“Supposedly you work for my nephew, but you and I both know who you really work for, so I want you gone. If you talk to Juan again…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination.” Rodolfo pressed his fingers to the oozing wound and looked at them before he painted Anthony’s cheek with the blood that coated them. “Like you said, though, you don’t work for me, but I want you to remember one thing.”
“What?”
“The next time I call you in for a talk, don’t beg for mercy or cry for salvation, because there won’t be any.”
Anthony was still on his knees, which made Rodolfo seem taller when he peered up at him. “If you believe I still work for the FBI, isn’t treating me like this stupid?”
“Do you think anyone in this room but you is going to admit this meeting took place? Go home and back to your job, Mr. Curtis, and you won’t have a thing to worry about. If you don’t, you won’t be of consequence to anyone for long.”
Rodolfo left the room, and Carlos picked Anthony up and handed him to Pedro. “Now you can take that cab, Agent Curtis.”
“What about my guns?”
“You know what I think?”
“What?”
“That this won’t be the last time we talk.” Carlos suddenly grabbed Anthony’s crotch and squeezed so hard his eyes welled with tears. “When we have to talk again, I’m going to shoot this off first and send it to that pretty lady you work for.” He squeezed harder. “Then I’m going to put a bullet between your eyes with your FBI gun that I’m keeping to show my friends.” Carlos laughed before throwing him out.
Out in the hall Anthony leaned against the wall well away from the suite, trying to get his heart rate down. He needed to concoct a new plan before Juan returned the next night. No matter what it was, Carlos, Rodolfo, and Pedro were going down.
“And when that happens, you son of a bitch, don’t beg me for mercy,” he said, referring to Rodolfo. “Because I’m going to pull the fucking trigger three times, and it’s going to feel sweet.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
“You ready to go, lass?” Cain yelled up the stairs while Hannah climbed to the fourth step and jumped into her arms. It was the third time she’d gone through the process of climbing and jumping, adding a step every time.
“If she tries that with me when you’re not home, I’m going to be pissed when I call you from the emergency room,” Emma said from the landing. She’d changed into a simple-cut dress and low heels.
“Hannah’s smart enough not to try that with you, Mama,” Hayden said as he passed her on the way down.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because when I was four I was smart enough to know we’d both be in trouble if I tried it. You’re our mom, but you’re kinda shrimpy,” he joked.
“Good to know, son.” She started down, keeping her eyes off Hannah, who was leaping from the sixth step now.
This time Cain caught Hannah and kept her in her arms. “Let’s go pick up Grandpa,” she said, having to use both hands to keep Hannah still. “Wait until you see what he got you for your birthday,” she told Hayden.
“He let you know what it was?”
“He called for hints, and I told him you missed your milking duties so much he smuggled a cow on board.”
“You’re so funny. You’re just jealous I know how and you don’t.”
“Your mom promised to take me in the barn for a private lesson when we go up for a visit—” Emma put her hand over Cain’s mouth and pointed to the door.
Cain drove them to the airport, with Lou, Merrick, and Mook following. Ross had planned the trip to sign a contract for Cain, and for Hayden’s birthday. The airport was busy as the influx of Sunday afternoon flights arrived, so it took Cain a while to find two parking spots close to each other.
They waited at the Delta section, and Hannah ran around them. Cain split her time watching her and Emma, who had her eyes plastered to the long concourse but had been constantly smoothing down her dress in a nervous-tic way.
“Are you okay?” she asked Emma.
“It’s weird, but I’m not. I’ve felt like such a disappointment to him for so long that sometimes I don’t know how to act around him.”
Cain put her arm around Emma’s waist and kissed her temple. “I’ve talked to your father quite often since we got back, and he certainly isn’t disappointed in you. Ross is proud of the life and family you’ve built, lass. With his separation from your mother, he feels freer to express himself, and he’s looking forward to spending more time with us. It’s time for him to get to know his grandchildren and his little girl. You two need to move past the shadow of what happened with your mother and stop wasting time dwelling on what could’ve been.”
“He did mention that Maddie and Jerry agreed to take over the farm,” Emma said. “With the help from their new silent partner, Jerry’s planning to put together a bigger herd for the coming season.” A crowd was making its way up the main corridor, meaning a flight had just deplaned. “With any luck we can talk him into staying with us during the winter months. What do you think?”
“That we need to get the house finished so he’ll know we have a place for him.” Cain jutted her chin in the direction of the security stand and the first guy through it. “Go tell him hello.”
Ross stopped halfway to them and put his bag down so he could pick up Hannah, who was running toward him at her usual rapid pace. It was the reception he’d been hoping for, and only got better when Hayden was right behind her.
“You both have gotten so big,” he told them after giving both a kiss.
“I missed you, Grandpa,” Hannah said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed.
“Hello, Daddy,” Emma told him. Cain was next to her and took Hannah from him.
With his hands free, Ross didn’t hesitate to put his arms around Emma and hang on until a lump formed in his throat. “You have a beautiful family, sweetheart,” he managed to say, and Emma simply nodded against his shoulder.
“Let’s get out of here and go catch up,” Cain said as she patted Ross on the back. “If you’re not too tired, the kids want to treat you to dinner at their favorite place.”
It didn’t take long to get to Jacquimo’s on Oak Street. The restaurant started by a merchant-marine cook was in an old shotgun house, and the kids loved it because they got to walk through the kitchen to get to the dining area out back. None of the plates or utensils matched, the drinks were served in Mason jars, and the wait staff looked rather Bohemian, but they made the best fried chicken in the city.
Ross barely had to speak as Hannah and Hayden filled in what they’d been doing since he’d seen them last. By the time they reached coffee and dessert, Hannah was asleep on Cain’s lap.
When they got home, Ross watched Emma and Cain work together to put Hannah to bed and smiled as he remembered how Barney Kyle had described Cain. This gentle soul didn’t resemble the rabid beast in Kyle’s stories at all.
“Looks like Hannah’s forgotten your mom,” Ross told Emma.
“Thank God for that. You want to call it a night or join Cain downstairs?” Emma pointed in the direction Cain had headed. “I put a pair of Cain’s sweats and some T-shirts on your bed to sleep in. Hopefully they’ll find your bags by tomorrow.”
“What, she doesn’t own pajamas?” he asked, then laughed.
Emma blushed but laughed along with him. “There’s a spare toothbrush in there too.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist, and I can go to bed if you want. You look tired.” He combed Emma’s hair back, an old habit he’d developed from the time she was a baby.
“Cain’s just finishing up some stuff, and I’m going to bed, don’t worry.” Emma kissed him on the cheek. “I know you like talking to her, and when the kids are wound up like that it’s hard to cut in. I’m happy you’re here, Daddy.”