Once again, Cain considered her own life and information and thought about holes she might need to plug. Her phone ringing got everyone to stop talking. She looked at the screen. “Go ahead, but I have to take this.” It was Colin, and she was wondering if he was going to turn down her invitation. “Colin,” she said, and Emma smiled.

“Hey, sorry I took so long. Judice said you saw her in Chicago, but I had one more meeting I wanted to take before we joined you. The invitation’s still good, right?”

Another meeting wasn’t what she wanted to hear, and if she had to make another call to Carlos, Colin was going to need stitches. “Where are you?”

“In your stomping grounds, but I’m done. Tell me the closest airport to you, and I’ll have Judice book the flights.”

“Call Mano Jatibon. He’s waiting on you. The FBI hasn’t figured out you’re related to me yet, and I’d like to keep it that way. If you fly privately, we’ll get you to the house without anyone laying eyes on you.” She could feel the headache coming on, but her mother’s admonishment of not being able to kill family, no matter how aggravating, went through her head.

“Great, and make sure there’s plenty of booze on hand. This has been a long-ass day, and it’s not even noon yet.”

“Try to lose any tails you have before you get to the airport, and fly safe.”

Emma joined her at the counter and pressed their bodies together as she put her arms around her waist. “He’s coming?”

“Yes, and I’m almost afraid to ask what other shit he’s gotten himself into. I have to question if we’re really related sometimes.” She turned to Finley. “You guys okay? If you are, we’ll drive the boys back, and you can come to the house for dinner. Ross can bring you when he’s done checking his domain.”

“Let us know if Colin gets here before then,” Finley said. “We’ll come back so I can introduce him to Abigail and the kids.”

Cain got behind the wheel of the SUV, and Emma faced the back to talk to Linda’s brothers as they headed back. The two were quiet and respectful, and if things worked out the way she wanted, she wouldn’t mind Linda ending up in New Orleans. Hayden had plenty of friends, but these guys needed a few in their lives.

Hayden welcomed them in, and he and Sadie disappeared into the den with their new guests without any prompting from her or Emma. “Want to go for a walk before my blood pressure hits a dangerous level from Colin’s exploits?”

“Sure,” Emma said, leaving her coat on.