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Kruz grinned. “That’s another reason she won’t be respected by her father’s men.”

“Very true. I can use it to my advantage.”

“I thought you might. I heard the meeting didn’t go well last night.”

“No, it did not. After hearing I barely missed the massacre at the restaurant, I’m wondering if the Turkish emissary had intended on killing two birds with one stone. Perhaps I foiled his attempt.”

Spain was an interesting mixture of various crime syndicates and cartels, few of which originated in our country. Between theItalians attempting to corner the cocaine trade, the Turks with heroin, and the Romanians and Chinese embracing the slave trade market, our country was flooded with criminal activity.

With theGrupo Especial de Operaciones, the tactical unit responsible for countering terrorism breathing down our necks, my method of operations had been forced to change over the last two years. To this day, that continued to piss me off.

It had been another reason I’d killed one of my men without hesitation. His treachery could have brought heat to my doorstep.

I’d hoped to broker a deal with the Turkish emissary, but it had become apparent quickly he’d accepted the meeting simply to gain information on our organization’s tactical structure. He’d been lucky I hadn’t added him to the body count.

“Entirely possible. The Turks believe themselves to be smooth operators while stabbing you in the back,” Navarro added.

“Yes, well, they should have learned crossing a cartel isn’t in their best interest.” I stuffed the envelope and walked to my desk. After writing her email on a sticky note, I shoved the card into my drawer. “Here is Ms. Morales’ email address. Provide her with a statement of agreement as to the arrangements and provide our address as well as our security requirements. Notify Kruz we’ll have guests tonight.”

“I’ll handle whatever you need.” He took the sticky note, staring down at it for a full two seconds.

“But you don’t approve.”

“It’s not for me to approve or not approve,” Navarro wisely said.

“Correct, but I do value your opinions.” Not that I could stop him from giving them. Navarro was rarely intimidated by my power.

“What does your father think this can accomplish?”

I’d mulled over the question myself. “Perhaps preventing additional scum from breaking apart our beautiful country.”

He nodded. “Maybe so. If she agrees to you buying her out, what about her father’s men?”

“That I haven’t decided yet.” The thought of accepting pawned-off soldiers was likely a step closer to organizational suicide. There was no such thing as loyalty, at least not beyond paychecks and the benefit of remaining alive. We weren’t a charity organization either. There weren’t pension plans and merit-based vacation days.

You lived or died depending on your actions and reactions.

At least for most, the money was worth the risk to life and limb.

By purchasing the Morales territories, I could double our income in less than a year. At least that’s what I’d been able to determine in the limited time I’d investigated the family and their operations. They were smaller, but extremely profitable.

They had different connections, their territories stretching further north of Barcelona while ours stretched south by several hundred miles and west toward Madrid. However, both organizations were pinned in by foreigners who’d eventually believe their operations powerful enough to encroach on both territories.

That couldn’t be allowed to happen. A bloody war would ensue prior to anything of that nature occurring.

“About tonight, Kruz. No weapons on anyone.”

“None?”

“Take them at the door,” I instructed.

“That’s not wise.”

The stern look I gave my dictator had him backing down. “I’d like the lovely lady to see I’m a gentleman at heart.”

“A risky game but noted. What about the Turks?”

I thought about how to handle the swift turnaround of their original offer. None of this was a game. This was the life I’d been dealt and one I was determined to survive until reaching my golden years.