Page 219 of When We Fall: Part One

Silence descended over the room. That was the last thing any of us thought he’d say, all things considered. I wasn’t even sure where Drake stood in this mess. I personally didn’t want to trust him, but Enzo did, so we went with it. Drake knew my promise already. If he fucked us over, I’d kill him myself. I was sure Dom had made that same promise.

“No,” Levin finally snarled. “Not fucking happening.”

“Listen.” Dom held his hand up. “He makes the most sense.”

“How?” Levin demanded, fury radiating off him. “They want him dead just as much as they want you dead! He’ll have a price on his head for running out, and if they find out Bianca is alive? And trust me, they will?—”

“I can protect her,” Drake said. “I’d die to ensure her safety.”

“The best person to take B is Fallon,” Vincent cut in, looking to Fallon, who hadn’t said anything this entire time.

“Not fucking happening.” Levin snorted.

Dom rubbed his eyes, clearly tired of dealing with it all. I could sympathize.

“I think they should run,” Ethan said softly. “I think Dom and Bianca should run, and we'll take care of everything.”

I glanced at him, making sure I’d heard him correctly. He didn’t waver, though, and continued to nod.

“I’m not leaving,” Dom said.

“I’m not leaving either. If we fight, I fight with you. I can’t lose you guys again.” Bianca said. She looked around at eachof the kings. “I just can’t do that. If we win or lose, we do it together.”

“That’s noble of you, but it’s also incredibly dangerous,” Enzo said. “They’ll use you to get to Dom, Queenie. Or vice versa.”

Bianca frowned at his words.

“He’s right, B. You need to disappear, babe.” Vincent gave her a sympathetic look, his dark eyes saying what his mouth didn’t. “I’ll join Levin in the fold. We can try to take them down from the inside.”

“I’m sorry, but why do you think they’d trust you guys?” Cole asked. He slammed back a shot of whiskey. He was pissed and trying to tamp it down. I knew him well enough to know that.

“I mean, if I were trying to take out competition, I’d bring them into the fold and fuck with them there,” Cole continued, pouring another drink. “So why do you think it’s just a number on Dom’s head? I think we’re all fucked. You guys especially.” He nodded to the kings.

“He’s right,” Vincent sighed. “The only thing Levin and I have going for us is our fathers. Matteo isn’t going to want to piss them off since they’re his most trusted men. Not to say he won’t if things get rough, but it’s our saving grace for now.”

“Here’s what we should do,” Levin said. “I go into the fold?—”

“Levin—” Bianca choked out, her eyes widening.

“Shh, bumblebee.” He kissed her cheek quickly. “I go into the fold. I get any information I can and feed it back to you guys. Dom, you take B and run. Do the death thing, man. Die for them and run. I’ll kill Matteo.”

“Fuck that,” Dom snarled, his hands balled into tight fists. “Not happening. If he goes down, it’s because I’m the one who does it. I’m not letting you take the fall for that shit. I don’t run. I’m never fucking running. If I die, then I fucking die, but it won’t be because I took a bullet to my back while fleeing. I will stay.”

“What about B?” Vincent asked. “We need to do something about her. Drake too. Either he goes back empty-handed and faces the consequences, or he runs.”

“I’ll go back in,” Drake murmured. He looked at Bianca like she was his entire world. My heart clenched at the sight. Clearly, he did love her, or he was a hell of an actor.

“You could be killed,” Fallon muttered, rubbing his eyes. “Going back to Matteo De Santis empty-handed won’t end well.”

“He doesn’t tolerate failure,” Dom added. “You’ll be killed.”

“Maybe.” Drake shrugged as if it didn’t matter. “But I don’t think sending Levin alone is a good idea either. I will return with him. He can confirm my story.”

“What’s that story, you fucking turncoat? That you lied and cheated your way out?” Levin snapped.

I continued to watch, not having an answer for them. Matteo was my uncle, but I didn’t know fuck all that could help them. He was far too secretive and played a mean poker face. He reminded me of Enzo in that respect.

“He could go back and say he was trying to take Ivanov out. He had Bianca. He managed to get a shot on him and was able to get her from him, but ultimately, Dom saved her from him. He ran and went into hiding until things died down.” Enzo said. “That could work. If Ivanov were captured, he’d confess that Drake was there to take her out. I set it up that way for just that reason. It’s your out and his in.”