“Are you sure you’re ready for this, mobster?” Emma asked after she’d rinsed her mouth in the spray. “We’re not in our twenties anymore.”
“My Da always said that babies keep you young.”
“Babies?” Emma asked, then bit down on Cain’s nipple. “I’ve always known you’re an over-achiever, but one at a time, please.”
Cain lifted her off her feet and kissed her, trying to put every bit of how she felt about Emma into it. When they parted, Emma smiled and wiped Cain’s tears away. “It could be a bug, so don’t be too disappointed if that’s all it is.”
“If it’s not, we just try again,” Cain said and kissed her again.
When they parted, it was Emma who was crying.
“However long it takes, lass. We’ll try together until we get everything we want.”
Chapter Fifty
“Papi,” Mano called Ramon from the foyer.
“Something wrong?” Ramon asked, holding on to the doorjamb that led outside to the large patio.
“Somebody tried to firebomb the club, and two of the day crew are at the hospital with burns.”
“Merda,” Ramon said, but he felt weak with relief it wasn’t about Remi. “Cain wanted to wait for Nunzio’s next move. I think he’s made it.”
“You want me to handle it?”
“Not before we talk to Cain and your sister, but this bastard gets no more free shots.”
Mano held the door of the study for him, then sat in his usual spot. “I talked with Cain already, and she asked for us to wait until this afternoon. She also asked for one thing.”
“What?”
“She wants Richard Bowen at the meeting.”
Ramon was about to reach for a cigar but stopped halfway to the humidor. “Richard, for what?”
“She said she didn’t feel comfortable discussing it on the phone because she was on a cell, but that’s what she wants.”
“Take the plane and get him here.” Ramon retrieved his cigar and cocked his chair back. “I’ll stay and see how the search for that bastard Jorge is going. Until we find him, I don’t feel comfortable having Remi or you exposed.”
“Don’t tell Remi until it’s time to meet. If she knows anything’s going on, she’ll leave Dallas’s because she’ll think she’s not doing her share.”
“Be careful, and put Richard in a safe spot until we’re ready for him.”
*
Dr. Ellie Eschete knocked before entering the exam room at the end of the hallway. In Emma’s chart were the results of the various blood and urine tests they’d run and Cain had insisted on waiting for.
“Well?” Cain asked when the door opened. She was sitting on a stool next to Emma, who was on the exam table. But she looked so nervous any thought of teasing her seemed like a bad idea.
“You don’t have the flu,” Ellie told Emma.
“Well?” Cain asked again.
“Honey,” Emma put her palm against Cain’s cheek, “calm down and she’ll tell us.”
“I’d plan to have another guest for Thanksgiving this year,” Ellie said, staying in the doorway to keep clear of Cain’s reaction. “It’s not a stomach bug, sweetie, it’s morning sickness. And if you’re lucky it won’t last as long as mine.”
“She’s pregnant?” Cain asked, sounding disoriented.
“She is, and I can even tell you when you got her that way,” Ellie said, holding the chart up to hide that she was laughing. “Congratulations, and don’t forget to make an appointment before you leave. See you then.”
Cain lifted Emma off the table as if she weighed nothing and let out a whoop so loud the guys in the waiting room could probably hear it. They kissed and cried again.
“I’m so happy it’s almost as if the time we were apart doesn’t exist anymore,” Emma said after she dressed. “That feeling is the best gift you could’ve given me.”
“It doesn’t exist because it’ll never happen again.” Cain held Emma’s hand as they walked out. “We need to celebrate tonight.”
Emma stopped to make her appointment and nodded. “I’ll get this. Go share our news with Lou and the others before holding it in kills you.”
Lou had his arms around Cain when Emma stepped out but let her go to give her a hug as well. “I’m happy for you, Emma.”
“Another one for you to watch over,” Emma said. “That’ll keep you all busy enough, so it’s time to finish what you started.”
“You heard the lady,” Merrick said. “Let’s get to it.”
*
“Señor Luis.” Oscar sat in the seat Carlos had put his hands on the back of and puffed his chest out as if preening. “Thank you for your invitation.” He accepted the espresso Carlos handed him. “My compadres are jealous they weren’t called.”
“It’s you I want, Oscar.” Rodolfo took a sip of his own coffee and tried to even his breathing. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, Señor, the coffee’s fine. What would you like me to do for you?”
“I want you to tell me where Jesus is.” Rodolfo put his cup down and folded his hands in his lap. “I haven’t seen him, and he didn’t say where he was going.”
Oscar leaned forward to put his cup down as well but couldn’t keep it from rattling before it reached the table.
“Do you think he’s with my nephew?”
Oscar let out a nervous-sounding laugh as he turned around and looked at Carlos. “In Mexico? I don’t know.”
“Don’t worry, Oscar.” Rodolfo spoke in a soothing voice he’d used on Juan many times when he was a boy afraid of the dark after Gracelia had read him a bedtime story. After seeing the paper Cain had given him, he knew what Gracelia had been feeding him before he went to bed. “I already know where Jesus is.”
“Where? I’ve been worried.”
“That’s a waste of your time. Jesus is no one’s worry anymore.”
“Where is he?”
“If I know Cain Casey, he’s probably rotting in a dark hole somewhere.” He delivered the news in the same soothing voice. “Jesus was first on her list, but she wants me to hand over someone else.”
“She killed Jesus?”
“What you should be asking is who she wants next and why. Or do you already have an idea?”
Oscar tried to stand but Carlos put his hands on his shoulders and pushed him back down. “Don’t worry. I’m not about to hand you over to be killed for taking out some guy that worked for Casey, but I do need something from you.”
“Whatever you want.” Oscar put his hands together like he was praying.
“Where’s Juan?” As Rodolfo asked, Carlos pressed a knife to his throat and grabbed a handful of hair.
“At the hotel at the end of Esplanade, and he got back the day Jesus killed Casey’s man. I didn’t want any part of that, but Jesus said you knew about it.” Oscar’s hands were bobbing from his chest to his lap as he cried. “Then Juan ordered me not to tell you.”
“Who’s with him?”
“That guy from the FBI. A few of our men come and go, but Juan seldom goes out.” As Oscar explained in a begging manner, he glanced back at Carlos occasionally.
“Take him downstairs,” Rodolfo told Carlos,” but before you cut him loose, I want to know who else was at the airport that day.”
“Señor Rodolfo, please, I didn’t want to be there.”
“Get him out of my sight.”
“Like we talked about?” Carlos asked.
Rodolfo stood, walked to the window, and merely lifted his hand in response. When he did, Oscar let out a moan that sounded as if someone had shot him. Perhaps that’s what would happen to him, Rodolfo thought, but he wasn’t concerned what Cain did to Oscar once Carlos handed him over. All he cared about was defusing the fire keg Juan had lit.
*
The street in front of Ramon’s club was lined with work trucks that morning when Cain and her group arrived. Whoever had thrown the incendiary device had managed to damage only the very front space, but unfortunately two employees had been standing there. From the number of workmen, Ramon didn’t plan to stay closed long.