“Because you seem like a smart and reasonable man. If someone embarrassed me and killed one of my people, I’d make them pay. To cash in on my rage, I’d need to know where to aim.” She pointed at him. “You’re smart enough to know she’s keeping an eye on you, but she’s arrogant enough to not expect it in return.”

“What happens to me if I agree to this?”

“Nothing from our end, but I can’t predict how the other families in this city will react. That might change if they know our family helped you.”

“Would you care if I took care of this myself?” He held his hand out again and waited. “It’s my family and my responsibility. That bitch has been watching since our meeting but hasn’t picked up the guys I have on her ass.”

Cain gave him a quick smile. “Let me know if you change your mind and need help. With us in town it might take some of the heat off you once it’s done.”

“Thank you, my friend, but I don’t mind heading into hell alone.”

“Fair enough.” She didn’t protest when he hugged her and kissed both cheeks. “There’s a little devil in us all to help us bear the heat.”

✥ ✥ ✥

“It’s time to go back. If you’re telling me Casey’s back home, that means so is Abigail, with my children.” Nicola was sitting by the window in Delmonico’s, in the mood for a steak even if this wasn’t her favorite part of town. “Once we get that out of the way, we can come back here, but have someone start looking for a bigger apartment. I don’t want the kids in my face all the time.”

They’d taken some time to visit the new trailer setup in the section of town that had clusters of storage units. At night the area was dead, but she was glad to see their operation was as busy as ever. After a short conversation, the people they had running the show were aware she was back and were clear as to how they accounted for the money from now on. With an infusion of cash, she could start rebuilding. The one thing that had stayed the same were the two clubs she’d founded with Fredrick. Those had accumulated enough money for her to not have to worry about the future.

“School’s back in session,” Nina said, “and the people I left behind said the girls are in class again. We still haven’t found where they’re staying, and Abigail has found a way to change vehicles every day to throw us off.”