“Meeting with some small-time hustler isn’t humiliating?” Marisol asked, spitting the words at him. “Is this her idea?” She pointed at Tracy, then glared back at him. “Do you think this is going to make you look strong?” They spoke in Spanish, but he knew Tracy had enough grasp of the language to understand every insult Marisol tossed her way. Her uninterested expression never changed, though.

“Your problem is you never could see the big picture. It’s not about looking weak or strong, but about survival. You were born after I fought my way to the top, so you’ve never had to really fight.” He shook his head at the only one of his children interested in taking over for him. “All you’ve done is run around beating your chest and acting like an idiot off what I gave you.”

“What you gave me?” Marisol laughed as she ran her finger along the scar next to her eye. He’d put that there for beating on Tracy.

“Tell me one thing you’ve done that got us something new? One thing and I’ll give you the whole thing and fucking walk away.” He understood the anger. That’s what had gotten him to the top, but you could never rest once you got there. Once you were at the top, anger wasn’t enough to keep you there. All this shit proved him right. The shiny pedestal he’d been standing on was starting to teeter.

“I got us the deal with the Blanc family.” Her quick answer made him laugh, which of course only made her angrier.

“The great Blanc family,” he said seriously. “Of course, how could I forget? Nicolette is dead, and her father is as interested in doing business with us as he is in getting shot in the balls.” He sat back and shook his head again. “I’m tired of arguing with you. If this is beneath you, then don’t go to the meeting.”

She finally smiled as she turned her glare on Tracy. “Fucking send her. She might find the pendejo a better fit than you.” That made her laugh more than he’d heard in the last five months.

Her lack of respect finalized his decision, even though it hurt his heart. “The thing you have to learn is to find people you trust to do what’s necessary. The other thing you have to learn is how to make it on your own.” He stood and buttoned his jacket before holding his hand out to Tracy. “The world is a scary place, but it won’t be a problem for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”