trust her to fix it. She’ll take care of us, and I have every faith she isn’t going to fail. After all, these are her children we’re talking about.”
“But she’s—” said Hayden.
“She’s awake, son, and doing great.”
Hayden pulled away a little and looked at Emma in shock. “She’s awake?” His mother’s nod made one thought pop into the boy’s head. Oh shit.
Chapter Thirty-Four
“Hannah’s here?” asked Hayden. He felt calm for the first time in days as Emma wiped away his tears. Finding he had a sister and sitting in the small room where Giovanni had locked him had left him in an uncomfortable limbo. In so many ways he had lost his place, or at least started to question his place, within his family. It was a new experience.
“I don’t want to push you, but she’s waited so long to see you. Hannah’s never met you, true, but she talks about you and Cain all the time. Do you think you can forget you’re mad at me for just a little while and give Hannah a chance?”
The look in Emma’s eyes reminded Hayden of the loving mother he had lost. His last conversation with Cain came back to him. She had asked him to try and see Emma in a different light.
“You won’t leave me again, will you?” His tears started again, and he felt desperate for something to hold on to other than Cain.
Emma placed both of her hands on his cheeks. “I made the worst mistake of my life when I walked out this door.” She cocked her head toward the oak surface they were still leaning against. “It’s something I can’t ever take back, and it’s something that will forever haunt me, but I’m here now. There will never be another day of your life that I won’t be here. I love you, Hayden. You’re my son and I love you.”
“What about Mom?”
“I can’t speak for Cain, but I can promise that we’ll find a way to share in your and Hannah’s life. Your sister needs to get to know you and Cain as much as I need to get to know you again. You’re a wonderful boy, but I’d like to believe that I can offer things Cain can’t.”
He pulled away from her, but Emma moved with him. “Mom has given me everything.”
“I’m not saying she didn’t give you what you needed, but you need both of us. With Cain you’ll find your strength, but I think with me you’ll find—”
“My safe haven,” he said.
“Yes.” She pulled him forward, and for once he didn’t hesitate. Hayden accepted the comfort Emma so freely offered. As she took in his warmth and presence, she sent her ex-partner a silent thank you. She owed the moment to Cain’s generosity.
“Mama.” Hannah’s voice sounded small. She stood at the back of the foyer with her finger in her mouth, swaying like she was afraid of being sent away.
“Come here, sweetie.” Emma kept one arm around Hayden but held a hand out to the little girl. “This is your brother Hayden.”
“Really?” asked Hannah. Her mother’s nodding head got her to break out into a run into Hayden’s arms.
Emma bit back a sob when she saw Hayden’s teary blue eyes as he held his sister tight. The size of his smile was one Emma saw only in her dreams.
“Hi, Hannah, how are you?”
For the rest of the afternoon the youngest Casey sat on Hayden’s lap on the floor and rambled. She would reach out every so often to touch his face or his hair, as if to verify he was real. Hannah’s experiences were limited to the farm and their neighbors, but Hayden listened to her stories with rapt attention.
In his heart, just like Cain, he knew he would spend a lifetime loving and protecting the little charmer sitting with him. It was exciting to have someone to look out for like Cain did for Marie. Hannah sounded like she had inherited the Casey smarts as well as their mischievous streak. But maybe giving Cain all the credit wasn’t fair anymore. Both of the Casey children had become who they were because of Emma as well.
“You two want to go visit Cain at the hospital?” asked Emma.
“She’s awake, you said?” Hayden’s question sounded a little shaky.
“Mom has eyes like you, Haygen, and she let me sit on the bed with her,” Hannah chimed in.
“She’s awake, buddy, but I think she’s still too weak to do any serious groundings,” teased Emma, trying her best to ease any concerns he had. Cain was generous with her family, but what had happened with Bracato made it hard to gauge how she’d react.
