“The same reason you’re here. Cain invited me and I came. Why? Why do you think I’m here? Or better yet, why do you have such a problem with it?” Just as an aggravation, Katlin kept her face toward the window, not giving Merrick the opportunity to view her profile.
“You don’t belong here. For once you shouldn’t have taken Cain up on her invitation.” Merrick headed for the Verde farm, and Katlin did nothing to stop her. They rode in silence until the entrance to Ross’s place came up on their left, and Merrick turned in. The sun was starting to go down, the house was dark, and the truck Cain had driven Emma over in was still parked in front of the house.
“Your problem isn’t me, Merrick. Your problem is that the blonde won out. You work for Cain just like I do, only I don’t want to fuck her.”
Katlin finally did face her when their truck stopped well short of the house. It was as if Merrick had just grasped what she was saying.
“Are you insane?”
“I’m not crazy, just observant. You’re nice to Emma because you have to be, but you can’t hide the anger inside when she reaches out for my cousin and Cain welcomes her. It’s time to face the truth. Cain’s truth. And her truth is most probably upstairs with her right now. You should just go ahead and accept that and move on.”
Merrick flattened her hand out on the middle of the steering wheel as if she wanted to slap Katlin for saying it out loud. “When all this is done, Emma won’t have the courage to stick it out. There’s no way she’s going to be able to accept what Cain needs to do to win against Giovanni Bracato. And when that reality sets in, Cain’s going to be left hurt and bleeding again at the hands of the blonde you’re so accepting of.”
“I have another prediction for the future, and that ain’t it.” Katlin put her hand up to stop Merrick’s verbal assault. “Don’t bother to say anything, and rest assured I won’t mention this talk to Cain.” Katlin grasped Merrick’s arm and squeezed just short of being painful. “But you do anything to Emma or Cain to sabotage their getting back together, and I swear that whoever bothers to look for you will never find you. Do your job, and the rest is none of your business.”
“And this is your business?”
“Cain is my cousin, and her happiness means the world to me. It’s the least I owe her for giving me the world.”
“You don’t have anything to fear from me. Don’t worry.”
*
Emma rolled over and found an empty bed next to her. Their cuddling and talk on the porch had led to a lazy afternoon in her childhood room doing things her mother would have burned the house down for if she’d known. “What are you doing way over there? I’m cold.”
“Sorry, love. I heard a car coming and wanted to see if we had company.”
Emma was glad to see Cain move with more of her usual smooth style and glad that her chest bandage was smaller.
“Please tell me it’s not my father.” She put her hands up to her face and tried not to think about some of her and her father’s conversations lately. “I swear after that first afternoon when we got here, he doesn’t do anything but blush when I talk to him.”
“It’s not your father. It’s our two tense birds you were telling me about earlier. Whatever they’re doing, they’re doing it well away from the house.”
“Then come back here, and remind me to get a gun when we get home. That way I can fire off a few warning shots if I want to spend time alone with you and someone threatens to interrupt us.”
Emma molded herself to Cain’s side and rested her head on the broad shoulder. After they’d made love the first time, they’d finished their talk, so Emma knew just what Cain had in mind and why Katlin was here. Feeling like there was nothing she could add, Emma had initiated another round of lovemaking that had left them tired enough to sleep.
“How do you think Merrick’s going to take the news?”
“Lass, Merrick works for me. I want her to be satisfied with her job, but it isn’t my duty to coddle her.”
“I’d certainly hope not. That position in your life is filled, thank you.” She kissed the skin close to her lips before pushing herself up. “And as much as I enjoy your coddling, I think it’s time we tell your little lost souls out there what you have in mind.”
They dressed and stepped outside where, from the porch, Cain waved the two nearer.
Slowly Merrick moved closer, took one last look at Katlin, and made her promise again.
“What we talked about stays strictly between us. You have my word,” Katlin said.
Cain took a seat in one of the rockers, and Emma sat on the arm of the chair with her hand on her partner’s shoulder. They appeared to be a couple no one, not even someone like Kyle, could ever break apart.
“We leave in two days,” Cain said as Emma caressed the back of her neck to keep her relaxed. “I want most of the men to head back tomorrow and be in place when we return. That also gives Muriel time to do her part.”
“What’s Muriel doing?” Katlin asked.
Merrick glared at her and shook her head. “Whatever it is, I’m sure she doesn’t need your help, and you should learn not to ask about things that don’t concern you.”
“Merrick’s right, Katlin, but you’ll have plenty of time to learn. When we get back I want you with Lou and me.”
The smug smile faded from Merrick’s face, and she stared at Cain as if her boss had lost her mind. “Where am I going?”
“Merrick, I want you with Emma.”
“No way!”
Cain kept Emma by her side by putting her hand on her leg. “I’m only going to explain this once, and if you can’t accept it I’ll have to live with that.” Cain pointed to the chair Merrick had jumped out of when she registered her objection, clearly expectng her to sit back down. “I think you’re the best at what you do in my organization, and I need that reassurance guarding my wife when we go home.”
“Cain, I think Lou can handle taking care of Emma,” Merrick said again.
“I’ve made my decision, Merrick, and I want your answer now.” Despite their friendship, Cain didn’t like to be second-guessed by anyone who worked for her.
“My answer is yes, you know that.”
“Good. Like I said, I want Emma taken care of by the best.”
Merrick didn’t say anything else, realizing this might be a blessing after all. If she spent that much time with Emma, she could expose her for the fraud she was.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hayden was tying the laces of his running shoes when Cain stepped out on the porch early Friday morning. “Can I talk to you before you head out?”
“Sure.” He didn’t look up, still sulking from the night before when he’d learned that he’d be staying behind again. He didn’t seem very mature at this point, though he was always trying to convince Cain otherwise.
“We’re leaving later on today, and I wanted to talk to you before that.” Cain took a deep breath, and the cold air was almost painful. “I know you’re mad, and there’s nothing I can do about that, but I need you to look out for your sister while I’m gone. Even though you can’t do all the things you think you’re ready for, you’re still our next generation. If something happens to me, you’ll be responsible for keeping your mother and sister safe, and I just wanted you to know I have every faith that you’ll do a good job.”
Cain interpreted his silence as anger, and she left him to it, not wanting to push him any further than he was willing to go. She’d never forced him to do anything he didn’t feel comfortable with.
Hayden kept tying his laces, head down, though he jerked it up when the door closed.
“Mom, wait.” He caught up with her on the steps leading back to her room. “I know you think I’m too young, but I could help if you take me back. I also know you’re not going to. I’m not happy about it, but I understand. And what you asked me for outside”—he pointed over his shoulder with his thumb—“thanks for trusting me like that. And you have my word I’ll take care of Mama and Hannah. Just be careful this time, huh? No more getting shot.”