Page 26 of Corrupted Bride

“Don Nardo’s niece. Not a bad match. She’d make more sense with Nico, though.”

I look up sharply. “That isn’t an option.”

He waves me off. “Yeah, yeah, I know. God forbid Bass doesn’t jump in headfirst before anyone else has the chance to take some risk.”

“That’s almost funny coming from you.”

He gets to his feet, goes to the grill, and checks on the ribs. “I’ll tell Mom they’re almost done and go fetch the wild one.”

“Good luck with that.”

Vince lingers a moment. He studies me, face drawn and serious. “I’d do it if you asked me to,” he says quietly.

“Only because you know I never would.”

That seems to unsettle him, and he doesn’t answer before walking away.

I’m left alone with the documents Nico’s spies built.

It’s a dossier on my future wife and it’s shockingly thorough. Bank records, credit scores, a full background check, complete with interviews of old friends and neighbors. Everything a future husband could want to know.

Only there’s one problem.

“Mari, what are you planning?” I murmur, fingers running down a list.

Payments to a man named Hector Ybarra, a cook at her hotel. Mostly deposits in cash. Plus other purchases spread out over a fairly long period, but the pattern is obvious to anyone with half a brain.

My bride-to-be is much more interesting than I thought at first.

She wants to escape.

I don’t have any idea where she plans on running to, but I’d bet anything she’s going to drive that car Hector’s been selling her on installments. Probably she’s also using the services of Hector’s cousin, a minor forger and petty criminal.

But why would she go to these lengths to be quiet about it?

She could get on a plane tonight and disappear if that’s what she wanted.

What’s the point of all this effort?

It bothers me more than I like to admit.

I’m going to lock her down soon. Once there’s a ring on her finger, there’s no way Mari’s going anywhere.

I’ll need her and our future children to ensure Don Nardo’s continued cooperation.

But can I really do that to a woman who clearly wants to be free?

Maybe there’s a compromise. A middle ground.

She might not get away from Texas…

But I could help her get free from her family’s last name.

I shove the documents away. It feels like I’m kidding myself and I don’t like it. I can justify this shit all I want, but in the end, I’m trading this girl’s future for my family’s fortunes, and it’s a trade I’ll make a thousand times over.

I’ll sacrifice anything for them, for my brothers and my mother and my little sister, for the whole of the Serafino organization.

I’ve done enough damage to last a lifetime and there’s no amount of sacrifice that will ever balance the scales.