Page 128 of When We Fall: Part One

“But they aren’t happy with this situation. I’m not blind. It’s not just the guys. It’s her, too. She made it very clear her stance on things. Because you put a ring on her finger and give her your last name doesn’t mean she’s going to simply obey and heel for you.”

“I don’t want her to heel for me,” I said. “I want her happiness. Heeling won’t bring her happiness. It would change the very essence of who she is. That is not, nor will it ever be, my intention for her. I love her because she’s her, not because she falls in line.”

My father nodded. “I understand this. And you’ve got the answer right in front of you, Lorenzo. She will not heel. She will not bow. Rosalie would make the perfect wife for you… if you weren’t you. But you are Lorenzo Anthony De Luca. An heir. The future Don to an empire. We love Rosalie. Despite last night, I only feel more love and respect for you. It’s why I want you to save her, Lorenzo. Marry Celeste. Let her be the fodder for the monsters. Keep Rosalie on the side?—”

“No,” I snarled, sitting forward. “I’d sooner die than marry that bitch.”

He sighed.

“Follow your heart,” Mom murmured. “Just know that sometimes following it means putting the ones you love in danger. Understand the consequences. Your father is right. We adore Rosalie. She’s already a daughter to me, and I wantnothing more for your marriage to her, but my heart aches at the thought of her becoming harmed or even living a life as I must live. Always in hiding. Always looking over my shoulder. I don’t want that for her.”

“You don’t understand,” I whispered. “I can’t let her go. I love her. She is the breath in my lungs. The blood in my veins. Without her, I’m nothing. She is my reason for everything. If I lost her, I’d lose me. She is my anchor. I would lose my mind without her. Without her, there is no us. Me. The guys. Her. Everything would be gone. Fox wouldn’t stay?—”

“Fox deserves to leave too.” My father sighed again and rubbed his eyes. “His father left this life because he knew. He wanted more for his family. Look what happened to Amy. She was killed. Murdered. A hit was taken out on her to remind Kurt who was still in charge. Rosalie faces that same fate. Your mother… she was even harmed because of this life. In a fucking grocery store parking lot, Lorenzo. Of all fucking places!” His chest heaved. “I do not want this for Rosalie. Celeste is expendable. She is a nasty piece of work, but the marriage offers many opportunities. Marry the Vander Veer girl. Get to the top, then maybe you can reclaim Rosalie.”

“Rosalie would never want me if I left her for someone else.” My guts rolled at the thought of not having her. Of even attempting to show a modicum of affection for anyone but Rosalie. “I would lose everything. E is barely hanging on. He needs her to survive. I believe she’s really the only reason he hasn’t killed himself yet. Cole. Fuck. Cole and Rosalie lost the baby, and he’s desperate to have a family with her. Fox and her have loved one another since the fucking stars dotted the night sky. Forever. You can’t rip it all away. I can’t do that. I just… can’t.”

“Lorenzo.” My father’s dark eyes bored into me. “Listen to me. If you continue with this marriage, you will lose herpermanently. Eventually, they will come for her. The Ivanovs. The De Santis clan. Even Reznikov isn’t out of the picture, and those are the top three we know who have power and a will to use it. When bad things happen, and they will happen, I want you to remember this conversation. The rise to the top is brutal. I have failed for many years to make it there. I want you to be the one to make it happen. Consider my words carefully. Marry the Vander Veer girl. Take what’s yours. What is ours. Reclaim Rosalie once you have secured your position. Then rule the world with your family at your side. You are young. You have many years to love her, even if you let her go for a time.”

I licked my lips. “I-I can’t. I’m selfish. I love her. If that love gets me killed, so be it.”

“And if that love gets her killed? If it gets Fox killed? Cole? Ethan? What do you think will happen?” he pressed.

I had no words for that. Our lives would fall apart without a doubt. Everything would be fucked, and we’d lose what was left.

But still… it was a risk I had to take. I promised her forever. I couldn’t take that back. She was simply the love of my life. I may have been doing a shit job at being her guy, but damnit, I was trying. It was killing me inside that I had to be a certain way. That I had to do certain things. I didn’t want any of this shit. I never wanted any of this shit.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Ethan popped his head in.

“Emilio is here,” he said, his green eyes locking on mine. I could see the question in his eyes as I wiped at mine. I hadn’t even realized I was crying.

“Send him in,” I muttered.

E cast me a final worried look before letting Emilio pass into the room. He closed the door behind him and left us alone once more.

“Lorenzo, are you unwell?” Emilio crossed the room quickly as I rose to my feet to greet him.

“No. Just talking about the future,” I said tightly.

Emilio shook my hand before pulling me in for a hug and clapping me on the back. Emilio was my father’s right-hand man. He was like an uncle to me. I’d known him my whole life. He was as loyal to my father as the guys were to me.

“Ah, well, the future can be bleak, but we tend to write our own stories, don’t we?” He gave me a sad, understanding look.

“So they say,” I said.

My parents stood and walked over to us. My mom hadn’t said much to me about my marriage past letting me know she loved Rosalie. I knew she wanted me to marry her, but I also knew she was worried.

I hated it.

This shouldn’t be our lives.

“We must be going. Think about what we talked about.” Father pulled me in for a hug.

“I’ll see you at the engagement party,” I said tightly when he stepped away. He gave me a disapproving look but didn’t argue.

“It’ll work itself out,” Mom said softly as she held me tightly. “Rosalie is very much in love with you. She will understand if things need to happen a certain way. She will always come back.”

“I’m not letting her go,” I whispered in a choked voice into my mother’s ear.