“Do you have an idea? I’ve put out enough money to have an answer by now, but…” He shrugged.

“I have no idea, but you’re right that we need to form new alliances. This business is full of jackals, and we both have people to protect. By offering my help now, I can count on you to do the same when I need it.”

“You have my word on that.”

“Then you have mine that I’ll return the favor whenever it should be needed.”

It was the best deal Hector was going to get, and he almost didn’t mind the price he’d have to pay for it. All he wanted was a name, so he could rip their balls off for this. “Thank you, Carlos.”

“There is one more thing, and before I say it, please take no insult from it,” Carlos said, and Hector was impressed by this guy’s backbone.

“I’m here asking for help, so I doubt anything you say will insult me.”

“It has to do with your daughter, Marisol.”

Those simple words were going to make him regret the decision to bring Marisol into his business, but it was too late to undo his mistakes. “I’ve cut Marisol out of my business and my life. You have a child now, and with time you’ll come to see that they don’t always heed your advice. Think of all the time your father spent teaching Juan, and in the end he threw all that away. My hope for you is to never know the betrayal of a child.”

“Thank you, and that is my prayer as well. Our future lies with our children, and Paloma and I will work to make sure ours is bright. Marisol made threats against Cain when she partnered with Nicolette Blanc.” Carlos appeared dead serious when he stared him down. “Cain is my friend—a friend I owe a great debt to—so I won’t tolerate anyone moving against her.”

He felt Tracy shift ever so slightly beside him, and he knew what she must be feeling. But they’d talked about it, and it was what it was. “Cain likes to say we aren’t friends, but we aren’t enemies either. Our lives are separate, but we can coexist and respect each other. As for Marisol, she understands what will happen if she makes any threats or moves against my interests. She’s my daughter, but there’s no place for rabid dogs in our world, and there never will be.”