Page 93 of Corrupted Bride

I bet he fought his father when he heard I’d take Mari as my wife.

“Your place is back home,” I say firmly, making sure he understands. “Don’t worry about Mari. She’s safe with me.”

“But what about Cruz? I’m sorry, Bass, I fucked up. I never thought Ruben would do this. I mean, he’s my cousin⁠—”

“I will handle Ruben and I will take care of Cruz. I understand you did what you thought was right.”

He slumps further. If he expected me to absolve him, that won’t happen. It’s one thing to be loyal, but it’s another to be a fool, and I think Javi’s been blind to Ruben’s sickness for a long time.

“Yeah, okay. I hear you.”

“My men will escort you home. Ensure you do not speak of this meeting to anyone.”

“I won’t. I swear.”

“And Javi.” I wait until he glances up and meets my stare. “One day soon, I might need your help. It might involve risk. It will involve going against the interests of your cousin. Can I count on you? Can your family count on you?”

“Yes,” he says, and I believe him.

I turn to leave, mulling what I learned, but come to an abrupt stop.

Standing outside the door is Marisol looking like she got caught doing something very wrong.

We stare at each other. Anger swells, but it’s matched by sorrow. Fuck, she wasn’t supposed to hear about this. “What are you doing?”

“I saw you come this way. I wanted to talk.” Her eyes flit past me. “I heard everything. I’m not going to lie.”

I sigh heavily. “Do you want to speak with him?”

“Yes, please.”

“Make it fast.” She moves past me, but I catch her wrist. “And Marisol? Please, for all the love I have in my heart for you, do not do something stupid.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

A brief smile. God, the way it lights her face kills me. She gets on her toes and kisses my lips. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Believing him. Not hurting him.”

“I would have.”

“I know. It’s part of what I love about you.” Another quick kiss before she ducks into the shed.

I wait a respectful distance, thinking, somehow I managed to marry into a family even more fucked up than mine.

That’s a goddamn miracle.

28

MARI

The stupid idea hits me later that night after Bass is asleep.

Well, it comes on over the course of the evening. After talking to Javi and hugging him tightly, I start thinking that I can’t be passive anymore. I can’t sit around and wait for Bass or Javi or for anyone else to solve all my problems.