“Until Rodolfo became too important. Do you understand my meaning?”
“After meeting him a few times I understand perfectly.”
“It’s of no matter now. Rodolfo has chosen to do business with the Luca family, and we will deal with someone else. This person has a bigger network of friends, which means fewer enemies for me to deal with. In my business it’s a better position to be in.” Cain accepted the drink Muriel had poured her, as well as the fact that it was Remi and herself Hector was talking about, and rested her elbows on the edge of the desk. “But I’m sure you didn’t call about my history. What else can I answer for you?”
Drugs weren’t something Cain would ever involve herself in, but something about Hector made her like him. “My father always said that history was a good roadmap to the future.”
“Then it is history we will talk about tonight.”
“The story I’m interested in actually has to do more with Juan Luis than his uncle.”
“Rodolfo will learn soon enough what a rabid dog he’s raised, and unfortunately for him it will be a lesson he won’t live to learn from. He punished his sister Gracelia for soiling his family name by taking Juan away from her to raise himself. That selfishness on his part has made both Juan and his mother unstable enough to turn on him.”
That statement alone made Cain smile. Not over Rodolfo’s problems, but because Hector knew so much about them. “What I need from you is the name of the man who fathered Juan.”
She hoped the silence on the other end indicated Hector was thinking.
“He was a drifter, if I remember, since I only heard Rodolfo refer to him once when he told me what he’d done to him, but I believe his name was Ortega. Yes, that’s it, Armando Ortega.”
Cain moved her finger from check to check until she reached the eighth one on the list. Juan Armando Ortega had used his passport to enter the United States the day Rick had been killed. Gracelia and Juan might have been unstable, but that didn’t equal stupid. That Juan was able to get a passport with that name meant Gracelia Luis had kept her lover alive in her memory, no matter how hard Rodolfo had tried to erase it.
“One more thing, Hector. How did Armando die?”
“That is one story that makes me cross my legs whenever I tell it,” he said with a chuckle. He gave her the details Rodolfo had shared with him about how he’d tied Armando to a tree and coated his genitals in honey before agitating the large red-ant hill at the base. “Rodolfo told me the ants devoured his manhood before he died, but they didn’t leave him alive very long.”
“Thank you for answering my questions and for taking my call,” Cain said as she circled Juan’s given name.
“I’ll be in New Orleans soon. Perhaps while I’m there we can share a meal.”
“I’ll be happy to treat for all your help. Good night.”
“What’d he say?” Muriel asked as soon as Cain hung up.
“Our rat has another name and he’s here.” Cain handed over the page with Juan’s name on it. “Katlin’s back, right?”
“She’s in the pool house.”
“Get her up here first thing in the morning before you two head off to finish the Anthony business. If Juan’s returned, and he is according to this, I want him found.”
“Are you still planning to meet with Rodolfo?”
“As soon as I’m done with you all in the morning.” Cain put her papers in the desk and locked it, slipping the key into her pocket.
“Do you want me to do anything else with the casino deal?” Muriel asked. She stopped at the head of the hallway that led to the rear of the house. “With everything that’s happened we’ve almost forgotten it.”
“Postponed, Cousin, not forgotten. Nunzio’s a hard guy to put out of your head for long, so there’s no way I’ve forgotten him. He’ll have to wait until I’ve squared Juan away.” A door opened upstairs, the quiet house making it easy to hear, and Cain expected to see Emma at any minute. “After Nunzio hired someone to kill Remi, it’s best to let Ramon deal with him.”
“With no input from us?”
“Of course not. I’ve been considering how best to dispense with this problem.”
“You want me to handle our end of things?” Muriel asked.
Just then, Emma came downstairs, put her arms around Cain’s waist, and said, “You better take a night to think about asking something that important, Muriel.”
“You think I can’t handle it?” Muriel asked, not yet sounding insulted but at the cusp of her patience, from what Cain could tell.
“I’ve got no doubt about that,” Emma said as Cain kissed her cheek.
“Then what’s to think about?”
“She’s talking about points of no return,” Cain said. “Up to now you haven’t had to answer a challenge like the one Nunzio issued by hiring Jorge. He tried to draw first blood and we’ve got to answer him.”
“Blood demands blood, I understand that perfectly. Don’t forget I grew up in this family too, and I did it without blinders on.”
“Take the night Emma’s suggested, and before you ask me again, remember one thing. To deal with the devil is easy, but the debt you incur weighs heavily on your soul. Not everyone’s made to carry the load.”
“More wise advice from Uncle Dalton?”
“My father agreed with the words, but your father told me that. Jarvis served Da like you have me for as long as Da was alive, and he never asked to change his lot in life.”
Muriel’s nose flared as if Cain had finally lit her ire. “Why do you have such a problem with me doing it? I thought we were beyond that.”
“I’ve tried to give you what you asked for, haven’t I? But I have a problem with you trying to prove something, not to yourself, but to a woman who you tell me is of no consequence.” Cain knew her words were stern, but she needed to say them as much as Muriel needed to hear them. “You don’t have to prove to me you deserve your name, but you’ve got to start thinking like a Casey.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing?”
“If you want the truth, putting yourself in situations to prove to Shelby you’re no one’s fool. It’s time to pick what your debt will be, but be damn sure you’re in shape to carry it. I can’t do that for you.”
Cain tensed when Muriel moved toward her, but just as quickly relaxed into the embrace Muriel initiated. “I don’t need time to think. Where you lead I’ll follow. It’s that simple, and thanks for always watching out for me.”
“That’s my privilege,” Cain said as she kissed her forehead.
“Just remember that I’ll follow, but like Emma, I don’t want to be left behind.”
“That’s a deal I can live with.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
The house was quiet when Remi got back, and she slowly walked up the stairs, telling Emil good night as he kept going toward the guest room Dallas had pointed out to him earlier. Dallas was in the other bedroom, and Remi hesitated in the hall. What she’d done that night had set Dallas free of everything and everyone that had been a part of her life. And standing there she realized that included herself.
“Are you all right?” Dallas asked as she put her hand around Remi’s elbow and led her into the master bedroom. “Do you need me to help you?”
“I’m fine, just thinking.”
“If you got a chance to talk to Bob, I’m sure he gave you plenty to think about.” In front of the bed she let Remi go and stepped back. “If you want me to go downstairs and sleep on the couch, that won’t be a problem for me.”
“What I want is to get in that bed and hold you. I’m not in great shape, but I can manage that if you’re up for it.”
They left the door to the balcony open to let the cool night air in and enjoyed the feel of each other with no barriers between them. Dallas had draped herself over Remi’s uninjured side with her head resting on her shoulder and ran her fingers softly over her skin, not wanting to press down on the bruise that dominated Remi’s chest.