by Ali Vali
*
“What happened?” Matt asked.
“Cain Casey was out there this morning,” Jerome said, panting from his sprint inside.
“Did she make you?”
“She knows I’m with Gracelia, but that’s it. I’m still going with what we talked about, only I’m going to try to move it up some. I’ll call when I’m done, so be ready to move and make sure you don’t pick up any viruses along the way.” He stripped off his clothes and started the shower. “If Hector doesn’t work out, we still have the other option I told you about.”
“Don’t worry about me, and concentrate on what you’re doing,” his dad said, and paused. “Make sure you’re all right when you finish. Keep your head on your shoulders and you’ll do fine.”
“Even if I don’t do fine, I’m planning to keep my head on my shoulders.”
*
Cain met with Carlos and got his promise not to move on Gracelia until the other pieces of her wish list were in sight. He thanked her and told her that once they were finished with what had to be eliminated from both their lives, he’d never bother her again unless she needed something from him. For the favors she’d done him so far, he owed her a few in return.
“Make sure that nothing happens to her,” Cain told Lou when they got home.
“Don’t worry, boss. I’d take a clip full of bullets for Emma, and I told the restaurant-reservations people it was important to keep the next table open.”
Emma was having lunch with Dallas to discuss house plans and volunteered to go out to a restaurant where they’d be in full sight of Juan. Emil and Lou would be at the next table, and the table to the other side of Emma and Dallas could be taken by Juan, if he showed up. If Emma complained loudly enough about her and how everything was wrong between them after this pregnancy, it’d open the door for Juan to provide a shoulder to cry on when Dallas was called away.
Cain wasn’t thrilled with what Emma was willing to do, but to positively lure Juan away from any guards they hadn’t spotted yet, she needed him to grab for a carrot that was too big to pass up. If Emma was within reach he’d forget about everything else, including his personal safety, and he’d probably call for backup. If luck was on her side, his helper would be Anthony again, and if it was, she’d hand Gracelia over and take care of the other two together.
“Call me if he comes with more force than you anticipated. Katlin will be there, but if he’s got ten guys with him we might have a problem.”
“Honey, you need to calm down,” Emma said as she smoothed her light-blue linen dress. “I wouldn’t be doing this if I thought the baby or I would be in danger. Think of it this way. If everything goes well, maybe he’ll ask me out, and if you hear anything else, I can give him an answer and bring him home with me.”
Jerome had run to the Delarosa house and had been in there for a couple of hours with another man he’d brought with him. She was waiting to see where he headed next, and if he actually survived to leave, he might be another avenue to Anthony.
“It’s my job to worry about you, lass, and it’s a lifetime commitment on my part. I know it has to be done, but I don’t have to like it.”
“Remember that.” Emma kissed her hard, able to reach because she’d stopped on the second step. “I need you to repeat it word for word when I get you to an altar.” She smiled as if trying to lighten Cain’s mood. “If not, I have Lou as a witness. No running out on me.”
“I’ve been running to you all my life.”
“I love it when you talk to me like that,” Emma said as she wiped Cain’s mouth free of lipstick with her index finger. “But then, I just love you.”
“I love you too, so stay safe and come home. When you get here I’ll have a surprise waiting for you.”
Emma nodded and kissed her again. “We’ll call no matter what, so try to eat something while we’re gone.”
“She’ll be in a knot by the time we get back,” Lou said as they walked to the car. “But you can’t change that about her because she loves you.” He opened the door for her and held her hand as she sat. “When it comes to her family, that worry keeps her vigilant like it did her father.”
“I know, but it takes its toll. Changing that about Cain is like asking her to change the color of her eyes. It’d be impossible.” Lou nodded and started out toward Commander’s Palace restaurant. “What about you, Lou? You need a family to cluck around and worry about. You’d be a wonderful father.”
“I’d love that, but finding a girl isn’t that easy. Don’t think I’m complaining about my job. I love what I do and I’d never willingly leave the family, but finding someone who’d understand it will be hard.” He was a good driver but constantly looked in every direction as well as what was in front of them. “I can’t change who I am either, so she’ll have to live with what I do.”
“Sometimes what we wish for is right in front of us. We have to simply pay attention.”
“What are you talking about?” He seemed momentarily distracted and met her eyes in the rearview mirror.
“I believe your special attention to Sabana after Rick’s death was something she appreciated then, but now she wants something more from you. I’ve seen how she looks at you.”
“She’s just a kid who needed me to show her the ropes.”
“Once upon a time she did, but those aren’t the signals she seems to send out now. Every woman has the right to change her mind, but in this case she didn’t change. She just wants so much more from you.”
“You can tell that from a look?”
“Cain values you, but that doesn’t mean you’re not a caring, gentle man.”
“Thanks, but I’m going to put my teddy-bear persona in my back pocket for now.” Lou winked before he got out. He opened her door and offered his hand again. “Two cars back,” he said softly, but didn’t glance in that direction. “Stay on my right side, and don’t make eye contact.”
She went in as if Lou was her date and took the steps slowly to the garden room where Dallas already waited. The hostess followed Lou’s instructions, and the man Cain figured was Juan arrived a few minutes later and took the table next to them.
“You look prettier every time I see you,” Dallas said when she stood and hugged her. “How are you feeling?”
Their visit started like it usually would, and they laughed together while they were waiting for their lunch. She started her complaints after they went through the paint choices and other decorating ideas Dallas brought with her. She tried to be convincing about why they were there, and she wasn’t loud enough to garner anyone’s attention but Juan’s.
“It’s like she doesn’t even love me anymore,” she said, and dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her napkin. “Last night she said I might as well leave.” The words weren’t true but made her tear up anyway.
“Don’t give up,” Dallas said as she picked up her phone with a disgusted expression and listened for a few minutes. “I’m sorry, but I can’t fix this over the phone,” Dallas said apologetically when she finished the call. She got up and bent to hug Emma good-bye. “Please be careful,” she said.
Emma could see why Dallas was such a good actress since she did appear to be off to handle some problem. “I will, but I don’t know how much more of this I can take.” She wiped her tears again and glanced at Juan and smiled when he stared at her. It took him a few beats to return the gesture, since he seemed to be in a trance.
She waited for him to move, but he didn’t. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, but he didn’t do anything. When she thought about a younger version of herself and what she would’ve done in this situation, she figured this was where the kernels of doubt would begin. What if Cain was wrong and she killed an innocent? She looked at him, unwavering in her eye contact, and she was sure.
“I’m sorry for staring, but you look so familiar to me,” she said, and ignored Lou clearing his throat. “Have we met?”
“I see you at the club Emma’s.”
“Would you like coffee?”
She gazed at Lou and hesitated. “Sure. I don’t have anywhere to be.”
They sat quietly while the waiter went for their order. Juan had clammed up after his brief show of bravery, but he’d gone back to that trancelike stare. It reminded her of the few times they’d been around him.
He’d always looked at her in a way that made her feel naked and exposed, his thoughts plainly written on his face. The silence unleashed the memory of all those things he’d said when he was tying her to that table. The words and their intent made her wake in a sweat some nights.
“Do you see someone?” Juan asked when she glanced away from him.
She took a sip of her tea and carefully put her cup down. It’d taken being this close to him again to know she didn’t want to for any reason. Every second with him somehow tainted her, her unborn child, the life she had with Cain, and everything in her life. His viciousness had come so close to killing what was good in her.
Escape was all she thought about when she got up and headed for the bathroom. Lou stayed, but Katlin was right behind her. “Cain,” she said, when Cain answered her call. “It’s him, and I can’t—I don’t want to be here. I’m sorry I’m letting you down, but I can’t sit and pretend.” She hated that she was crying.
“Are you okay? You’re not alone, are you?”
“I’m fine. Katlin’s with me.”
“Lass, listen to me.” Cain sounded upset. “Come home.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t say that. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
When she hung up and opened the door, Lou stood outside. She walked with him, never glancing toward the table. She was suddenly desperate to get back to Cain, so Lou got her into the car and drove home without another word.
Cain waited outside and opened the door and her arms as soon as they stopped. After everything she’d accomplished since her return, she’d let Cain down. Cain had given her so much more trust and responsibility so they’d be true partners and equals, and she hadn’t come close to repaying her when it counted. Her weakness had cost them, and her failure physically made her hurt. She’d wanted to be the one who brought Juan in. Cain picked her up and carried her inside when she started to sob.
“Lass,” Cain said, and put her fingers under her chin so she’d see her face. “This is my fault, and I should’ve said something sooner. What happened to you isn’t something you let go of easily. I was an idiot to put you in front of this guy again. He might have a new face, but he’s still the same in here.” Cain put her hand over her chest.
“I wanted to make it easier for you to get him.”
“You did, and I’ll prove it to you.” Cain kissed her and helped her to her feet. “Tonight this is all over.”
*
Gustavo watched Emma leave and noticed how upset she was as she hung on to the gorilla usually with Cain. The woman Emma had with her that day had to be dead, from the gunshot he’d fired into her head, so the big man didn’t surprise him. Whatever was going on was what confused him, but now was the time to get Emma away from Cain.
From the car he dialed Andre again, and the same message that he wasn’t taking calls came through. He cursed the bastard for leaving him. He had no choice but to do something he’d wanted to avoid.
He took a deep breath and dialed another number. “Hello,” his mother said, and her voice made his throat constrict. He missed her, and that he’d lost her to a man like Anthony made him hurt. His stupidity had cost him the most important relationship in his life.
“Mama,” he said, and quickly wiped away his tears.
“Juan.” His name from her lips made him cry harder. “Tell me where you are.”
“Why, so you can tell Jerome? I gave you everything. I killed Uncle Rodolfo for you, and you betrayed me for someone who doesn’t respect you.”
“I made a mistake, but give me a chance to make it right. I love you and I’ve been sick since you left.”
He rested his head on the wheel and decided whether to believe her. When the passenger door opened and the guy who got in put a gun to his neck, he froze from surprise and sudden fright. No way would he be unlucky enough to get mugged, but that had to be it. No one could know who he was.
The back door opened and someone else got in. “Give me the phone,” the man behind him demanded. “Gracelia Luis, please,” he said when he had the phone and put it on speaker.
“This is Gracelia Luis Ortega.”
“We have your son, but we’re willing to give him back for a price.”
“My son is dead.”
“Your son is alive and pissing his pants in front of me. You could buy him a new face and pretty hair, but spines aren’t for sale. Do you want Gustavo back or not?”
“Tell me when and where, and I’ll pay you whatever you want.”
Shaun gave her an address and instructions to be there at ten that night with fifty grand. If Emma had been able to lure Juan away, Cain would’ve gone with that part of the plan so Emma would feel good about bringing him to justice, and so Juan and Gracelia would know they’d die on the same night. But, as he was fast learning, Cain always had a contingency for everything.
“What do you want?” Juan sounded unsure of his mother’s commitment.
“I want a lot of things, but my boss wants you to die a slow and horrible death.”
“I double whatever he pay. Who you work for?”
“I’d hand you over for free just to see Cain Casey smile,” Shaun said as he hit the back of Juan’s neck with the butt of his gun. When Juan slumped over, Dino bound his hands and got out to drive.
“You want to call?” Dino asked.
“Not until we get there and we’re sure we have no tails. If we can fucking do this, Dino, we’re on our way.”
“Yeah. I’ve waited for this break my whole life.” Dino laughed. “Good thing we’re not this poor bastard.”
“He’s about to learn the consequences of touching what doesn’t belong to him. Play with fire and the devil burns you.”
*
Jerome sat with his seat reclined and his eyes closed as Pablo drove them toward the Gulf Coast. The meeting with Miguel Gonzales had been long, with no results, but he really couldn’t blame the guy. He’d come with nothing to trade except the ragtag group that was left of the once-strong Luis family. Miguel didn’t completely turn him away, but he didn’t bite either, or promise a meeting with Hector.
“What we do now?” Pablo asked, and at least he’d stopped crying.
While they were in the meeting Chico had called and had a frantic conversation with Pablo, but Pablo had wisely waited to tell him about it once they were in the car. They couldn’t go back to the hotel, and he’d thought about what he was becoming when he grieved the loss of his coke stash more than Gracelia. According to Chico, the men who’d practically ripped the door from its hinges had killed everyone around Gracelia, but carried her out alive.
“Did Chico recognize anyone?” It slowly sank in that he was free of Gracelia and Juan, but damn if he didn’t miss her a little. She’d been a pain in his ass, but she’d gone out of her way to do more for him than anyone in his life.
“One man he say is for Carlos.” Pablo started to wipe at his face again and his voice quivered. “If he work for Carlos, la señora is dead.”
“Don’t think about that right now,” he said, and tried to sound sincere. That Gracelia had little time left was a given, so he had to get his parents and leave. They’d regroup, but in Mexico from the house he’d claim as Gracelia’s lover. Once he was behind the fortress-like walls he’d set up the business the way Gracelia should’ve, and when he did, people like Hector and Cain would have no
choice but to respect him and give him a wide berth. “If we could help Gracelia we would, but we have to accept she’s gone.”
“You call Carlos?”
“Gracelia killed his father. Nothing I say is going to make him let her go. She should’ve considered that this might happen.” He turned away from Pablo and his sniveling, and immediately spotted the car not far behind them. It made him sit up and become instantly alert. “Pull over.”
“Here?”
“Pull over now.”
The car passed them, but slowed. “What I do?” Pablo asked.
“Get off at the next exit.” It wasn’t the authorities, since they wouldn’t be this blatant; whoever it was, he couldn’t lead them to his parents’ front door. “Pull into that gas station.” He got out and went to the bathroom to make a call alone.
“How’s the weather?”
“Not great. It’s hot, too hot for you to visit. You’d be miserable with all your old friends hanging all over you.” His dad tried to sound like there wasn’t a problem, but the FBI was obviously outside the house watching, listening, and waiting for him to show up.
He probably could visit since they’d never recognize him, but Casey had seen him. If her people were driving the car that was now across the street, all it would take was a quick search to see who the house belonged to. And if she did that, it wouldn’t take much to make him. He gave her that much credit.
“Come for a visit instead. I’ll make the arrangements when I can.”
He rested his head against the cinderblock wall and couldn’t believe he was having to run from this bitch again. There was no way to know for sure it was Cain, but the visit had thrown him and he just knew it was her. He also didn’t have any choice but to run if he wanted to live. They’d have to drive until they reached a decent-size airport where they could board a direct flight to Mexico. This time, though, no one would be on the other end to help out or protect him.
“God have pity on you, Gracelia, because Carlos won’t,” he said as he dropped the phone into the trash. He’d come back eventually, but not until he was either in a position of power or became someone else with no past that’d haunt him.
