The Devil's Due Read online

  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  What Reviewers Say About Ali Vali’s Work

  By the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  About the Author

  Books Available from Bold Strokes Books

  Synopsis

  In the sixth book of the Devil Series, Cain and Emma are now married and have returned to a Katrina-ravaged New Orleans to await the birth of their third child. Cain’s wedding gift to Emma was peace of mind with the death of Juan Luis and his mother, but Anthony Curtis is still a threat who has disappeared as effectively as the Luis family once did. The Casey alliance with the Jatibon and Carlotti families is strong, but there are new and old enemies, as well as the ever-present FBI that are working to bring Cain down.

  What Reviewers Say About Ali Vali’s Work

  Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici

  “A stunning addition to the vampire legend, Balance of Forces: Toujour Ici, is one that stands apart from the rest.”—Bibliophilic Book Blog

  Carly’s Sound

  “Vali paints vivid pictures with her words. …Carly’s Sound is a great romance, with some wonderfully hot sex.”—Midwest Book Review

  “It’s no surprise that passion is indeed possible a second time around.”—Q Syndicate

  The Devil Inside

  “Vali’s fluid writing style quickly puts the reader at ease, which makes the story and its characters equally easy to get to know and care about. When you find yourself talking out loud to the characters in a book, you know the work is polished and professional, as well as entertaining.” —Family and Friends Magazine

  “Not only is The Devil Inside a ripping mystery, it’s also an intimate character study.”—L-Word Literature

  “The Devil Inside is the first of what promises to be a very exciting series. …While telling an exciting story that grips the reader, Vali has also fully fleshed out her heroes and villains. The Devil Inside is that rarity: a fascinating crime novel which includes a tender love story and leaves the reader with a cliffhanger ending.”—MegaScene

  The Devil Unleashed

  “Fast-paced action scenes, intriguing character revelations, and a refreshing approach to the romance thriller genre all make for an enjoyable reading experience in the Big Easy. …The Devil Unleashed is an engrossing reading experience.”—Midwest Book Review

  Deal With the Devil

  “Ali Vali has given her fans another thick, rich thriller…Deal With the Devil has wonderful love stories, great sex, and an ample supply of humor. It is an exciting, page turning read that leaves her readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.”—Just About Write

  The Devil Be Damned

  “Ali Vali excels at creating strong, romantic characters along with her fast paced, sophisticated plots. Her setting, New Orleans, provides just the right blend of immigrants from Mexico, South America and Cuba, along with a city steeped in traditions.”—Just About Write

  Calling Out the Dead

  “So many writers set stories in New Orleans, but Ali Vali’s mystery novels have the authenticity that only a real Big Easy resident could bring. …Makes for a classic lesbian murder yarn.”—Curve Magazine

  Blue Skies

  “Vali is skilled at building sexual tension and the sex in this novel flies as high as Berkley’s jets. Look for this fast-paced read.”—Just About Write

  The Devil’s Due

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  The Devil’s Due

  © 2017 By Ali Vali. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-763-7

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Edition: January 2017

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Shelley Thrasher

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])

  By the Author

  Carly’s Sound

  Second Season

  Calling the Dead

  Blue Skies

  Love Match

  The Dragon Tree Legacy

  The Romance Vote

  Girls with Guns

  Beneath the Waves

  Forces Series

  Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici

  Battle of Forces: Sera Toujours

  The Cain Casey Saga

  The Devil Inside

  The Devil Unleashed

  Deal with the Devil

  The Devil Be Damned

  The Devil’s Orchard

  The Devil’s Due

  Acknowledgments

  The Casey Clan has become like family after all this time, but thank you to my Bold Strokes family for the encouragement and support you give me every step of the way. Thank you, Radclyffe, for your advice, support, and for the chance to bring these characters to life all those years ago.

  Thank you to Shelley Thrasher, my editor. Shelley’s been my teacher and my friend, so I appreciate the patience she always shows in getting me over the finish line.

  Thank you to my fellow BSB author D. Jackson Leigh for her tremendous help with this book—you’re a great friend and love these characters as much as I do. Thank you to Cris Perez-Soria for volunteering to beta for this book—you knocked the job out of the park. Thank you to Connie Ward—you’ve been there from the beginning, and I appreciate you always answering the call. I also want to thank the BSB team that does such a great job in making every project a success. Thank you to Sheri for another great cover.

  This series has been such an adventure from the beginning to this book. It’s always humbling to get the emails from you, the readers, to continue the storyline, so thank you all for that. Please know that your encouragement is something I not only find humbling, but deeply appreciate. Thank you all, and as always, every word is written with you in mind.

  Life is so different since the releas
e of the first book in the series, and unfortunately the changes have revolved around so much loss. It would’ve been impossible to see the beauty and joy that is still around me after all that pain without the one constant in my life—my best friend. I love you, C. Verdad!

  Dedication

  For C

  A lifetime will never be enough.

  Chapter One

  “And?”

  “I don’t know what you want me to add.”

  “We’ll get to that eventually.” Derby Cain Casey tapped her fingers on her desk, and the random pattern seemed to unnerve the young man standing in her office. That was the main reason she did it, but it also relaxed her. When you ran a criminal empire as large and complex as hers, it was nice to have one thing that wasn’t planned or structured.

  She was sure her tapping was part of the extensive file the FBI had amassed on her over the years. At least she hoped it was. If they had that bit of information it’d explain the only aspect of her life she never thought about.

  “Look, you called me,” Angus Covington III said as he jammed his hands into his already low-slung jeans he obviously thought were appropriate for a job interview. “If you don’t want me, that’s cool, but I’m the best you’re going to see. I got a few more places to go if we’re done.”

  “Do you have any idea what the job is?”

  “If you want me to spell it out with techno talk, I will. But why waste each other’s time?”

  “How many interviews like this one have you taken?” Cain swiveled her chair a little to the left so Angus wasn’t in her direct line of sight. If she’d ever met anyone whose name didn’t fit, it was this guy. It made her curious what Angus one and two were like. Were they as good at pretending as this poor excuse of some sort of grungy-punk wannabe was?

  “A job’s a job,” Angus said and shrugged. “I came because it sounded more interesting than the oil-field stuff.”

  “My father said once that everyone should take pride in three things,” she said, smiling at his confusion. He probably thought they were having two different conversations.

  “Mine’s only proud of his martini-making abilities,” Angus said, his laugh too smug.

  “I can see you’re not interested in learning anything.” She flattened her hand and faced him, lifting a finger to stop him from saying whatever flip drivel he planned to entertain her with next. “Don’t open your mouth unless I tell you to.”

  Angus nodded, staring at her hand. That was the first hairline fracture in his demeanor.

  “Good. You can listen when it’s called for. That should count as a point in your favor.” She softened her voice so he’d have to strain to hear her. “Tell me what you know about me. Give me the whole list.”

  “Everything?” He stopped when she twirled her finger slowly. “Okay.” He recited a good list available in any newspaper or Internet search. It was well balanced enough to not sound contrived.

  “Do you think I’m someone you should be afraid of?”

  “No.” His uncertain tone made his answer more like a question. “Look.” He took his hands out of his pockets and held them up with his palms facing her. “I’ve got to go.”

  “Go ahead, but aren’t you curious as to what I know about you?” She took a folder out of the top drawer and dropped it a little away from her. “This is my favorite part of the interview, but if you’ve got to go,” she waved him toward the door, but her words had nailed his feet to the floor, “then go.”

  She held up a picture so he could see it. “You know, reviewing your references and finding out what they think of you.” She flipped through the pictures and smiled at his tight expression. If she had to guess, Angus wouldn’t be able to fit a flaxseed up his ass if she’d put a gun to his head and said go.

  “How?” He took a step forward, but it was almost a stumble.

  “It’s what I always tell my children—homework, Angus.” She flipped through the pictures and stopped at the one that’d intrigued her the most. “You have impeccable references, so you don’t have a problem there.” The picture she held up had been taken at his Quantico graduation. He looked so different now from the guy in the gray suit and tie, he seemed like another person in some bizarre alternate life. “It’s not often we see a blue-ribbon boy like you.”

  “What do you mean?” Angus pulled his pants up and lost his flip attitude.

  “I don’t mean anything, and I’m not going to hire you. Would you do me a favor anyway though?” She folded the picture of his wife and two small boys down the middle.

  “Anything you want, name it,” he said, sounding like the Eagle Scout he was. Too bad there was no badge for dealing with her. That was bad luck for Angus.

  “Deliver this for me,” she said with a smile as she held up an envelope.

  “Can I have that?” He pointed to the picture of his family.

  “I like keeping resumes on file, so no. You never know when I’ll need to call someone back with a question.” She stood and held her hand out to him. “Good luck, and those other interviews you’ve got lined up—you don’t mind me sharing your information with them, right? I’m guessing I know all your stops today.”

  “No, and I won’t bother you again. Not ever.”

  “Good,” she said as she squeezed his hand until he grimaced. “I’m not a fan of surprises.”

  *

  Emma Casey held on to Cain’s head security man, Lou, as she came down the stairs. She was reaching the end of her pregnancy and walked like she was about to compete in a limbo throw-down. Nothing was comfortable—not her clothes, the bed, or any position that called for her to lie down or stand up.

  She was grateful Cain didn’t mind sleeping in an almost sitting position to provide her a backrest. “Remind me about this when I want another one in about six months,” she said, making Lou laugh. “Are we headed to the club this morning?”

  They’d come home after their wedding ceremony to a different New Orleans. Emma loved Cain for so many reasons, but moving their ceremony to Wisconsin because of hurricane Katrina had proved the event was as important to Cain as to her. They’d come so far since her staggering betrayal of the one person she loved above all others. That Cain had not only forgiven her for that, but then stood before their family and God to make that commitment, was a gift she at times wondered if she deserved.

  They’d been luckier than most with everything else on their return, considering where Cain’s businesses were located. Everything had opened quickly after some repair, but no flooding or looting had touched the house or clubs. The destruction of the city had caused some problems, but Cain also thought it provided room for expansion. That had brought its own unique problems, considering how the feds constantly scrutinized Cain’s business. More business, though, meant more power, and more power meant better security.

  Emma stopped when the office door opened and a grungy-looking young man walked out, Cain right behind him with her hand on his shoulder. Whoever the guy was, he appeared as terrified as Cain was amused, so she shook her head at the two extremes. The FBI was always there watching, listening, scheming, and Cain got pleasure out of making their lives miserable, if this guy was any proof.

  “Hello, pretty lady,” Cain said and winked at her. “Angus, don’t be rude.”

  “Good morning, ma’am,” the guy said, but his eyes were on the front door.

  “Lou, walk Mr. Covington to the gate so he can join his friends outside.” Cain brought up her other hand and squeezed the top of Angus’s shoulders hard enough to turn her fingers white. “Remember our conversation, and learn to stand your ground when it comes to your bosses. You don’t see them prancing in here, do you?” Cain tugged and brought him closer so she could talk into his ear. “I’m going to check in case you dropped anything, and if you did, I’ll come by and return it. If you’re one of those tattletales that reports what we discussed line for line, and someone gives me shit about it, I’ll come by and discuss that too.”

 
“Don’t worry. I meant what I said. You won’t see me again,” Angus said, finally glancing up at Emma as if she could help him escape the prickly situation.

  “Then get going on your promises, Agent,” Emma said, ready for the guy to leave. She clicked her tongue when the front door closed, then accepted Cain’s help for the last three steps. “Why do you waste your time on those people?”

  “It helps pass the time until I’m able to hold my kid and make love to my wife,” Cain said.

  Emma was sure Cain’s laugh that followed was meant to set her at ease. Her doctors had put the brakes on their sex life for the next few weeks or until the baby came, and the result was an overprotective but highly hyperactive partner. What Cain was doing with her time probably had those people outside watching as anxious as she was for the baby to come.

  “Channeling your energies, huh?” She combed Cain’s hair off her forehead and leaned back so Cain could kiss her. “I can live with that.”

  “How are you feeling?” Cain moved behind her so she could hold her and still run her hands over her abdomen.

  “About the same since this morning. It’s like having a truckload of potatoes strapped to my front, but I’m ecstatically happy about it.” She rested her hands over Cain’s and tilted her head to the side so Cain could kiss her neck. “Want to leave for school, then the club, before it’s time for our first nap of the day?”

  “Did the teacher say why she wanted to meet?”

  She heard the wariness in her voice that was always present when one of the kids had a possible problem. That it was Hannah this time around had made Cain irrational after she’d read the note Hannah handed over. Their daughter, as well as their son Hayden, had inherited not only Cain’s looks, but also the spirited nature of both her parents. Cain liked to call it their strain of bad grass running through them.