our son. I’ll pull the trigger myself, if that’s what’s necessary for Mr. Bracato to see I’m serious. There’s no way I go back to Cain and tell her I failed and let harm come to Hayden.”
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. If Giovanni put one bruise on Hayden, the streets would run red from the war that would erupt. Going against someone’s child was just not done.
Merrick put her hand on Emma’s back as a sign of encouragement and peered over her head at Muriel. “You want us to call you tonight?”
“I feel like a drink and some dancing, so you won’t have far to look for me.”
“Is that a smart thing for you, Muriel?” asked Emma. “You are, after all, an officer of the court.”
“I’m also Cain’s advisor on everything concerning the business. There’s very little I don’t know, Emma. I just don’t share that knowledge with too many people. If that makes me a criminal as well, so be it, but this is my family too. To me that’s all that’s important.”
“Good to know.”
“Emma, we’re ready when you are,” Mook said when he got off his cell.
“Then let’s go.”
The car waiting outside had completely tinted windows in the back. Once Merrick had seated her new boss, and she and Mook climbed in, they all turned to the small brown-eyed passenger with his legs curled into his middle, crying.
“It’s all right, honey,” Emma cooed, as she took the crying child from one of Cain’s men. The little boy looked up, and his crying slowed to just sniffles.
The driver glanced at Emma. “Christ. Glad you’re here. The kid hasn’t quit bawling since we snatched him in the park. Dumb nanny wasn’t watching the stroller. Cain would’ve had her head for pulling a stunt like that.”
Emma dried the baby’s tears. “You sure are a cute one, aren’t you? You don’t have to be afraid. We’re on our way to see your grandfather. No one is going to hurt you, little guy, so just relax.” The little boy put his index finger in his mouth and leaned against her, closing his eyes as her soothing voice continued.
The car moved in the direction of Gino Bracato’s warehouse. Muriel had called ahead and used her usual verbal persuasion to get them past the front door or, in this case, to the front door to pick up a lone Gino, shifting from one foot to the other as he watched for the car to arrive. He was obviously worried about the safety of the small passenger.
The FBI team assigned to Bracato, back on live surveillance, was surprised to see the man come out of his offices and get into the limo. The agents, shocked that none of Bracato’s men got in after him and that the car pulled away quickly, called for backup to follow the mystery visitors and see what they were up to with Big Gino.
“Mr. Bracato, thank you for joining us on such short notice.” Emma pulled the child resting against her shoulder tighter against her body and smiled. “I was enjoying the trip over here with your grandson.”
“Listen to me, bitch. You hurt him, and I’ll spend the rest of my days hunting you down.”
“Merrick, if he curses in front of the baby again, please knock out some of those teeth. Good manners are so hard to instill in the young, Mr. Bracato. No sense in giving him a head start on how
After both Mook and Merrick eased their jackets open to show Bracato what would happen, he didn’t move to get closer to her and the boy. Instead, he smiled and tried to turn on the charm, though Emma noticed a piece of spinach in his yellowed teeth.
“Maybe you should be the one who needs a lesson in good manners, Mrs. Casey. Stealing my grandson is just not done in this business. We are, after all, men of honor. Cain should have taught you that.”
“Does that mean my son will be waiting for me at home when I get there?”
“What makes you think I have your son? He could’ve run off, for all I know, since he’s the bastard son of that bitch Cain. Maybe he couldn’t live with the shame of it all?”
Emma closed her eyes and tilted her head upward to take a deep breath. After her short encounter with the idiot sitting across from her, she realized why Cain took so many cleansing breaths throughout the day. “Merrick, please tell the driver to stop the car.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After another short tap to the window from Mook, Emma’s order was obeyed.
“Get out.”
“What about my—” Gino swallowed his smug smile when the man next to him pulled out his gun and just pointed it at the floor of the car. He didn’t doubt that one word from Emma would change its position to the vicinity of his head.
“I had come today with every intention of giving you back your grandson as a token of my goodwill, but your behavior tells me that what Cain has said all along about you is true. Get out of the car, Mr. Bracato, and be careful how you treat my son. Take a walk back to your office and call your sons, all of them, and ask what move you should make next. Once they give you an answer, call me back and we’ll talk again. Don’t take too long, though. My patience is running thin, and I miss Hayden.” Emma tightened her grip on the boy she held on her shoulder and motioned her head to the side to get the fat man moving.
Mook took the opportunity to press his gun at the base of Bracato’s head. “I believe the lady asked you to leave.”
“You’re going to pay for this, starting with your kid, lady. My son Giovanni isn’t quite as forgiving as his old man, and when he finds out you have his boy, he’ll rip that little son of a bitch of yours to shreds.”
“I’ll look forward to your call, Mr. Bracato. Mook, I did promise our guest something if he cursed again, I believe.”
Emma didn’t even wince when she heard the blow to Bracato’s head outside the car.
