The Cain Casey Series

Chapter Forty-Four

“Where are you going?” Dallas asked from under the covers. She watched Remi walk out of the bathroom toward the bed, her hair wet from a shower. “After last night you’re supposed to be in here with me.”

“Can I tell you how good you look in sheets?” Remi joined her when Dallas held up the blanket.

“You smell nice.” Dallas went willingly when Remi took her in her arms. “If you’d woken me up, I could’ve helped you get that way.”

“What’s wrong?” Remi combed Dallas’s hair behind her ear and kissed her. “I’m sorry I got up without you.”

“That usually means you didn’t—”

Remi stopped her from saying anything else by kissing her again, only this time longer and more passionately. “I wake up early every day no matter what’s going on, and since I’m a little ADD, I get restless. You looked so peaceful I didn’t want to disturb you, but last night was wonderful.”

“You’re not sorry?”

“So sorry that I want us to repeat it tonight.” Remi ran her thumb along Dallas’s lips. “It doesn’t have anything to do with sex, but everything with having you here with me.”

“Can we have that talk today?” The night before, Dallas had lain in Remi’s arms, and it had felt so good she came close to crying again. But like Remi said, it had nothing to do with sex. For once she felt safe enough to simply put her head down and rest. With Remi, the last thing she wanted to do was leave.

“Cain called and I’ve got to head out for a meeting, but I had Juno clear the rest of my day so we can talk.” Remi ran her hands down Dallas’s back to her butt, then lifted her closer. “While I’m gone I want you to do me a favor.”

“What?” When Remi lay flat on her back Dallas was happy to spread her legs and straddle Remi’s waist. The new position let her lick Remi’s nipple, getting it wet. She blew on it and it puckered. “What can I do for you?” Her question had more to do with other kinds of favors, if Remi was interested.

“Make your Christmas list early.” Remi’s voice cracked on the last word as Dallas repeated her action on the other breast. “When I come back, I want you to tell me what you want changed in your life that would make you happy.”

Dallas sat up and smiled. In the daylight she could see Remi’s face and how much desire it held for her, but she saw more. Not only lust shone in the uniquely different colors of blue and green, that kind of caring was the biggest turn-on Dallas had experienced in her short life. And it evidently drove Remi’s need to free her from whatever haunted her.

“When you come back?” Dallas asked as she rocked against Remi’s lower abdomen, guaranteeing she’d need another shower. “I’ll do whatever you like.” She eased down and kneeled between Remi’s legs. “But you need to come right now.” She thought her play on words was lost as Remi moaned instead of laughed.

They touched, but their union was different in the light of day. It was still hungry, yet it felt like nothing Dallas had shared with anyone. For the first time she experienced what it was like for someone to make love to her. Remi touched her like someone who cared about her pleasure because she cared about her. Remi didn’t want to possess her, but to express how much she wanted her in and out of bed.

As they stood in the shower together, Remi held her under the spray and kissed every part of her face with soft, gentle movements. “You know,” she said when she kissed a spot over Dallas’s left brow, “if you keep crying every time we do that,” she moved to the right one, “I’m going to develop a complex.”

“I wish I could explain it better, but I promise, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re doing everything so right I’m having a hard time processing it.” Dallas leaned back and ran her fingers along Remi’s collarbone. “Does that make sense?”

“You make perfect sense.”

They finished showering and Dallas borrowed Remi’s robe to head into the kitchen. Surprisingly, the sight of Emil sitting at the counter having coffee and reading the paper didn’t startle her as much as she would’ve thought. He was polite and pointed out where the mugs were so she could pour two cups of coffee. He stopped her as she started back.

“I almost forgot.” He held up a small gift bag. “I don’t know if Remi mentioned it, but I’ve got a hobby.”

Dallas blinked a few times but stayed quiet as her brain flipped through the possibilities of what Emil would find fun, considering he looked like a brick wall. Granted, he appeared to have broken his nose a couple of times, and he had a small collection of scars on his face, one thick one that ran though his left brow, but it somehow made him seem more genuine.

“Is that for me?” Dallas asked.

“I thought you’d like it.”

For such a big guy Emil had a soft voice. Dallas put the cups down and accepted the bag. Inside was a wide tan alligator belt with his name stamped in small letters on the inside next to the buckle.

“You made this?” she asked, getting a shy nod. “It’s beautiful, thank you.” Even though he was sitting she still had to tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “I love it.” To her astonishment he nodded again and blushed.

“Morning, Emil,” Remi said as she entered the kitchen. “That color looks nice on you.” She pointed to his face.

“Leave him alone. You can’t tease a man who comes bearing gifts.”

“If you sweet-talk him while I’m gone, maybe he’ll make you a matching pair of boots.” Remi lifted her foot to show off her usual footwear. The black boots matched the pair Emil, Mano, and her father had. “You two relax and I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Remi kissed Dallas at the door, then stopped a floor down to pick up Simon.

Cain had called that morning and wanted to review a few things she needed her and Mano to take over. She knew Mano had been working closely with Muriel to keep Richard in their sights until they closed the casino deal. Nunzio might have owned it, but it wasn’t his signature they needed when it came time.

“We’re not going to the house?” Remi asked when Simon turned right toward the Quarter.

“Cain’s at the Pescador with your father. She said she had an outing last night and needs a meet with Rodolfo.”

“She wants us there?”

“The last thing Cain Casey needs is a backup or someone to hold her hand. She wants your father to set it up since he knows Rodolfo better. If she has to talk to him, it’s about Juan, and neither of them have anything to do with us.”

Remi rested her hand on the top of her boot, since she’d pushed the front passenger seat all the way back so she could cross her legs. “I wouldn’t mind going to do both, if she asked. I’ve enjoyed working with her. Cain’s got a lot to teach.”

At a light Simon glanced at her. “That’s what you have Ramon for.”

“True, and his advice is priceless.”

The careful way she said that must have been why Simon laughed. “But? I have a feeling that’s what you were going to say next.”

“Papi has been a great teacher, but he teaches Mano and me to do things the way he would do them. He told me when he decided on these mergers with Cain that I should pay attention, and I have. Cain might’ve lost Dalton but she’s sharp. She’s had to learn the business on her own, using the foundation he gave her, but you can tell she’s made it grow and get stronger.”

“Uh-huh.” Simon slowed as they turned on the block where Ramon’s club was located. “When Dalton was killed, your father and Vincent both waited for her to fail or ask for help, which in their eyes would’ve been the same thing. Cain proved herself, though, by walking through fire to keep her organization together. I admired her for that, and I think Vincent did too. You know your father did, or he wouldn’t be dealing with her at all.”

“I think he knows something I figured out when I attended Dalton’s funeral. No matter what happens in this city, Cain’s too smart not to survive. If there’s a war, the smartest play is to be on her side, no matter what the other guy offers you, because when the dust settles she’ll give you just enough time to see death coming. It’s that kind of thinking that Papi respects.”

There was space reserved for them out front, and Katlin waved to them as Simon started to parallel park. Across the street a news crew was interviewing what Remi assumed were the new owners of the building being renovated on the corner. When the car stopped she took her sunglasses off and threw them on the dash, not wanting to have to carry them.

She opened her door as Simon opened the driver’s side, and as soon as she stood up straight something flashed momentarily, making her glance up and to the right.

The single shot from the high-powered rifle was so deafening that everyone on the street stopped what they were doing. Simon heard Remi slam into the side of the car from the force of the impact. The scene seemed surreal to Simon as she watched Remi go down from a single shot that had hit her square in the chest. She ran without thinking to the other side of the car to see if she was alive, not caring that it put her in the line of fire. Katlin had drawn her gun and was scanning the area across from them, trying to spot the shooter.

“Oh my God,” Simon heard the reporter across the street scream as the cameraman moved closer. “Who’s that?”

“Katlin, help me,” Simon ordered. Working together they picked Remi up and laid her across the back seat. “Tell Ramon,” was all she could get out before she jumped behind the wheel and took off.

*

The television on the security guard’s desk was on as Emil and Dallas returned to Remi’s building after a trip to the grocery store. When Dallas heard the woman say the name Remington Jatibon, she turned her head toward the TV. Next to her Emil stopped and looked too as the small screen cut to the front of the Pescador Club. The woman reporter was going on about the tragedy they’d caught on tape, and Dallas started to shake her head as a feeling of dread washed over her.

“Remington Jatibon, daughter of reputed mob boss Ramon Jatibon, was gunned down this morning as she stepped out of a car in front of the Pescador Club. Jatibon was taken down by a single gunshot. She never had a chance, as you can see from the footage.” The picture changed to the one of Remi looking up, and then just as quickly she was on the ground. “With one single shot one of the more colorful lives in corporate America comes to an end. The family has offered no comment so far, but we will keep you informed.” The talking head droned on while the shot played repeatedly.

“This can’t be happening,” Dallas said, having to hang on to Emil to keep herself on her feet.

“Come on, Dallas, we can’t stay down here.” Emil dropped the bags and practically dragged Dallas to the elevator.

“You want these sent up, Emil?” the security guy asked.

“Call for Juno and she’ll take care of it.” Once the doors closed, he put in the key for the penthouse floor, then held on to Dallas. She was glassy-eyed but seemed in shock rather than grieving. “Once we get upstairs I can make some calls and find out what’s going on, but you have to hang in there. This isn’t a good time to give up.”

“She’s not coming back,” Dallas repeated, as if she were trying to convince herself it was true.

As they entered the penthouse, Dallas’s cell phone rang and she answered it without checking to see who it was, thinking it could be news about Remi. “Hello.”

“Have you been in front of a television today?” Bob asked. “If not, let me be the first to give you the good news. The dyke is dead and I want you back in the house by this afternoon, if you know what’s good for you. I told you, sweetheart, we’re partnered for life and no one can come between us.”

Dallas dropped the phone and barely noticed as it broke in two when it hit the marble floor. She made it as far as the sofa before she collapsed and started crying.

Emil watched her and forgot about his calls, opting to sit with her and hold her. Since Dallas was pressed to his chest she never saw the tears that spilled down his face for the loss he was sure would destroy both Ramon and Marianna, but especially Ramon. His boss had been gifted with two wonderful children, but Remi held a special place in his heart.

Now that place was dark, and Emil was sure it would die away, taking Ramon with it.

*

“Send the money. It’s done right where you wanted it. Ramon should be able to give a proper farewell.” Jorge Cristo spoke into the prepaid, untraceable cell phone. He was parked on Canal Street, studying the map from the car he’d rented in Houston. Knowing someone might be waiting on his arrival, he had landed in Texas a couple of days early and driven in.

“I’ll wire it this morning, and since I’m getting to watch it on television, I might throw in a bonus.” Nunzio watched the smug face on the screen contort with pain again. He had to remember to send the reporter some flowers for having the good fortune to be standing there when it all went down. If his father needed proof, he’d e-mail him the evidence. Watching Remi die on the news was as satisfying as good sex.

Getting a blow job while watching the bitch die again and again wasn’t all that bad either. He put his hand on the back of Kim’s head and pulled on her hair to get her to slow down. “Take it easy, babe, I want to enjoy this.” He pressed the play button on the remote and watched Remi fly into the car in slow motion.

All he had to do was wait a few days for Ramon and Cain to get through the funeral, then make the deal. If Ramon refused, little sweet Mano would be next. He wondered how he could get that on tape as well, if it came down to having to call on Jorge for an encore.

“Oh yeah,” he said as Kim sucked harder just as Remi’s head turned upward in slow motion. “This is better than fucking to porn.”