Page 72 of No Merciful Corruption

Diego and Karina exchange glances. After a near imperceptible tilt of the head, Diego speaks. “This is home for Karina. Alejandro and I have never had any particular attachments to a hometown so if she wants to have the baby here, then that’s fine by me. We’re going to start apartment hunting this week.”

I clasp my hands together as relief washes over me. “That’s wonderful news.”

Dahlia sends me a sideways look but Lyss interrupts. “Are you staying in the city?”

“For now.” Karina says. “We don’t need a big house and I like the idea of staying close by.”

God must be real because this is the answer to all my prayers. “I’m happy for you both. Of course, you should get married first. The sooner the better.”

Both Karina and Diego nearly fall out of their chairs. “Married?” Their mortified voices overlap in unison.

“Church, courthouse, lo que sea, pero esta criatura no va a nacer fuera del matrimonio y punto.”

Lyss’s face collapses with horror. “Alex, you can’t expect them to do that.”

“Karina isn’t even divorced yet.” Dahlia points out.

I’m very careful with what I say next. “We can take care of that.”

Her brows furrow as she takes me in. I can tell she’s trying to decode my statement and search for the hidden meaning underneath but there is none. Money can solve a multitude of problems and if I haven’t intervened before, it was only because it seemed Karina and Diego were trying to figure things out. Now that there seems to be a plan I want to make sure the path forward is clear for them.

Diego’s eyes darken. “What gives you the right?”

My head snaps around. His words strike my temper like a matchbox. “Karina está esperando un hijo tuyo así que tienes la obligación de mantenerlos y cuidarlos. You grew up in a proper home with two married parents. You are not raising this child in a broken one.”

“Actually,” Diego replies sardonically. “I’m the mistress’s child.”

The knife slips from my hand and clatters onto my plate. Lyss lets out a little gasp and Dahlia grips my upper arm as I point a warning finger at my brother from across the table. “Watch yourself.”

“I think we should ask Karina if she’s in the mood to get married again.” Lyss chimes in.

Karina’s lips part. “I⁠—”

“She’s not getting married just because she’s pregnant.” Dahlia looks at me. “This isn’t 1950. What the Hell is wrong with you?”

“I’m sorry but I don’t agree. Forgive me for being a little old-fashioned,” I snap. “But our father raised us to be better men than that. Being a wife is different. It comes with privileges, protections. Support for Karina and the baby. I don’t believe in getting a woman pregnant without giving her a name and family. It isn’t respectable and it’s wrong and if the roles were reversed, this wouldn’t even be up for discussion. You and I would be in front of a priest right now exchanging vows.”

She glares at me. “Since when did you become so damn machista? You’d have better luck melting ice in the Arctic than dragging me down the aisle against my will. And no one’s making Karina do it either.”

“Guys, please.” She drops her hands from her face. “I promise it isn’t worth all this fuss.”

“Fuss?” Diego glances at her. “A child isn’t fuss.”

“You know what I mean⁠—”

“Basta.”

The room falls deathly silent as all five of us turn our attention to Doña Ana. She so rarely raises her voice that the last time she did, it was to reprimand us as kids. It’s so unlike her.

“La comida se comen en paz.” She holds up a hand. “No fighting. No yelling. We eat and be calm. Okay? No more.”

No one speaks again after that. When the meal is over, I help Lyss and Doña Ana clear the table and Karina pulls Dahlia aside.

“Can you take me home?” she asks. “I have to pick up a few things.”

“You want to go now?”

“I don’t mind the drive. Do you?”