“Do you want me to get you something?” Emil asked.
“I need a ride home,” Dallas said as she tried to think if she’d left anything in Remi’s room.
“You need to hold up on that, but if you’d feel better going home I’m coming with you.”
“Mr. Jatibon will surely want you back with him. Now that this has happened, there’s no reason for you to stay.” Her lip trembled as she tried to smile. His presence was comforting, but he also reminded her of Remi. Jealousy coursed through her when she thought of how much more time Emil had spent with Remi than she had.
“You only met Ramon once, but if you don’t want me to get fired for leaving you alone, you’ll accept that I’m staying with you. Remi’s wishes are still in effect. You were special, and if something happens to you, that would —”
“What, kill her?” Dallas asked, but the words tasted like bile in her mouth. “That’s already a reality, as much as I don’t want it to be true.”
“Come on.” Emil put his arm around her and walked her to Remi’s bedroom. “Try and get some sleep, and when you’re up for it, we’ll come up with a plan we’ll both be happy with.”
“I’m sorry for being so much trouble, but I don’t think I can sleep.” She got into bed anyway and Emil sat on the edge.
“Then close your eyes. I swear it’ll make you feel better.”
She grabbed his wrist as he started to leave. “How could this have happened?”
“That’s what I don’t understand. Remi knew what was coming, and even though it was early, she should’ve been more prepared. She’s Ramon’s child, and he knew she’d outshine him. Remi was smarter, savvier, and more vicious than Ramon, but she seldom showed that side. She understood the life’s dangers, but whoever ended her life like this took the coward’s way out.”
“I wish I’d done a better job of telling her how I felt about her while she was here. I kept putting it off because I was afraid, and now it’s too late.”
Emil held her hand between his, and the differences in their sizes were so great, Dallas felt like an infant. “I think she knew. She told me to watch over you because you meant something to her. Do you know how incredible that is? Remi never let any woman get close. She loved very sparingly, but she didn’t want you out of her sight for long. That had something to do with keeping you safe, but there was so much more.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
He stood up and nodded. “Get some rest, but call me if you need anything.”
Emil left the door open so he could hear her if she did need him, but he kept going until he reached the sliding glass door out to the balcony. He wanted to call Ramon, but he didn’t want Dallas to think he was anxious to leave. As he was about to dial, the elevator rang announcing a visitor. Cain and Emma walked in, followed by a distraught Juno.
“Lass, why don’t you take Juno into the kitchen and make her some tea,” Cain told Emma. When Emma looped her arm with Juno’s, Cain put her arms around both of them. “Juno, I swear on my family that everything will be all right.”
“It’ll never be that way again. I’ve known Remi from the day she was born. She’s like my own, and now this.” She cried against Cain’s chest, and Emma moved out of the way. “And I’m so worried about Simon. I haven’t heard from her.”
“Emil,” Cain said, still holding Juno, “could you get Dallas in here. I’ve got news you all want to hear.” Flanked by Emma and Juno, Cain led them to the kitchen where Juno told Emma where to find everything to make tea. Dallas fell immediately into Emma’s arms, and Emma held her as she cried.
“Honey, you need to sit and listen to Cain or you’ll make yourself sick,” she told Dallas.
“I’m sorry you all had to watch that on television today,” Cain said. “It was a fluke, but that can’t be helped now.”
“You said you had news,” Emil said.
“Ramon and I talked to Simon earlier, and she’s fine,” Cain said for Juno’s benefit. “She went to the one place I thought no one would think to look, and the one place you wouldn’t appear out of place going to,” she said to Dallas.
“Where is she?” Emil said, his face a clear picture of confusion.
“At Dallas’s house in the French Quarter. Are you packed, Dallas?”
“I’m sure Remi would want her to stay here,” Emil protested, and Juno nodded.
“What Remi’s going to want when she wakes up is to see Dallas, Juno, and you. That way when you report back to Marianna that her baby’s bruised but definitely breathing, she won’t think you’re insane.”
“She’s alive?” Dallas asked. She let go of Emma and grabbed Cain by her arms and shook her. “Is she?”
“We planned for the shooting, but not for the television coverage. She’s alive, and I’m sorry you went through the pain of watching something that made you think otherwise. After seeing it I think it’ll only help us, since it’s so convincing.”
“How do you figure?” Emil asked.
“Nunzio Luca hired someone to kill her, and according to the news he did that. If Remi’s dead to the world, there’s no reason for this guy to try again. Having Remi out of sight for a while will help us deal with Nunzio, and help find this Jorge Cristo who pulled the trigger. Nothing helps you relax like success.”
“She’s alive,” Dallas repeated, but not as a question this time.
“She is, and in need of some TLC. Go pack, just to give the appearance of going home, in case someone’s watching.” Cain sent Dallas to the other side of the house with Emma.
