Page 94 of Corrupted Bride

Cruz has always been my responsibility. He’s my younger brother and I practically raised him. I love that idiot more than my own life, and I can’t stand by while he’s in trouble. Every second he spends with Ruben is another second my heart is squeezed and crushed, and it feels like I can barely breathe.

I know about the ultimatum now.

Ruben wants me.

I don’t fully understand why. Bass tried to explain that it’s about power and control, but I think that’s only half the truth.

Ruben’s always despised me. I’ve always been his favorite toy, his favorite punching bag, and he clearly can’t stand not owning me completely.

Now he sees the opportunity and he can’t help himself.

It’d be smarter to keep Cruz as a guarantee of Bass’s good behavior. They work together, Ruben consolidates his power over the family, and he profits immensely from the corridor. That’s the real winning strategy here.

Instead, he’s so fucked up and psychotic that he’s willing to ruin it all to steal me away.

And the worst part is, I want to let him.

How could I live with myself if there was a way to save Cruz? How could I look at myself in the mirror knowing all I had to do was suffer instead? My younger brother doesn’t deserve this, but I can handle it.

Heck, it’s probably suicide, but at least it’s my decision.

I sneak from bed and slip into the closet. Jeans, black tee, black sweatshirt, and the gun Bass gave me. I fumble it in the pitch darkness but luckily I don’t shoot myself in the foot. Once I’m dressed and armed, I creep back through the room and pause at the door.

Bass’s breathing is steady and slow. He’s definitely still out.

Can I really do this to him?

I love that man. I really do. The understanding hits me like a whirlwind sucking air from my lungs. I’d do almost anything for him. Go anywhere. Be anyone.

Except I can’t leave my brother behind.

Not if I can do the right thing.

I love you. I don’t say the words because I don’t want to wake him, but I hope he feels them all the same.

I ease out of the bedroom and head down the hall. Each step kills me. I’m leaving Bass behind and I know what this is going to do to him. He’ll feel like he failed, like he couldn’t protect me, and that’s his biggest fear. Ever since he lost his brother, he’s been obsessively doing what he can to keep his family safe, and now I’m blowing that to pieces.

It’ll hurt, but he’ll survive.

Cruz might not if I stay here.

It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever made and I’m in pure agony as I leave the ranch house and step out into the darkest part of the night.

This time, I don’t bother with the car.

I set out on foot, hiking the trails with nothing but my phone’s light. It’s a long walk and I push a hard pace. I pass the swimming pond, the old wood shed where Dario died, and continue through a thicket of brambles on a path that clearly hasn’t been touched in ages. I don’t know how many guards are around, but none stop me as I cross to the far side of the ranch’s property and out onto a main road.

Simple as that. I stand and catch my breath as the sun rises. I’m exhausted, but I’m not finished yet.

I think about calling Javi, but he’d probably take me right back to Bass.

Instead, I dial a different number twice before she picks up. “Hey, I know this is totally random, but do you think you could give me a ride to my cousin’s house? Pretty pretty please?”

Sara frowns at me as I climb into her tiny red Miata. “You look like you’ve been up all night.”

“I was hiking.” I beam at her and accept the iced coffee she offers. “Seriously, thanks so much for this. You’re a lifesaver. I lost my car keys and nobody else was answering.”

“Yeah, sure. No worries.” She puts the car into drive and pulls out. “But why are we going to your cousin’s house instead of back to your husband?”