Nunzio glanced back up and laughed at the total fear on Richard's face. "Now the only question is what happens to you, since you haven't exactly proven your value to this organization."

"If you give me another chance, I'll get them back to the table."

"One more chance means one more. I don't have to explain the price of failure, do I?" Richard nodded quickly at Nunzio's question.

"Make it your priority to get them to close this deal, and, Richard, start praying they do. We might have to shave off a couplemil , that's not important, but we do need the bulk. Do we understand each other?"

"Yes, sir, we do."

"Good, get on it." He walked out of the room and headed to the office he kept in the house.

Nunzio Luca III, like Cain and Remi, had gone into the family business and had recently taken over most of the operations that his grandfather had started. The old man, Nunzio Sr., was now living in a gated community in southern Florida and leaving the business to his son in New York and his grandson in Biloxi. He had put in his time after a life of work that began after entering the United States as an immigrant from Naples.

Junior, Nunzio's father, had moved him to Biloxi to establish the family in that market. He had set his son up by buying property in other people's names so there wouldn't be a problem with the Biloxi Gaming Commission, which cringed at the mention of organized crime. That's why Richard was the "owner" of the Capri Casino.

The Luca family wasn't interested in gaming, though. It fronted the cocaine, heroin, and crack they sold across the country. The casino had been a good way to launder money without tipping off the authorities to the real source of the cash. With Nunzio's work in Biloxi, the family had enough police and politicians on their payroll that the family no longer needed the casino. Now they planned to use the capital from its sale to expand the drug pipeline they'd established from Florida to California.

But Cain and Remi had walked away, taking all their money with them. They weren't his favorite people, but cutting a deal with them was his best option since they had the money up front, and it would have been the quickest sale, considering Ramon's connections with the commission.

Richard's stupidity had set things back, but Nunzio figured he could fix the situation once he made his buyers see reason. If not, he would eliminate the weakest link in the chain and deal with what was left.

Putting away his opinions he picked up the phone and called his father. "Pop, how are you?"

"Tell me how heavy that check feels in your hand, son. Now that you have it, don't make any plans for next week. We're taking a trip south of the border. I set up a meet with some of Rodolfo's compet.i.tors. They want to break the stronghold he has, and that's good for us. Any war between the big suppliers will make the price drop there, but go up on the street here."

"I'm not holding a check, but let me explain before you get all crazy. Richard pushed them on the security issue, and Cain and Remi pulled the plug."

"If I didn't feel like looking for a new front man to hold the paper on that place, I swear I'd cut that idiot into little pieces myself. And as for that f.u.c.king Cain and Remi, they're just like Dalton and Ramon, which means nothing but headaches for us."

"I was thinking what our next move should be, but I wanted to run it by you first." Nunzio laid out his plan, his father grunting his approval every so often.

"That sounds good, but remember that we need this," Junior said.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."

"Why doesn't that make me feel better?"

"Is this part of the Casey's' legitimate business too?" Agent Joe Simmons asked Shelby. The team, now led jointly by Shelby and Joe, sat in a room they'd managed to lease in the building across the street from Cain's offices.

"Even though Anthony's on leave, I could close my eyes and imagine him asking me the same thing." After watching Remi and Mano disappear into the warehouse, she let her binoculars down. "If you have a problem with my personal life, then be up-front about it.

The snide remarks are getting old."

"First off, don't compare me to that a.s.shole, and a.s.sume from now on that if I ask you a question, that's all it is. I don't expect your answer comes from some inside track because of who you have dinner with every so often." Joe b.u.mped shoulders with her and smiled. "If anyone gives you s.h.i.t about anything, let me know."

"Thanks. After this morning I wasn't in the mood for any more ragging."

"Then let's take a walk and set some stuff straight."

There were only a few people walking along the sidewalk in front of Cain's place, but Joe noticed the guards posted on the roof stop pacing and follow Shelby and his movements as they headed for the cafe Cain frequented on occasion.

"To answer your question, we'll probably be seeing more of the Jatibons, which means we should have a meeting with the agents a.s.signed to them."

Joe held up two fingers when the waitress picked up the coffee pot.

"Cain's going into business with Ramon?"

"I think so," she told him about the party the night before, "but I've tried to stop speculating when it comes to Cain. It can give you whiplash when she takes a turn you're not expecting."

"Thereis one thing I'm expecting, but I'm not sure how she's going to pull it off."

"You're talking about Kyle?" Shelby poured some sugar into her cup and stirred it in slowly. "I don't think so."

"Why?"

"In this case we're working to put away a guy who shot her. I'd think she'd get some satisfaction knowing he's serving time and we're the ones who'll be taking him down."

Joe nodded,then just as quickly shook his head. "You have to consider that Barney talked Emma onto that plane to the frozen North while she was pregnant with that cutie we've been seeing. If he'd done that to me I'd be tempted to put a bullet between his eyes, and I have more self-control than Cain seems to." He put his hand over Shelby's on the table and whispered, "If she does try, that might be the way we finally pin something on her."

Both their phones rang simultaneously, so Joe threw a five on the table and followed Shelby outside when he got the message Cain was on the move. "Speak of the devil. Let the fun begin," he said to Shelby as they climbed into the back of the surveillance van. He had barely closed the door when the driver floored it to catch up to Cain's vehicle.

"Looks like a trip downtown," Lionel Jones said. He was fooling with a piece of equipment with one hand and holding a headset to his ear with the other. "If she doesn't turn that d.a.m.n song off I'm going to put in for a transfer."

"I'm working on it," Claire Lansing said.

They all had to hang on as they came to an abrupt stop in front of the Federal Building.

"Get the feeling we won't have any trouble hearing her next conversation?" Shelby asked as Cain, flanked by three guards, made her way up the stairs. "Claire, you might want to call the boss and give her a heads-up."

"You got it. The guys inside said she just requested a visit with Kyle."

"Good," Joe said. "Maybe he'll talk to her since he hasn't done much of that since we locked him up."

As their driver pulled into the parking lot so they could get inside and in front of a monitor, Shelby asked, "What were you saying about fun?"

Chapter Thirteen.

Remi dismissed the car and took the same walk through the French Quarter but couldn't get rid of Simon, who strode silently beside her.

She rang the bell and waited while she looked at the throngs of tourists making their way down Bourbon Street and taking pictures every other foot of the decadence that made New Orleans such a fascinating city.

The gate opened and Dallas stood there, still in her casual outfit from the morning, though she'd let her shoulder-length hair down.

"What, you couldn't stay away?" Dallas asked.

"Just wanted to come by and see if you'd changed your mind, and since I'm back early we can go out. It'll save you the time in the kitchen."

"And they say chivalry is dead." Dallas leaned on the open door and smiled up at her. "Would you like to come in and have a drink?"

"You're drinking already?Bad day?" She followed Dallas back to the courtyard.

"I was having hot chocolate, but if you'd like something stronger I'll go see what I have."

"Hot chocolate?"Remi asked, making it sound like something she'd never heard of."Sounds great."

"What can I get for you?" Dallas held her hand out to Simon.

Simon shook it briefly and bowed her head slightly. "Simon Jimenez, ma'am, and don't bother with anything for me."

"I'll be right back then."

"We'll wait over there." Remi pointed to the chairs under the trees.

She sat and leaned her head and tried to make out the noise from the street, but had a hard time.

"I've been thinking about you since you left this morning," Dallas said when she returned with two more mugs, clearly ignoring Simon's wishes. "Not the least bit curious?" she asked when Remi didn't say anything.

"Infinitely so, but there are two possibilities."

"Which are?"

Remi took a sip,then leaned forward, holding the mug between her knees. "It's either a good thing or a bad thing."

"I see." Dallas folded her legs under her and sat back on the double seat she'd picked next to Remi's. "Which are you leaning toward?"

"From the welcome I got, I'd go with a good thing, with a little bad mixed in."

"Is that a description of the situation or of you, Ms. Jatibon?"

"Maybe some of both."

Dallas nodded and ran her finger along the seam of her jeans. "Iam curious about one thing."

"Ask away."

"Why is it I've never seen you, and just recently heard of you and your family, but you own the studio?"

Simon cleared her throat as Remi put her mug down. The leather of her alligator cowboy boots made a stretching noise as she crossed her legs so she could put her hand on the familiar leather b.u.mps.

"My family isn't the kind that craves attention."

"You're in the movie business and you don't crave attention."

Dallas's laughter made Remi think she wasn't being taken seriously.

"That's rare, because usually everyone in this business craves attention."

"Even you?" Remi said with a hint of humor.

"Once I get to know you better I'll tell you why I'm in the business, but for now, I'm perfectly content to sit here in my little secret garden and read books that let me escape for a while." Dallas pointed to the basket filled with books next to Remi's chair.

"So you only don the dress clothes and fake smile when the occasion calls for it, huh?"

"The dress was a last-minute decision and the smile was real, thank you very much. I see my new boss isn't easily impressed."

"After you sign the new contract I'll be happy to tell you what impresses your new boss, but for now you'll have to figure out any new information about her over dinner."

The gate opened again, making Remi stop talking and Simon stand, as was her training, in case the unexpected entry was cause for alarm. "I see more than one person shares the secret garden."

"Excuse me for a minute, would you? And no, I live alone."

Bob stopped at the edge of the flagstone and stared at Remi. The hatred she'd seen in his face before appeared only briefly,then was replaced by a smile so wide it made him appear freakish. If he intended to join them or to spend time with Dallas, the heated but short conversation Remi witnessed put those ideas to rest. That is, until they reached the gate again and Bob held the door shut with his palm.

"No f.u.c.king way, Dallas," Remi heard him say as she walked up.

"Dallas, you were getting your shoes," Remi said, never taking her eyes off Bob. "Are you about ready to go?" She stepped closer."Unless you wanted something, d.i.c.key?"

He opened his mouth wide enough for Remi to see the fillings in his top molars, but just as quickly closed it and took a deep breath."Just a few minutes of your time to discuss Dallas's contract."

"I'm sure Dallas isn't going to have a problem getting a fair deal for the sequel, but I'm not in a position to discuss that right now."

She lowered her eyes to where his hand was wrapped around Dallas's bicep. "Anything else I can do for you?"

"Since you're new to this business, let me give you a word of advice." He yanked Dallas closer to him. "It's considered taboo to speak to someone without their representative present. Keep that up and no talent will want to work with you."

"I appreciate your concern when it comes to my family's business, but since you're not familiar with the way we operate, let me giveyou a little advice." Remi held her hand out to Dallas, which she quickly accepted, making Simon step forward. The actions made Bob let go.

"We don't respond well to threats. If you don't like the way we conduct ourselves, then I suggest you suck it up and do the best by your client, and leave your personal feelings outside the negotiations.

If you can't, then I'll give Dallas some free adviceto find new representation."

"Dallas doesn't go anywhere or do anything without me," he said, pointing at Remi. "She knows how long her leash is and isn't likely to do anything stupid."

Remi squeezed Dallas's fingers when she began to say something and c.o.c.ked her head in the direction of the house. Dallas took the message and started for the door, but stopped to look back every so often. "Something tells me you have a story to tell, d.i.c.key. Do you plan to tell it willingly, or is it going to take a little persuasion on my part?"

"I did a little digging on you, and you and yourfamily don't scare me. You should be afraid of what I can do to you."

His jabbing finger came within an inch of Remi's chest, and she shook her head in Simon's direction to keep her from doing anything. "Like I said, I don't respond well to threats. That's why I rarely issue any, but in your case I'll make an exception." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "I don't know Dallas very well...yet.