“Everything is picked up as far as food, Ms. Casey, so we’ll be back tomorrow to box everything else up and get it out of the yard,” the catering manager said.

“There’s some cases of whiskey left, so make sure everyone gets a bottle. They deserve it for a great night.” She took out the cigar Remi had given her earlier and stretched her legs. The party had been great, but the silence was nice too. She waited for the interruption she knew was coming.

It was late and she was tired, but she wasn’t ready for bed just yet. She blew a stream of smoke upward and didn’t turn around when she heard someone walk up behind her. It wasn’t totally unexpected, but her shoulders still tensed. No one could be lucky forever.

“You can talk or sit, but don’t just stand there.” She blew another ring of smoke. “Don’t worry, I’m not armed. If you knew me, you’d realize I never am.”

“My boss always said how smooth you were in every situation,” the woman said.

Cain didn’t recognize the voice, but the Russian accent was unmistakable, and she wasn’t going to give in to temptation and turn around. She wouldn’t face death by losing her pride now. “Not every situation. I’ve come unglued every so often, so don’t believe everything someone tells you.”

“You have Abigail and her children here. Why?”

“Have a seat, Ms. Garin, or would you like a drink first?”

“You know me?”

The way Nina asked it made her smile. Lou or Katlin would’ve never made that mistake. “Not really, but you’re here for one of two reasons.” She used the cigar to point to the chair close to her.

“Entertain me, then, before I put a bullet in your head for David and Valerie.” Nina moved into Cain’s line of sight but didn’t sit down.

“You’re either here to avenge your boss’s death by killing me, or you’re here to get your ass out of a crack for not protecting her. Which is it?” She took another puff on the cigar.

“Nicola’s alive,” Nina said, waving the gun. “If you want to live, all you have to do is give me the children and Abigail. She needs to see them.”

“You know you’re asking the impossible. Unless you brought an army that can kill every one of my people as well as the FBI that camps out on my lawn, that’s not going to happen.” She crossed her legs, glad that this idiot had waited until now to do this. “How long have you been here?”

“Long enough to know you also took in that bitch, Linda. Once Nicola finds that out, she’s going to kill your entire family.” Nina laughed but not too loud.