Judice stared at her as if not knowing how to take the question. “You know what’s happening on the border and beyond it, right?”

“I do, and I’m not upset. I just don’t understand what he hopes to gain by this. We just got him out of a situation with one partner he didn’t have a handle on. His dead partner is a pussycat compared to Kalina.” She didn’t understand her cousin and his need for more when he already had more than most.

“From what he said, Hector Delarosa has very little time before his operation gets swallowed by someone who wants his territory. Kalina wants to capitalize on that, but he needs help on distribution. That’s where Colin would come in.”

She nodded, but there was no reason to bring in more new players to their lives than they had to, and it was time to remember the people they needed to keep on their side. She’d have to think of a way to have a conversation with Hector about this. “I’m sure he did, but what Colin needs to remember is it wasn’t Kalina who got his ass out of the crack his old partner put it in. If he wanted to partner with someone new, that’s who he should’ve started with.”

“I reminded him of that, but it was Kalina who approached him,” Judice said, sounding almost relieved. “He hasn’t heard from Carlos Luis.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but Colin can be an ass at times, and he needs someone to kick him in the butt.” She made a fist, then flexed her fingers. “You need to be that foot in his ass before the guy gets himself killed. I love him, but he could try God’s patience. It’s like he goes from one situation that might kill him to a worse situation that will guarantee death.”

Judice actually laughed. “That is true, but I love him. It’s been hard to hold him off all these years, but I couldn’t help but fall for him. The problem is that I can’t deny him any longer, but I want to keep him alive. His children aren’t ready to take over the business, and even if they’re not interested, the world he lives in will never let them keep what they have.”

Cain toyed with the mental puzzle pieces. “There’s no way he can back out of this meeting now, but I need both of you to come to our place in Wisconsin before you head home. You’re welcome, but I need you to know that the feds from home followed us there.” She waited to see what Judice would decide. Not that it would change her mind one way or another, but it seemed like she was coming into her own even if it was late in the game.