Page 149 of When We Fall: Part Two

“Don’t,” Levin warned, taking my hand. “Don’t even think it, Rosalie. I can tell you from firsthand experience, it doesn’twork out the way you think. The people you hurt. The ones you leave behind. It sucks to survive, but you have to. There’s a reason you’re here. Don’t throw it away. I heard you sing in the car. You’re meant for big things. Don’t let your tears drown you before you get a chance to swim.”

I stared down at his big hand holding mine.

“You’re a lot like your dad,” I whispered.

He stiffened. “He’s a monster. I don’t know what he’s shown you, but it’s not real. Be careful, Rosalie. OK?”

I looked at him to see his handsome face blanketed in a serious expression.

“I will,” I whispered.

He wiped away another tear. “How about we get some food and take your mind off things? There’s an amazing bar I think you’d like. The food is otherworldly. Burgers. Fries. It’s good. Think you can eat for us?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Because we care,” he replied. “Our girl is gone. Getting married.” He scoffed. “It sucks. Good women change men. You’re one of the good ones. You deserve for someone to give a damn.”

“Ani is a good man. He’s going to be good for her.”

A muscle thrummed along his jaw. “It’s temporary. She’s coming home to us. She always comes home.”

“I hope she does.” I reached out and hugged him.

He seemed surprised by the move, but he wrapped his arms around me after a moment and held me tightly.

“You’re going to be OK. You’re strong. That’s one of the reasons why Fox loved you so much.”

I sobbed into his chest for a long time before my tears ran out, and he helped me to my feet. I looked past him to see Dominic, Vincent, and Fallon sitting atop tombstones, talking to one another.

“Come on,” Levin said, leading me to them.

“Hey,” Vincent greeted me. “You OK?”

“No.” I gave him a wobbly smile. “But I-I’m trying.”

“That’s all you can do,” Dominic said gently.

I exhaled.

“Let’s get some food. Unwind a bit.”

“OK.”

They led me to the car and helped me inside. We pulled out of the cemetery and rode in silence for a long time before Dominic’s phone rang and broke the silence.

Enzo’s name popped up on his display screen on the dashboard.

He handed his phone back to Vincent and said something to him in Italian that I couldn’t understand.

Vincent cleared his throat and answered the phone in Italian. I couldn’t hear what Enzo was saying, but Vincent replied in their language.

They went back and forth with one another for a few moments before Vincent hung up and spoke to Dominic in Italian. Dominic grunted but didn’t say anything else.

“It’s annoying, isn’t it?” Fallon asked. “When they do that other language shit.”

“You and Drake the dick nut do it all the time to us, you Russian ass cradle.” Levin looked over his shoulder at him.

“Bet you feel all lonely that no one speaks German, huh, fuck nose?” Fallon retorted.