Page 290 of When We Fall: Part Two

He reached out and licked a tear away before his lips were back to my ear.

“Wrong, sister. Youbelong to me, and I am going to keep you. You are mine to protect. I’m never letting you go.” He ran his hand up my bare thigh as he inhaled me. I trembled beneath his touch before he pulled away and got to his feet. I cried out, begging him to release me.

“I won’t tell,” I begged. “Please. Let me go. I swear. I won’t tell.”

I had no idea if he was telling the truth about Fox, but he made several valid points. However, he was definitely not sane, so the points were moot.

“I will be back. We will be spending a lot of time together,” he murmured before leaving the room, the door clicking closed behind him.

I knew that was the truth.

“Open,”Dante instructed later that evening. He’d left me for hours before coming back.

“Please. I-I need to use the bathroom,” I whispered.

He hesitated with the fork of macaroni and cheese he was trying to feed me before he placed it on the bedside table.

I’d had a lot of time to lie here thinking and observing where I was. It was definitely a fancy home, not a dungeon. The windows had blinds so that I couldn’t see out of them. The room was huge, with a spot for a couch and a large TV mounted on the wall. Several doors were off to the side. I assumed a closet, a bathroom, and an exit. The bed was big and fluffy.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered, standing. He went to one of the doors and opened it. Just as I thought, it turned out to be a giant walk-in closet. He disappeared for a moment before returningwith a pair of gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt. He took those things into the attached bathroom before returning to me.

I watched as he reached into his pocket and unearthed a key. Carefully, he undid my wrist before he pulled me to my feet.

I winced as I stumbled against him. He gripped me tightly at the waist and stared down at me. Whatever cologne he wore was intoxicating. It reminded me of Foxy.

“Come,” he instructed, his voice shaking, as he stepped back and took my hand like I was the most delicate thing in the world.

I followed, letting him lead me to the bathroom. I’d play along for now, but if there was an exit through a window in there, I was going to take it.

Once inside the bathroom, he dropped my hand and nodded to the clothes on the sink.

“Put these on. I don’t like you wearing that dress. My family doesn’t need to see you this way.”

I frowned at his words. He stepped around me and went to the door.

“Rosalie,” he called out.

I turned and looked at him.

“Have a shower. Clean up, OK? Don’t try to escape. There is no way out. You’re on the top floor of my home. Jumping would kill you. You’d likely die before you hit the pavement. I’ll wait for you in the bedroom.” With those words, he closed the door, leaving me to stand there dumbly for a moment.

Once I had my wits about me, I rushed to the window and pushed open the blinds, a soft cry coming from my mouth.

We had to be at the top of the world, just like Klaus’s place. We overlooked the city. I stared down and saw that the building had many ledges and a design that jutted out with gargoyles.

He was right. I’d likely crack my skull on one on my way down.

There really was no escape for me.

This looked like I had to comply or die.

That terrified me because I honestly didn’t even know which I wanted anymore.

NINETY

COLE

Miserable didn’t even begin to describe what I was. All I kept thinking about was what I’d done to my Rosebud. How I’d lashed out after seeing Klaus with his lips on hers. Watching how she smiled at him. How she kissed him.