Page 67 of When We Fall: Part One

“You know I won’t.” He gave me a sad smile. “Keep her safe. I… I worry.”

“I will,” I said solemnly. “And you stay safe. I’ll see you soon.”

He nodded, then leaned in and gently kissed Rosalie before resting his forehead against hers for a moment.

“I love you, sweetheart. I’m sorry about everything?—”

“Shh.” She kissed him again. “We’ll be back soon.”

He nodded and pulled away before closing her in. He stepped back as I put my Jeep into gear and watched while we pulled away, his face twisted into a mask of worry and sadness.

If I could, I’d take E away with me. Maybe he’d get better then. Or maybe he’d join me in the grave. Knowing E, he’d say fuck it and seek out Matteo himself and get his own gold coin. That was the last thing I wanted for him. He deserved to find his happiness, and that happiness wasn’t six feet beneath the earth.

“How are you?” I asked, glancing over at Rosalie.

“Worried,” she murmured.

I nodded. “I’m to blame for that. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not just you. It’s everything. Why can’t things just go right for a change? They do so well, then it goes to hell again.”

“I wish I knew. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s because we’re finding new glorious ways to fuck things up. It’s just a rough patch.”

“Patches,” she muttered. “On repeat.”

I couldn’t argue that, so I didn’t. We drove in silence for a little bit before I spoke.

“How is everyone? Enzo and Cole?”

She shrugged. “Cole is a mess. Ethan says Cole hasn’t been eating. He wouldn’t leave my side after he came into my room last night. He just kept crying. It’s so unlike him.”

I swallowed hard. “Cole loves hard. He always has. He’s completely insane, but his devotion is top-tier, so don’t doubt that.”

“I don’t,” she said, looking out the window. “I just… I wish we were kids again. You and me. In our treehouse. No worries. Your mom would be baking us cookies. I’d be reading your newest story. You’d tease me about my curls but still tangle your fingersin them while I read out of your notebook.” She cast me a wistful look, her eyes glassy.

I pulled into a space at the hotel and put the Jeep into park before I reached over and hauled her into my arms.

“I can’t bring us back to the past, but I can try,” I whispered. “I can give you that freedom again.”

“I don’t want that. I only want you,” she answered back, clinging to me. “I want the guys. I want our life to be normal.”

I closed my eyes at her words and breathed in the way she smelled. So floral. So sweet. So… Rosie.

“I feel like we’re breaking, and I can’t hold all the pieces,” she continued softly. “How do I hold them together?”

I pulled away and thumbed a tear from her cheek. “Maybe you have to let them fall where they may.”

A pained look crossed her face, but she nodded.

“I-I don’t know how Enzo is doing. We haven’t spoken. He didn’t even come out of his office when I left. I haven’t seen him. Ethan said he hasn’t really seen him either, but Ethan also said he’s been working in the basement over the last few days. Cole said Enzo is just… Enzo. And that worries me.”

“Don’t be worried. We’re going to get it sorted. Hopefully. I’m going to talk to Enzo when I get home. See if maybe we can come to an agreement where no one has to be hurt now or in the future.”

“He won’t listen.” She looked away. “He believes in duty and honoring his father.” She twirled the engagement ring on her finger. “Nothing is ever going to change, is it?”

Her words broke my heart.

“I don’t know,” I answered softly. “Hope for the best, but expect the worst.”