Nina’s phone rang right after she stood, and she figured Nina would be right behind her as she left the restaurant. The weather outside was biting cold, and she cursed that the car wasn’t waiting. She glanced up and down the street and didn’t see much of anything—actually, nothing at all. Her gut made her turn around. The first shot hit as she reached for the door. Her only thought was that Nina wasn’t standing beside her. The next hit knocked her to her knees, and the last one she was conscious of pierced her side.

Then there was nothing but darkness.

✥ ✥ ✥

Cain sat across from Angelo Giordano and laughed at the story he was telling. Remi had been right that Angelo was a lot like Vinny but with a much smoother delivery. There had been more than one story about her grandfather and his time in the city. Angelo’s father had been a young man when her grandfather had taken over for his father in New Orleans, and they’d become friends when the older Giordano had come to the city on vacation.

“Cain, I’m glad you finally accepted my invitation,” Angelo said. The waiter walked around the table and filled everyone’s glass. “Remi and I had a great conversation in Vegas, and I think we can do business.”

“Do you have any business in New Orleans now?” She smiled when Emma put her hand on her thigh and squeezed, even though she was having her own conversation with Angelo’s wife, Jessica. The blonde, like Angelo, wasn’t young, but she was still beautiful and seemed devoted.

“No, my holdings are here and in Vegas. Gambling is still a profitable business, and the rest of our operations are funding the expansion I have planned for Vegas and the Indian casinos here.” He lifted his glass and waited for her to do the same. “Remi and her family have a good thing going with the Gemini. I don’t want to intrude on that, but there’s no reason we can’t toast to the future. Am I right, Remi? Cain?”

“Life is much better with friends, Angelo. That’s always been my belief, and we’re always open to new opportunities.” She tapped her glass against his, followed by Remi’s. “We talked to Sacha Oblonsky earlier today.”

“Please tell me you’re not doing business with that trash.” Angelo’s expression changed, and he grimaced like someone was holding something rotten under his nose.

“Not in this lifetime,” Remi said.

“Give us more credit than that.” Cain told him the story of Abigail and why she’d gone to talk to Sacha. When the time called for it, she didn’t mind stroking someone’s ego, and Sacha had certainly acted accordingly. “Now all we have to see is if he has the guts to do something about it.”