Page 11 of When We Fall: Part One

Enzo: Work faster.

I switched over to Rosalie.

Enzo: Are you well?

Her answer didn’t come as quickly as Anson’s. I scrubbed my hand down my face and switched to our security cameras. I left the bathrooms and bedrooms unwatched, but there were cameras all over the outside perimeter and the downstairs areas.

I pulled up the living room camera to find it empty. I moved to the kitchen to see her mixing a bowl of batter, her red hair in a tight ponytail. Anson sat on the stool across from her, texting someone. I kept the volume muted and continued to watch her.

She looked sad and just as tired as I felt.

This wasn’t easy on her. I hated that it wasn’t.

All I wanted to do was get this shit sorted so we could all go home to her. Anson shouldn’t be sitting in our kitchen, keeping her company. It was only pushing her closer to him.

I continued to watch her scoop the batter, no, dough, into rounded mounds on a baking pan, her mouth moving. She wasn’t talking, though. I turned the volume up and stepped away to hear her.

She was singing softly.

I took in the scene, listening to her voice rise and fall with the notes. Anson put his phone down, completely mesmerized by her.

I swallowed thickly as he joined in, his voice matching hers. They sang together for a few moments. It was a song I’d never heard, but of course I hadn’t. I wasn’t around enough to listen to her songs anymore.

The song was good. Incredible, even.

“Sunshine,” I murmured, watching as she gave Anson her pretty smile before she looked at her phone. She noticed my text, and her return message greeted me a second later.

Rosalie: I’m OK. How is everyone? Any news?

I minimized the surveillance video and sent her a message back.

Enzo: He’s still out. The doctors have him drugged. We’re going to stay again tonight. Fox is headed home now, though.

Rosalie: I miss you, but I’m glad the kings have you to help them through this.

I smiled at her message.

Enzo: I miss you, too, Sunshine. We’ll be home soon. Maybe you could sing for me.

Rosalie: I love you. So much. Be safe. You know I worry. Come home when things are taken care of. I don’t want you to think you need to abandon the kings for me. They’re going through a lot and need friends right now. I’m fine here at home with Ani. We’re making cookies. I can have Fox take some to the hospital tomorrow so you guys can have some.

Enzo: I’d love that, baby. Be good, OK?

Rosalie: I will.

Enzo: I love you. See you soon, my ray of Sunshine.

She sent me back a kissy face before her messages stopped. I watched her on the feed for another moment as she continued to dole out cookies to the pan before she went to the oven and slipped them inside. Sitting next to Anson, she pushed a notebook at him, and he scribbled in it. I zoomed in on the image to see that they were writing more music.

I used to write music with her. My heart clenched at the memory of better days.

I vowed to write some with her when I had some free time.

Sighing, I cut the feed and looked at Vincent and Levin. They sat beside one another and talked softly, their body language suggesting their relationship was very close. Cole had even picked up on it the last time we saw them. It was none of my business, so I didn’t ask.

“Everything good at home?” Cole asked, coming to stand with me.

I glanced to E to see his head lolling on his shoulder. He’d fallen asleep. We’d have to stick close in case he had a bad dream. Knowing how hard these damn chairs were, I highly doubted he’d get deep enough sleep to have a bad dream.