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I have to get to her. And I have to save Cruz.

But can I do both?

The thought of leaving Cruz here, losing another brother, it’s like a dagger straight to my chest.

“Couldn’t do it at home. That’d be too easy, and besides, the old farts would still be around. It had to be here where I could finish them off all at once. There are still a few other men loyal to my dead pops lingering around town, but they’ll be dead shortly, and there won’t be anyone left to get in my way.”

“The main Escalante family won’t stand for it.”

“You think those bloodthirsty psychopaths will give a fuck? We’re a backwater to them. So long as we keep the drugs and the money flowing, they do not give a single flying fuck what we do here in America. This is my world now and there’s nobody left to oppose me.”

“Let Cruz go. You don’t need him now that you have the whole family.”

Ruben laughs, grabbing Cruz by the hair. The young man grimaces, looking anywhere but at the bodies. The poor kid’s probably never seen this much death before. He’s shaking with fear.

“But how else am I going to guarantee your cooperation? For right now, I still need you, Bastiano. Despite how much I hate it, you’re useful. We can work together, can’t we?”

“Not if you’re holding a hostage, we can’t.”

“Now, now, be smart.” Ruben nudges Cruz to the door. “I’m going to leave. You’re going to let me. You’re not going to shoot, because if you do, you’re dead and so is Cruz. Will my cousin ever forgive you? Pretty little Marisol? You love her, don’t you? You fell for that sexy Mexican bitch⁠—”

“Don’t talk about my wife like that,” I snarl, almost shooting then and there.

Ruben loves it though. He howls with laughter as he shoves Cruz into the hall. “Be smart, Bass. We can still be friends. Or maybe not friends, but at least we can run drugs together. Think about it, alright?”

He slips out and I hesitate, listening to their footsteps over broken glass recede, running fast.

I curse and sprint to Don Nardo. Dead, definitely dead. Way beyond saving at this point.

I never liked the old man. He was past his prime.

But to go down like this? To a snot like Ruben?

Nobody in his position deserves it.

Nothing I can do for him now. What’s done is done and I have to think. Cruz is gone—taken by Ruben—and without Nico and the backup I can’t bring him back.

Another brother lost.

Now I have to make sure my wife isn’t lost too.

26

MARI

Iwander over to the windows, remembering the last time I was in this position: Bass roughly fucking me while looking out at the city like he owned my body and the whole world beneath us. I roll a glass of champagne in my fingers and shimmy my hips, trying to get my dress to fit better, but no amount of wiggling is going to add more fabric to the short skirt or to the low-cut top.

Super-sexy outfits like this aren’t normally my thing, but hell, this is a celebration, right?

I can’t wait to see the look on Bass’s face when he sees me in this. He’s going to rip it off instantly and it’ll be worth the discomfort.

Now though, I have time to kill. I sip my drink and try not to think about how different my life is. Back then, when I last came up to this room, I was working the front desk and living a life of purgatory. All I wanted in the world was to buy a car and drive for hours. I wanted to escape and to disappear and to become someone entirely different.

Now I can’t imagine being anyone else.

I’m Bass’s wife. I’m Cruz’s sister. I’m a Serafino, and an Escalante, and maybe I haven’t figured out what I want to be yet, but that doesn’t matter. I don’t feel so much urgency to have it all worked out.

Because being with Bass is enough.