Page 152 of When We Fall: Part One

“Tell me what was said again,” Fox said, the worry evident in his voice.

“The demand is for Ethan’s sugar recipe. If we don’t give it up, whoever this prick is says he’s going to begin taking us out, one by one.” The frustration in Enzo’s words made my heart clench.

“Fuck them,” Cole snapped. “Let them come.”

“What about Rosalie? Huh?” Fox’s voice took on a hard edge. “I’m not willing to risk her life for this fucking bullshit?—”

“She will not be at risk,” Enzo said calmly. “She has our men watching her when we aren’t there. She is safe. No one will harm her.”

“Do we have any leads at all?” Fox asked. “Anything?”

“We have a few. I think it’s coming from the Underground, but Everett Church would be nuts to start his shit,” Enzo continued. “There’s no reason for him to want to get in on this.”

“Is it possible it’s just a rumor going around?” Ethan asked, his voice thick.

“It’s a very real possibility. Your shit is good. It’s pissing people off,” Enzo answered. “I’m hoping that’s all it is. I have our men out digging for more information.”

“Yeah, but wasn’t Jack’s message saying we had twelve hours to deliver it to the docks?” Ethan pressed.

Enzo scoffed. I imagined he was rolling his dark eyes at the audacity of anyone making demands of him. Jack, one of his men I understood worked on the streets, probably got an earful when he delivered the message.

“Yes. And we will wait out the twelve hours. If it’s a real threat, we’ll know about it. Then we act. I’m not going into hiding or doing shit until I know if this is credible,” Enzo finished.

I backed away from the door, my chest heavy. I had to get out of here. I needed to breathe. Rushing to the front door, I grabbed my bag and keys and got into my car. The moment I was on the road, I breathed out. I could see Enzo’s men following in my rearview, so I knew they were doing their job. While I knew I probably shouldn’t leave, given the situation, I also couldn’t stay. The last few weeks had been good. I didn’t want to go back to being stuffed away. Back to being forced to wait for a ride, to ask for someone to arrange their schedule for me, to worry. Goddamnit, the worrying. I’d been relatively worry-free for weeks. Now, it hit me like a bus.

I didn’t want to go back to that. God help me, I didn’t.

When I got to Mayfair, I went into the practice room and sat at the piano before I took out my music. I set it up, ran myfingers along the keys, and then played the opening chords twice before bursting into tears.

I sobbed at the piano in the solace of the four walls where no one could hear me for the better part of a half hour. My phone finally buzzed with a call from Fox.

I wiped my eyes and answered it, hoping I didn’t sound as bad as I felt.

“Hey,” I greeted him.

“Rosie? Baby, are you OK?” His worried voice carried over the line.

“I’m fine. I had one of the practice rooms booked for this afternoon. Remember?”

He was quiet for a moment before I heard all the guys. He’d put me on speakerphone.

“I guess I forgot. I was worried,” he said.

“I’m fine. Just sitting here at the piano. Randy and Jake followed me here. They’re probably sitting in the parking lot now, although I told them to get a coffee. They told me no.” I let out a laugh, and I hoped it didn’t sound as forced as it was.

“They better not go get a fucking coffee,” Cole called out. “I’ll kill them myself.”

I swallowed hard, noting the frustration in his voice.

“I’m fine. Are you guys OK?” I asked, wiping my eyes again.

“We’re fine, Sunshine,” Enzo said. “We’re going to go out and do some work this afternoon. If Randy and Jake aren’t out there, you go back into that practice room and wait for one of us, OK?”

“I’m sure they’ll be there. They’re the equivalent of human herpes,” I muttered. “Can’t get rid of them.”

I heard Ethan chuckle in the background. I smiled, hearing him. Whenever Ethan laughed or smiled, it was contagious, even when life was going to shit.

“Can you stay a little later?” Fox asked. “If you do, that would be best.”