“Gracias, and please come inside. I’d like to introduce my mother, Reyna Santiago.”

The older woman didn’t stand but did smile at them as she lifted her hand in their direction. It was obvious Rodolfo’s cook was living a much better life now that her son had taken over the top spot. They followed Carlos to the back of the house where the glass doors opened to a large pool and a magnificent ocean view. There were enough guards scattered from the beach to the covered patio that anyone would be foolish to try anything.

“This is my wife, Paloma, and our son, Esteban. It was my father’s middle name and also the name of Paloma’s father.”

The beautiful young woman was holding a baby, and she smiled when Tracy handed her the gifts they’d brought. A woman who seemed to be the nanny took the baby, and Paloma opened both boxes. She stood and kissed him and Tracy for their kindness and offered them a drink in Carlos’s office inside.

All four of them sat in the beautiful room that still held traces of Rodolfo. “Please, Señor Delarosa, feel free to tell us what it is you’d like to talk to us about. Paloma is much more than my wife, and I would like her to sit in on this.” Carlos handed him a drink, and Paloma handed one to Tracy.

“Then we have something in common. Tracy is much more than my associate, and she is free to answer any questions you have.”

“My father would laugh at us for being so evolved,” Carlos said and smiled as he lifted his hands. “No?”

“Perhaps that will be the secret to our success,” he said, raising his glass. “For me, though, there hasn’t been much success lately. Someone has declared war on me but is hiding like a bitch.”

“You and my father made a deal to not do business years ago, correct?” Carlos asked. “I’m not asking to insult you, but to refresh my memory.”

“Rodolfo and I came up about the same time. He was ahead of me in business and established himself first. He concentrated on Mexico while I grew my business in Colombia. Our deal was safe transport though Mexico until we were on US soil. Other than that, we stayed out of each other’s way.” He finished his drink and waved Paloma off when she went to reach for his glass.

“That seems to have worked out well for both of us,” Carlos said. “These others in the cartel never can accept that there’s enough business for everyone.”

“You’re right, and to get what’s mine, someone has destroyed my fields. There’s no way I’m giving up what I worked for that easily.”