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Javi, grunting, the clank of metal: “You said she wouldn’t get hurt.”
Ruben’s response, an exhausted sneer. “I said I told them to spare her, not that she’d walk away without a few scratches.”
A chill rolls down my spine as I ease the door open to get a better look.
My brother’s sitting at the end of the bench press. Javi’s wiping his forehead, his back to me. Ruben’s looking down at him like he’s being the biggest bitch in the world. I clutch the edge of the frame, barely containing my panic.
Javi knew. Holy fuck. Javi knew. I came here to warn him—to tell him about the shooting—but he already knew because Ruben’s the one who ordered it.
I could tell Ruben was angry with Bass. I figured there’d be problems in the future. But they’re working together on a massive project. It makes no sense. Killing Bass would only make Ruben’s life harder.
Oh fuck, this is crazy.
“I know man, I’m just saying, Mari’s not the problem, bro.”
“I never fucking said she was.” Ruben’s eyes narrow. “Why the fuck you standing up for your worthless bitch sister anyway?”
“Because she’s my fucking sister, man.”
“You sound like you got a problem with my leadership.” Ruben leans down, staring at Javi. “You got a problem, cousin?”
Javi stiffens. I could cry. I hate this, I hate it so much. Javi’s head tilts forward, chin dipping, his shoulders slumping. “Nah, man, I don’t have a problem.”
Ruben’s smile is vicious and ugly. “Good. You better not.” He looks up, and in that instant, our eyes meet.
He sees me. I see him. He seems surprised, mouth opening, but I’m already running.
No time. No looking back. That’s what Bass said, right? Don’t look back. I run and run, sprinting hard, no clue if Ruben’s following or not. I reach the Element and jump inside, start the engine, and slam on the gas. I almost hit another parked car before I careen into the street, driving recklessly fast, taking turns like a maniac until I feel like I’ve put enough distance between me and that house.
Ruben tried to kill my husband.
He almost killed me.
And my brother knew it was going to happen.
Fuck, this is bad. This is so bad.
There’s only one direction for me now. The envelope is forgotten, the new life a distant memory.
A dead dream left in a splash of blood and glass.
21
BASS
Istand beside the old dock and stare at the water. The scummy pond’s an ugly little thing. In my memory, it’s more like a massive lake filled with fish and wonders. We’d come riding down here on mountain bikes and splash around for hours. I remember one time a turtle bit Dario’s toe and we all howled with laughter as he hopped around cursing and kicking at the reeds.
But now it’s a hole in the ground.
Holding on to Mari was fucking stupid. That was my first mistake. I knew she wanted to run from the moment I agreed to marry her, and I still went through with it. How did I think this would work? Why did I fool myself into imagining I could have her for a while, only to give her up later?
It was never going to happen.
The feelings crept around my chest like vines strangling trees. It happened slowly, but I can’t cut them back, not without wrecking myself.
I knew though, the second I stood and saw her pretty dress ruined with blood, I knew what I had to do.
Some lives are cages, and Mari doesn’t deserve to be locked away forever.
