by Ali Vali
Chapter Twenty
“I haven’t been here in a few years,” Remi said, gazing out the window as Cain’s driver took them farther into the ninth ward. Outside, the houses were getting smaller and thinner, perfect examples of shotgun homes—if you shot a gun through the front door, the bullet would pass through every room before it went out the back. “What do you have in mind?”
“We’re here to introduce Vinny to our mutual friend.”
“So there’s soul food in my future?” Remi stretched her legs out as she laughed.
They turned right and four large African-American men stood in front of some street barricades. When the oldest-looking one tapped on the back-window glass, Cain lowered the window and stuck her hand out.
“How are the kids?”
“Costing me a fortune keeping them in shoes.” He shook her hand, then waved to Remi. “Good to have you two back in the neighborhood.”
“Does Maude have some chicken stew on?” Cain asked.
“She even changed into her best apron when she heard you were coming.” He looked behind them. “Go on in and we’ll keep the rats out.”
Cain peeled four hundred dollars from her wallet. “Thanks, and here’s something for your boys and your Nike fund.”
The barricades were moved aside just enough to let the car through, then quickly put back into place, stopping the van as it pulled up. The agents were about to learn a lesson about private property and how close you needed to be to a location to make the trip down here worth your while. The street and every house on it belonged to Jasper Luke, and the people who worked for him knew better than to let you in if you weren’t invited. The agents and their surveillance equipment were out of commission.
Maude’s Kitchen stood at the end of the drive. Jasper’s aunt was the chef and served from a large pot of whatever she felt like cooking. The front was jammed with cars, and Remi and Cain shook hands with the guys hanging out near the door.
As soon as they stepped inside, Maude said, “I been waitin’ on you all morning.” Cain had been enjoying Maude’s cooking since she was a teenager and tagged along with Dalton when he came down to talk business with Jasper.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, sugar.” Cain kissed both her cheeks and laughed at the strength of Maude’s embrace. “Miss me?”
“I’m waitin’ for you to leave that skinny blonde and take me out of that hot kitchen.”
Cain hugged her again and kissed her forehead. “We’re trying for number three, so she won’t be skinny for long.”
“Just don’t forget me if you’re looking for a change. Now get your butt to that table and let me feed y’all.”
Remi reached the table first and accepted Jasper’s hug. Neither she nor Cain could be considered small, but standing next to Jasper, Cain felt like a child. He was tall and built like a solid wall of muscle, topped with a completely shaven head so shiny it looked polished.
“Tell your dad I’m pissed I haven’t seen him in awhile,” Jasper said to Remi.
“You know how he is when he’s got something going on. He did say there’s a pair of dice waiting for you at the club.”
As Jasper gave Cain a similar hug, Vinny Carlotti stepped out of the restroom. The four sat down and smiled at Maude when she carried out four bowls of chicken stew, ruffling Cain’s hair when she got to her.
“What’s on your mind, Cain?” Jasper asked. He emptied half a bottle of hot sauce into his portion.
“We’ve got a problem, but this time around it’s not just our problem.”
“Something I can help you with?” Jasper asked.
After a few bites of the spicy stew, Cain sipped her beer. “I’m sure Vinny’s already clued you in on some of the stuff he’s got in the works. He’s going into business on his own, with backing from Remi and me. That’ll help some, but he needs a network to deal with the competition. That’s not something Vincent, Remi, or I am equipped to provide.”
“Stephano’s let his business go to crap, and his father’s never took off,” Jasper said. “Some say they’re coming back and others say they’re not. But some young punks looking to make a name are stepping in.” He dipped a piece of French bread into the bowl and put it in his mouth. “Makes no difference to me. Been a lot of killing down here, though, because they’re not taking care of things.”
“It’s time to rein it in, Jasper, if you’re interested,” Remi said. “We all agree nobody can fully control this business, but it’ll destroy us all if we don’t try.”
“You want my boys working with you?” Jasper asked Vinny.
“It’s the only way to make sure you’re not answering to Rodolfo Luis in a few years.”
“What’s yours and Remi’s cut?” Jasper asked Cain.
Cain lifted her spoon and finished her meal. “I’m just here making introductions, my man. What you and Vinny work out is up to you two. Remi and my interest lie elsewhere. We did agree on a price for our unique form of protection, but that’s coming out of Vinny’s part.”
“You’re not interested in Juan Luis then?” Jasper laughed when Cain bent her spoon using just her thumb. “Thought so. Little shit was here earlier asking to make the same deal.”
Remi pushed her plate away and put her hand on Vinny’s forearm when he pulled his chair out. “Are we wasting our time?” she asked Jasper.
“I let him down the street because I was more interested in the company he’s keeping. First time that white boy been in this neighborhood, if I had to guess. Five-O was quiet, but he’s a guppy swimming by hisself in a pool of angry alligators.” Jasper stood and led them to his office upstairs.
“You let Curtis in here?” Cain asked.
“He was too busy making sure nobody got behind him to get a good look. Butt head who brought him had to figure I wasn’t doing business with someone who’s setting a trap for me.”
Cain almost cracked up at the thought of Anthony trying desperately to fit in. “What’d you tell Juan?”
“Told him to fuck off and the donkey he rode in on. We’ll work the particulars out, Vinny, so stick around. And, Cain, keep an eye on Emma. Our boy’s got a crush and he’s looking to prove his manhood. He mentioned your lady more than once.”
“Thanks, and remember I owe you one. Call if you need anything.”
Remi and Cain left after a stop in the kitchen. When they got to the car they had a message that Nunzio Luca wanted a sit-down.
“How long do you want to keep him waiting?” Remi asked.
“Couple of days should leave him in a mood to talk business. Right now I’ve got snakes to flush out of their holes.”
“Need help?”
“Are you sure? Mano sounded gun-shy this morning.”
“My brother is the cautious one, but he’ll learn you can’t always be too careful. Do that and it makes you seem weak. None of us can afford that.”
“What are your plans for tonight?”
When the car stopped in front of Remi’s building she put her hand on the door handle. It was the only complex in the downtown area built on the river. “I don’t have any yet,” she said, chuckling. “Will I need a date?”
“Have anyone in mind?”
“I’ll think about it. Where’d you want to go?”
Cain pointed at the van behind them. “Someplace fun where I can forget I’m an exotic pet worthy of observation.”
“Emma does tell tales of some impressive feather rustling when you do your mating dance.”
“Get out,” she said, teasing, “and we’ll meet you at eight. Feel like steak?”
“Eight at the Steak Knife. Better make sure you bring cash for some fun later. If you want to attract attention I have a good way to go about it that involves a set of dice.”
Cain nodded and waved as Remi got out and shut the door. As they started moving again Cain let out the air in her lungs, tired from the large lunch they’d had. “Lou, if anyone calls at the office asking about what we’re up to, give them what they
want.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m not losing my mind.” Cain let her head fall back and closed her eyes. “I’m just helping Juan make his first move. If he’s going to make one, I want to see him coming.”
*
“Need a ride?” Shelby asked through the open window of her car.
“My office isn’t that far. I’ll walk since I wouldn’t want you to go out of your way.”
“How about a ten-minute truce?” She rested her head on the seat back and closed her eyes briefly. “Try to conjure up how you felt about me the last time you were in my house.”
Muriel opened the door and got in. Shelby turned in the opposite direction of her office. They headed back into the French Quarter and pulled over behind the French Market.
“What’s on your mind? Or did you have a sudden craving for Loretta’s Pralines?” Muriel asked. She turned in her seat and pressed her back into the door.
“I want to know what happened.” Shelby took Muriel’s hand. “I can’t stop thinking about you, and I can’t concentrate on anything.”
“You know what happened. Last night when you stepped into that restaurant should’ve been explanation enough, if I didn’t do a thorough job. Something happened, and with no proof that my family was involved, we were your first stop anyway.” She put her other hand over Shelby’s, squeezed, then pulled away. “Your world doesn’t fit into mine, and no matter how much we want to pretend, it never will.”
“You want to just give up?”
When Shelby’s lip trembled slightly Muriel couldn’t resist holding her. “I care too much about you to lie to you. Do you really want to share your life with someone you’d have to censor yourself around? All that’s left is the physical aspect, and you aren’t that kind of girl.”
“How do you know?” She moved closer into Muriel’s embrace. “If it’s all I can have, I wouldn’t mind.”
“But I would.” Muriel moved back so she could see Shelby’s face and put her palm against her cheek. “You deserve better than that, and so do I.”
“Wait a minute.” Shelby took a deep breath. “Stop trying to think for me, and don’t decide things that will change my life. That’s definitely something I’m not looking for in a partner.”
“I’m not doing that. I’m only trying to be honest and tell you what I want. This isn’t easy, Shelby, but it’ll be ten times harder if we put it off.” She kissed Shelby in the most chaste way she could manage.
“Things are moving too fast, and I’m having a hard time keeping up with it all.”
The strange non sequitor made the skin on the back of Muriel’s neck prickle. “Give it a couple of weeks and I’m sure you’ll be fine. It’s not as if we won’t be seeing each other, considering our jobs,” Muriel said as a joke to loosen Shelby up.
“Do you ever feel everything is being turned upside down and nothing makes sense?”
“Like I said, give it time and you’ll see I’m right,” Muriel tried again.
“Give it time is your best advice?” Shelby reached for her hand again and smiled when Muriel didn’t rebuff her. “I’ve lost you, and work is crazy with Anthony going to work for the Luis family.”
Muriel wanted to call Cain immediately and tell her she was right, but she wasn’t ready to face that humiliation. She wasn’t used to being stupid, but that’s exactly what her attraction to this woman had reduced her to. “I’m sure that isn’t a cause for concern,” she said, trying to keep from screaming. “Your organization puts people undercover all the time. Some go about it more enthusiastically than others.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That Anthony will probably enjoy this assignment.” It took all her willpower not to add “as much as you enjoyed yours in my bed.”
“It isn’t an assignment, Muriel. He was suspended and he’s retaliating against Agent Hicks.” She paused and sighed for what Muriel took to be effect. “Have you heard anything about him?”
“I need to retire,” Muriel said, laughing. “Because I’ve gotten so dumb I actually fell for this crap.” She opened the door and narrowed her eyes when Shelby tried to touch her.
“You think I only wanted to see you to get information out of you? Do you really think that little of me?”
“Save the indignation, sweetheart.” Muriel stepped out, then leaned her upper body back into the car. “And you’re right to say my advice is crap. I’ll get over this in a flash. Thanks for going out of your way to make it easy for me.” She slammed the door so hard she expected the window to shatter.
“Fuck,” she said as she started walking in the direction she’d started. Her job had always kept her on the periphery of the family business and she’d accepted her position. That was about to change, though, because now she was willing to do anything to bring these people down. Shelby’s ulterior motives had seen to that.
Chapter Twenty-One
“I want you back at the casino. Sit in your office and don’t talk to anyone no matter what.” Nunzio Luca paced in the sunroom in the back of his house. “Don’t try anything to get your ass out of the crack it’s in—understand?”
“Just one more chance, Nunzio. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Richard, your part in this is over. Consider yourself lucky you’ll live to think about your brush with being a wise guy.” Nunzio noticed Kim Stegal, the head of his security, at the back of the room when he turned around. “Try to remember that one simple thing, and stop trying these cute stunts. Your stupidity has cost us plenty already.” He cocked his head toward the door, dismissing him.
“Do you need anything new on that front?” Kim asked, referring to Richard.
“Soon.” Nunzio glanced back at her as she headed to his office. “He’s a dumb ass, but until I get his name on the dotted line for the sale of the Capri, he’s a valuable dumb ass. Have somebody good keep an eye on him, though. Richard has a talent for getting himself deeper into shit.”
Kim pulled her blond hair out of the band that kept it tied back and reordered it. At five-eight she was an inch taller than Nunzio and had gotten her job by proving how persuasive she could be collecting from bad gamblers.
“I’ll take care of it today.” Kim stopped to pop one of the mints Nunzio kept on his desk into her mouth. “I did hear from Muriel while you were dealing with Richard.”
“And?” He stopped flipping through the mail and looked up. Kim was good, but she had an annoying habit of making him beg for information.
“Neither Cain nor Remi are available right now.” She brought her hand up when he took a breath and opened his mouth. “She didn’t give me any idea when Cain would be. I didn’t bother with Remi since I figure the Jatibons aren’t available either.”
“What’s the fucking problem?” Nunzio punched the top of his desk, then had to shake his hand out. “They were willing to cut this deal a few days ago.”
Kim nodded. “Cain’s going to wait now. You haven’t dealt with her as much as you have with Remi, but they have a lot in common. A few days ago you had something they wanted. Granted, they negotiated a good deal, but you had the edge. Richard handed it back to them on a silver platter.” Kim delivered the explanation with little emotion, a technique she had perfected so he wouldn’t have to bear the blame for anything. “You have to realize you don’t have to sell to them, and they don’t need the deal.”
“This isn’t like selling my car. If I have to start over with new buyers, my father isn’t going to blame Richard.”
“Then you wait until Cain and Remi think you’ve stewed long enough.”
“That isn’t the option I pay you to give me.” He hit the top of his desk again, this time with an open palm. “Convince them it’s not in their interest to wait. I don’t care how you do it—just get it done.”
“I have your permission to be creative?”
“As much as you like, but maybe start with Remi. The Jatibons are successful, but they aren’t as organized as Cas
ey. Stephano gave me the lowdown on Cain, and I don’t need any more problems.” He told her what he’d discussed with his father and she nodded again.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Kim said with a laugh, waving her fingers over her shoulder as she walked out.
He usually found it comforting when Kim was in such a good mood, but he had too much riding on the outcome to start laughing yet.
*
“I had a wonderful day with Dallas Montgomery,” Emma said. She hadn’t gotten a lot done all day, but she thought she’d gained a new friend. “She seems nice and really interested in Remi.”
“Well, Remi goes on about her a lot.” Cain unbuttoned her shirt and threw it in the hamper. “Dallas might just be the woman who tames the wanderer in her.”
“I gave Dallas a few pointers on that score today.” Cain’s naked back was too tempting, so Emma gave in and ran the tips of her fingers from her shoulders to the small of her back where Cain’s pants didn’t let her go any farther. “It’s weird, though.”
“What?” Cain stepped out of the pants next.
“For someone as accomplished as Dallas, she acts like she’s running from something. She’s kind of skittish.” Before she could return to her exploration, Cain put on a pair of khaki pants and a sweater. “You’re no fun.”
“I promised Hannah and Hayden chocolate milk and beignets. You don’t want me to break a date, do you?” Cain turned around and lightly pinched Emma’s nipple. When Emma hissed she immediately let go. “Sorry, lass.”
“It’s not you, just a little sensitive today.” She pressed Cain’s hand flat on her chest and laughed at her hopeful look. “Way too early to tell that, love, and no, I don’t want you to stand the kids up. Mind if I tag along?”
“That’s like asking if I mind breathing.”
“You’re so sappy, aren’t you?”
They loaded into two cars so Lou, Merrick, Mook, and a few others could come. Emma still wasn’t comfortable with that level of protection, but she rarely said anything, knowing she’d never get Cain to bend on the subject. And rightfully so, she’d come to realize.
