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“Hello.” Emma entwined her fingers with Cain’s as she listened to the explanation on the other end. “I told you later on today, so don’t bug your uncle Jarvis to bring you over here.”

Cain smiled, imagining the answer their son most probably had practiced before calling.

“I know you miss her, Hayden, but Mom needs her rest so we can bring her home. Once she does you’ll get to see her all the time, so just sit tight, and I’ll come by and get the two of you later. How’s your sister?”

The conversation obviously wasn’t going to end soon, so Cain stepped into the bathroom and scouted around. Afraid if she bent over she wouldn’t be able to get back on her feet without Emma’s help, Cain took Emma’s small mirror from the bathroom counter and ran it along the bottom of the most conspicuous thing in the room. She found what she looking for in the center, almost too close to the edge to be seen. However, something about it didn’t seem right, aside from the fact they had used Todd to plant both the devices. He was ballsy, she gave him that, but he wasn’t highly intelligent.

“I’ll be over around four when Mom takes her nap to pick you both up.” Emma wrapped the cord around her finger and smiled. Hayden was too smart for his own good sometimes, and he must have sensed something was up and was ready to come to the hospital and ask them about it. “Stop laughing or I’ll tell her you’re making fun of the fact she has to take a nap.” She smiled at whatever his response was and glanced at Cain. “I’ll tell her, sweetheart, and I love you too.”

“Getting cabin fever already?” Cain asked. She stepped farther into the room to hide the fact she’d been in the bathroom at all.

“He just misses you and wanted to come see you. Though he used his sister as an excuse to get me to come earlier.” Emma pointed to the bathroom and cocked her head to the side.

Cain nodded and sat on the bed. She really did need to have a long talk with Emma, but her options were limited as long as they were in the hospital together.

“He said Hannah was crying for you all morning, and we shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

“I’m sure he’s done his fair share of missing you as well, Mama.” Cain chuckled for the benefit of her listeners and pointed to the IV in her arm. She wasn’t anywhere near being up to her full strength, but it was time to go back to work.

With a sigh Emma took a Band-Aid off the table and went about the task of what she assumed Cain wanted, without any interruption in their innocent conversation. “I guess he thought he could talk me into letting him stay home from school another day.” The small catheter slid out of Cain’s arm, and Emma let it just drop to the ground as she covered the puncture with the strip.

Cain was now free of her IV pole. In her purse Emma had the necessary prescriptions they’d need to see Cain through the next few weeks. There was no reason she couldn’t start taking her medications orally.

“And you didn’t fall for that?” Cain said. “What kind of mother are you?” She stood and gratefully accepted Emma’s help in getting on a pair of pajamas and robe, tossing the hated hospital gown on the bed. The fatigue from such a simple act amazed her, but she just plowed through it and stood once again. “How about I take a nap now, and I’ll be ready for him by the time he gets out of school. Besides, I’m sure Hannah would love to see you.”

“Then let’s get you tucked in.” The bed linens rustled as Emma pulled the blankets up and fluffed the pillow. “I love you, honey.”

She whispered the sentiment to the standing Cain and almost cried when Cain pulled her into the strongest embrace she could manage. Hopefully all of this wouldn’t take long and they could return to the business of rebuilding their family.

“Trust me, lass, everything’s going to be fine.”

For the first since Emma had come back, she totally believed that.

Chapter Twelve

Giovanni Bracato would have worried about Cain, but his sons had done such a thorough job of blowing holes in her defenses and strongholds, he seriously doubted she would recover in time to give him any problems. By adding connections from Latin America he could expand his operation enough to muscle out Vincent and Ramon.

He sat across from his new suppliers and tried not to reveal his reactions, since he wasn’t familiar with the three men. Things were going well, and he didn’t want to screw them up by giving them any reason to doubt the sincerity of his word.

“So as you can see, Señor Luis, we have the market and the ability to move the product into the city. I just need your guarantee that the supply will flow steadily from your end.” Giovanni had a hard time keeping a smug expression off his face as he adjusted his girth in the upholstered seat and reached for the cup of coffee one of his men had taken from the waiter and served. With his other hand he patted the briefcase lying on the table to his left and finally let the corners of his mouth curl upward slightly. “Let me worry about the street sales, and you just collect the cash.”

Francis stepped up beside his father and snapped open the case containing stacks of hundred dollar bills and a brand-new 9 mm handgun. “What my father means is, you’ll collect the cash and weapons as per our agreement.”

“What about customs?” Juan Luis leaned forward and pushed aside the coffee with a look of disgust. A thick lock of dark hair fell into his eyes as he spoke, and he pushed it back impatiently. “With all the new security measures your government has put in place, how do we know you can get all you’re committed to into the country? Because once it’s ordered, amigo, you’re responsible for it. I don’t give a fuck if it makes it in or not.”

“Because I just gave you my word.” Giovanni had to stop himself before he tacked an insult to the end of his sentence. “That should be good enough.”

An older gentleman sat to the side smoking a cigar and listening. Giovanni had dismissed him as an advisor and concentrated on negotiating with Juan, who up to now had asked all the questions and done all the talking.

“Your word means mierda to us.” Juan’s mouth went up in a sneer when he said the Spanish word for “shit.” “With all the heat you have on you right now, you’re lucky we’re even here talking to you.”

“You listen to me, you little pissant,” Giovanni said, ignoring his son’s hand on his shoulder as he aimed his finger at Juan, seated directly across from him.

“Please, Mr. Bracato, my nephew is a man used to speaking his mind. There’s no reason for name-calling.” The older man put his cigar down and patted the young man sitting next to him on the leg. “We are simply protecting our livelihood. Surely you can understand my family’s concerns.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Rodolfo Luis, and it’s my coke you are buying.” He picked up his cigar and pointed it at Giovanni. He looked like he wanted to snap Bracato’s finger off. “Speak to me like you just did to my nephew, and I’ll have you drawn and quartered like in days of old.” He took a drag off the smoke to keep it lit and snickered. “Though we use chainsaws now to make it easier on ourselves.”

“Come on, Tío Rodolfo. This asshole knows the score.” With a snap of his fingers Juan leaned over and pulled the open briefcase over. “We’ll hold on to this in good faith.”

“Just remember that you fuck me and I have enough men to take you out,” Giovanni threatened. He felt his ears get hot when the three men just laughed in his face before leaving. If the dealers decided to renege on their deal, five hundred large of his money was walking out with them for just meeting with him.

“Pop, you shouldn’t have lost your cool like that. We need these guys.” Francis dropped into the chair Juan had been sitting in.