Chapter Sixteen

“We’re staying with the Raths for a while, lass,” Cain said when they landed. “Your mother’s leaving in a couple of days to visit her brother and his family in Illinois. Once she’s gone we’ll move over there, so I hope you don’t mind. Or we could just stay with the Raths and have Ross come over and visit.”

Emma nodded as she stepped down to greet her oldest friend in Haywood, who seemed even more excited to see the children and their resemblance to Cain and each other than she was to see Emma. Maddie was a couple of years older than her, but their friendship had started years before in high school and had grown until they knew each other’s secrets.

When Emma had come back four years earlier, it had been Maddie who had held her as she cried over the decisions she’d made in leaving Cain and Hayden and having Hannah alone. Maddie had also been a huge help after Hannah’s birth and loved the little girl like she was a part of her family. She had done it without ever judging Emma for her decisions and for the fact that, given a choice, she would run back to Cain just as quickly as she had run home.

“You look a lot happier than the last time I saw you,” Maddie said as soon as the door of the big SUV closed behind Emma. It had been only three weeks since Emma had left for New Orleans and just a few days since the Raths had escorted Hannah down south, but Emma and Maddie were used to speaking every day.

“You’re looking at a woman who’s been given her life back, Maddie. She still loves me. Even after all I did, she’s forgiving me a little more every day.”

“Of course she is, sweetie. You’re a hard one to say no to. Then to top it off, you come with cute stuff in the backseat. Cain doesn’t have a chance in hell. Is she doing all right with the injury? I still can’t believe she got shot trying to save you.”

“I can. You know how she is if family’s involved.”

The familiar bulk of Jerry’s Ford Expedition was close behind them, and Emma stared in the side view mirror at Cain sitting in the front seat talking to Jerry. What Maddie had said brought that one moment back to her in vivid detail. When Cain had grabbed her and thrown her to the ground to keep her safe, Emma knew she had a chance. Cain was many things, but she had a hard time hiding her feelings from those people she really loved. Lying on the floor of the warehouse that night, Emma had seen enough in Cain’s face to reignite her hope.

“When I got there that night she was so mad at me, but when the chips were down, as they say, her heart overruled her brain.” With a deep breath and one last glance she faced her friend. “So, how long have you known we were coming?”

Maddie let out a long laugh as she looked both ways at the intersection that, with a left turn, would lead them home. “She called a couple of days ago and asked us to play intermediary with your father, since she didn’t want to take the chance of calling over there and having your mother answer the phone. Cain sounds really nice, Emma. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks, pal. I’m looking forward to spending time with you and Jerry.”

“Sure you are.” Maddie laughed again as Emma’s attention dragged back to the vehicle behind them. “I’m sure you’ll be able to concentrate on what I’m saying or remember my name even if tall, dark, and devastatingly good-looking isn’t anywhere in the area. On another subject, I thought Cain’s cousin was coming with you.”

Emma was about to say she had brought a cousin, but decided to keep that information to herself for now and tell Maddie about the cousin she knew about. “Muriel couldn’t afford to be away from the twenty phone lines she constantly has going and the contacts Cain will need when we get back, so she’s still working. Only she’s doing it from Vegas under the watchful eye of an old friend of the family, Ramon Jatibon’s son Mano. She took her father with her, and the people who work for her are busy trying to find a new office location.”

“Isn’t it dangerous to leave them back in New Orleans if all the people with guns are with you here and in Nevada with Muriel and her father?”

A familiar fence line came into view, and Emma looked out into the fields to see if she could spot her father. She felt bad for not calling him as often as she’d wanted to, but with Cain in the hospital, then taking care of the kids, it was always too late to phone him when it crossed her mind.

She was so happy she’d taken his advice and gone back to New Orleans in search of the love she’d lost. In his own quiet way, her father had always had her happiness in mind, and he’d demonstrated that by being willing to throw her mother out to make it happen. Carol Verde might have been disappointed in her only child, but Ross was proud of her and the family she’d built with Cain.

“I know it’s a strange concept to wrap your brain around since Cain doesn’t exactly walk on the right side of the law, but she has a strong sense of honor. It isn’t her style to leave anyone, especially any innocent, in harm’s way. True, we left with a lot of the muscle and the rest is with Muriel, but some of our friends are keeping the peace while we’re gone.”

Emma was irritated as well as a little disappointed in Maddie. She wouldn’t stand for anyone, even an old friend, to malign Cain’s character.

The yard in front of the house was still dormant because of the cold weather, and Emma could hear the wind blowing down from the north when Maddie pulled up and shut off the engine.

Maddie put her hand on Emma’s wrist. “I will never, and I mean never, judge you for any choice you make, Emma. If this is what makes you happy, then I’ll be happy for you. I didn’t ask that to cast doubt on Cain, or you for wanting to be with her. But I know why you left her all those years ago, and I don’t want the same thing happening if and when the heat starts to rise again. And my gut tells me her getting shot means someone has a huge toll to pay.”

“I told her forever, and that’s what I plan to deliver. As for the heat, the bastards who shot at my children and me deserve whatever Cain has planned for them. It may be wrong to wish ill on someone, but I hope she kills every last one of them.”

“I’m sure she won’t disappoint you, or us, for that matter. You know how I feel about Hannah, and what those bastards did makes my blood boil. Anyone who’d dare point a gun in her direction deserves everything the devil has planned for them.”

“Amen, sister,” Emma said, finally breaking a smile.

After a sudden cacophony of slamming car doors, about twenty of Cain’s guards started setting up the security system that would be in place by nightfall.

“Maddie, it’s nice seeing you again.” Cain offered her hand, and Emma busied herself with getting a sleeping Hannah out of her car seat. “Did I pass?”

Maddie looked up to Cain’s twinkling blue eyes and had to laugh. She loved Jerry with all her heart, but the first time Emma had shown her a picture of Cain, she could understand what being with another female was about. Add Cain’s charm to her looks, and Maddie instantly liked her.

With one hand Maddie tried to smooth her brown hair as the wind blew it into her face. As it swirled around, Cain could see the blond highlights in it and guessed the combination came from Maddie’s time in the sun and had nothing to do with an expensive salon.

“You have beautiful hair.”

Maddie blushed. “I…thank you.”

“Well, did I?” Cain asked again.

“Pass?” Maddie brought her other hand to her head and tried to control her locks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Honey, stop giving Maddie a hard time and come inside. I don’t want you catching anything in this cold weather.”

“Yes, Mother.” Cain winked in Maddie’s direction before following Emma.

Maddie muttered to herself, “My God, Emma, a nun wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell at telling her no.”

And no was the last thing on Emma’s mind, no matter the question, when it came to Cain.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14