“Hopefully that’s true.” Remi kissed her mother’s forehead. “After all, he kept at it until he got it right, didn’t he?” She knew what was coming, but didn’t duck the cuff to the head her mother delivered.
“One day you won’t have your poor mother’s arm to pull, Remi. Then what will you do?”
“That’ll be a sad day indeed, but remember one thing. It’s leg, Mami, leg.” This time Remi did dodge the little hand flying toward her head, seeing Marianna had swung with more intent.
The Jatibons’ maid escorted Cain and Muriel out to the balcony while they were still laughing. “Still giving your mother a hard time?” Cain asked.
“You’re crazy if you think you’re immune, so watch your step,” Remi said as she embraced Cain and kissed both her cheeks. “You look content, my friend.”
“Thanks, and you should take your mother’s advice. Children and a beautiful wife would look good on you.”
“You tell her, Cain,” Marianna said before Cain bent and kissed her hello.
“How about business first, then all of you can work on my love life?” Remi pointed in the direction of her father’s study.
Steve and Dwayne followed and closed the doors. Ramon’s man Emil had just swept the room for listening devices, and Remi felt comfortable discussing business even though the watchers weren’t that far away.
“Muriel, you want to start?” Remi asked as she sat close to her father’s desk.
“Katlin, along with some of our men, spent some time in Luca’s casino, the Capri, last month. Only a few days, but enough to see that Stephano Bracato’s network is still in place. She didn’t want to dig too much and arouse attention, but she’s guessing the dealers have either found a new patron, or they’re working directly for Rodolfo and Juan Luis, since they were Stephano’s main suppliers.” She glanced at Cain, who nodded. “We’ve made Rodolfo’s business difficult here recently, so he seems to have doubled his efforts on the Gulf Coast.”
“Rodolfo made money here, though, so it’s only a matter of time before he finds a willing partner,” Ramon said. He opened the humidor on his desk and offered everyone a Cuban cigar. He and Remi were the only two who went through the ritual of preparing the Cohibas to smoke. “We all know drugs are part of our reality. We may choose to make our living elsewhere, but we can’t keep them completely away from our businesses.”
“That’s why Remi and I agreed to give Vinny Carlotti our protection. We might not be able to keep drugs out, but we can try to control them,” Cain said. “If he does business with the Luis family, though, I will no longer honor that understanding. I don’t need to remind you all that Juan approached Emma twice the last time he and his uncle were in town. The idiot either has a high opinion of himself, or he doesn’t respect women.”
“We’ll back you on that, Cain. Rodolfo is powerful but he’s a pig, and his nephew isn’t any better,” Remi said. “But even if Vinny thinks about doing business with them, Vincent will most likely interfere much sooner than we will. Making a quick buck isn’t worth breaking the friendship with both our families. With this deal we’re about to close, and what we’ve done already, we’ll have the capital to keep the peace, if it comes to that, or crush anyone who decides to break it.”
“I agree,” Cain said as she accepted the glass of Anejo dark rum Ramon had poured. “So before we move forward, do we agree with the recommendations Katlin and the others made?”
“We agree. Dwayne and Steve will represent us at the sale, and Ross Verde will sign for you,” Ramon said, then held up his glass. He offered the toast that had christened all the good fortunes in his life. “To love, family, health, happiness, and money. And the time to enjoy them.”
“Salud,” the rest of them answered.
Chapter Six
Cozumel, Mexico
“We lost another five kilos this week,” Santos Esvillar said. He was in charge of the Luis family’s Louisiana distribution chain, and so far it had been three months since he’d had good news. “Someone gunned down another six street vendors, so now no one wants to touch our business.”
“What happened to the product?” Rodolfo Luis asked. He and his nephew Juan had returned to his estate in the hills right outside of Cozumel after Cain had declared war on Giovanni Bracato. It was a battle he’d wanted no part of, since he had no loyalties to Giovanni.
“The police arrived at the scene before we had a chance to retrieve anything, señor. After the last couple of hits, I had some backup at each location, but it was like somebody called the cops before it all went down.”
“It’s that fucking bitch,” Juan said, almost spitting the words out. He stroked his chest, his fingers gliding with the help of the tanning oil one of the house girls had slathered on him when he’d come down to the pool. He had yet to grow one hair on his chest, but he figured that wasn’t what made a man. However, he seldom let anyone outside his family see him with his shirt off. “It’s always that fucking bitch trying to be a man.”
“We tried to make the connection to Cain Casey, but we haven’t had any luck,” Santos said.
“It’s her, and this has to fucking stop.”
Rodolfo stood and moved his chair farther under the shade of the large umbrella close to the water. “Is this business or something else?” he asked Juan.
Juan’s back came off the chaise lounge, but that’s as much as he was willing to physically challenge his uncle. “Business before anything else, Papa. You know Cain’s behind this. Let it go unpunished and it’ll get worse.”
“Word on the street is that Nunzio Luca has the Capri up for sale,” Santos said, sounding like a man covering his ass.
Juan came fully erect at the news, leaving the sun for a seat in the shade next to Rodolfo. Most of their southeastern product arrived and was shipped out for distribution at the Biloxi casino. With the help of the New York-based Luca family, they were building a network that would stretch through the gaming industry from Mississippi to Nevada.
The plan was perfect, since the drop-off points were so close to major distribution areas in Florida and California. While the DEA was busy trying to bust mules coming over the border full of balloons of cocaine, no one bothered to check the fresh fish and beef being flown into the casinos for their cheap buffets. All it had taken was chump change to the customs’ agent in both locations. If the new owner of the Capri was uncooperative, its sale would seriously hurt the operation Juan had worked hard to put into place.
“What do you know?” Juan asked.
“I don’t know the particulars yet, but that’s the rumor running through the casino.”
“Then find out, moron. What in the hell are we paying you for?” Juan lifted his drink, ready to throw it at Santos, but just as quickly put it down. Giving in to the satisfaction wouldn’t be a good way to prove to Rodolfo that he was fit to handle the situation. “The son of a bitch Nunzio hasn’t told us anything about it.”
“We’re working on it, since if it’s true, we’ll need some cooperation to continue our business.”
“Fly back to Biloxi and do some more digging, and we’ll be there in a week,” Rodolfo said. He took a sip of his lemonade and wiped the edges of his mustache. “If you find something before then, let me know.” He lifted his glass again but waited for Santos to leave. “That’s all,” he said when Santos didn’t get the message.
“If you want—” Juan said as soon as Santos was out of earshot.
“Don’t ask for something I’m not going to give you.”
“Why? I’m ready and you know it.” This time Juan picked up his glass and threw it into the pool. “I put that fucking operation together, and I should get the chance to protect it.”