by Ali Vali
“What do you want?”
Saying something like “world peace” occurred to her, but she thought for once she’d hold her tongue to keep things civil between them and see what Merrick’s problem was. “I’d like to have a little talk. Think you can stand me long enough to do that?”
“I’ll take the ride, but as for the rest I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Merrick moved to the driver’s seat, and Katlin just reversed course and headed for the other side of the car. Before the tires of the truck hit the black highway, Merrick was talking. “Why are you here?”
“The same reason you’re here. Cain invited me and I came. Why? Why do you think I’m here? Or better yet, why do you have such a problem with it?” Just as an aggravation, Katlin kept her face toward the window, not giving Merrick the opportunity to view her profile.
“You don’t belong here. For once you shouldn’t have taken Cain up on her invitation.” Merrick headed for the Verde farm, and Katlin did nothing to stop her. They rode in silence until the entrance to Ross’s place came up on their left, and Merrick turned in. The sun was starting to go down, the house was dark, and the truck Cain had driven Emma over in was still parked in front of the house.
“Your problem isn’t me, Merrick. Your problem is that the blonde won out. You work for Cain just like I do, only I don’t want to fuck her.”
Katlin finally did face her when their truck stopped well short of the house. It was as if Merrick had just grasped what she was saying.
“Are you insane?”
“I’m not crazy, just observant. You’re nice to Emma because you have to be, but you can’t hide the anger inside when she reaches out for my cousin and Cain welcomes her. It’s time to face the truth. Cain’s truth. And her truth is most probably upstairs with her right now. You should just go ahead and accept that and move on.”
Merrick flattened her hand out on the middle of the steering wheel as if she wanted to slap Katlin for saying it out loud. “When all this is done, Emma won’t have the courage to stick it out. There’s no way she’s going to be able to accept what Cain needs to do to win against Giovanni Bracato. And when that reality sets in, Cain’s going to be left hurt and bleeding again at the hands of the blonde you’re so accepting of.”
“I have another prediction for the future, and that ain’t it.” Katlin put her hand up to stop Merrick’s verbal assault. “Don’t bother to say anything, and rest assured I won’t mention this talk to Cain.” Katlin grasped Merrick’s arm and squeezed just short of being painful. “But you do anything to Emma or Cain to sabotage their getting back together, and I swear that whoever bothers to look for you will never find you. Do your job, and the rest is none of your business.”
“And this is your business?”
“Cain is my cousin, and her happiness means the world to me. It’s the least I owe her for giving me the world.”
“You don’t have anything to fear from me. Don’t worry.”
*
Emma rolled over and found an empty bed next to her. Their cuddling and talk on the porch had led to a lazy afternoon in her childhood room doing things her mother would have burned the house down for if she’d known. “What are you doing way over there? I’m cold.”
“Sorry, love. I heard a car coming and wanted to see if we had company.”
Emma was glad to see Cain move with more of her usual smooth style and glad that her chest bandage was smaller.
“Please tell me it’s not my father.” She put her hands up to her face and tried not to think about some of her and her father’s conversations lately. “I swear after that first afternoon when we got here, he doesn’t do anything but blush when I talk to him.”
“It’s not your father. It’s our two tense birds you were telling me about earlier. Whatever they’re doing, they’re doing it well away from the house.”
“Then come back here, and remind me to get a gun when we get home. That way I can fire off a few warning shots if I want to spend time alone with you and someone threatens to interrupt us.”
Emma molded herself to Cain’s side and rested her head on the broad shoulder. After they’d made love the first time, they’d finished their talk, so Emma knew just what Cain had in mind and why Katlin was here. Feeling like there was nothing she could add, Emma had initiated another round of lovemaking that had left them tired enough to sleep.
“How do you think Merrick’s going to take the news?”
“Lass, Merrick works for me. I want her to be satisfied with her job, but it isn’t my duty to coddle her.”
“I’d certainly hope not. That position in your life is filled, thank you.” She kissed the skin close to her lips before pushing herself up. “And as much as I enjoy your coddling, I think it’s time we tell your little lost souls out there what you have in mind.”
They dressed and stepped outside where, from the porch, Cain waved the two nearer.
Slowly Merrick moved closer, took one last look at Katlin, and made her promise again.
“What we talked about stays strictly between us. You have my word,” Katlin said.
Cain took a seat in one of the rockers, and Emma sat on the arm of the chair with her hand on her partner’s shoulder. They appeared to be a couple no one, not even someone like Kyle, could ever break apart.
“We leave in two days,” Cain said as Emma caressed the back of her neck to keep her relaxed. “I want most of the men to head back tomorrow and be in place when we return. That also gives Muriel time to do her part.”
“What’s Muriel doing?” Katlin asked.
Merrick glared at her and shook her head. “Whatever it is, I’m sure she doesn’t need your help, and you should learn not to ask about things that don’t concern you.”
“Merrick’s right, Katlin, but you’ll have plenty of time to learn. When we get back I want you with Lou and me.”
The smug smile faded from Merrick’s face, and she stared at Cain as if her boss had lost her mind. “Where am I going?”
“Merrick, I want you with Emma.”
“No way!”
Cain kept Emma by her side by putting her hand on her leg. “I’m only going to explain this once, and if you can’t accept it I’ll have to live with that.” Cain pointed to the chair Merrick had jumped out of when she registered her objection, clearly expectng her to sit back down. “I think you’re the best at what you do in my organization, and I need that reassurance guarding my wife when we go home.”
“Cain, I think Lou can handle taking care of Emma,” Merrick said again.
“I’ve made my decision, Merrick, and I want your answer now.” Despite their friendship, Cain didn’t like to be second-guessed by anyone who worked for her.
“My answer is yes, you know that.”
“Good. Like I said, I want Emma taken care of by the best.”
Merrick didn’t say anything else, realizing this might be a blessing after all. If she spent that much time with Emma, she could expose her for the fraud she was.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hayden was tying the laces of his running shoes when Cain stepped out on the porch early Friday morning. “Can I talk to you before you head out?”
“Sure.” He didn’t look up, still sulking from the night before when he’d learned that he’d be staying behind again. He didn’t seem very mature at this point, though he was always trying to convince Cain otherwise.
“We’re leaving later on today, and I wanted to talk to you before that.” Cain took a deep breath, and the cold air was almost painful. “I know you’re mad, and there’s nothing I can do about that, but I need you to look out for your sister while I’m gone. Even though you can’t do all the things you think you’re ready for, you’re still our next generation. If something happens to me, you’ll be responsible for keeping your mother and sister safe, and I just wanted you to know I have every faith that you’ll do a good job.”
Cain interpreted his silence as anger, and she left him to it, not w
anting to push him any further than he was willing to go. She’d never forced him to do anything he didn’t feel comfortable with.
Hayden kept tying his laces, head down, though he jerked it up when the door closed.
“Mom, wait.” He caught up with her on the steps leading back to her room. “I know you think I’m too young, but I could help if you take me back. I also know you’re not going to. I’m not happy about it, but I understand. And what you asked me for outside”—he pointed over his shoulder with his thumb—“thanks for trusting me like that. And you have my word I’ll take care of Mama and Hannah. Just be careful this time, huh? No more getting shot.”
Cain stepped down and opened her arms. “Thanks, son, and I’ll try to keep my head low. You remember one more thing, okay?”
“Anything for you.”
“It seems like a long way off, but when you turn seventeen, no more leaving you behind. That’s when I started, and my father before me. Think you can hold out that long?”
“Mama isn’t going to talk you out of this, is she?”
“She made me swear if by then you’re still interested in the family business, I’d teach you everything I know.”
Just as she expected, he stepped back and offered her his hand. To shake it meant the oath she’d made would be as binding as if she’d signed it in blood. With a serious face to match his, Cain took his hand and returned the firm grip. “You have a deal.”
His smile was back. Cain knew that four years and a couple of months seemed like a lifetime, but it was a target to shoot for.
“Thanks, Mom, for giving me the chance.”
“You should know me better than that. I’m not giving you anything you haven’t worked for and deserve. Remember that when you show up on your first day.” She laughed along with him and pointed up the stairs. “Go tell your mother good-bye so she can get over her crying jag before it’s time to go.”
“She’s dressed, right?”
“Everybody’s a comedian,” Cain said.
After a cup of coffee, Cain went back upstairs and stripped off the borrowed robe. “Everything settled with the boy?”
Emma lay on her side watching Cain with a smile on her blotchy face. Hayden had just left. “Whatever you told him sure made him look happy.”
“I just gave him the timeline we talked about. He always wants to go so bad and is disappointed when I leave him, so I gave him a realistic goal. Why? He wasn’t trying to talk you into taking him, was he?”
“No, he wants me to spend every minute when we get to New Orleans keeping you safe.” As sweet as that sentiment sounded, Cain was a little disappointed that he’d thought only of her and wrinkled her forehead.
Emma ran her fingers over the frown lines. “He wanted me to watch out for you since he knew you’d spend the same amount of time and effort taking care of me. I must be moving up in the world if I’m in your league.”
“Of course you’re in my league. You’re his mother. I tried, but I never could fill that part of his life you were responsible for.” Cain handed Emma the cup of coffee she’d fixed for her and lay down. “Though I did a pretty good job if he wants me to spend all my time watching you.”
“He’s twelve, honey. Tell me you haven’t already filled his head with tips on how to deal with girls?” She wrapped her hands around the warm cup and leaned against the strong body behind her.
“I’m going to tell you the same thing I tell the feds.” Emma pinched her on the leg.
“What?”
“I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it’ll incriminate me.”
As Cain’s hand landed on Emma’s middle and was deciding which direction to head, the door to their bedroom opened and a little head peeked in. Their first morning in the Rath house, Cain had learned a quick lesson on how to pull a punch when she woke up to a face about an inch from hers. Hannah might have been born looking like Cain, but she’d inherited Emma’s love of cuddling.
“Good morning, princess,” Cain said in a soft voice. She could tell by the slump of the shoulders and Hannah’s eyes that she wasn’t quite awake yet. Sharing this time with her in the morning was making Cain regret having to leave, but the sooner they got things under control, the sooner they’d be able to enjoy any special moments fully. “Did you have a good sleep?”
Hannah burrowed into Emma’s chest and put her hand in Cain’s. With the lethargy of early morning, she nodded and closed her eyes.
“Don’t want you to go, Mama.”
“I don’t want to go, but when we come back Mom is taking us all to live in New Orleans.”
“Promise?”
“I do, sweetheart. And even though Mama and I are leaving, we’ll be calling you all the time.”
Hannah seemed satisfied for the moment and closed her eyes again when Emma started singing to her.
Cain lay there content for the moment until she heard the front door open and close and Hayden’s footsteps on the stairs. Like his sister, he poked his head in and then walked to the bed when Cain waved him over.
“Watch out for her while we’re gone, and call me if you see anything out of the ordinary, okay?” Cain pulled her hand out of Hannah’s grasp and put it on the little girl’s back. “I know this isn’t what you had planned, but I’m counting on you.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take good care of her. Could you just hurry it up and come get us? Baseball season is starting soon and I wanted to try out for the team.”
“You got it, kiddo.”
The four of them enjoyed one more breakfast together before Merrick and Katlin pulled the cars around to pack for the trip to the airstrip. Emma kissed both of the kids again and stepped off the porch to the car door Cain was holding open for her.
From the way her bottom lip was trembling, Cain could tell she was about to start crying again. “It’s not too late to change your mind, you know.”
“I want to go with you, honey. It doesn’t mean, though, that I won’t miss them.”
“I know, baby, and it’s what makes you a good mom.” Cain hugged her before helping her into the truck. They pulled away slowly so Hannah could wave to them, and she kept at it until they could no longer see her. Cain sat in the backseat with Emma and held her close. “I’ll make this as quick as I can.”
“I’m not worried about that, love. I know you’re going to try your hardest to make this as painless for everyone as possible. Just don’t ask me not to worry about you and the kids.”
“I’ll be fine, and the only thing that could happen to the kids is getting calluses on their hands from milking too many cows.” Cain pulled her closer and figured Emma had something on her mind she hadn’t found a way to express yet. “Why, are you worried?”
“It’s just that Bracato came after us in the house. Do you think he’d send someone out here to hurt them? And my mother’s coming home soon. I don’t want her to discover that Hannah’s at Maddie’s.”
A little of Cain’s anger escaped her control, and she tensed, but it had nothing to do with what Emma had said. She had pushed her recovery to the limits because she intended to pay Giovanni back for that insane afternoon at her house. And she was sure her men could deal with Carol Verde on the off chance that she came snooping around.
“That’s why I chose to bring them here, lass. This is a great place because it’s in plain sight. That’s why it was so easy to spot Kyle and his men. Anyone who doesn’t belong here will be dead before they step foot out of the car.”
Emma’s laugh sounded much better than her tears. “You’re incredibly sexy when you’re threatening bodily harm. You do realize that, don’t you?”
“I’m glad you think so. If that’s the case, the next couple of weeks should be rather interesting for you.” Cain cupped the smooth cheek and stole a kiss. “By the time I’m done, you’ll think I’m the sexiest person alive.”
“Too late on that one, studly. I already think that.”
The plane was sitting on the end of the sh
ort strip, and Muriel was there.
“Ah, good, the gang’s all here,” said Cain as she returned the wave.
“You didn’t tell me Muriel was coming with us.” Emma covered the hand on her middle and ran her fingers over Cain’s skin.
“She didn’t tell me definitely, so I thought we’d surprise you if she was able to make it. Look, she’s got a tan.”
Muriel opened the door of the truck for them and offered Emma a hand. “How’s the crabby patient?”
“She’s doing just great, so I wouldn’t be pushing my luck and calling her names. Give her a couple more days and she’s liable to take a swing at you.” Emma stood on her toes and gave Muriel a kiss.
“After I tell her all the stuff I got done, she wouldn’t dare.”
Muriel and Cain eyed each other with mock glares before wrapping their arms around each other. From childhood, they had acted more like siblings than cousins.
“Did you get to speak to Ramon again?” Cain asked once they were airborne, running her fingers gently over her chest, trying to stop the itching of the healing wound.
“A couple of times, and then he met with the people you asked him to. They were interested in a deal if you agree to meet with them too, once this is all over.”
“For what? They can’t seriously think I’d be interested.”
“Not interested, cousin. More like your willingness to let them deal with the other families.”
Cain nodded, but didn’t comment for a long time. “They can hope, but I’ll have to think about that.”
“They realize that, I think, so they told Ramon to convey their willingness to be patient until you’re ready. On another subject, my staff has moved into new office space.”
“Muriel, that’s great,” Emma said.
“Not when your dear spouse gets the bill. They figured you wouldn’t mind if we upgraded a bit.”
“Of course not, the mobster’s made of money,” Cain said.
“You’ll be giving them all raises when you see what else they got you.” Muriel dug through her briefcase for the right paperwork. “Your new deed, barkeep.”
