Page 152 of When We Fall: Part Two

I said nothing as we drove. The entire way to the bar, I tried to reason with myself and keep my breathing even. When we arrived, I parked and we got out.

We went inside without issue.

I walked around, looking for her in the dimly lit place. It was fairly crowded and hard to see, but I spotted Fallon at the bar. When he walked away, I followed him to his table.

Rosalie sat next to Dominic. He was pushing a chicken tender basket with fries at her, and she was slowly picking at them.

I approached with Colten at my side.

Vincent looked at me when I reached the table.

“Took you long enough,” he said, a tiny smirk on his lips.

I said nothing and slid in next to Rosalie. She looked over at me, surprise on her sad face.

“Rosebud,” I murmured. “Are you OK?”

She nodded. “Are you?”

“I am.” I reached out and took her hand in mine and kissed her knuckles. “I was worried about you. You didn’t answer your phone.”

“Sorry. It’s on silent.”

“Yeah, but you know better than not to call me,” I insisted, noting that Dom was keeping a close eye on me. That annoyed me, but I reminded myself to stay calm since they were helping us.

“I’m sorry,” she said, poking at her fries. “But would it have mattered? Enzo called off the wedding. Neither of you bothers to pay attention to me anymore. Ethan doesn’t want me. I figured it wouldn’t matter.”

I glanced around to see the kings trying to look busy. I knew they’d heard her, though. Colten had walked to the bar and was getting a drink, so he was no damn help.

“You matter,” I said fiercely. “You always matter.”

She shrugged and put a fry into her mouth, chewing slowly.

“Cole, do you have a minute?” Dom asked.

I gave him a sour look but nodded. He got up, and I followed him away from the table and over to a darkened corner.

“What?” I demanded.

“I know you’re pissed. We’re just trying to help. She needs people to take her mind off shit?—”

“Listen, De Santis, I like you enough not to kill you, but I don’t like how close you’re getting to my girl.”

“I understand. She’s a sweet girl. She’s breathtaking, brilliant, and talented. I’d be on edge too if I were you.” He breathed out. “But I’m not here to steal your girl. I’m here to help her. I have my own girl.”

“You really don’t,” I said. “Anson has your girl. The same prick who was trying to take mine.”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “It fucking sucks. We’re hurting too. Our girl is with my maniac fath—brother. It’s hard for us. I barely sleep. Being able to hang out with Rosalie has helped me keep my mind off my kids and girl. It kills me to know my family is out there and could be killed at any moment. I’ve been where Rosalie is. I only want to be of use.”

We stared at one another for a long time before I spoke.

“You haven’t touched her?”

“I would never,” he said solemnly. “I know you’ve seen me at my worst, and I was that man at one point in my life, but that’s not who I am now. I don’t want to fight with you. I swear, none of us wants to take Rosalie from you guys. We’re friends. I’d like us to remain as such.” He held his hand out to me. “Deal?”

I stared at his hand for a moment before sighing and nodding. “Deal. It’s just fucked up, and I’m not used to this shit.” I shook his hand.

“She’s safe with us. We’d die to protect her. I swear that to you. She needed this. She smiled a few times today.”