Page 247 of When We Fall: Part One

“A dangerous endeavor, all things considered,” he commented with raised eyebrows. “Tell me why. Surely, there’s a reason.”

I sighed. I knew he’d not let me leave without the truth, so I launched into it and told him about how I was offered the record deal, Ethan’s request, and how I’d turned down everything Alexoffered. How Anson and Cole fought, and how I was just upset and had left.

He said nothing the entire time, drinking in my words silently.

I breathed out softly and smoothed my hands down my bare thighs. Last night, I wore a shorter skirt out.

“No one knows where you are?” Matteo asked.

I winced. “No.”

“Interesting situation you have yourself in,” Matteo murmured, sitting forward. “Now, what to do with you?”

“Might I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.”

“You could let me go home, “ I said hopefully. He stared back at me for a moment with an impassive expression until his lips slowly curled upward.

“You’re a funny girl. I like that,” Matteo said. “I like your suggestion. However, my answer is no.”

“What?” I let out a whimper and looked at Alessio and Klaus. Both had gotten to their feet and approached me.

“Kill her,” Matteo said softly, his voice laced with danger. That was the last thing I thought I’d hear come from him. My pulse roared in my ears as so many terrifying thoughts flashed through my head.

Foxy. Ethan. Enzo. Cole. Ani. Cotton. My parents. Please, god, no!

Alessio’s hand clamped down on my shoulder, and Klaus pressed a gun to my temple before I could move an inch off my chair.

I didn’t know what else to do, so I did the only thing I could do.

I screamed.

SEVENTY-EIGHT

ANSON

Three days.

She’d been gone for three whole fucking days. Not a word from her. There was no news on the streets. Nothing coming from the underground.

Everything had gone radio silent.

I’d barely slept. All I did was roam the streets. I’d even called Matteo. I hadn’t reached him. Instead, I’d gotten Klaus, who said Matteo was working and he’d call me back. He still hadn’t, but that had to be my answer that he didn’t have her either. I was certain Klaus would have said something anyway if they had Rosalie. Instead, he hung up, leaving me even more frustrated.

I rubbed my eyes from the front seat of my Challenger, out of ideas. I knew the horsemen were losing their minds. I couldn’t even look at them because I felt like this was all my fault. Cole and I wouldn’t have gotten into it if I had just called her instead of rushing over to her. She’d still be here.

I let out a soft cry as I wiped my eyes. Fuck, I was terrified. If something happened to her, I’d die too. It was bad enough that I was scared out of my goddamn head, but I knew Ethan was struggling even harder. They’d been knocking him out nearly every time he woke because he’d been losing his shit. Fox saidhe’d destroyed the living room and kitchen in a rage and panic. It took all three of them and two of Enzo’s men to bring him down the last time.

And Fox. He was barely holding it together. We continued to keep in touch, but it was hard to hear him breaking apart.

I was at a loss, a first for me. Enzo wouldn’t speak to me. Not that I expected him to. His hatred for me was usually well-kept, but the look in his eyes told me if something happened to her, I’d be the next to go because I knew he blamed me, too.

I wiped my eyes again. I’d been crying like a bitch since she left. It didn’t help that now I had the burden of carrying out Fox’s other plan. That wasn’t how I wanted her. I knew it would break her to give in to me. It would be a nasty storm of events afterward because she’d tell the guys. I’d have to face that music head-on and hope I didn’t die in the process because Cole Scott was looking for a reason.

This would definitely be the reason.

My phone buzzed, and I picked it up.