Page 159 of When We Fall: Part One

The second thought I had was that I was alive, and this was hell.

My face hurt. Bad. My arms felt heavy. My head throbbed. My vision was small because I couldn’t open my eyes.

And there was a heavy arm draped over my midsection. Wincing, I looked to see who it was connected to, hoping beyond anything it wasn’t the guy who had hurt me.

Anson’s face greeted me, a bruise marring his cheek.

I frowned, confused about how I got here and wondering wherehereeven was.

It looked like a hospital room, but it wasn’t. The IV in my arm suggested I’d received medical care.

Worry rushed through me at the thought that my guys hadn’t come for me. Something had to have happened. Fear swept through me, and I tried to untangle myself from Anson. My body ached. A soft gasp of pain left me.

His head snapped up immediately.

“LeeLee,” he croaked. He reached out for me and cradled my face as I faltered. “Hey.”

“Ani? Where is Fox? Enzo? Cole? Ethan?” My voice shook.

“They’re at home. They’re OK.”

I closed my eyes, allowing myself to calm down.

“Where am I?” I asked, looking at him as he sat up. His hair was a mess from sleep, and somehow, that seemed so endearing on him that I wanted to reach out and hold him.

“You’re with me,” he murmured. “Safe.”

“And where are we?” I ventured, something telling me I wouldn’t like his answer.

He looked pained for a moment before he spoke. “Matteo’s.”

I widened my eyes at him before wincing at the pain the movement brought me.

“Easy. Easy,” he said, scrambling to catch me as I nearly toppled over.

“We hav-have to go. I need to leave. I can’t be here.”

“It’s OK. I promise. You’re safe?—”

“Matteo De Santis is the enemy,” I whispered frantically. “He’s going to kill me and the guys. Please. We need to go?—”

“LeeLee. Hey. Hey.” Anson gently took my face in his hands and made me look up at him. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” I whispered without hesitation.

“Then please believe me when I tell you that you’re safe. Matteo spoke to Fox last night. Fox can come pick you up when I call him.”

I swallowed at his words. “R-Really?”

He nodded. “Really, but I’m not going to call him right now. I want you to rest for at least another day or two here. Can you do that for me? We’re working to make sure you’ll be safe. Please tell me yes.”

“And if I say no?”

He gently tucked a curl behind my ear. “You will never tell me no, LeeLee. Not if I ask you.”

I closed my eyes at his words.

“Look at me,” he murmured.