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Realization dawned on me, and I felt anger rise within me. “You knew the DEA was coming, and you still sent me?”

My father’s grin widened, his teeth gleaming like a shark’s. “They had to believe we were clueless about them coming. With you there, they assumed we had no idea. And it worked like a charm, did it not?”

I clenched my fists, struggling to rein in my fury. “People died in that raid, Father. And for what? Some twisted game to…one-up each other?”

Ricardo waved a dismissive hand. “Casualties are inevitable in our line of work, Dante. It could happen to you and me tomorrow. You know that better than anyone.”

He was right, of course. Death was an ever-present specter in the world we inhabited, a constant companion that never strayed too far. Still, the casual way he brushed off the loss of life left a sour taste in my mouth.

“As for the game,” my father continued, “plans are in motion. The DEA is getting closer, but we’ll stop them.”

I shook my head, still trying to understand his tactics. “But how? Unless we scale back our drug trade, we’ll end up either in prison or dead. I don’t see the endgame, Father.”

Ricardo’s expression grew somber, his eyes taking on a steely glint. “The endgame, my son, is survival. The DEA has been snapping at our heels for far too long. It’s time to turn the tables and put them on the defensive.”

A slow, sinister smile spread across his face, and I saw the depth of my father’s brutality. He was playing a long game that would undoubtedly leave a trail of bodies in its wake.

I fucking hated this life.

“What about the female agent?” I asked, unable to shake the memory of her defiant eyes.

My father’s brow arched ever so slightly. “The one you let live?”

My jaw dropped. Papi knew. Somebody must have seen me.

“An interesting choice, Dante. Perhaps you saw something in her that piqued your curiosity.”

I said nothing, unwilling to play into his games. Ricardo studied me for a moment, then chuckled.

“No matter. She’s inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. A pawn to be sacrificed when the time is right.”

His words sent a ripple of unease through me, but I kept my expression neutral. The female agent may have been an adversary, but something about her stirred a sense of... fuck, I didn’t have a clue.

“Anyway, I need your help, my son. I know you have your little pet project going, but can you spare me half your time? Oversee a couple of deliveries. Take Marco with you if you must.”

“Of course,” I said and nodded, a fake smile plastered on my face.

“Wonderful, now if you’ll please…” My father lifted his hand to dismiss me, but last night’s raid wasn’t the only topic on my mind. Something, or rather someone, bothered me.

“Father, on another matter, we can’t ignore the Cruz situation any longer,” I began, keeping my voice level despite the simmering frustration. “Javier keeps harassing the club, threatening our staff. He’s getting bolder and more aggressive. It’s only a matter of time before he makes a serious play for power.”

Ricardo fixed me with a look that could freeze lava. “You can’t touch Javier Cruz,” he said, his voice dangerous.

I felt my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “What? Why the hell not?”

“That’s not your concern, Dante,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “I need you to focus on keeping our operations running smoothly. The last thing we need is fighting between the cartels.”

I clenched my jaw, feeling the muscles twitch with the effort of holding back a torrent of words I knew I’d regret. “With all due respect, Father, ignoring Cruz will not make him disappear. He’s a threat, and it’s only a matter of time before he?—”

“Enough!” Ricardo slammed his fist on the desk, the sound echoing off the walls of his opulent office. “I have my reasons, and you will abide by my decision. Do I make myself clear?”

I stood up, the chair scraping against the marble floor. “Crystal,” I ground out, my hands balled into fists at my sides.

“Anyway, enough talk,” my father said, rising from his chair. “Go take care of that silly club of yours. I’m sure there’s something that needs to be done.”

I nodded, recognizing the blunt dismissal for what it was. My father had always hated the idea that I wanted an actual business. He didn’t grasp that it made the cartel look more legit. Instead, he called it a waste of money.

As I turned to leave, my father’s voice stopped me in my tracks.