Page 72 of Corrupted Bride

“Come on,” Mari says, holding my hand and tugging me from the pond. “Let’s go back to the house.”

I let her lead me to the ATV. I drive and she holds onto my waist. She’s warm and beautiful in the bright golden light. She drags me upstairs, into our bedroom, and she locks the door. Her clothes drop to the floor as she kisses me, stripping me, touching me, and I’m pathetic, I’m weak, because I fuck her like I deserve her, like I love her, like I worship her.

Afterward, she curls against me, kissing my chest. “I meant to tell you earlier. I stopped back at my house and overheard Javi and Ruben talking.” She fills me in and I grunt, staring at the ceiling. “What are we going to do?”

“I’m not surprised,” I say at last and close my eyes. “Ruben can’t stand the idea that he’s beneath me. He sees you as a thing to control and dominate, and he can’t live with the thought that you’re mine now.”

“Jesus, that’s so fucked up. We’re cousins.”

“It’s not a sexual thing. Well, probably not entirely.”

“Gross.”

“I’ll handle him.” I pat her ass lovingly. “But it’s not too late to run away, you know.”

“And miss all this fantastic sex?” She stretches out with a sigh. “No, that’s okay.”

She gets up to use the bathroom, and when she comes back, I notice she left the light on.

22

MARI

Don Nardo’s invitation to dinner comes a few hours later, after Bass’s confession at the pond.

His story’s like an anvil in my chest. I can’t imagine walking around with a pain like that. The horror of it. Forced to beat his older brother and to leave him alone in a woodshed, only for him to die overnight. The guilt must be unbearable.

It explains a lot about him though.

His possessiveness. His need to keep everyone at a distance while trying to protect them the best he can. Bass lost once so deeply he can’t live with the idea of losing again.

I sit in the back of Bass’s car holding his hand as we’re taken to Nardo’s home in an affluent Austin suburb. The house is massive with a long driveway and a beautiful back yard. I remember going there for family barbecues years ago, and I hated every second of it. Mostly because Ruben was always his worst self when he was in his comfort zone.

“I’m not sure what your uncle is going for with this, but stay close to me,” Bass murmurs when we’re dropped off and walking to the front door. He keeps a hand on my back the way he did when we were out to dinner together. This time though, I’m in jeans and a long-sleeved top to cover the bandages on my arm.

“I’d bet anything this is about Ruben.”

Bass grunts unhappily. “You’re probably right.”

“He saw me. He knows I overheard him.”

“All the more reason to stay close.”

Don Nardo opens the door himself. Despite his wealth and power, my uncle loves to pretend like he’s a normal, everyday guy. Bass shakes his hand and Don Nardo hugs me warmly, which he hasn’t done since I was a little girl and it feels strange.

“Welcome, welcome, glad you’re both here,” he says joyously, escorting us into his gorgeous kitchen. “I’d say we’ve been slaving over the stove, but⁠—”

A young man is at the counter chopping vegetables. He nods and gives us a friendly smile as he works.

Don Nardo elbows Bass and leans in. “How about we check out the wine cellar?”

“What do you think, Mari? Are you interested?” Bass tugs at my hip to keep me near him.

But Nardo waves me away. “Let the girls talk, yeah? My wife will be along shortly.”

He gives me a searching look but can’t argue as Nardo leads him to a side room. I’m left with the private chef for a moment before Aunt Graciela sweeps in wearing a gold-and-diamond cross, silver-streaked hair in a bun.

“Ah, Marisol, hello dear.” She smiles weakly at me. “Where is your husband? Did your uncle take him already?”