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It’s amazing how much I like it. How I feel like I have a place by his side. All those years at home were like drifting on the ocean, never important, never the center of attention. It was always whatever Javi wants, whatever Javi needs. My parents doted on him and treated me like a burden.

It only got worse after Danny.

I doubt my guilt over what happened to him will ever fade away. I’ll always wonder how he’s doing. I’ve been too afraid to look into it, in case Ruben caught me sniffing around and decided to kill poor Danny to make me suffer.

Danny was a good guy. I hope he still is.

But I have someone else now. Someone who makes me feel like I want to stay put for the first time. Danny was a way to escape, while Bastiano is my home. He’s my fortress and my center. When I want to drift, I can dream about drifting with him, not away into my own little world.

I’m distracted when the door slams open. I turn, ready to make some comment about how he kept me waiting, excitement making my heart race⁠—

Only to find Bass covered in blood, a half dozen armed men fanning out behind him.

“What the fuck?” I gape.

My gorgeous husband strides over looking like a monster. How can someone be so thoroughly drenched in gore and yet still look so perfect? I feel sick, caught between wanting to kiss him and needing to hide.

“Ruben killed his father.”

The words are like a kick to the guts. I drop my glass and it shatters on the floor. I put a hand over my stomach. “What are you talking about?”

“There was a coup.” Bass gestures to his men. They immediately begin checking the room. “We have to get out of here.”

“But… I don’t…”

“Listen to me.” He takes my hands and tightly squeezes them. “Cruz was there.”

“What?!” I yank back and bump into the window. “How? Why?”

“Ruben used him as a shield and a hostage. After he killed his father and the top lieutenants, he made sure I understood that Cruz will suffer if I try to make problems for him.”

“Oh, God.” I feel dizzy. I slump and Bass catches me, supporting my weight against him. “I knew it was going to happen. I told you we shouldn’t have let him go.”

“I know, baby, I know. He made his choice, but he’s safe. Ruben won’t kill him, not while he still needs the corridor. And right now the corridor is as important to him as it is to me. If he’s going to win the support of his family down south and up here, he’ll need a win.”

“But Cruz⁠—”

“We’ll get him back.” The fire in Bass’s voice drags me from the brink. “I swear to you, I’m going to bring Cruz home. But right now, we have to get back to the ranch.”

“How?”

“Nico’s got an army locking the place down, but Ruben already got away.” Bass touches my cheek. His fingers are warm and he leaves a light slick behind on my skin. “I lost one brother, but I won’t lose another. I swear, Mari, on my life, on my love for you, I will get Cruz back.”

“On your love for me?”

“You know I love you. I haven’t said it enough. It’s not easy for me, to put my feelings into words, to admit how important you are to me, but you’re everything.”

I should be angry with him for letting Cruz go, but I can’t bring myself to rage. He’s done nothing but try to help me from the start, even though we were thrown into this shitty situation together. Now Ruben’s taking over my family and I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“I love you too,” I whisper, getting on my toes to kiss him, despite the blood. It’s brief and messy and leaves me weak with need.

“You look so fucking good, it’s a shame to waste this dress.” The hunger in his expression is exactly what I expected.

“Another time.”

He grunts, taking me tight by the hand.

“Come on. Let’s get you home so we can figure out a way to bring your brother back.”