by Ali Vali
“Hey, sweetheart. I was calling to check on you,” Ross Verde said, his voice always the definition of gentleness. “Your mama told me you two talked and you mentioned losing your job. Do you need me to send you some money?”
“I lost my spot, but I found something else, so don’t worry about me.” Her neck and back were stiff, so she got up to start a pot of coffee. “I really am, so don’t make it hard on yourself, and you know exactly what I mean. Mama won’t like it too much if you send me anything.”
“Your mother just worries about you,” he said, and Emma wondered if he truly believed that. “But anyway, what are you doing now?”
“I got a waitressing job with good hours and pay. Actually, I’m making more now, so I don’t have to put in as much time as I did at the bookstore. The owner’s really nice too.” Everything she’d said was technically true, but she saw no reason to spur her mother south to hogtie her and drag her home by admitting she worked in a bar. The only part she cared about anyway was the last part, but the conversation from the night before meant Cain was probably a memory, or soon would be.
“What’s his name?”
“Her name is Cain Casey, and she graduated from Tulane too.”
Ross stayed quiet, as if waiting for more of the story, but that’s all she was willing to give up. “It’s good you’re making friends,” he said, as if fishing for something to keep their conversation going. “Are you okay? You sound kind of down.”
“Just tired from studying all night. Have you gone by Jerry and Maddie’s place? She said they had a good birthing season.” It was a blatant change of subject, but she wanted to stop any questions about Cain.
“We both lucked out this year, and Jerry was a big help with some of my stubborn ones. He and Maddie still seem to be in that honeymoon stage, so I’m happy he found the time for me.”
“She sounds happy whenever we talk, so that’s good.” She glanced at her small kitchen clock and grimaced. She’d already missed one class and was about to be late for another one. “I hate to cut this short, Daddy, but I have to get going.”
“I love you, Emma, so have a good day.”
She put the phone down and covered her face with her hands. “I doubt I’ll have any good days for a while, Daddy.”
Chapter Sixteen
Jonsie Belson walked across campus trying to find his car and nursing a massive hangover from a bender that had stopped early that morning. He’d gotten plastered at home since his state-senator father, Jonas, demanded he stay put until he could smooth things over with that fucking bitch Cain Casey. Now, he was pissed he hadn’t stood up to her. She wouldn’t have touched him if she realized how much shit his father could bring down on her head. Granted, they knew each other, but she didn’t have any experience with Jonas Belson’s bad side.
“Hey, Marty,” he said, answering his phone. Martin “Marty” Williamson III hadn’t come to school after getting his nose broken, but at least his mother’s plastic surgeon had promised he’d look the same or slightly better once the swelling went down. “What’s up?”
“I’m fucking going nuts looking at the walls all day, and my dad could give a shit that I ran out of pain meds.” Marty sounded whiny and nasal.
“You want some weed or something to take the edge off?” He found his car and pulled away from the curb, not caring about his afternoon classes or his father’s orders to come straight home. “I have some of that good shit we scored last week.”
“Fuck yeah, and hurry. I’ve got something to talk to you about.”
The Williamson estate, one of the largest on St. Charles Avenue, took up almost a whole city block. The lot was large enough for not only the grand main house, but a pool house and a mother-in-law apartment close to the back entrance. Marty had moved there the minute he’d graduated from high school, and his parents didn’t mind since he was still close by.
Marty buzzed Jonsie in, and he’d brought his backpack in case he ran into Marty’s dad. Getting caught with a bag of weed on the old man’s property would get him banished for life. The generation before them seemed to have forgotten all the sins of their families now that they were in charge of the money.
“Come on, dude. We’ll sit outside. My mom comes down a couple of times a day, and she’ll freak if she smells weed.”
They headed to a part of the yard that had high shrubs, a few old statues, and some wrought-iron chairs. “You look like shit, man.” He lit up, inhaled deeply, and passed the joint to Marty.
Marty squinted his eyes and flipped him off. The entire part of his face around his eyes down to his cheeks was black, and a large bandage covered his nose. “Fuck you too. My head hurts so bad I can barely think, but I did have an interesting talk with this guy who was waiting to see the doctor yesterday. He had plenty to say about Casey.”
“Who was it?” Jonsie didn’t come from old money, so his old man had taught him plenty. Jonas loved telling stories about how he was from the streets, and they were only a misstep from landing back there.
“Some fucker who called himself Big Chief, and I talked to him after I eavesdropped on his phone call.” Marty took a few more hits before he seemed ready to go on. “Casey double-crossed this dude, and he was working on something to take her out.”
“Take her out? Like what, killing her?”
“Stop being such a douche and listen. What do you know about Casey? Your dad must’ve told you something.” As Marty relaxed under the weed’s influence, he started to sound less nasal.
“All my dad gave up was that she was a fucking bootlegger. Who the hell knew we still had those?” Jonsie accepted the joint back, took a long drag, and held it in. “Casey’s family has made a fucking fortune with that shit though, and she’s bulletproof because of all that money.”
“What if someone cuts the deal she’s about to before she does? According to Big Chief, she’s shopping for a new supplier and found one, but they’re still hammering out the details.” Marty waved for the joint back and stopped talking for another hit. “Somebody pulls that off and all of a sudden Casey isn’t so bulletproof.”
“Who exactly are you thinking is dumb enough to do that?”
“You and me are going to set this up, and when it goes down, I’m going to fuck that bitch up for doing this to me.”
Jonsie stared at Marty, trying to figure out if he was serious and if the blow to the face had knocked something loose that impaired his ability to think clearly. “How in the hell are we supposed to do that? First off, the only criminal we know sells us weed. I take that back. The only other criminal we know fucked you up and got my father all worked up about something. Besides, deals like that cost big money. It’s not like they’re going to give it to you on credit.”
“You want to hear this shit or not?” Marty flicked what little was left of the joint at him, and he came close to leaving.
“Okay. Spill it,” he said, wanting to hear this grand plan.
“Big Chief asked me what I was there for, and when I told him, he asked if I wanted in on his action. Turns out, we were there for the same thing done by the same person.”
“Wait. He was there because Cain Casey fucked him up?” No way could that even be possible. The chances of such a total coincidence were as close to impossible as every woman he’d ever found remotely hot but had shown absolutely no interest in him lining up to fuck him, and if Marty weren’t so stoned, he’d see that.
“I’m telling you, I thought this old dude was fucking with me, but I believed him when he told me the whole story.”
“So what’s the deal?”
“If I put up seventy-five grand, he’ll set us up. Since the guy Casey deals with knows her and probably won’t deal with anyone but her, we tell him we work for her.”
“Where the hell are you getting that kind of money?” he asked, hoping like shit Marty didn’t plan to ask him for any.
“From my trust, and for every dollar I put in, Big Chief says I get seven in return. Can you
imagine? Fuck, we pull this off and I can tell my father to kiss it while I’m drinking beer on some beach.” Marty laughed as if he were already retired and rich. “If we could pull off a few of Casey’s runs before she figures it out, we’re set.”
“It’s your money, man. You’ll be set.”
“No way, Jonsie. I put up seventy-five large, and you put up what you can and I lend you the rest. When I heard about this, you were my first and only call. You were the only one who stood up for me when that bitch sucker-punched me, so you’re the only one I’m cutting in.”
“You sure this fucker’s on the up-and-up?” Easy money and a steady stream of it made him want in. All that could happen was Marty lost a little cash, but the upside was escaping two more years of Tulane and his father’s constant bitching.
“He fucking hates Casey more than I do.”
“I’m in. What do we have to do?” He slapped his hands together, ready to go.
* * *
“Remember, total rest for at least the next week, and I’ll see you then,” the doctor said as he wrote in Billy’s chart.
“When’s this headache going to let up? And when can I take something for it?” Billy asked as he sat up slowly because of the pounding in his head.
“I wrote you a script for something mild, but if you take it easy, you should be fine in a day or two. If it doesn’t get better in about three days, call me.”
“Not to worry. We’ll take good care of him,” Cain said, helping him put his shoes on.
“Thanks, Doc,” he said, and stood up with Cain’s assistance to get into the wheelchair. “How’s it going with my friend Ian?”
“I can’t really talk about his case, but his family is in the ICU waiting area if you want to stop before you go. Let me know if you need anything.”
Cain waved off the transporter and sat on the bed. “None of it is your fault, Billy.”
“I know, but it still pissed me off. That bastard probably didn’t even get a ticket.” He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. The doctor really preferred that he stay another night, but he wanted out of here so Cain wouldn’t be an easy target. “You want to push me over there so I can at least see Pops before we leave?”
Ian’s family took up half the waiting room, and they were sharing trays of food from Vincent’s with the other families waiting to see a patient. “I told Vincent to send stuff over until Ian’s home,” Cain said as Merrick opened the door for them.
Billy tried to ignore his head as they visited and was grateful when Cain cut it short. The ride home was slow, and he appreciated the smooth route Lou took, and after greeting Marie and their mum, Cain helped him upstairs. Therese followed them and closed the blinds to cut the late-afternoon glare, which he appreciated since his head still hurt like a bitch. The only light in the room was from the lamp by the leather club chair in the corner.
The memory of his da sitting there was still vivid in his mind as Cain sat after Therese went back down to get him something to eat. Dalton had loved that spot for their talks, or his lectures, depending on the day. When it came to following the rules, Billy wasn’t as good as Cain, but he didn’t need to be. His older sister was their father’s heir, and he thanked God for that.
“Do you ever regret being born first?” he asked, wondering if Cain tired of carrying the burden of being the boss.
“Every once in a while, but I can’t do anything about it, so I don’t dwell on something I can’t change.” Cain spoke softly, and the random pattern of her tapping fingers on the bottom of her shoe relaxed him. “Do you ever regret being born second?”
“Not once,” he said and laughed. “Even if I’d been first, we’d still be in our same spots, and you know that’s the truth. You’re a true clan leader, and I’m proud of that fact, sister. Now tell me what’s wrong, since it’s not the weight of the crown.”
Cain laughed, but she wasn’t that easy to crack. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just worried about you.”
“You’re full of shit, but lucky for you, I love you anyway. I also know what it is, so take my advice and call her.” He opened his eyes to see her reaction. “I’m surprised she wasn’t with you when you got to the hospital, since Lincoln said that’s who you were with,” he said of one of his guards that had called Merrick.
“I sent her home with Lou.” Cain’s tone was flat and devoid of emotion.
“Call her,” he said again.
“I did, and she wasn’t interested, so forget about that.”
Cain’s answer was too fast and too adamant. “You’re the smartest person I know, Derby, so don’t change my opinion by being a dumbass.”
“I’ll let that slide since you have a head injury, but don’t make it a habit.”
Therese came in with a tray. “Cain, Muriel’s here to see you with some kid named Bryce. Don’t worry. Marie and I’ll keep our boy company.”
He smiled when Cain kissed his forehead before she left. Cain was the smartest person he knew, but she was too dense to realize she was falling for the little blonde he’d seen her hugging in the storeroom at the Erin Go Braugh. Some idiot had been on his knees bleeding profusely, but his sister was comforting Emma. The only people she would’ve done that for were Marie, his mum, or him, but he doubted Cain thought of Emma in a sisterly way.
“What are you cooking, Billy Boy?” Therese asked as she handed him a fourth of a sandwich.
“Has she told you about Emma?” He took a bite of Therese’s corned beef and suddenly felt better.
“Is that the one we picked flowers for?” He nodded, and Therese held a glass of juice up to his lips. She was never happier than when she got to baby one of them. “Have you met her?”
“I have, and you’re going to see why Cain’s tied up in knots.” He accepted another piece of sandwich and some more juice.
“It’s strange,” Therese said, exhaling. “I’ve prayed for you and Cain to find what your da and I had, but it terrifies me just as much for you to actually find it. I knew who and what your da was when I married him, but the days of complete loyalty and that kind of acceptance seem to be long gone.”
“You’ll probably think I’m nuts, but you need to see Cain with this girl, Mum. She’s found someone who will be around for a while, and if hardhead will let her guard down for a minute, she’ll see that too.” He waved off the rest of lunch, not wanting to get sick because of his headache.
“Close your eyes and relax, my love,” Therese said as she moved the tray to the desk. “Do you think we should get Derby to invite Emma to Sunday lunch?”
“That’s one of our next steps, but first we need to persuade Cain to call her.”
“Maybe you should go about that the same way you did when you were five,” Therese said, sitting next to him and gently combing his hair back.
“Bug her about it until she gives in?” He laughed at the memory of how Cain would finally say okay to anything he wanted after he asked about a thousand times an hour.
“Thank God you were so cute. If not, you’d have never survived your childhood.”
“I’m still cute, and she can’t punch me in this condition.” They both laughed, and Therese moved to the chair with her book. “I just want her to be happy.”
“With everything Derby will face, she’ll need a safe harbor no matter how much the storm rages, so I want that for her too.”
“Da told me once that even the devil has a heart, but it took the right woman to bring it to life. When you say your prayers, Mum, ask God to keep the heart of our devil safe and well loved.”
* * *
“Hey,” Bryce said as he stood and fidgeted in Cain’s office.
“If using the name Cain makes you nervous, try Boss,” Cain said as she moved to her desk chair. “Did you need something?”
“No. I just wanted you to know the system is ready to go.” He handed over a sheet that specified in simple terms what he’d done. “I realize the chance you’re taking on me, so I thought you can go s
low until you’re sure about what I’ve put in place.”
“Are you absolutely sure?” She looked at him, and for once he seemed to still at the attention. “Now would be a good time to give me any reservation you even think of having.”
“After researching everything available out there and seeing firsthand what they have, what I put together will give you the barrier you need. The only time they’ll come in is when you let them.” Bryce stepped forward and offered his hand. “You have my word on it, Boss, because I know what failing you means to me and my family, especially my brother.”
Cain shook his hand and nodded toward Muriel, who said, “We filed a petition on Charlie’s behalf for a new trial with a friendlier judge. Once that happens, I think we can get him out with time served and a promise he’ll never do it again.”
“Are you serious?” Bryce got so excited he hugged Muriel, almost knocking her completely off balance.
“She’s serious,” Cain said, smiling. “It’s your bonus for a job well done, so get over to Emerald’s, and I’ll meet you there later. It’ll give you time to call your mother and give her the good news.”
Bryce shook her hand again and practically skipped out of her office, making her laugh. “If you could make everyone that happy, you’d rule the world,” Muriel said, laughing with her.
“I’m only interested in ruling a little piece of the world, so what do you have for me?”
“We’ve got our first nibble, and the next step should set the hook well enough to land the big trophy fish you’re interested in,” Muriel said, making Cain shake her head at all the fishing metaphors. No matter what else was happening, Muriel went deep-sea fishing about twice a year in Mexico. It was one of her passions that she sort of shared. She liked fishing but didn’t love it like Muriel.
“What will that do to our bottom line?” Reshuffling any deck changed the landscape no matter how careful you were or how much you planned. In this case, it had to happen, and she was trying to pull the trigger but ease any doubt she had.
