"I just want to know." She didn't often get upset with her family, but this was no time for Mano's teasing. "In case you forgot, she hasn't signed on for the sequel that starts production in two months.

Call that my motivating factor."

"Mano, I'll help you with this one. Consider it done," Ramon said, which stopped the discussion. "It'll be good to get out again before your mother finds something else for me to do. Speaking of which, go tell her h.e.l.lo."

"I'd appreciate it, Papi."

The three walked out to the large balcony that overlooked the pool and immaculate gardens. "Mami, the good-looking one has returned," Remi said as she picked Marianna up off the ground and kissed her.

Marianna held Remi for a moment before squeezing her face between her hands. "Any luck on your trip? I'm not getting any younger and I want more grandchildren."

"You could ask how I am first, you know."

"I can see by looking at you that you're fine, but I can't so easily detect if there's a woman in your heart. Now answer me." Marianna tapped her foot and waited.

"I'm still in the sampling phase, but don't worry. I'm ticking them off as fast as I can."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say your father carried you for nine months, you're so much like him," Marianna said, dripping sarcasm.

Behind her, Steve, Dwayne, and their wives were laughing at the expression on Marianna's face.

"Hopefully that's true." Remi kissed her mother's forehead. "After all, he kept at it until he got it right, didn't he?" She knew what was coming, but didn't duck the cuff to the head her mother delivered.

"One day you won't have your poor mother's arm to pull, Remi.

Then what will you do?"

"That'll be a sad day indeed, but remember one thing. It's leg, Mami, leg." This time Remi did dodge the little hand flying toward her head, seeing Marianna had swung with more intent.

The Jatibons' maid escorted Cain and Muriel out to the balcony while they were still laughing. "Still giving your mother a hard time?" Cain asked.

"You're crazy if you think you're immune, so watch your step,"

Remi said as she embraced Cain and kissed both her cheeks. "You look content, my friend."

"Thanks, and you should take your mother's advice. Children and a beautiful wife would look good on you."

"You tell her, Cain," Marianna said before Cain bent and kissed her h.e.l.lo.

"How about business first, then all of you can work on my love life?" Remi pointed in the direction of her father's study.

Steve and Dwayne followed and closed the doors. Ramon's man Emil had just swept the room for listening devices, and Remi felt comfortable discussing business even though the watchers weren't that far away.

"Muriel, you want to start?" Remi asked as she sat close to her father's desk.

"Katlin, along with some of our men, spent some time in Luca's casino, the Capri, last month.Only a few days, but enough to see that Stephano Bracato's network is still in place. She didn't want to dig too much and arouse attention, but she's guessing the dealers have either found a new patron, or they're working directly for Rodolfo and Juan Luis, since they were Stephano's main suppliers." She glanced at Cain, who nodded. "We've made Rodolfo's business difficult here recently, so he seems to have doubled his efforts on the Gulf Coast."

"Rodolfo made money here, though, so it's only a matter of time before he finds a willing partner," Ramon said. He opened the humidor on his desk and offered everyone a Cuban cigar. He and Remi were the only two who went through the ritual of preparing the Cohibas to smoke. "We all know drugs are part of our reality.

We may choose to make our living elsewhere, but we can't keep them completely away from our businesses."

"That's why Remi and I agreed to give Vinny Carlotti our protection. We might not be able to keep drugs out, but we can try to control them," Cain said. "If he does business with the Luis family, though, I will no longer honor that understanding. I don't need to remind you all that Juan approached Emma twice the last time he and his uncle were in town. The idiot either has a high opinion of himself, or he doesn't respect women."

"We'll back you on that, Cain. Rodolfo is powerful but he's a pig, and his nephew isn't any better," Remi said. "But even if Vinny thinks about doing business with them, Vincent will most likely interfere much sooner than we will. Making a quick buck isn't worth breaking the friendship with both our families. With this deal we're about to close, and what we've done already, we'll have the capital to keep the peace, if it comes to that, or crush anyone who decides to break it."

"I agree," Cain said as she accepted the gla.s.s of Anejo dark rum Ramon had poured. "So before we move forward, do we agree with the recommendations Katlin and the others made?"

"We agree. Dwayne and Steve will represent us at the sale, and Ross Verde will sign for you," Ramon said, then held up his gla.s.s.

He offered the toast that had christened all the good fortunes in his life."To love, family, health, happiness, and money.And the time to enjoy them."

"Salud," the rest of them answered.

Chapter Six.

Cozumel, Mexico "We lost another five kilos this week," Santos Esvillar said. He was in charge of the Luis family's Louisiana distribution chain, and so far it had been three months since he'd had good news.

"Someone gunned down another six street vendors, so now no one wants to touch our business."

"What happened to the product?" Rodolfo Luis asked. He and his nephew Juan had returned to his estate in the hills right outside of Cozumel after Cain had declared war on Giovanni Bracato. It was a battle he'd wanted no part of, since he had no loyalties to Giovanni.

"The police arrived at the scene before we had a chance to retrieve anything, senor. After the last couple of hits, I had some backup at each location, but it was like somebody called the cops before it all went down."

"It's that f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h," Juan said, almost spitting the words out.

He stroked his chest, his fingers gliding with the help of the tanning oil one of the house girls had slathered on him when he'd come down to the pool. He had yet to grow one hair on his chest, but he figured that wasn't what made a man. However, he seldom let anyone outside his family see him with his shirt off. "It's always that f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h trying to be a man."

"We tried to make the connection to Cain Casey, but we haven't had any luck," Santos said.

"It's her, and this has to f.u.c.king stop."

Rodolfo stood and moved his chair farther under the shade of the large umbrella close to the water. "Is this business or something else?" he asked Juan.

Juan's back came off the chaise lounge, but that's as much as he was willing to physically challenge his uncle."Business before anything else, Papa. You know Cain's behind this. Let it go unpunished and it'll get worse."

"Word on the street is that Nunzio Luca has the Capri up for sale,"

Santos said, sounding like a man covering his a.s.s.

Juan came fully erect at the news, leaving the sun for a seat in the shade next to Rodolfo. Most of their southeastern product arrived and was shipped out for distribution at the Biloxi casino. With the help of the New York-based Luca family, they were building a network that would stretch through the gaming industry from Mississippi to Nevada.

The plan was perfect, since the drop-off points were so close to major distribution areas in Florida and California. While the DEA was busy trying to bust mules coming over the border full of balloons of cocaine, no one bothered to check the fresh fish and beef being flown into the casinos for their cheap buffets. All it had taken was chump change to the customs' agent in both locations. If the new owner of the Capri was uncooperative, its sale would seriously hurt the operation Juan had worked hard to put into place.

"What do you know?" Juan asked.

"I don't know the particulars yet, but that's the rumor running through the casino."

"Then find out, moron. What in the h.e.l.l are we paying you for?"

Juan lifted his drink, ready to throw it at Santos, but just as quickly put it down. Giving in to the satisfaction wouldn't be a good way to prove to Rodolfo that he was fit to handle the situation. "The son of a b.i.t.c.h Nunzio hasn't told us anything about it."

"We're working on it, since if it's true, we'll need some cooperation to continue our business."

"Fly back to Biloxi and do some more digging, and we'll be there in a week," Rodolfo said. He took a sip of his lemonade and wiped the edges of his mustache. "If you find something before then, let me know." He lifted his gla.s.s again but waited for Santos to leave.

"That's all," he said when Santos didn't get the message.

"If you want" Juan said as soon as Santos was out of earshot.

"Don't ask for something I'm not going to give you."

"Why? I'm ready and you know it." This time Juan picked up his gla.s.s and threw it into the pool. "I put that f.u.c.king operation together, and I should get the chance to protect it."

"Remember two things." Rodolfo stood and b.u.t.toned his jacket.

"When you use language like that, no one will respect you. Actlike a common thug and that's all you'll ever be."

He started toward the house, but before he walked ten paces he heard a splash. When he turned around, the pitcher of lemonade had joined the gla.s.s in the pool.

"That was one thing. You said to remember two," Juan said, his chest heaving from what Rodolfo a.s.sumed was rage.

"Keep acting like a child and I'll send you back to your mother. I don't have time for theatrics and the mistakes that spring from men who act without thinking."

"I am a man, Papa, and I want you to let me prove it. If you do, I swear you won't be disappointed in me."

The sun was beating down, and not even the breeze was helping Rodolfo stay dry. All his life the sun had motivated him to grow his business. No way in h.e.l.l was he going to spend his time sweating and working in someone else's yard like his father.

"A week, Juan,we leave in a week. That'll give you time to think, and once we get there we'll see."

As he strolled back to the house he heard another splash. He wasn't interested enough to turn around, but he figured one of the house servants would have to fish out the gla.s.s he'd been using, along with the rest of the service. Juan hadn't been the same since they'd returned from the States, but no matter how many times he'd asked, the boy had refused to tell him.

"Whatever it is,hijo , it's time to let it go," he said as he climbed the stairs to the house. His eyes landed on Juan, who'd gone back to his lounge chair and his sun worshipping."Now's the time for cool heads who can strike back at anyone who dares mess with our livelihood. If I can't count on you for that, then I can't count on you for anything."

Annabel Hicks, lead FBI agent in the New Orleans office, entered the conference room and threw a thick file onto the table before she sat at its head. Shelby Philips didn't need a rundown on what was in it, since her team had compiled most of the information. It contained a mixture of good and bad, but mostly it consisted of page after page of Cain's brilliance at avoiding being caught doing anything wrong.

There was a lot of speculation about what she'd done, but prosecutors couldn't get convictions from theory.

"In case you missed it." Annabel opened the folder, pulled out the pictures on top, and handed them to her a.s.sistant to pin to the board behind her. "The New Orleans police added these to the unsolved pile today." Six photos were tacked up in the section marked "Bracato." "These men were found dead, along with the biggest cache of drugs since this housecleaning began."

"No leads?" Joe Simmons asked.

"Of course there's a ton of leads," Anthony Curtis whispered.

"That's why we're in here wasting time."

"Do you have something you'd like to share with the rest of us, Agent Curtis?" Annabel asked.

"Not officially, ma'am."

"Then, unofficially, let's hear it."

"We have these meetings, ma'am, and while they're insightful we don't really get anywhere. We all know that the left side of the board," he pointed to the Bracato side, "is a dead subject. And we all know who brought that about." He pointed to the right where the top picture showed a smiling Cain Casey. "Sitting here is a waste of time."

"Gosh, Tony, if you've solved the case I'll be happy to buy you a drink," Shelby said, aggravated with the surly Anthony. "What's a waste of my timeis your more-than-hashed-out grudges, but not one shred of anything that'll help us. Are you sitting on a mountain of evidence I don't know about?"

"If anyone's holding out, it's you. Aren't you s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g her"

Annabel slammed her hand on the table."Curtis, in my office now.

Shelby, finish this up, then I'd like to talk to you," she said, and promptly left the room.

"Take a seat, Agent Curtis."

"You know I'm right about Casey, and I know you're aware of who Shelby is seeing socially."

"Shut up and sit down. If I have to repeat myself, I'll have you escorted from the building and have to send out one of those irritating official letters in lieu of this meeting." In no way did she mean for her tone to convey humor. "No one in that conference room is an idiot. They're professionals who are more than aware of what and who is responsible for our recent crime wave."

"Thank you for that, at least."

"I meant what I said about shutting up." She pulled a file from a desk drawer and opened it. "We still live in the United States, Agent, and we have to abide by those pesky little things called laws. We cannot hound and hang a person on speculation."

"What we're doing isn't working. You have to admit that too."

"You've got a real problem with authority, don't you?" She looked at him directly, daring him to open his mouth. "When you asked for a spot on Barney Kyle's team you showed tremendous promise, but somewhere along the line you've let your personal feelings about Casey cloud your judgment. You have a month to realign your priorities, starting now. I suggest you use this paid leave to delve deep and find that idealistic young agent who was an a.s.set to his team. The agent who helpedbring down his mentor Kyle, who wasn't afforded this opportunity, so use it wisely."

"You think I'm going to turn out like Kyle?" He came close to springing out of his chair but stopped as soon as his b.u.t.t came off the seat.

"Only you can answer that, Anthony, but as your supervisor I can't take the chance. For now, I'm stating in your file that you're taking voluntary leave." She slid the papers across the desk for him to see.

"What if I wouldn't like to take voluntary leave?" He closed it and pushed it back at her.

"Then I'll replace that page with this one." She held up a page but didn't offer to show it to him. "Take the gamble if you want, but others have lost careers for less."

"Even if they can counter with the fact that their supervisor hasn't handled the situation in a professional manner?"

"Then I guess I have my answer." She ripped the top sheet out of the file and was about to tear it when Anthony did come out of his seat.

"All right, I'll take leave."