Page 89 of Brick's Retribution

"For now, we continue with your plan," he continues. "The auction provides opportunity. But you'll have my men as additional backup."

"Too many cooks," Dante speaks for the first time. "Could compromise the operation."

"Not inside," Alejandro clarifies. "But nearby. Insurance, if things go badly."

It's a reasonable compromise, and I can see Amara thinking about the benefits.

"Agreed," she says finally.

"Good." Alejandro's attention returns to me. "You understand what you're protecting, young man?"

The question has layers I'm still unpacking.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you?" He leans forward. "Imani is not just my goddaughter. She's the future of the Torres organization. The bridge between old ways and new. Her mother's dream made flesh."

"I understand," I reply, meeting his gaze steadily.

"I hope so." He turns to Imani. "Your father would be proud. Walking into danger to save him, just as he's done for you so many times."

"He's going to lecture me for hours when we get him back," Imani says with a weak smile.

"Let him," Alejandro replies warmly. "It means he's alive to do so."

The meeting continues for another hour, discussing everything we need to pull this off.

By the time we're ready to leave, the sun is high overhead, baking the desert.

Alejandro embraces Imani again, whispering something in Spanish that makes her nod firmly.

Then, surprisingly, he offers me his hand.

"Keep her safe," he says simply.

"With my life," I promise.

He nods, apparently satisfied, and we make our exit.

The ride back is quieter, everyone processing what we've learned.

Diego's betrayal runs deeper than we thought, but at least now we have the full resources of the Ramirez cartel behind us.

I mean, we had them before since Amara is his blood, but even more so now. Then again, the stakes are higher, aren’t they?

"You okay?" I ask Imani quietly.

"Getting there," she replies. "It helps knowing Alejandro's involved. He and my father have had their differences, but..."

"Family is family," I finish.

"Exactly."

As we near the clubhouse, my phone buzzes with a text from Boulder:

Ceramic weapons arrived. Ruby wants to go over the medical kit, make sure you have everything you need.

The auction is five days away now.

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