Cain looked at their joined hands and let out a slow sigh. “I’m sitting at the high-stakes table with only a few chips left. I can throw my ante in one last time and gamble, but if I lose…the devil takes my soul. That means I survived you leaving once, Emma, but twice isn’t in me.”
“I know something about you, Derby Cain, that most do not.”
“What’s that, darling girl?”
“You’re too good a gambler not to bet on a sure thing. That’s what we are together, and that’s what I’m fighting for here.”
“You commit again and you know what that’ll mean, don’t you?”
“I didn’t understand before, not fully anyway, but I do now.” Emma kept hold of Cain’s hand with one of her own and leaned down carefully. As strong as she was, Cain was still injured. “To be a Casey wife I accept all of you, and I hold nothing back. I will love you, protect you, and be waiting in your bed every night. I will give you everything you need, but I’ll expect just as much from you in return.”
“Pretty words indeed.”
“I want an answer, Cain.”
The gold flecks did Cain in. She was crazy to trust Emma again, and if she was honest, they didn’t share the same level of trust as before, but Cain loved her. That was a starting point. The rest would come later as Emma proved herself, or it would come not at all. For the moment as she gazed into Emma’s green eyes, she decided to at least gamble on the possibility. “Ante up.”
Emma went willingly when Cain pulled her forward. These were the lips she remembered and had dreamed about. Cain kissed her like she wanted her, which made Emma want to cry. “I love you so much,” she whispered when they pulled apart.
“I love you too. God help me if you’re still working for the other side, because I do believe they’ve finally found my greatest weakness.”
“Trust me, we’ll have plenty of things to worry about for the remainder of our days, but that will never be one of them.” Emma pressed her lips to Cain’s once again, feeling almost weightless. “Are we all right?”
“We’re heading in that direction, so it’s a start, but we’ll have a lifetime to get it right.” Cain cupped Emma’s cheek before patting her on the butt. “As much as I’m enjoying this, it’s time to let in the real world.”
“Merrick?” Emma called down the hall. “We’re ready.”
Merrick buttoned her jacket and pushed off the wall. “If you don’t mind, I need to talk to Cain about some pressing issues. One of the guys will walk you down to the waiting room.”
“Come in and close the door, Merrick. Emma’s sitting in today, so start talking,” Cain ordered. She pressed the button to make the bed fold up into a sitting position, and Emma went to her side.
“I don’t think that’s such a great idea.”
Cain’s dark brows hiked over her bright blue eyes. “I see. Emma, could you step out for a moment, please?” She put up her hand, stopping the protest before it came out. “Practice some of that trust we talked about. I said for a moment, and that’s what I meant.”
The door clicked closed completely before Merrick smiled at it and started talking. “Some stuff’s come up and we need to move fast.”
“Be quiet.”
Merrick whipped her head around, thinking she had heard wrong. “Excuse me?”
“I thought ‘be quiet’ wouldn’t be as rude as ‘shut up.’ Either way, I want you to stop talking and listen to me.” Their eyes met and Cain waited before continuing. “Tell me, Merrick, who is the head of this family?”
“You are. Why?”
“I am, so when I say something, I expect not to be questioned about it. Not in public, not in private. Do we understand each other?”
“She betrayed you once before.”
“And she’ll most likely make quite a few more mistakes in the future, but she’ll have a future with me. She’s here to stay, so you’d best be getting used to the concept. So do we understand each other?”
“I understand you perfectly, though as your friend, I hope it works out. As your employee I’ll keep my eyes open in case it doesn’t, and please don’t be offended. Someone blew up Emerald’s today, and I’m afraid it will lead us into war. If she couldn’t handle you beating the crap out of your cousin, then how’s she going to handle you ordering the necessary actions that are coming up?”
“If I knew the answer to every difficult question I’d rule the world, as they say.”
Merrick blew out a long breath as she glanced back at the door Emma had just walked out. “Look, I know what she means to you, but don’t let that blind you. I want what’s best for you, but this isn’t it.”
“I appreciate what you’re saying, but it’s my choice. Emma’s the mother of my children but, more importantly, she’s the one woman I haven’t been able to forget.”
“Then I’ll support you in that, but I’m going to censor what I say in front of her until we know for sure.”
“Just as long as you remember what I said. I’m the head of this family, Merrick, not you.” Cain held her hand up and smiled when Merrick shook it. “Thank you. Now go get her back before she comes in here and removes my spleen with a plastic spoon for making her wait. I promised her a chance, and it’s the only way I’ll know just how much of a chance we have.”
“Everything all right?” Emma asked when she walked in and sat close to Cain.
“I’m sure it’s not, but Merrick hasn’t had the opportunity to break the whole thing to us yet.” Cain waved toward Merrick and nodded. “What’s going on?”
