“I really can’t discuss it here, but Colin is meeting me tomorrow night. Will you still be here? I’d think he’d love to see you.” Judice always seemed like she was ready to bolt at any second if things went bad.

Their relationship still wasn’t what Cain would consider totally friendly, but she’d come to tolerate the woman for Colin’s and Fiona’s sake. Not that her relationship with Fiona O’Brannigan was great, but she didn’t want her as an enemy either. Fiona spent most of her days aggravating the piss out of her, but things had changed considerably after Hannah’s kidnapping by Emma’s mother, Carol.

Cain believed that Fiona had come to see her as a parent that day and not just as the head of a mob family. And she’d repaid the favor silently by saving Judice’s life. If Judice wanted to tell her daughter about that, she wouldn’t stop her.

“We’re only here for the night, but I’ll call him and catch up. I haven’t heard from him in a few months. Is everything okay?” Cain didn’t know if Judice was worried about something in particular, or if high-strung was just her normal state.

“I can see tonight is special, so I won’t stay long, but could I perhaps call you tomorrow? Talking behind Colin’s back isn’t something I do, but I think he might need your guidance with some issues he’s got coming up.”

“We’re at the Ritz-Carlton until early tomorrow afternoon. I only have one meeting set, so call whenever you want to. Colin is family and I love him, but the man can try anyone’s patience. Thank you for looking out for him.” Cain smiled, and it seemed to relax Judice some. “I’m glad things worked out after all that stuff that happened, but are you okay? Are you worried for yourself or for him?”

“I doubt he told you, but he and his wife have legally separated. She’s devoted to the church, so it might take death to part them, but he’s made his intentions clear about how he’d like to live going forward.” Judice lowered her eyes to the tabletop, and her voice got softer as she went on.

“I understand why you never got involved with anyone while you were raising Fiona,” she said when Emma squeezed her thigh again as if prompting her to open her mouth. “Fiona’s to a point that she loves you, but she’s got her own life. You’re young enough to claim some happiness before it all disappears, and there’s nothing wrong with that.” Colin had not only sheltered Judice, but he’d been interested in her in a romantic way for a very long time.

“How can you say that after what I told you about me and your father?”