Hayden looked as close to panicked as Cain had ever seen him. "Then don't go. Wherever you're going, don't."

She moved around and knelt next to his chair. "Son, no one's taking anything away from you. Not me, and certainly not Emma. Remember, you belong to me, but only for a while. What do you think that means?"

The tears were shutting his brain down, and he couldn't think. "I don't know."

"That I can teach you everything I know. Tell you everything I've learned from every experience I've ever had, but the time will come when Hayden has to pick what Hayden wants. It's your life, and I want you to live it how you want. I didn't raise a coward, and neither did my father. I raised a boy who'll grow to be a strong leader and an accomplished man because he's sure of his life. If that means you become a cheese maker and farmer, a long line of Irish ancestors will haunt you as you churn, but so be it. But I want you to promise me you'll be whole and stay safe so the day will come for you to walk that road."

"Only if you promise to walk it with me."

She bent a little from the weight of his hug, but she returned it with the same intensity. "I promise, buddy. You never even have to turn around to check. I'll always be there for you."

They finished their meal with the same laughs they usually shared. When the dishes were cleared and she indulged him in a latte, Hayden had one more question. "Did Caroline ever talk to you?"

"You bet she did."

He leaned forward and put his hands up. "Well?"

"What's her name?"

"Who?"

"The girl who's got you so full of questions all of a sudden."

He blushed and dropped his eyes a minute. "Melinda."

"I see, and she hasn't noticed you? Hard to believe."

"Mom, please, what did Grandpa say?"

"It's easy. You walk up to her and just say hi. Introducing yourself is good too, and then ask her out for ice cream." She tried hard not to smile at Hayden's growing frustration.

"And it's that easy?"

"Make sure you're not wearing sungla.s.ses at the time, and comb your hair."

The blue eyes squinted in his confusion. "What?"

"Hayden, your heritage is more than whiskey and business. Look in the mirror sometime. Not to sound like an egomaniac, but the Casey clan isn't a bad-looking lot. Big blue eyes and coal black hair will get you past whatever reservation she has and get you that first ice cream date. After that, it's up to you, but lucky for you we're known for a little charm as well. It's not just about the looks, it's the whole package, and you've got it. Trust me on this one. Women will never be your problem. You turn into a b.u.t.thead about it, though, and you'll have one big problem."

"What, angry dads?"

"Worse. The fact is, I'm female too, and I'll be watching you."

Hayden blushed and laughed a little as he thought about some of the stories his uncle Jarvis had regaled him with. His time was just beginning, that was true, but it was hard not to compare himself to Cain. She was more than capable with the ladies, and if he fell a little short on that score, it would be hard to live down.

Chapter Twenty-Six.

"Are you sure about this?" George Talbot, the U.S. Attorney for the Fifth District in Louisiana, held the report the four FBI agents sitting before him had put together.

George had worked for the federal government, putting criminals away longer than these guys and gal were alive, he was willing to wager. Every crop of new up-and-comers had its conspiracy theorists, but this group had pictures and video to back up their outlandish claims.

"We're sure, sir. We've got a lot more in our files if you'd like to take a look." Shelby had been elected their spokesperson.

"No. As the saying goes, young lady, a picture's worth a thousand words." He held up the stills from that afternoon's surveillance atop the abandoned buildings.

"Sir, I know this isn't the usual chain of command, but we needed secrecy and discretion. We're the low men on the totem pole, so if things go badly our careers could be in jeopardy."

"Then why do it at all, Agent Daniels?" He c.o.c.ked his head and waited. These young people had a fire he hadn't seen in years, the same drive and pa.s.sion he had managed to retain.

"Because the law is the law, sir. No one gets to use it for personal gain, especially someone like Giovanni Bracato. Even if you take away our badges, we feel we've done the right thing."

"Okay, tell me this. Where did all this come from?" He pointed at the thick folder thrown down on his desk and looked up at four pained faces.

Anthony jumped in before Shelby could answer. "Mr. Talbot, that's confidential, sir. Agent Daniels garnered the information, and she trusted the rest of us with the operation because of the short timeline. To betray the trust of our informant would jeopardize future operations where this person could be vital."

Shelby smiled at Anthony. He obviously wasn't happy accepting help from Cain, so to have him defend her made her feel better about the upcoming operation.

"I see. Well, I tell you what we're going to do." George almost laughed when four eager faces leaned farther into his desk as if he had started whispering.

They talked over their plan, and the four agents agreed to have some of the investigators who worked directly for George brought in for the final operation. The men who sat in on the final meeting had spent their careers with the craggy old attorney and were, in his opinion, above reproach. As far as Shelby, Joe, Anthony, and Lionel were concerned, they had to be for the whole thing to work. They had irrevocably set things in motion to coincide with whatever Cain had in mind for them that night.

"Why do you all think Cain's going through with this when she's got to realize the trap is set? I've known her from the time we were trying to chase her daddy down for running numbers and booze in the city, and she's an even more worthy adversary in the slippery department, but she's no dummy. She's like an old and wise warrior who's always three steps ahead of not only what you're doing, but also what you're thinking."

George watched Shelby's face as he talked. A few more years and a little more experience would help her temper her emotions, but she hadn't perfected the technique quite yet. He had his answer as to where the file had come from, and in a way it made him feel better. Cain was thorough in everything she did, so the information was as good as if it had come from the FBI.

"I don't know her well enough to answer that, sir. All I can tell you is we've been watching her for over a year, and all we've learned is how she takes her coffee, and that she's got a keen eye for the cameras." Shelby laughed as the file of pictures of Cain's smile they had back at the office came to mind.

"Let me tell you something, Shelby. May I call you that, Agent Daniels?"

"Please do, sir, and if I may, this is Anthony, Joe, and Lionel." She pointed to each man in turn.

"Then you all call me George, not that I mind such a nice-looking group of young people calling me sir. As I was saying, I ran into Cain on the golf course about a year ago. She was playing a round with that big good-looking kid of hers, and she allowed my group and me to play through. She shook my hand and congratulated me for twenty-two years of tireless service to the community. After that, Hayden Casey asked how my daughter was doing and also said to congratulate her on my new grandson. I was out playing that day to celebrate the birth of my fourth grandbaby."

"Amazing," said Anthony.

"No, son, that's not amazing. It's d.a.m.ned good. Dalton, her father, was good, but he sired something when he and his wife were gifted with Cain. If I did anything else for a living, I'd say she was d.a.m.ned fun to watch, and that kid of hers. Well, let's just say I don't envy you your jobs when it's his time in the saddle.

"When I went to the hospital that afternoon to see my daughter, I discovered a flower arrangement there from Hayden, along with a note saying he had donated his month's allowance in the baby's name to a local children's center where my daughter does volunteer work. If she's ever sitting in a jury box fifteen years from now, do you think she'll be seriously considering whatever we're accusing him of, or will she be remembering that nice note he enclosed? And she knows better."

"It sounds like you admire her," said Joe.

"Cunning should be admired in any form, Joe. I'm not saying we should emulate her, considering what our jobs are, but know your enemy, because sure as I'm sitting here, she knows all about us."

Anthony was thinking back to the morning on the farm when he and Joe had followed her and Hayden on their run. "I would have to agree with you on that score, George. We're forever running around hiding behind bushes and trees, thinking how smart we are, and she'll just stop and look right into our eyes and smile. I'm waiting for the day she just waves and puts us out of our misery." If Cain had a special ability, the old man was right. Her son had inherited it along with the looks and blue eyes.

"It doesn't hurt either that most people in this town feel like she's a hero to the little guy. For you folks, that makes life difficult. For me, it makes it impossible. No one wants to convict someone who's seen as a friend by most. h.e.l.l, I think Mrs. Talbot would run off with the outlaw if the opportunity presented itself."

The occupants in the room laughed and were happy to relax, if only for a few minutes. The investigators who worked with George were back, dressed in black SWAT uniforms with very few markings. They were getting ready to deploy to the warehouse and set up before any other company arrived. Almost simultaneously the beepers the four visitors were all wearing went off. The boss was calling.

"Daniels, where are you?" Kyle was riding shotgun, with his senior agent Samuel Rich behind the wheel. They had taken over as the lead car tailing Cain and her party.

"My group and I are going over last-minute details and waiting for a call from Agent Rich to get going, sir."

"She and that kid just left the restaurant, and I have a feeling she's going to be moving after that, so stand by and be ready to move. I don't want any f.u.c.kups tonight."

"Yes, sir, we'll be ready."

"Rocky, are we ready?" George asked his senior investigator.

"Yes, sir, we're leaving now. Agent Daniels, please be advised we'll be on the scene, so the four of you be sure and not take any shots at us," he joked.

"We'll keep that in mind, officer." Shelby answered her ringing phone and was glad they had brought along their own gear so they could leave from the federal building to wherever Kyle needed them. "Daniels."

"She's headed to the club, so let's see if she remembers you from the crowd, Daniels." In his usual manner, Kyle abruptly disconnected from his end.

Shelby unzipped the bag and pulled out a black minidress as her fellow officers just smiled. George finally had the guts to ask, "Where, Shelby, do you hide a gun while wearing that?"

"Trade secrets, George. If I told you I'd have to kill you."

"You know who we're looking for, right?" Cain stopped at the front door of Emerald's and talked to the guy in charge of letting people in.

"Yeah, boss. Merrick gave me the heads-up earlier today. Don't worry if they show up. I'll make sure they don't wait in line."

Cain turned to Merrick and leaned in a little. "Where are they?"

"The trucks are en route still and about three hours away. That gives us enough time to meet with Vinny and finalize the distribution once they arrive. His father's monitoring the caravan and says we have plenty of company."

"Good to know I'm still so popular."

They entered the building and went directly to Cain's private table.

"Are you sure you don't want to let me in on what you're doing?"

"Sweetheart, you worry about my son and keeping him safe. Let me and Vincent worry about everything else."

Merrick tried to hide her hurt feelings of being cut out of Cain's inner circle.

"Don't pout, Merrick. I haven't lost faith in you. Believe me, that's not it. Vincent and I are the only ones on the front lines on this deal. I need you to be ready to move with Hayden, if it comes to that. Once my son is safe, you worry about me, understand?"

Merrick put her hands on Cain's cheeks and gazed into her eyes for a long moment before kissing her. "I may understand, but that doesn't mean I've got to like it. My place is with you."

"For now, sweetheart, your place is where I send you. Granted, Lou isn't as beautiful, but he's got my back tonight."

The big man of few words turned to the two women at the private table before he returned to observing at the crowd.

"At least there'll be no t.i.ts to distract you," said Merrick.

"Yes, that's one advantage to taking Lou along tonight."

In answer, or perhaps a curse, to what Merrick had said, two women entered the club, neither of them noticing the other, but both looking for the same person. When they spotted the object of their search in such an intimate embrace with Merrick, they had identical frowns. Anthony walked up and put one hand on Shelby's elbow and pointed two fingers at her eyes to get her to focus on why they were there. The other woman's eyes never left the couple as she stalked toward the table, appearing ready to mark her territory.

"Heads up, boss," said Lou.

"Well, well, who do we have here?" asked Merrick.

"That, my dear, is what my mama would've called a devil in a blue dress."

"Can I talk to you?" Emma seemed ready to drag Cain away by the hair, if that was what it took to get her to cooperate.

"Sure, I'm feeling generous tonight. Merrick, take off and call me when you get home." Cain stood and kissed Merrick one more time before she left.

When she scanned the crowd, she noticed Emma wasn't the only surprise guest in the building. Shelby and her shadows were making their way to the bar and keeping an eye on both her and Emma. "Lou, call me in the office when our buddy gets here, okay?"

"You got it, boss."

For the first time in four years Cain wrapped her hand around Emma's and pulled her toward the office. It was their first prolonged physical contact since Emma had walked out the front door of their home. She tried to ignore the pull of her heart, but like she had admitted to herself earlier, Emma would always hold a special place in that sealed vault.

From her bar stool, Shelby locked her eyes on the mirror next to the bar. If Cain didn't know better, she would have sworn the agent could see into the quiet office where they had shared such an intense meeting not that long before. "Emma, you look like your old self tonight. What can I do for you?"

"I want you to listen to me and not interrupt until I'm done. Do you think you can do that?"

"I think I'm disciplined enough to pull it off."

Emma looked suspicious. She wasn't expecting Cain to be this accommodating. "Okay, I give. Why are you being so nice?"

"Because it's the only way I can figure to get rid of you, and like I said before I've got things to do."

"Whatever you've got planned tonight, Kyle knows all about it and is waiting for you."

The admission took Cain by surprise. Emma had set her up to get Hayden back, and now she was willing to throw it all away by spoiling Kyle's surprise. "How?"

"He showed up at the farm and bugged the h.e.l.l out of the bunkhouse. He knew you wouldn't let Hayden come alone, so he set a trap for you."

A dark brow arched at the news, and Emma wanted to run from the look in Cain's eyes.

"And you know this how?"

"Because he had to ask our permission before he was able to do that. I guess he could have gotten a court order or something, but he talked to me, and I listened again. You've got to understand that I thought this was the only way to get Hayden back. But then I learned the truth about Barney Kyle and what kind of help he had gotten from my mother. I can't take back the past, Cain, but I can try and make up for it, starting now."

Cain exhaled and leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "Are you blaming your mother and Kyle?"

"That would be the easy way out, wouldn't it?" Emma sat on the opposite end of the couch and hoped Cain would listen to the rest without trying to kill her. "No, what I did, I did for my own reasons. I let someone else convince me of how evil you were, and even though I couldn't reconcile that person with the one who held me at night and loved me so well, I trusted a stranger blindly."