Part 25 (1/2)
”She needs your strength now, Emma, not your hopelessness.”
He left when she walked to the bed and put her head down on the uninjured side of Cain's chest. Dr. Elton had explained to her that he was a firm believer that his patients could hear their loved ones when they came to see them and talk to them in situations like this. He had a.s.sured her that when she got over the shock of what happened, her soothing voice would bring Cain back to those who loved her.
”Honey, I know I'm the last person you probably want to hear from right now, but I have you in the perfect spot to listen to me.” She wiped her eyes and tried to sound teasing as she brushed back the black hair before running her fingers along Cain's jawline.
”This is my opportunity to work on that little part of your brain that's still crazy about me and is being beaten into submission by that tough macho part that likes to swagger most of the time. I'm here for you, my love, until forever.” Her fingers stopped their caress and moved to Cain's lips, while she clasped the other hand lightly. ”You are mine, but not for a short time. You pledged yourself to me forever, and that's what I want. Please give our family a chance. I want you to rest and get better. I've got some stuff to do, but I'll be back.”
From her post at the door Merrick looked on as Emma leaned over the bed and kissed Cain on the lips. When they connected, Emma felt a flutter in Cain's fingers. ”I love you.”
The nurse behind the counter keeping watch on all the monitors glanced up and smiled. ”Thank you for observing the time limit. Dr. Elton is hoping to move her into a regular room by the end of the week.”
”Take good care of her.”
Emma walked out with her two shadows, remembering to nod toward Lou and the other man who stood guard with him. It was time to see a man about her son.
Chapter Thirty-One.
When Emma arrived at the warehouse office, Muriel immediately stood, hugged her close, and didn't let go right away. ”Emma, darling, you look fabulous. Cousin Cain won't be able to hold out too long when she wakes up. I spoke to the doctor, and he told me she's going to be fine.” Muriel had put aside any anger she had left for Emma when Merrick explained the plan Cain's ex had come up with.
”Thanks, Muriel. She looks a lot better today, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her about Hayden. Have we heard anything?”
”There've been no calls, but that doesn't mean anything. It's not time to start worrying yet.”
From behind Cain's desk, Emma snorted. ”That's easy for you to say, Muriel. He isn't your son.”
”Come on, I love the little guy. Of course I'm worried about him, but I realize what all this is about, and you're doing the right thing. You've changed, Emma, and that's good. I talked to Cain a lot when you left, and you know me. I had to drop my twenty-five dollars into the conversation.”
”Isn't that supposed to be two cents?”
”Not with what I charge Cain. You probably wouldn't have left all those years ago if she'd made you more of a true partner. Once this is done, don't let her be the one to run away this time.”
”I'm trying, Muriel. That's all I can do.” Emma waited until the man sweeping the room was done before she moved on to more important topics.
When he finished the last section of the room he gave them a thumbs-up and spoke to Muriel. ”The room's clean, Ms. Casey.”
”Thanks, Frank. Why don't you clean the rest of the place? Those guys were in here for a while. G.o.d only knows what they left behind.”
”Did the guys pick up my four packages?” Emma asked Merrick and Mook, not concerned Cain's attorney was still in the room.
Muriel Casey and her infamous cousin had a lot in common. Both had learned the ins and outs of the family business from their fathers, but Muriel hadn't lied to Shelby. Jarvis and Dalton had wanted her to pursue a law career because of the family business. Her s.e.xual tastes were also similar to Cain's. Their parents hadn't been disappointed in their s.e.xual preferences, but to have them be so open about their lifestyle made both Jarvis's and Dalton's dreams of grandchildren dim. Had Dalton only lived to see Hayden, he would have been delighted.
Muriel was two years younger than Cain, but unlike her cousin, she still wanted the pleasure of meeting a lot more women in the city, so settling down was out of the question. Even if she had considered it, watching Cain work through the pain of Emma leaving her put it right out of her mind.
Merrick leaned against the desk near Emma, like she did when Cain was in the chair. ”Your packages are under some very watchful eyes at the club,” she a.s.sured Emma. ”Don't worry, I put our best guys on the job. With Cain out of commission, the feds are backing off. It's weird, really. Do they think business doesn't go on without her here?”
”Your boss just played them like a bunch of pimple-faced rookies, and they're reeling from what happened,” Muriel interjected so they could move to the subject at hand. ”The s.h.i.+pment sitting out there is legit.”
”All of it?” asked Mook.
”Down to the no-name cigarettes in the last truck. My uncle Dalton always said be careful of jumping to a conclusion about anyone or anything. Even though someone's always done something a certain way, he may take another route every so often. Kyle learned that the hard way, and according to my connections at the federal building, he's in custody for shooting Cain.”
Emma leaned forward in her chair and put her hands on the desk. ”What are you talking about?”
”The story on the street is Kyle was working for Giovanni Bracato and shot Cain on his order. Mr. Bracato was using this as the culminating act to finish the turf war he's fought with Cain and the other families to take over all the neighborhoods and rackets in the city. With Cain still alive and Kyle in custody, it stands to reason he seized Hayden walking this morning unprotected.
”Nothing will happen to him, Emma. Not yet anyway. Big Gino needs him as an insurance policy for whatever talking Kyle's doing against him. My guess is he wants us to use our relations.h.i.+ps and political connections to take care of that loose end.” Muriel crossed her legs and tried to look relaxed before she asked a question. ”But what happens if he doesn't take the bait you're going fis.h.i.+ng with, Emma?”
”If something happens to Hayden, I'll trade Bracato's entire family, with his dead body at the top of the pile, for our son. I'll pull the trigger myself, if that's what's necessary for Mr. Bracato to see I'm serious. There's no way I go back to Cain and tell her I failed and let harm come to Hayden.”
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. If Giovanni put one bruise on Hayden, the streets would run red from the war that would erupt. Going against someone's child was just not done.
Merrick put her hand on Emma's back as a sign of encouragement and peered over her head at Muriel. ”You want us to call you tonight?”
”I feel like a drink and some dancing, so you won't have far to look for me.”
”Is that a smart thing for you, Muriel?” asked Emma. ”You are, after all, an officer of the court.”
”I'm also Cain's advisor on everything concerning the business. There's very little I don't know, Emma. I just don't share that knowledge with too many people. If that makes me a criminal as well, so be it, but this is my family too. To me that's all that's important.”
”Good to know.”
”Emma, we're ready when you are,” Mook said when he got off his cell.
”Then let's go.”
The car waiting outside had completely tinted windows in the back. Once Merrick had seated her new boss, and she and Mook climbed in, they all turned to the small brown-eyed pa.s.senger with his legs curled into his middle, crying.
”It's all right, honey,” Emma cooed, as she took the crying child from one of Cain's men. The little boy looked up, and his crying slowed to just sniffles.
The driver glanced at Emma. ”Christ. Glad you're here. The kid hasn't quit bawling since we s.n.a.t.c.hed him in the park. Dumb nanny wasn't watching the stroller. Cain would've had her head for pulling a stunt like that.”
Emma dried the baby's tears. ”You sure are a cute one, aren't you? You don't have to be afraid. We're on our way to see your grandfather. No one is going to hurt you, little guy, so just relax.” The little boy put his index finger in his mouth and leaned against her, closing his eyes as her soothing voice continued.
The car moved in the direction of Gino Bracato's warehouse. Muriel had called ahead and used her usual verbal persuasion to get them past the front door or, in this case, to the front door to pick up a lone Gino, s.h.i.+fting from one foot to the other as he watched for the car to arrive. He was obviously worried about the safety of the small pa.s.senger.
The FBI team a.s.signed to Bracato, back on live surveillance, was surprised to see the man come out of his offices and get into the limo. The agents, shocked that none of Bracato's men got in after him and that the car pulled away quickly, called for backup to follow the mystery visitors and see what they were up to with Big Gino.
”Mr. Bracato, thank you for joining us on such short notice.” Emma pulled the child resting against her shoulder tighter against her body and smiled. ”I was enjoying the trip over here with your grandson.”
”Listen to me, b.i.t.c.h. You hurt him, and I'll spend the rest of my days hunting you down.”
”Merrick, if he curses in front of the baby again, please knock out some of those teeth. Good manners are so hard to instill in the young, Mr. Bracato. No sense in giving him a head start on how not to act.”
After both Mook and Merrick eased their jackets open to show Bracato what would happen, he didn't move to get closer to her and the boy. Instead, he smiled and tried to turn on the charm, though Emma noticed a piece of spinach in his yellowed teeth.