Deal with the Devil

by Ali Vali

  “You want me to come alone?”

  “I actually don’t want you to come at all,” Cain said, and Emma laughed. “You’re the one who wants to meet.”

  “Until Tuesday, then.” Nunzio’s smile appeared forced. “Ladies, it was a pleasure,” he said to Emma and Dallas.

  As he walked away Dallas shivered so noticeably Cain couldn’t help but ask, “Are you all right?”

  “He reminds me of someone I used to know. The same dead eyes.” Dallas shivered again and rubbed her arms as if she were really cold. “Sorry. Remi, I’m sure you and Cain have some stuff to talk over. Do you need us to head to the ladies’ room?”

  “Let’s not give them a choice,” Emma said. When she rose, Lou stood up with her. “Merrick?” She looked at her guard.

  “We flipped a coin and Lou won,” Merrick said. “He’s the only person who hates Juan more than Cain does and would love to add matching bruises on the opposite side of Juan’s face.”

  “Come on, Lou, you two spent so much time fighting over me, I really do have to go.”

  Cain laughed and watched them walk away. Since the owner had put Nunzio and the Luis family in the next room, she didn’t have to look at them. “It’s a good thing we’re going to Pescador’s after this.”

  “You want to talk to my father?”

  “More like I want you to talk to him—I already know how I’m going to handle Nunzio.” Cain stopped talking when the waiter arrived with a fresh round of drinks.

  “You backing out on us?” Remi asked, but Cain could tell she wasn’t angry.

  “I gave you my word and I’d never back out, but I don’t like this guy. Nunzio’s going to tell us whatever we want to hear just to get his hands on the money. Once that happens, we’ll have to deal with the consequences of the monster we’ll have helped create.”

  Remi nodded. “I agree but don’t see a lot of options here. If we want what he’s selling, we can either talk him down or move on to something else. Mirage Properties will probably hold their noses and deal with him if they can add another property to their holdings.”

  “I’m sure we’ll think of something,” Cain said. She stood as Emma and Dallas made it back. “We have until Tuesday to come up with a better deal.”

  “Have you solved all the world’s problems?” Emma asked. She kissed Cain’s chin before sitting down.

  “Everything okay?” Cain cocked her head in the direction of the restrooms.

  “For once it was a bathroom trip without incident.” Emma laughed at Dallas’s look. “Long story that I’ll tell you the next time we have lunch.”

  Their appetizers had arrived when Juan strode toward the front of the restaurant. He stared directly at Emma, puckered his lips, and blew her a kiss. He laughed when Emma put a restraining hand on Cain’s shoulder, but stopped when Lou stood up as if waiting for him to pass. He stayed at his table for the remainder of the meal.

  After dinner Remi led them to Ramon’s club, where it was hard to miss Shelby and Claire having a club soda at the bar. But the agents were stuck there as Remi took her party up the stairs to the private section.

  Dallas looped her arm through Remi’s as they walked toward the cashier’s cage. After Remi signed a voucher, the girl pushed a stack of chips toward her, repeating the process when Cain laid her money down.

  “Craps?” Remi asked Cain.

  They played, sharing their chips with Emma and Dallas, who, by the time Ramon arrived, were doing better than they were. Ramon gave them some hints on how to bet, obviously enjoying Dallas and Emma’s enthusiasm.

  “Nunzio Luca’s in town and wants a meeting,” Remi said as she and her father moved to the bar to get water for everyone.

  “What answer did you and Cain give him?”

  “Tuesday, if he comes alone. But Cain’s not sounding too hyped about this deal anymore.” Remi waved the bartender off, wanting a few more minutes with her father.

  Ramon draped his arm around her shoulders and kissed Remi’s cheek before letting her go. “I’ve taught you everything I can, and I know you weren’t sure why I wanted to partner with Cain on this and the studio. Doing business with her will give you a new perspective. Cain surprises a lot of people all the time, but I’m seldom in that group because I seldom underestimate her.”

  “So you don’t think she’ll back out?” Remi asked.

  “She gave us her word—to Cain that still means something. Before we’re done, we’ll own the Capri. It just might not come from the deal Nunzio Luca has in mind. If that’s the case, we’ll end up with a bargain we didn’t expect.”

  When the waiter appeared again, Remi nodded. “How about the other thing I asked you to work on?”

  Someone shouted from the craps table, and Ramon turned around as Dallas clapped and laughed. “I met with Mano about that this morning. We haven’t found anything yet, but after I started reading what he has so far, I can see what made you curious.”

  “Nothing,” Remi said, staring at the Evian bottles.

  “Let me check one more thing before you jump to any conclusions. For the most part, she’s who she says she is, and she’s got the talent to back it up. That part is more than clear. But we don’t know how she got there.”

  Remi cracked open one of the bottles and took a gulp, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She joined her father in watching Dallas and her friends having a good time. “Sometimes it’s easy to identify a woman with no past,” she said, making Ramon step closer to her again.

  “Give me a couple more days,” he said in a gentle tone.

  “If she’s undercover, you’re not going to find anything except what whoever she’s working for wants you to find.”

  “I don’t think that’s it.”

  “Why not?” Remi waved back when Dallas made a motion for her to rejoin them. “She’s got the perfect cover. Damsel in distress under the thumb of an overbearing manager. I was bound to notice her sooner or later. Our taking over Gemini has been in the works for a couple of years, so it hasn’t been a secret. I’m not saying she’s a cop, but if she is, you have to give them credit for the elaborate setup.”

  “If it’s there, I’ll find it. If there’s anything to find.”

  “I trust you, Papi. Let me know, and follow the money trail. Her work experience isn’t extensive, but this last film has been lucrative.”

  “Go on.” Ramon handed the tray over and pushed her in her date’s direction. “You’ve spent so much time with me you’re being rude.”

  “And about Tuesday?”

  “Tell Cain I’ll be glad to follow her lead.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Dallas, it was great seeing you again,” Cain said as they came down the stairs of the club. Shelby was still sitting on her stool, but Claire was nowhere in sight. “Have a good night.” She shook hands with Remi before accepting a friendly embrace.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow,” Remi told her before she stepped back.

  “Whenever you like, we’ll be home.”

  Remi and Cain stood back as Emma and Dallas said their good-byes. They hadn’t known each other long, but Remi could see they were becoming good friends. The conversation she’d had with her father returned to her, and suddenly the possibility of Dallas not being who she said she was hit her in the gut. If there was even a remote chance, Dallas would be betraying not only her family and her—she would also get to Cain via her partner.

  Taking her aside, Cain asked, “You all right?”

  “I need your help.” Remi hoped her father was right about Cain’s creativity. “My father and Mano are working on something, but they haven’t had much luck.”

  “Remi,” Cain said, winking at Emma when she took a step toward them, “we’ve known each other a long time. If you need anything, just ask. It’s that simple.”

  “This has nothing to do with business.” She glanced at Dallas before giving Cain her full attention. “But until we talk, please tell Emma to be careful on a
ny future lunch dates.”

  “You know how I feel about Emma. Give me a hint so I can sleep tonight.”

  “Not here, not now, but I promise first thing in the morning.” Remi pointed to Shelby, not caring if she could see her. “I have your word it’ll stay between us if I’m wrong?”

  “You’ve got no worries, no matter what it is. Go on and get Dallas home, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

  Emma kissed Remi’s cheek before following Cain out to the car. “Anything wrong?” she asked when the door closed, leaving them alone in the back.

  “If there is we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. You had lunch with Dallas, right?”

  “I told you about it, remember?”

  Lou headed out of the Quarter but wasn’t driving them to Jarvis’s. They were going to their house. “Did she ask any strange questions? Anything on the verge of snooping?” Cain asked, not questioning their direction.

  “You mean more about business and less about girl talk?”

  “I’m not asking to be insulting.”

  “I know. You’re asking because of that serious and sudden talk you just had with Remi. What’s the problem?”

  “I don’t know if there is one, but it sounds like Remi’s trying to find out some information on Dallas, or she has Ramon working on it.”

  “How romantic,” Emma said, clearly being sarcastic.

  “Something must’ve prompted it, lass. Don’t go crucifying her yet.”

  “Did you do that to me?”

  “I didn’t have to.” Cain laughed at the menacing glare Emma had plastered on her face.

  “Why’s that?”

  “After our first date, I knew all I had to about you, and I was right.”

  “So I didn’t send off warning bells in your head?” Emma moved closer and lifted Cain’s arm around her shoulder.

  “In my head and in other parts of my anatomy,” Cain teased. “I saw past the clumsy waitress and into my future and the mother of my children. I had no reason to question what was in my heart.”

  “You,” Emma ran her hand up Cain’s leg until she reached her crotch, “are a very romantic soul, but I think you took a little longer to see all that in me. The night we met was more of a question of whether to fire the hayseed or not.”

  “And give someone else a shot at you? Not on your life,” Cain said, then tapped on the window. “Are we going to study more paint swatches?”

  “We’re going to study something, and eventually it’ll require more painting, but it’s more to rev you up for a threat I made today.”

  “Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this, Mrs. Casey?”

  “Trust me, baby, you can’t be any madder about the situation than I am. I wanted to show you something, then I want you to talk to our contractor in the morning. However you decide to handle the situation I’ll gladly back you, but it needs your unique persuasive charms.”

  They drove through the new gate and Cain spotted the van across the street already in place. The guards waited in the car as Emma took Cain’s hand and led her through the front door. From the time they made it inside until they stopped at the stairs, Cain counted over a hundred holes in their walls, most of them in her study.

  “What about upstairs?” Cain asked Emma.

  “The maid hasn’t made it up there yet, since this part took so long after I left here this morning,” Emma said. “I’m sure it’s the same mess.”

  Cain smiled finally and kissed her. They stood outside the house now, but the bugs inside were undoubtedly operational. The agents in the van were probably testing them.

  “Let’s get going then. I wouldn’t want you to come down with something,” Cain said.

  As soon as they were back in the car Emma said, “His name is Jimmy Pitre, if you remember, and I told him you’d call when I had the sweep done. This is going to set us back some.”

  “I’ll take care of it, lass, even if I have to make a trip to Home Depot and fix it myself. What kind of deal did you offer this guy?”

  Emma told her about the five-thousand-dollar penalty for every device they found.

  “You should’ve set an extra charge for every one you found after a hundred,” Cain said.

  *

  “Thanks for inviting me tonight.” Dallas held Remi’s hand as they walked down Bourbon Street toward her house. “I really like Emma and Cain.”

  “They’re a great couple who’ve already had their share of heartache. It’s good to see them together again.”

  “Together again? Were they separated?” Dallas took her key out of her small evening bag and handed it to Remi.

  “It’s a long story.” She unlocked the outer door and held it open for Dallas. “Maybe next time I’ll get into it more. I don’t like to talk about my friends out of turn.”

  They stopped at the door to the house, and Dallas placed her hands on Remi’s shoulders. “It’s still early. You have time now if you want to come in.”

  “I have some meetings in the morning so I have to get going.” She unlocked the next door. “I’ll call once I’m done.”

  Dallas moved her hands up until they were behind Remi’s neck. “Why does that sound like a brush-off? Did I do or say something to upset you?”

  “I have a lot on my mind, and I’m not brushing you off. As soon as I’m done I’ll give you a call.” Remi kissed her, then waited for her to slide the deadbolt on the door into place. When Dallas’s expression had turned to one of sadness, she’d almost given in. That’s something I can’t allow myself to do until I know all your secrets, Dallas Montgomery.

  *

  “Where in the hell have you been?” Bob said menacingly as he dug his fingers into Dallas’s arm when Remi’s footsteps faded away.

  He’d been waiting for her inside the door in the shadows, she was sure, so he could keep out of sight if Remi had accepted her invitation to come in. She didn’t answer and tried to pull away, not in the mood for Bob’s games. “Answer me, or do I need to remind you who owns you, sweetheart?” he asked, tightening his hold. “I’ll put the bruises where no camera will ever find them.”

  “You remind me so much every day, I’d think you’d be tired of it by now.” Dallas winced as the pain got worse right before he let go. Taking no chances that he’d touch her again, she moved around him and put as much distance between them as possible. “I had dinner with Remi Jatibon. It was a spur-of-the-moment invitation, so I didn’t have time to call you. Since you told me to be nice, I thought you wouldn’t mind.”

  “You’re finally using your head and appealing to her more basic needs. I’m glad to see you’re not playing hard to get. We both know better. But make sure you check with me before you go making any stupid moves.”

  “I leave all the move-making up to you,” she said, suddenly feeling tired. Now that Remi was gone, she just wanted to be alone.

  “Think you can smart off now? What, you get one dinner invitation and you believe you’ve found a guard dog to protect you from me? Do I need to remind you she didn’t even make it through the door?”

  “Not everyone is out to get something. This was dinner, and unlike most people I have to deal with, Remi wasn’t expecting me to pay for it on my back.” She glanced at the rock on her coffee table and took a deep breath. “Those days are over, if I can help it.”

  “I’m out to get all I can, and we’re taking another step next week. The studio called, and we have an appointment. Let’s hope your little girlfriend hasn’t moved on to a newer flavor by then, and you end up with a more lucrative contract than before.” He crossed the room and stopped in front of her, then ran his finger down her cheek to her neck. “Whatever happens, don’t start thinking this perverted bitch can help you get rid of me, because that’ll never happen. We’re partners for life, baby. I’ve seen to that.”

  When Bob left, the air in the room seemed to return. Dallas slumped against the chair she’d been standing by and gave in to the tears she seldom shed in fr
ont of anyone, not anymore. Bob was an ass, but he wasn’t wrong about a whole list of things. She belonged to him; he wasn’t going away voluntarily, and Remi had already moved on.

  Something had happened while they were in Pescador’s that had changed Remi’s demeanor toward her. If she’d ever had a chance with Remi, something had snatched it away before anything came of it. Too tired to climb the stairs to her room, she stretched out on the sofa and cried.

  Dallas had learned early that life wasn’t fair. Fate showed her glimpses of what was possible, then just as quickly took them away. She would’ve done better never to know any kind of happiness was possible, because then she’d have nothing to compare the misery to. She wouldn’t have any memories of her mother singing her to sleep, picking wildflowers in the meadow near their house, or how good it felt when Remi held her on this same couch.

  That’s all they were, memories so fleeting she could almost convince herself they were simply strings of fantasy.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The mansion off the road in Long Island had been in the same family for three generations. Guards carrying machine guns and large dogs roaming the grounds dissuaded unwelcome guests from impromptu visits. The beautiful gardens and buildings were purchased with blood, drugs, and no conscience.

  Junior Luca sat on a bench that overlooked the water, the one place on the property where he felt comfortable to talk freely because of his staff’s constant sweeps for listening devices. “Nunzio, you in New Orleans yet?”

  “I just got back from dinner with Rodolfo and Juan. I thought I’d call before I take a shower. After spending the night listening to that idiot Juan, I can use one.”

  “Yeah, well, while Rodolfo’s making nice with you, he’s breathing down my neck about money. We’re tapped out, and I can’t bleed any more cash out of the East Coast operations. What kind of timetable are you looking at down there?”

  “I ran into Remi and Cain at dinner tonight, and they said they’d sit down with me Tuesday. They acted pretty chummy, and they’re both holding the line that they’re negotiating some other deal.” He stood at the window peering out at the night sky. “I talked it over with Kim, and she’s ready to go when it comes to what we talked about before.”