“You’re not talking about the girl who made her completely forget her date last night, are you?” Cain asked Juno.
“If it is, I can’t blame you for wanting to spend time alone with her, Remi, but I’m partial to blondes myself.”
“Who in their right mind isn’t, but this is just business,” Remi said. “Speaking of, did you set up extra security for today, Cain?”
“Katlin left earlier this morning with Mano and a group from both families. With the guys we have with us now, we should have it covered.”
“Nunzio would have to be stupid to try anything now,” Remi said.
“True, but sometimes stupid is a way of life for these guys,” Cain said. The van that pulled up alongside them on the main drag in Biloxi made her sigh. Shelby and her friends had made the trip just fine.
“Once this is done I want to move some of our security to the casino. I want the grounds cleared of any evidence of the Bracatos and the Lucas as soon as possible. Guido’s moving on after today, but there’s something about him I don’t trust,” Remi told Cain.
“Please don’t call him Guido. His name is Richard, and he’s an American,” Juno said.
“I was just kidding. But this guy looks like he’s seen one gangster movie too many. He should know we have a much better sense of style,” Remi told her, making Cain and Muriel laugh. “It’s the bad-girl image that drives the women wild.”
The car pulled to the front of the Capri Casino, and Mano opened the car door. Remi pulled his goatee as a greeting and waited for everyone to get out.
“Did everyone make it?” he asked Remi.
“At least from our end. Is Richard up there?”
“Yes, and already in a pissy mood.” He pointed to the trucks in the far section of the front parking lot, ready to start taking the Capri signs down.
“I could give a rat’s ass about what kind of mood Richard’s in,” Cain said. “I’m sure he’ll cheer up as soon as he gets the check.”
“I left some of Muriel’s staff with him in case he had any questions,” Mano told them as he pressed the up button on the bank of elevators. “Think of how surprised Guido will be when we shut the place down for a couple of weeks once the sale goes through. There’s no way I’m putting any of our people in there until we inspect the facility and check personnel backgrounds.”
“Good, since Richard was running more smack here than dice,” Cain said. “We don’t need that kind of heat. The less often we have to go before the gaming commission, or give the feds any more ammunition to make our lives miserable, the better.”
Their group moved toward a private elevator that went to the third floor where the management offices were located. Once they boarded, three of Cain’s men stayed by the doors to deter anyone else from going up.
Chapter Eleven
“Cain.” Richard Bowen stood and extended his hand when she entered the conference room first. “And Remi, you look good enough to eat.”
Ramon puffed his chest out, ready to call the man down for his obvious sexual comment when Remi beat him to it.
“Hello, Richard, you’re looking good yourself. Love the suit. It’s so shiny. You rented
“I’m sure we all have better things to do than discuss how great everyone looks,” Cain said and smiled broadly. “How about you sign the papers so we can give you the check?”
“I find the changes to this contract totally unacceptable. My firm was supposed to provide security for the hotel and casino for five years, with an option to renew,” Richard said, slamming the papers down on his end of the polished table. “Muriel and Mano agreed when we did the initial sit-down.”
“The hell we did,” Mano said.
“That’s not going to happen, and I’d appreciate it if you kept your delusions to a minimum,” Muriel said. “You and everyone down to the guy who cleans the ashtrays are out as soon as we hand over the check.”
“I repeat, that’s unacceptable. I have friends in this town who you don’t want to piss off. It could be bad for business.”
“Is that a threat?” Remi countered. “Because if it is, Slick, you’ve just rolled snake eyes coming out of the box.”
“No threat, and you don’t have the balls to keep that promise. You and Cain don’t want to take me on, so tell your peons to put that into the agreement,” Richard told her as he slid the contract back to them.
“This is a waste of time,” Cain said as she stood up, followed by everyone at the table but Richard. “Our offer’s off the table.”
With that Remi picked up both copies of the contract and tore them in half, letting them fall to the floor.
“Sit the fuck back down,” Richard said, pointing at Cain.
“And I suggest you lower your voice and your finger before I have Simon snap it off for you,” Remi said. “We want what we want, and you do as well.” She kicked the torn papers in his direction. “This proves there’s no middle ground.”
