Deal with the Devil

by Ali Vali

  “I no there,” he screamed, sounding beyond frustrated. When Cain pulled the trigger again, the gun sounded like a cannon, but Jesus’s screams drowned out the echo. He wriggled in his chair like someone had hooked him to an electric current.

  “Is your memory getting any better?” Cain asked him, raising her voice to be heard over his crying. “If it isn’t, then maybe one here,” she put the gun to his shin, “will improve it.”

  “It no was me, I swear…it…it was Oscar…Oscar Cardone. He kill that guy.”

  “See, you need the right persuasion,” Cain told Lou. “I just have a few more questions so try and focus. What were you doing at the airport?”

  “Senor Rodolfo, he send us, but Oscar go crazy and we have to go.” Jesus’s speech was becoming more rapid and he had to stop to throw up. “It hurt so bad.”

  “One more thing. Was Anthony Curtis there?”

  “Who?” Jesus’s eyes widened then shut as if he realized his mistake. When he opened his eyes again Cain’s finger was moving back to press the trigger. “Esperate.”

  The word “wait” was one of the few Cain recognized and she let the gun fall to her side. “It’s late, Mr. Vega, and I’m tired. Not a good combination for you, so cut the crap.”

  “You know me?”

  “Your mother might have named you Jesus,” she did her best to pronounce it correctly, beginning the name with an h, “but she wasted it on you.” She waved the wallet Katlin had taken from him in his face.

  “Anthony, he was there.”

  “Were you all waiting for Juan Luis?” The gun was starting to feel heavy in Cain’s hand as she bounced it against her thigh.

  “Senor Rodolfo, he send us. I go where the patron say, and then Señor Anthony say kill that man, he see me.”

  The explanation was rough but understandable enough to Cain. She kept her eyes on Jesus as she handed Lou the gun. “You need me to stay?”

  “I won’t be long, but I want to finish and clean up. It’s the least I owe Rick.”

  Cain picked up Jesus’s wallet before leaving with Katlin. To get back to the house quicker, Katlin took the interstate, keeping two miles under the limit. The windows on the Tahoe SUV she’d taken out were tinted dark enough in the back that Cain made no attempt to get down as they drove past the van parked across the street from the gate. In the garage Cain waved to Katlin as she headed to the pool house for the rest of the night.

  “Give Merrick my apologies for keeping you out so late.”

  “Sure thing,” Katlin said, her voice sounding muffled as she walked away.

  “Were you right or wrong?” Emma asked a short time later when Cain got back in bed.

  “A little of both, I guess.”

  “Then more right than wrong, I hope.”

  Emma felt like warm silk against her skin. “Do you know why Napoleon lost his last war?”

  “Honey, it’s past three,” Emma said with a trace of a whine.

  “Supply chain. He stretched his troops too far for his supplies to reach the advanced divisions. No matter what the other theories are about the subject, that’s my opinion.”

  “That’s nice, and that has to do with tonight because?”

  “I need to start figuring some of this out, or we’re going to stretch ourselves too thin. There’s no way to keep the feds on the other side of that fence and take down Nunzio Luca and the Luis family all at the same time, without falling short in one or more areas.” Cain rolled onto her back and Emma went with her, covering half of Cain’s body with hers.

  “There’s a way. You just haven’t thought of it yet.”

  “Thanks, lass. It’s nice to have someone who believes I know what I’m doing.”

  The room was still dark, but Emma obviously didn’t have trouble finding Cain’s lips. “I happen to think you’re brilliant, but if you don’t know what you’re doing,” she teased, “then leave me in the dark.”

  “That’s a deal,” Cain said, and laughed. Despite the hour she wasn’t tired.

  “Since we’re both up, how about we have coffee and talk?”

  “How’d you know I wasn’t sleepy?”

  Emma rubbed her stomach before she sat up. “I’m your wife, so I can tell the difference between alert and sleepy. Besides, if we get up now we can fit in a nap later today.”

  After Emma turned the coffee pot on, they sat together in the kitchen. Their hands were joined as they sat at the small table set in the bay window overlooking the gardens out back, and every so often they’d see one of the guards patrolling, leading a large German shepherd.

  “Tell me what you know, mobster,” Emma said.

  “Which part?”

  “Whichever part you think has the potential to do the most harm.”

  The coffee pot sputtered, signaling it was done, and Cain got up to fill the two cups Emma had set out with the added ingredients they liked. She picked them up and cocked her head in the direction of the sunroom. It was still three hours till sunrise, but they’d be more comfortable on the sofa.

  “I had a talk with one of Rodolfo’s men tonight, and he admitted to being at the airport with Anthony Curtis. According to him, Anthony ordered the group they were with to kill Rick because he’d seen them waiting for someone,” Cain said. She was filling in the blanks for Emma, but by talking out loud she was seeing the information from a new viewpoint.

  “Anthony ordered Rick killed?”

  “If that was the case, my plan of action would be easy. No, Anthony’s an ass but he’s not dumb. He’s playing some kind of twisted game of chicken, and at the airport the truck heading toward him creamed him.” She put her cup down, then Emma’s, so they could stretch out. “But Anthony’s not out of this. He’s hurt himself and is going to be more dangerous now.”

  Emma put her hand in Cain’s robe and ran her fingers along her stomach again. “Why?”

  “Because I don’t believe he ordered anything, but he was there. He watched Rodolfo’s dogs take Rick away and kill him. In Anthony’s world that makes him culpable, and he knows that. But I don’t think he’s aware his employer knows he was there.”

  “That’s the other thing I don’t understand. Why was he there?”

  “Jesus said Rodolfo sent them, but he didn’t know for what.”

  Emma lifted her head and laughed. “Jesus told you? If you got to talk to him you should’ve asked better questions.”

  “Funny girl,” Cain said, pinching one of her cheeks. “I don’t buy that, but that’s the story he stuck with no matter how many different ways I asked.”

  “How do you find out the truth? Ask the Virgin Mary?”

  Cain had to laugh at that one. “You need more sleep if you’re this punchy, but to answer your question, I see only one way. I’m going to ask Rodolfo as soon as I get a meeting with him.”

  “He’d just tell you?”

  “Probably not, but I want to send him a message that he has a mutiny brewing in his house.” Cain helped Emma up and put her arm around her shoulders.

  “It’s me, baby. Could you not be so cryptic?”

  “The rabid dog he’s been feeding and training all these years has finally decided to break his leash and bite his master. Anthony wasn’t at the airport on Rodolfo’s orders—he was there at Juan’s. I think he’s back and Anthony is with him.” Cain smoothed the blankets over them and opened her arms to Emma once they were settled in the bed. “You wanted to know what could harm us the most. If I’m right, it’d be that.”

  “And if it really was Rodolfo?”

  “If it was him I’m going to feed him that shit he sells until he chokes on it, then ship him back to Mexico in a crate of bananas to give his nephew a hint of what’ll happen to him if he comes back here.”

  Emma rested her head in the bend of Cain’s shoulder and kissed the side of her neck. “See, and you said you didn’t have a plan.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  “Where are you going?” Dallas asked from under the co
vers. She watched Remi walk out of the bathroom toward the bed, her hair wet from a shower. “After last night you’re supposed to be in here with me.”

  “Can I tell you how good you look in sheets?” Remi joined her when Dallas held up the blanket.

  “You smell nice.” Dallas went willingly when Remi took her in her arms. “If you’d woken me up, I could’ve helped you get that way.”

  “What’s wrong?” Remi combed Dallas’s hair behind her ear and kissed her. “I’m sorry I got up without you.”

  “That usually means you didn’t—”

  Remi stopped her from saying anything else by kissing her again, only this time longer and more passionately. “I wake up early every day no matter what’s going on, and since I’m a little ADD, I get restless. You looked so peaceful I didn’t want to disturb you, but last night was wonderful.”

  “You’re not sorry?”

  “So sorry that I want us to repeat it tonight.” Remi ran her thumb along Dallas’s lips. “It doesn’t have anything to do with sex, but everything with having you here with me.”

  “Can we have that talk today?” The night before, Dallas had lain in Remi’s arms, and it had felt so good she came close to crying again. But like Remi said, it had nothing to do with sex. For once she felt safe enough to simply put her head down and rest. With Remi, the last thing she wanted to do was leave.

  “Cain called and I’ve got to head out for a meeting, but I had Juno clear the rest of my day so we can talk.” Remi ran her hands down Dallas’s back to her butt, then lifted her closer. “While I’m gone I want you to do me a favor.”

  “What?” When Remi lay flat on her back Dallas was happy to spread her legs and straddle Remi’s waist. The new position let her lick Remi’s nipple, getting it wet. She blew on it and it puckered. “What can I do for you?” Her question had more to do with other kinds of favors, if Remi was interested.

  “Make your Christmas list early.” Remi’s voice cracked on the last word as Dallas repeated her action on the other breast. “When I come back, I want you to tell me what you want changed in your life that would make you happy.”

  Dallas sat up and smiled. In the daylight she could see Remi’s face and how much desire it held for her, but she saw more. Not only lust shone in the uniquely different colors of blue and green, that kind of caring was the biggest turn-on Dallas had experienced in her short life. And it evidently drove Remi’s need to free her from whatever haunted her.

  “When you come back?” Dallas asked as she rocked against Remi’s lower abdomen, guaranteeing she’d need another shower. “I’ll do whatever you like.” She eased down and kneeled between Remi’s legs. “But you need to come right now.” She thought her play on words was lost as Remi moaned instead of laughed.

  They touched, but their union was different in the light of day. It was still hungry, yet it felt like nothing Dallas had shared with anyone. For the first time she experienced what it was like for someone to make love to her. Remi touched her like someone who cared about her pleasure because she cared about her. Remi didn’t want to possess her, but to express how much she wanted her in and out of bed.

  As they stood in the shower together, Remi held her under the spray and kissed every part of her face with soft, gentle movements. “You know,” she said when she kissed a spot over Dallas’s left brow, “if you keep crying every time we do that,” she moved to the right one, “I’m going to develop a complex.”

  “I wish I could explain it better, but I promise, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re doing everything so right I’m having a hard time processing it.” Dallas leaned back and ran her fingers along Remi’s collarbone. “Does that make sense?”

  “You make perfect sense.”

  They finished showering and Dallas borrowed Remi’s robe to head into the kitchen. Surprisingly, the sight of Emil sitting at the counter having coffee and reading the paper didn’t startle her as much as she would’ve thought. He was polite and pointed out where the mugs were so she could pour two cups of coffee. He stopped her as she started back.

  “I almost forgot.” He held up a small gift bag. “I don’t know if Remi mentioned it, but I’ve got a hobby.”

  Dallas blinked a few times but stayed quiet as her brain flipped through the possibilities of what Emil would find fun, considering he looked like a brick wall. Granted, he appeared to have broken his nose a couple of times, and he had a small collection of scars on his face, one thick one that ran though his left brow, but it somehow made him seem more genuine.

  “Is that for me?” Dallas asked.

  “I thought you’d like it.”

  For such a big guy Emil had a soft voice. Dallas put the cups down and accepted the bag. Inside was a wide tan alligator belt with his name stamped in small letters on the inside next to the buckle.

  “You made this?” she asked, getting a shy nod. “It’s beautiful, thank you.” Even though he was sitting she still had to tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “I love it.” To her astonishment he nodded again and blushed.

  “Morning, Emil,” Remi said as she entered the kitchen. “That color looks nice on you.” She pointed to his face.

  “Leave him alone. You can’t tease a man who comes bearing gifts.”

  “If you sweet-talk him while I’m gone, maybe he’ll make you a matching pair of boots.” Remi lifted her foot to show off her usual footwear. The black boots matched the pair Emil, Mano, and her father had. “You two relax and I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Remi kissed Dallas at the door, then stopped a floor down to pick up Simon.

  Cain had called that morning and wanted to review a few things she needed her and Mano to take over. She knew Mano had been working closely with Muriel to keep Richard in their sights until they closed the casino deal. Nunzio might have owned it, but it wasn’t his signature they needed when it came time.

  “We’re not going to the house?” Remi asked when Simon turned right toward the Quarter.

  “Cain’s at the Pescador with your father. She said she had an outing last night and needs a meet with Rodolfo.”

  “She wants us there?”

  “The last thing Cain Casey needs is a backup or someone to hold her hand. She wants your father to set it up since he knows Rodolfo better. If she has to talk to him, it’s about Juan, and neither of them have anything to do with us.”

  Remi rested her hand on the top of her boot, since she’d pushed the front passenger seat all the way back so she could cross her legs. “I wouldn’t mind going to do both, if she asked. I’ve enjoyed working with her. Cain’s got a lot to teach.”

  At a light Simon glanced at her. “That’s what you have Ramon for.”

  “True, and his advice is priceless.”

  The careful way she said that must have been why Simon laughed. “But? I have a feeling that’s what you were going to say next.”

  “Papi has been a great teacher, but he teaches Mano and me to do things the way he would do them. He told me when he decided on these mergers with Cain that I should pay attention, and I have. Cain might’ve lost Dalton but she’s sharp. She’s had to learn the business on her own, using the foundation he gave her, but you can tell she’s made it grow and get stronger.”

  “Uh-huh.” Simon slowed as they turned on the block where Ramon’s club was located. “When Dalton was killed, your father and Vincent both waited for her to fail or ask for help, which in their eyes would’ve been the same thing. Cain proved herself, though, by walking through fire to keep her organization together. I admired her for that, and I think Vincent did too. You know your father did, or he wouldn’t be dealing with her at all.”

  “I think he knows something I figured out when I attended Dalton’s funeral. No matter what happens in this city, Cain’s too smart not to survive. If there’s a war, the smartest play is to be on her side, no matter what the other guy offers you, because when the dust settles she’ll give you just enough time to see death coming. It’s that kind of thinking that Papi
respects.”

  There was space reserved for them out front, and Katlin waved to them as Simon started to parallel park. Across the street a news crew was interviewing what Remi assumed were the new owners of the building being renovated on the corner. When the car stopped she took her sunglasses off and threw them on the dash, not wanting to have to carry them.

  She opened her door as Simon opened the driver’s side, and as soon as she stood up straight something flashed momentarily, making her glance up and to the right.

  The single shot from the high-powered rifle was so deafening that everyone on the street stopped what they were doing. Simon heard Remi slam into the side of the car from the force of the impact. The scene seemed surreal to Simon as she watched Remi go down from a single shot that had hit her square in the chest. She ran without thinking to the other side of the car to see if she was alive, not caring that it put her in the line of fire. Katlin had drawn her gun and was scanning the area across from them, trying to spot the shooter.

  “Oh my God,” Simon heard the reporter across the street scream as the cameraman moved closer. “Who’s that?”

  “Katlin, help me,” Simon ordered. Working together they picked Remi up and laid her across the back seat. “Tell Ramon,” was all she could get out before she jumped behind the wheel and took off.

  *

  The television on the security guard’s desk was on as Emil and Dallas returned to Remi’s building after a trip to the grocery store. When Dallas heard the woman say the name Remington Jatibon, she turned her head toward the TV. Next to her Emil stopped and looked too as the small screen cut to the front of the Pescador Club. The woman reporter was going on about the tragedy they’d caught on tape, and Dallas started to shake her head as a feeling of dread washed over her.