She’d worry later about everything that could spoil things for them. And at the top of that list was something that could break her quicker than Bob could.
Would Remi accept her once she knew the whole truth?
Chapter Eighteen
Richard drove from Biloxi to Cain’s offices on the riverfront, drumming his fingers on his steering wheel and trying to center himself and rev up his bravado. Nunzio had impressed on him what he needed to do, and his palms were sweating as he thought about what he’d pay if this meeting didn’t go well.
“Hello, sweets, you want to tell your boss I’m here,” he told the receptionist. “The name’s Richard.”
The attractive brunette rolled her eyes, looked down to see where Richard’s eyes were glued, then rolled them again at the frank way he was staring at her cleavage. When she got instructions from someone, she merely pointed. “Bitch,” Richard thought, and strolled down the mahogany-paneled walls into the office, located almost in the center of the building for Cain’s protection.
“What can we do for you, Richard?” Cain asked, not rising from her seat, and neither did Remi, Mano, Ramon, or Muriel.
“Thanks for agreeing to see me,” Richard said softly.
“After thirty phone calls, we thought we’d agree just to get some quiet around here,” Cain said, sounding like she wasn’t kidding. “What’s on your mind?”
“Wanted to chat and maybe do a little business. About our last meeting—I may’ve been a little adamant in my views. You all were right on the personnel issue. Once I sell, the place is yours to do whatever you want, so I’ll go along with the contract as is.” Richard folded his hands over the girth of his stomach. “If you have the papers ready, I’ll sign. I could provide the best security for you, but if you want to do your own, then have at it.”
“If that’s why you wanted to meet, you should’ve mentioned that in all your messages and saved yourself a trip,” Cain said. “We’re looking into another property with a less colorful past, one that wouldn’t require the kind of pest control your place needs.”
“Don’t be too quick. I’m sure we can work something out.” Richard sat up, thinking his life wasn’t worth much without a deal.
“It’s too late to work something out. Besides, the location we’re looking at is newer and connected to other sites we could get an option on after we’re up and running. You did us a favor turning us down. In the long run this location makes more sense for us,” Remi said, and everyone nodded.
“You all were hot for this a couple of days ago, so cut the shit.” Richard was on the edge of his seat, wiping his brow with his handker-chief. “I know the business, and nothing but my place is for sale. I don’t know what kind of scam you’re trying to pull, but it won’t work.”
Ramon laughed as he twirled his lighter between his fingers. “Your sales pitch needs work. You of all people should realize everything’s for sale if the price is right.”
“If I walk out now, the deal’s off. I don’t care what you offer me after that, I’ll sell to someone else,” Richard said, trying to control the slight waver in his voice. “I’m not kidding.”
“Then unless my partners disagree with me,” Cain said, the springs in her chair creaking a little as she slowly rocked, “we’re out.” When Richard sprang out of his chair she put her hand over her letter opener.
“You’ll be sorry, Cain. I can promise you that.”
“I’m already sorry I’ve wasted this kind of time on you.” Cain stood up and leaned on the handle of the letter opener. “If there’s nothing else, get out of here, Richard, and take your empty threats with you.”
When he turned to leave, Cain noticed the sweat marks under the arms of his suit. Considering the weather was still coolish, the reaction had to come from nerves.
“I figure Guido’s about to piss his pants,” Remi said, laughing. “If he’s smart he’ll point his car any direction but east and find a nice dark hole to slither into.”
“If he’s smart he’ll give Nunzio a heads-up as soon as he hits the door. Once that happens and Nunzio knows we’re not willing to deal on his terms, he’ll contact us.” Cain was still holding the letter opener that was sharp enough to cut through leather. “He needs us more than we need him, so he’s not in a good position.”
“That’s the position of a desperate man, and we both know how smart that makes some people,” Ramon said.
“You think he’s there now?” Mano asked. “Desperate, I mean.”
“That depends on who’s supplying him,” Cain said. “Your father and I both believe that the Luca family plans to move a lot of product soon. All that white powder makes money, but you have to pay up front,” Cain said. “If Junior somehow talked his way around that, he might be in a crack now.”
Muriel snapped her fingers. “Remi, Cain, that reminds me. Vinny asked for a sit-down with the two of you whenever it was convenient. After our recent reshuffle he’s in position to start, but there’s no way Vinny has the capital to compete with Luca.”
“I’ll be there whenever you can make it, Remi,” Cain said. “Also, Muriel found out that Rodolfo and Juan are back in town, so let me know if he contacts you, Ramon. I want to keep an eye on the pissant, and that means every move he makes. I don’t need to remind you what kind of problems he gave Emma the last time he was in town.”
“We saw the headlines this morning,” Mano said to Cain. “Someone took out Barney Kyle last night, and Remi tells us Agent Philips visited you right after it went down. Are you at the top of her list for a reason?”
“Whoever did this thing,” Ramon said, holding his hand up to Mano, “they did us all a great service. You work for trash and sometimes bad things…they happen to you.”
