“When we finish the sweep, go ahead and call Jimmy back. He can work off his debt while Lou or one of the guys follows him around.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Emma moved closer and Cain met her halfway. “After today’s meeting, I’m sure he doesn’t want to go through another negotiation session with me. Let me go see what Nunzio wants, then let’s take the kids out for something fun.”
Nunzio stood and extended his hand when Cain joined them in the sunroom. He and Remi were sitting across from each other so Cain took the sofa between them. Remi looked like her anger was simmering just below the surface.
“I didn’t expect to see you for a couple more days, Nunzio. Did something change that I don’t know about?”
“Remi and I started without you, and I was explaining that I’m willing to shave three percent from the final price, but I need your answer by today. I’ve got some business out of town, and today is as long as I can stretch it.”
“I see.” Cain crossed her legs and glanced at Remi. “Talk about anything else?”
“I was just telling Remi what a lucky bitch she is to be seeing Dallas Montgomery. I’m a fan and sure as hell wouldn’t mind tapping into that.”
“Remi?” Cain said her name, but kept her eyes on Nunzio. “Since you all started without me, what’s our answer?”
“No deal even if he cuts the price in half.”
“That’s why I waited for you, Cain. I thought you might be the levelheaded one here.” Nunzio clapped his hands and laughed. “If I insulted you by mentioning your new playmate, I’m sorry, Remi. This is business, though, tell her, Cain.”
“I believe you’ve got our answer. Is there anything else?”
“You and I both know you need this.” Nunzio’s face twisted into a snarl and he pointed at Cain.
“Why would you think that?” Cain asked.
“Because the Bracatos were a pack of idiots, but you’re playing in a whole different ballgame now. The enemies you’re making are smarter, stronger, and more widespread than Big Gino. With the casino, you and the Jatibons have a fighting chance to keep what you’ve got now.” He stood up but didn’t take a step toward them when Simon stood as well. “In the coming weeks, if you were hoping for backup from Vinny, I wouldn’t count on that. He doesn’t have his father’s savvy, and the competition will eat him alive.”
“Simon, would you be so kind,” Cain said. Simon bowed her head slightly and walked Nunzio out.
When they were alone Remi’s head fell back and her hands clenched into fists. “I’m sorry if you wanted this, but I’m not having anything to do with that guy.”
“We’ll deal with this soon enough. Let’s talk about the favor you wanted to ask me.”
“Are you sure? We put a lot of time and effort into this.”
Cain took a deep breath and released it slowly. “We did, but there’ll be others. We need time to think over our next step, but that’s for later—tell me what’s on your mind.”
“It’s Dallas.” Remi lifted her head and leaned forward. “I asked my father to investigate her past to see where her life intersected with her manager Bob’s. This guy’s a total dick, and there’s some reason she hasn’t dumped him.”
“What did Ramon find?” Cain accepted the cigar Remi offered her and led her outside.
“Nothing yet. The trail stops at the beginning of her career. That’s when Dallas Montgomery was born, and she effectively buried whoever she really is.”
Cain accepted Remi’s clippers and lighter to prepare her cigar. After she blew out her first stream of smoke, she sat in one of the chairs around the pool. It would be awhile before anyone used it, but Jarvis’s people kept it pristine. “Until you find out, what are you concerned about?”
“Think about what you were doing this morning.” Remi lit her own cigar. “Since I doubt you’ve taken a sudden interest in decorating, you met with your contractor for some other reason. You and I both know there’s more than one way for these bastards to get in.”
“And because you’re guessing she’s some sort of cop, you’re going to just let her go?”
“Please tell me this isn’t one of those keep-your-enemies-closer lectures?” Remi joked. “Isn’t that what you’d do?”
“Barney Kyle turned, even if it was temporarily, the one person in my life who should’ve been rock solid. Because he was successful I missed my wife, the birth of my daughter, and a very long time period that I’ll never get back.” Cain remembered vividly how she felt then. “I could’ve been sure that she wouldn’t betray me again by not letting her back into my life, but I would’ve missed out on what I need to make all this worthwhile.”
“This is different. Dallas isn’t Emma.”
“I’ll work on this personally, and if I find something, I won’t tell anybody but you. Until then if you don’t give a shit about her, don’t let this eat away at you, but if you do, then don’t be afraid to move forward.”
“And if she turns out to be a cop?”
Hannah came running across the yard, and Cain stood and grabbed her before she got within twenty feet of the pool. “I’ll give you the same advice I gave Muriel.” She tossed Hannah into the air, loving the squeal it always produced. “Don’t talk in your sleep.”
*
Muriel sat in the famous piano bar in Pat O’Brien’s on Bourbon Street, having a scotch and listening to the woman performing. It was a tourist destination, proved by the number of folks with a multitude of different accents sitting nearby, but the place filled up every night because the musicians were so good. Cain had told her to get away from everything, and this
