by Ali Vali
“Sorry, I never thought of it that way.”
“Keep your eyes open and lose the attitude. If we have to repeat this talk, I’m going to hire you to pour drinks at the pub. That’ll be your only option other than walking out the door.”
“You got it,” Sabana said, and smiled at Emma and Hannah when they appeared holding hands.
“Follow your own advice, mobster.” Emma kissed Cain again. “Be careful, and I’ll see you later,” she said as Cain hugged Hannah.
Cain followed them out and got in the front seat with Lou. “How’s Dino working out?” she asked of Lou’s nephew, who was driving Sabana and her girls.
“He reminds me a lot of Rick. That’s why I thought he’d be a good fit for Sabana, but she’s too angry to see it. Dino’s a good kid, and he knows how I feel about you and your family. My brother wants him at the restaurant with him, but Dino wants a future here. He knows what I expect of him, so he’s not about to screw up.”
“I don’t mean to disrespect your brother, but has his cooking gotten any better?”
“He keeps warning me about the consequences of the life I live, but it’s my cash keeping that place of his afloat. Idiot couldn’t cook after I sent him to a culinary school, and it ain’t gotten any better. He should’ve picked a different career after his retirement from the fire department.” Lou laughed as he glanced in the rearview mirror. She’d already spotted their tail, so she didn’t bother looking again. These guys never lost them unless they took evasive maneuvers. “I appreciate you giving the kid a shot.”
“You’re my family, Lou, and I trust you.”
“If you add my brother to the mix, it gave you a reason not to trust Dino. Don’t think I haven’t realized that.”
They entered the Ninth Ward, and Lou slowed and waved to a few of the guys sitting on the porches down the street. Jasper Luke’s barricade was up and manned at the end of the street, and the other side was lined with cars. Jasper was a good six inches taller than her, bald, and muscled to the point of being scary. Like her, he’d taken over for his father eventually, but he’d been so young when he’d died that his uncle and Aunt Maude had tended to the business until he was ready.
Maude spent most of their working hours in the small café on the property, Maude’s Kitchen, but like his father and uncle, Jasper depended on her unique brand of wisdom. Juan had come here with Anthony once to try to broker a deal, but like most, they weren’t invited to lunch. That took Jasper’s trust or Maude’s friendship. Cain was fortunate to have both.
“Dino’s lucky to have you,” she said as they neared Jasper’s roadblock. “Your brother isn’t a bad guy, but it’s got to be exhausting to live in fear of everything all the time.”
“Yeah,” Lou said as he waved again. “He loves to throw God in my face, but Dino gets the brunt of it and it’s gotten old. It’s good to see the kid happy, and he’s taken Emma’s safety seriously.”
“Can’t ask for better than that.” They stopped at the barricades, and the guy who appeared the oldest rose from his chair and walked to her side of the vehicle. “How’s it going? Looks like a party,” she said as she pointed to the congested circle of houses. Every one of them, including the street, belonged to Jasper, so the city and the Feds couldn’t do anything about the roadblock.
“Hey, Cain,” the man said as he waved to one of the men to open the gate. “Jasper ain’t too happy these days, so you know how that is. Even Miss Maude’s a little put off. She’ll be glad to see you.”
“Thanks. We’ll park here and walk, if you want.”
“Jasper will skin me for that. Go on down and leave it in the middle.”
A few people behind them climbed the front steps to the house on the end, but Cain led Lou to the left. The two window units on the back of the smaller place next door made a puddle under them, but Jasper would flood the city to keep his Aunt Maude happy. She’d spent more time raising him than his parents had, and Jasper was devoted to her because of it.
“Fall in love and forgot all about me, huh?” Maude said when they entered her large kitchen. “But I can’t blame you. Jasper told me that girl is big and pregnant again.”
“Number three, so cut me some slack, beautiful.”
Maude hugged her, and the firm embrace never failed to remind Cain of her mother. The two women had plenty in common, starting with their devotion to family. But her mother had also loved running the one room that gave heart to a home, as she’d love to say. Sitting with her mother as she stirred a big pot, Cain had learned as much from her as she had from her Da.
“You here to take some of Jasper’s worry away? If that man wasn’t bald already, this past month would’ve sheared every hair from his head.”
She sat with Maude at the small table in the corner. “He’s got a lot of company, so let’s us start in here first.” Since Maude did have so much of Jasper’s trust, and she knew him so well, Cain knew she had all the answers she needed.
“You don’t dabble down in this neighborhood except with your shopkeepers and bar owners, so don’t disappoint me because it ain’t your business. Jasper’s been kind to you and always answers your call.”
“I may not visit as often as I should, but you have to know better than that. Da and Fats were friends long before I was a thought in his brain, and relationships like that don’t die easy,” she said, referring to Maude’s late husband. “You remember the first time he brought me here?”
“You were green still, but you were a charmer. I told Fats as y’all drove off that Dalton had himself a silver-tongued devil. Your father was a good friend to us, and he did a good job continuing his legacy, so don’t take my request like an insult.” She twisted the kitchen cloth in her hand as she spoke, and it was easy to read the anxiety across her forehead. “Someone is out to make a name, and Jasper’s had to bury more men in the last few weeks than either of us can remember. It’s never been this bad.”
“Cain’s got enough on her mind, Auntie.” Jasper filled the door, and his voice carried even though he wasn’t talking loud. He embraced Lou before joining them. He was alone, but the guy who’d obviously walked over with him stayed outside the door. “Thanks for coming,” he said as he put his arms around Cain.
They all sat again and Cain reached for Maude’s hand. She’d never ask her to leave, but she wanted her to understand the level of their friendship. “You’re right about what business I do and don’t do, but this is much more than that. Things here in New Orleans are changing, and it’s my guess it’s not going back to the way we know.”
“That don’t sound too encouraging,” Maude said.
“You have to understand why. We’re not as big as New York, LA, or Miami, but not as backwoods as some of the border towns. We’re perfect because we have miles of under-patrolled waterways to get stuff in and more than enough choices to get the stuff out. Whoever controls the highways and distribution points will rule the city, and they won’t give a shit about me, you, and everyone we call friends.”
“That really don’t sound encouraging.” Maude’s smile didn’t form the wrinkles next to her eyes that appeared when she was truly happy or amused.
“We’re dealing with cockroaches. We live in the South, so those suckers come in all shapes and sizes, and they like working in the dark. And like cockroaches, when you flip the lights on they run and hide. You might kill a few, but you know hundreds of them are there, waiting to get into things that belong to you. We’re going to work together to exterminate as many as we can, but we’ll never completely win that battle.” She looked at Jasper when Maude seemed more reassured.
“Some asshole is taking out my people faster than I can put them on the street. I been hit, and Vinny isn’t faring much better. Hell, even those thugs from the East ain’t getting much done. When I called, I was hoping you had some clue as to what this shit is about.”
“Do you think it’s Hector?”
“Hector’s so nice he’s acting like he’s running f
or mayor. If you listen to him for more than a few minutes you’d swear he was the reincarnation of that union boss that got capped.” Jasper rested his elbows on the table. “He wants everyone to consolidate to make things go better, as he puts it.”
“With him in charge, I’d guess,” Cain said. She’d kept Hector in her sights, but not to the point that he’d mistake her observation for interest.
“You got that right, but really the person he wants in charge, here anyway, is that snake he claims is his daughter. That kid gives me the same case of the willies Juan did.”
“Marisol is an interesting piece of work, but you’re right. You can’t trust her any more than you can trust her father.” This was another dead end, she figured, but she didn’t see any harm in trying to bounce some ideas off Jasper to see what would spark something new. “Hector would be my first guess, but if it was him he would’ve started with the small dealers.”
“Why you think so?” Jasper asked.
“Taking out small dealers endears you to the two groups that you need to keep out of your business once you start in earnest. Taking out the trash is a favor to the police since it gives them less to deal with, and it makes friends with people like you, since it’s like removing a splinter that’s been bothering you. No one’s going to die of a splinter, but it’s a pain, so imagine someone coming along and erasing those guys trying to muscle in on your territory a street corner at a time.”
Maude stood and stirred a few pots before joining them again. “Hector Delarosa is here to stay?” she asked.
“He’s my new neighbor, which is making Emma as happy as the summer heat we both know is coming. Heat and pregnancy don’t mix well.” Her phone buzzed and she handed it to Lou when she saw it was Muriel. “Back to your problem and who might be causing it.”
“Hector was first on my list, but he sat with me next door a few weeks ago and swore on his mother that he wasn’t to blame,” Jasper said.
“Did he know who was?”
“He wasn’t that insightful. If he knows, he ain’t talking,” he said.
“My gut tells me we have something in common with what’s happening in Mexico. There, the cartels gain or lose power with the numbers on the streets. If someone is getting too large, the killing begins until they balance power.” Lou finished the call and shook his head when she looked at him. Whoever or whatever it was didn’t merit an interruption. “The death squads there are becoming a problem no one wants to deal with.”
“You think our friends down the street are going to let it go that far?” Jasper asked.
“If only they worked for us instead of trying to bury us all the time. I’m not sure they can do anything about it, even if they tried their best. The kind of people we’re talking about aren’t afraid of anything.”
“A man with fear is a man with weaknesses, Fats used to say all the time,” Maude said.
“It’s true. Once Da was killed, my biggest fear was the safety of my family. ‘Can I keep them alive’ is a question that can consume you. Worrying about Emma and my children would paralyze me if I allowed it to.”
“What do you need from me?” Jasper asked.
“We’ve been friends for a long time, so I think I can be honest without you getting pissed.” She smiled and Jasper reciprocated.
“Compared to some in the city, what we got here ain’t much,” Maude said. “It’s a cluster of old houses in a dying neighborhood, but this is our home. When Fats died it would’ve been easy for someone to take it away, along with the business. Your father didn’t let that happen, so be as honest as you want. Jasper and me owe you that.”
“Drugs aren’t our business—never have been—and I’m raising Hayden to follow that philosophy. That is, though, the bulk of yours, and I know the power it takes to keep your share of the business. Power doesn’t come simply from the force of your fists, but from knowing down to the bone who to trust.”
Jasper nodded as she spoke, as did Maude. “You don’t want to be my partner, but I trust you. That’s not news or insulting, Cain, so what’s your point?”
“That you do indeed need a partner.”
“You offering?” Maude asked.
“I’m offering a suggestion that isn’t me,” she said, and both of them laughed. “Vinny’s come a ways, hasn’t he?”
“I like Vinny,” Jasper said, and glanced at Maude before he went on. “You know that too, right?”
“I do.”
“Vinny has come up good because he’s bright, but I ain’t ever going to be his partner. You know a lot of stuff, so you have to realize Vincent won’t go for that, and I’m not going to start taking orders from nobody.” His voice was low and steady, but she could hear the anger right at the surface. “I got enough to quit now, if that’s what it takes to keep my pride.”
“You won’t consider it even if I make guarantees?”
He stared her down but she didn’t look away. “You can speak for Vincent?”
“Not yet, but give me a few days.” She stretched her hand across the table and was relieved he didn’t hesitate to take it.
“Remember, Cain, who your friends are,” Maude said.
“I will, and you do the same. I’m always a call away.” She kissed Maude’s cheek and hugged her again after she stood.
“Both y’all get out of here and let me stir in peace. Next time, bring Emma. It’s about time I meet this girl of yours.”
Jasper walked them to the car and opened her door for her. “Where to, boss?”
“To see a pregnant woman about lunch.”
Chapter Six
“You sure Señora Ortega okay with this?” Pablo Castillo asked. After Rodolfo’s death and Carlos claiming his birthright, Gracelia had put Pablo in charge of the shipment and business end of things. He was the one person in the hierarchy of the operation that Jerome met with daily.
Jerome glanced up from his paperwork and stared at Pablo as he tried to calm his temper. He’d always been quick to anger, but the more time he spent with Gracelia and her cohorts, the more microscopic his fuse had gotten. If he’d had a gun in his hand he would’ve pulled the trigger with no problem. Gracelia had warned him that his mood swings were a result of the uptick in his coke use, but he knew it was from dealing with and being surrounded by idiots.
“Are you going to run to Gracelia like a scared little shit every time we talk?” He pressed his fingers together and tried his best to control his breathing.
“Ah…no?” Pablo said.
“Let’s call her.” He picked up the phone on the desk and started dialing. “You can ask her permission again to listen to me, and then I’m going to tell her I’ll need a cleaning crew to come in here and wipe your brains off my walls.” He hesitated on the last number so he could scream. “We’ve fucking been through this already.”
“Señor, please,” Pablo said as he motioned for him to put the receiver down. “My apologies, but in this job mistakes cost more than money. You understand me? You say we go to Mississippi, we go to Mississippi to talk to our workers there. I ask about Señora Ortega because she say we go through Louisiana for everything. She say Louisiana easier and no peligro.” He shrugged on the last word, a sign he didn’t know the correct one in English.
“Danger is everywhere, Pablo, so we’ll try to minimize our exposure by going through the path of least resistance.”
“What?” Pablo asked.
“No peligro,” he said, his Spanish improving. It was getting tiresome to have everyone around him talk about him and not understand. “I want you to leave in the morning and start on the list in here.” He handed over a cell phone. “Once you get three meetings, call me and I’ll fly over.”
“What do you want me to say if I never meet them before?”
“Start with the fact we’re going to cut their costs by twenty-five percent. If they want the deal, this will be their only chance. Think you can handle that?”
Pablo wasn’t a tall man, and unlike most of the gu
ys Gracelia had working for her with their thick, straight black hair, his was short and curly. It made him appear younger and gentler than the others, but Jerome knew he’d kill on a whim. His loyalty to Gracelia was rooted in fear. Jerome wanted to start to chip away at that while building his own future. Perhaps with time he’d have to use fear to keep people like this in line, but right now he needed Pablo to think of him as someone apart from Gracelia.
“They might want to talk to Señora Ortega, no me.”
“Either you’re the man or you’re an asshole who needs to be told when to take a shit, Pablo. Before you leave, let me know which one you want to be. If you can’t handle it, I’ll be happy to move you to help the women pack the bags.” He sat again and started to go through his paperwork as a sign of dismissal. “Whoever I replace you with will get the bonus for every new buyer we get.”
“Señora Ortega say that?” Pablo asked timidly.
“You see Gracelia Ortega here? Have you seen her lately?” His patience had snapped. “You’re dealing with me, and I’m fucking tired of repeating myself while you sound like a cocksucker in need of a fix.” He looked up and added, “Get out,” with as much menace as he could put into the two words.
“I make calls for you, no problem,” Pablo said as he held up the phone he’d given him.
“Do I need to tell you to get the fuck out in Spanish so you’ll understand me?”
Pablo shook his head so vigorously he thought the guy would pull a muscle in his neck. “You have my word, señor, I no problem. You see, I do good work for you.”
“You mention Gracelia to me again and it’ll be the last thing out of your mouth. You understand that too?”
“You the boss, no problem.” Pablo grabbed the phone and walked out backward as fast as he could manage.
“That’s a crap shoot,” Jerome said when he was alone again.
He had to start planning now if he was going to not only survive this, but end up in a position to be successful at something. Dealing drugs wasn’t what he’d had in mind as a career choice, but it was time to take advantage of his position.
