“Not ‘still.’ They’re the most powerful again.” He leaned back, stretching until his leg brushed mine. “Now this is all way before my time, but I’ve heard the stories. When Mr. Cortez was growing up, the Cortez Cabal was locked neck-and-neck with the Boyds for third place, meaning they sometimes slipped to fourth out of four. And it wasn’t because things had changed but because they hadn’t. For a couple hundred years, the Cortez Cabal kept chugging along, doing what it always had, not changing with the times. Benicio Cortez changed that. And that means he’s sure as hell not passing the Cabal over to Hector and saying, ‘good enough.’ It also means he’s not going to hand it over to Lucas just to…what, win over his rebellious son?” He laughed and shook his head. “You know Lucas. How would Mr. Cortez have a better chance of winning him over? Handing him the Cabal? Or promising never to bug him about it again?”

He was right. So in trash-talking Lucas, had I only added fuel to the fire? I told Troy what I’d said.

“You did the right thing. If you said any different, it would definitely put you on the ‘no-invite’ list when they’re Cabal-bashing. If they ask you for more on Lucas, you should tell them—” He stopped. “No. Your instincts are good. Stick with them.”

“Thanks. There is something you might be able to help me with. An incident with the gang that Mr. Cortez may have…forgotten.”

“Forgotten?” His lips twitched in a barely suppressed grin. “Or neglected to tell you?”

“Sorry. I’m not implying—”

“If you aren’t, then you should be. The chances of Mr. Cortez forgetting to add something are near zero. Intentionally withholding information that he’d consider sensitive? I’d count on it. What seems to be missing?”

I told him what Jaz said about recent trouble between the gang and the Cabal.

“Dustups?” he repeated.

“Encounters, altercations—”

“I know what you mean, but I have no idea what they mean. Sure there are dustups. All the time. Always have been. They’ll pull a job that gets too much attention or gets too close to our operations, and we’ll flex our muscles, give their chain a tug, and remind them they are on a chain, operating in this city with the Cabal’s permission.”

“Has there been an increase in those sorts of encounters?”

“If there has been, I’d know about it. All security alerts come to me.”