“I saw the paper too,” Cain stabbed the morning addition of the
“With what he did to your family, the feds will think otherwise,” Mano said.
“If you have a problem with continuing our business together, now would be the time to tell me,” Cain said. “You either trust me or you don’t. I don’t plan to consult you when I need to do something for the sake of my business or family, just like I don’t expect you to consult me. I didn’t think that needed to be said.”
“I don’t have a problem with you, and neither does my brother,” Remi said as she cut her eyes to Mano. “I mean it.”
“No hard feelings then.” Cain stood and pointed them toward the conference room where she’d had breakfast delivered.
*
Emma put her hand on Cain’s pillow and sighed at how cold it was. Lately Cain had been forced to get up early too often. Emma was worried, since it really hadn’t been that long since Kyle had tried to kill her. The wound had healed, but the memory of Cain’s possible death remained vivid. She tried not to think about it, but the scar on Cain’s chest represented all that she could lose.
“Don’t dwell, Emma,” she told herself, forcing herself out of bed and into the shower. “Time to move on.”
The early spring weather was still cool enough for the sweater and skirt she’d picked up on her last shopping spree. Merrick was waiting downstairs, drinking a cup of coffee. The front page of the paper featured a large shot of the outside of the jail and more than one vehicle with the letters FBI stenciled on the side. At the bottom of the page was Kyle’s picture from his days with the Bureau.
“Are they reporting on the hero killed last night?” Emma asked, tapping her finger on the photo.
Merrick folded the paper. “The op-ed piece was more like a laundry list of Barney’s sins. For once the media got it right, so with a bit more digging our Dudley Do-Rights will surely pick up the correct scent and leave Cain alone.” Emma sat down across from Merrick as she drained her cup. “What’s on our agenda today?”
“We need to stop by the house first.” She picked up a piece of toast and was about to butter it when she decided plain would be more palatable. “Then I need to make a few stops for Hayden’s birthday party.”
“Let’s get to it then,” Merrick said after Emma took one bite of the bread and threw it down with disgust. Per Cain’s instructions, the car was waiting for them out back.
A few minutes later they reached the house and drove through the new security gate Cain had installed, along with a new brick fence that now completely surrounded the grounds instead of three-fourths of it as before. Inside, all the rooms had been painted, and the back of the house appeared as if nothing had happened. Cain’s study had been restored to as close as Emma could get it to the original; even most of the leather from Dalton’s office chair had been retained. The bulletproof glass was the one major change she’d made, so she could sleep better. Its cost had made even Cain’s eyebrows rise, but she didn’t care about anything but keeping Cain whole.
Jimmy Pitre the contractor said, “Just a few more touch-ups and you’re ready to roll, Mrs. Casey. They’re so minor, though, if you want to move in, go ahead, and we’ll work around you.”
Emma stood at the large window in Cain’s office. The backyard hadn’t changed much except for some playground equipment Cain had ordered installed for Hannah, but Emma could see those killers breaching the walls, intent on destroying her family. She shivered at the macabre memory and dwelt on the major difference between Giovanni and their other enemies.
Giovanni was a sadist with a penchant for ambush, but at least when he did come after you he approached in the open and you knew how to respond. Their home was repaired and safer, but now they needed to contend with the enemy who hid in dark places trying to catch snatches of their secrets. As Cain had said from the beginning— the feds operated without honor.
“Just one more thing, Mr. Pitre.” Emma turned and faced him.
He glanced at Merrick before answering. “More changes?” He kept his smile, but Emma could tell he was close to cringing.
“Not on my part, no.” A wave of dizziness made her sit at Cain’s desk.
“I don’t follow.” He moved aside when Merrick bumped into him on her way to Emma’s side.
“Are you okay?” Merrick asked.
“Just missing my morning coffee, I guess…I’m fine.” She smiled up at Merrick, wrapping her fingers briefly around her wrist to keep her from moving away. “What I mean is,” she said to Jimmy, trying to get back on track, “when you took this job we made a deal about who you’d allow to work here. You agreed you’d only use guys you could vouch for.”
“I did.”
“I’m not saying you didn’t, but I’m having the house swept today. If I find the kind of devices that require the walls to be ripped up, I’m going to deduct five thousand for every one I find.”
He took a step forward but stopped when Merrick put her hand in her jacket. “You can’t do that,” Jimmy said in transparent panic.
“I’m not,” Emma said calmly, almost laughing at how he puffed out his chest, thinking she’d backed down. “I’ll let my partner Cain collect however she sees fit. I love my privacy, but Cain is rather fanatical about hers. Once I’m done with the sweep I’ll have Cain call you so we can settle our bill.” She stared at him until he broke first and lowered his head. “Any problems with that?” Jimmy shook his head. “Anything you’d like to tell me?” He hesitated but shook his head again, only not as enthusiastically. “Thanks for stopping by, then. If there’s a problem, like the fact you might owe us some money, I suggest you secure a line of credit before you meet with Cain. She’s not only a stickler for her privacy, but she won’t tolerate you owing us money.”
As soon as Jimmy was out of earshot, Merrick started laughing. “It’s going to take a week for his balls to fall back into place. Whatever happened to that farm girl I met not that long ago?”
“She found out the world is full of wolves, and they all wear gray suits. Thanks for putting that picture in my head.”
Merrick sat across from her and leaned closer. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
