Mano was waiting for them by the bar, and before he led them to Ramon’s office on the third floor he embraced Cain and kissed both her cheeks. “Thank you for saving my sister.”
“You’d do the same for me.” The guards hung back until they finished their talk, and Cain took her time with Mano because she, better than anyone, understood what an emotional wringer he’d been through. “I failed when it came to Marie and Billy, but I’m glad you were able to avoid that pain.”
“After seeing how much you care, I can’t believe you failed at all. I can’t replace the loss of your family, but I want you to accept that you’re part of mine. Whatever you need, call me and I’ll treat you no different than if Remi was asking.”
“Thanks, that means a lot to me.”
“Good. Now if you’re ready to go up, I got the package you asked for.”
Richard looked like he was in shock when Cain entered and saw him standing in the corner, his back against the wall. His eyes were on Remi, and he kept blinking like maybe he could clear Remi from his sight if he tried hard enough.
“Good morning, Richard,” Cain said to snap him out of his trance. “Sit down and close your mouth.”
“Why am I here?”
“You’re here so we can offer you the deal of your life.”
“Ramon, what’s this about?” Richard asked.
“Cain speaks for me and my family, so ask her. I just brought my checkbook,” Ramon said with a laugh.
“The reality of our situation is that you own a casino in someone else’s name. You’re Junior and Nunzio Luca’s front man, but in the eyes of the law you, and you alone, own the Capri,” Muriel explained. Ross, Steve, and Dwayne sat next to her merely listening to what was going on. “Understand me so far?”
“If this has to do with the casino deal, you need to call Nunzio,” Richard said, his breathing speeding up noticeably.
“We don’t need to call Nunzio,” Cain said, “when we have the true owner right here.”
“Cain, no matter what you do, you’re not going to make me sign anything. Whatever you threaten me with, Nunzio’s only going to do worse, and you know it.”
“Why not listen to what Muriel has to say before you turn us down?” Cain held her hands up. “But before you decide to walk away no matter what, consider this. Today is the last day any of us will talk about this deal, much less consider it. A decision you made without Nunzio’s permission brought us to this point. Do you think he’s forgotten that?”
“What do you want?”
“We want the casino, and we want to buy it from you.”
Richard was laughing so hard he slapped his knees. “That’s hilarious. Really, what do you want?”
“I’m not a huge fan of repeating myself, just so you know.” Richard’s merriment died at Cain’s words and the room fell silent again. “But I’ll explain again since it seems over your head. You can turn me and the Jatibons down and face Nunzio. Or you can accept our offer and retire to a palm tree somewhere with the money we’re going to pay you for signing your name.”
Richard sat up straighter and put his hands over his mouth. While he thought about it, Cain made a bet with herself how long he would hold out before he took the money.
“How much?”
Cain accepted a slip of paper from Ramon and handed it over. “That amount in a Cayman account in your name. You can enjoy the beach for awhile if you want, or you can transfer it wherever you like.”
“Who’s going to protect me from Nunzio?”
“That check has enough zeros to buy all the protection you’ll need.”
Richard closed his hand over the paper and took a deep breath. “If you tell me why, I’ll give you what you want.”
“You should know the answer to that,” Cain said, “but I’ll let Remi explain.”
“Nunzio took his shot at me, and this is our response. Hiring someone to kill me doesn’t come without consequences. The casino is his consequence.”
“I sign it over and you give me the money—it’s that simple?”
“You got it,” Cain said.
“But it’s worth so much more,” Richard said as he glanced at the amount again.
“Do you remember how well your negotiations went the last time you tried?” Cain shot back.
“You have the papers ready?”
Cain and Ramon nodded.
“And you’ll help me get out of here?”
“I’ll have our plane take you wherever you want to go after the transaction is done,” Ramon said.
“Let me know when and I’ll be there,” Richard said, putting the paper in his coat pocket.
“Steve, Dwayne, and Ross will escort you to the Mississippi Gaming Board Office today,” Cain said. “The application’s complete and waiting for you to sign.” Richard stood after Cain did and shook her hand, then Ramon’s. “Only your signature, Richard, nothing more that’ll delay this.”
“When did you set up the meeting with the gaming board?”
“Yesterday afternoon,” Cain said, smiling when he appeared surprised. “I’m buying a casino, but I never gamble unless it’s a sure bet. You struck me as a sure bet.”
“I’d tell you to kiss my ass, but with all that money I don’t care what you think of me.”
Simon and Muriel left with Dwayne and Steve, but Cain stopped Ross. “Are you sure about this? It’s not too late to change your mind if you don’t want the added scrutiny in your life.”
“You’re my family, and I don’t mind helping you out when I can. Besides, you don’t have to ever question your trust in me. What happened with Richard today will never cross my mind, and it’s got nothing to do with Emma or the kids.”
“Then we’ll have plenty to celebrate when you get back.”
Once the group had left, the guards did too, so Cain and the Jatibons were alone. They needed to discuss the rest of their plans, and after considering all the options Cain thought it best to strike back fast.
“Our people are in place at the casino’s hotel waiting for our call,” Mano said as he handed everyone a folder. “Muriel and I worked up a list of immediate firings. She has the pink slips with her so she can distribute them when she hears from our new owners.”
“When are we telling Nunzio?” Remi asked. Her time with Dallas had been productive as far as their relationship, but Cain and her father had given her some time off from her responsibilities to heal.
“His house is a block from the place. He should see the signs coming down,” Mano said.
“If he doesn’t, I want you to call him,” Ramon said.
“I agree. It’s only right that it comes from you, so you can tell him we’re willing to see him here,” Cain said. “From what I hear he’s still in town, and it shouldn’t be too hard to arrange a meeting since he dropped the ball with Richard.”
“Then what?” Remi asked.
“That’s up to you,” Cain said. “None of us has a bruise on their chest from a bullet impact, but I’ve got a suggestion.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I brought you a get-well present, but before you let your anger overrule your emotions, consider how we can best use it.” Cain would accept whatever Remi wanted because of what had happened to her, but if she listened, Cain’s plan could be the beginning of the end for most of their problems.
“What happened to me wasn’t personal, I know that. Nunzio just saw it as the quickest way to get us to come back to the table. I may not understand that logic, but that’s all it was and I have to accept it.” Remi stood with her hand on her chest. She was moving better, Cain noticed, but from the way her mouth pulled when she had to sit or stand, she still felt pain.
“Lou,” Cain said into the intercom to the second floor, “could you come back in with our new friend.” It didn’t take long for Lou to walk in with a much shorter man at his side. The guy was almost delicate looking, from the slim nose down to his long willowy fingers. “It was a bitch trying to find this guy, but I thought you’d like to meet him.”