Page 317 of When We Fall: Part Two

He pulled me back to him and placed a fierce kiss on my forehead. When he broke away, he looked around the room, his body tense. Dante approached like the predator he was.

“Archangel,” Dante said, stopping in front of us.

“Dante,” Anson answered tightly.

“We should talk,” Sylar said brightly.

“Yes. Come.” Dante backed away. I took Anson’s hand and led him to the massive leather wraparound. We sat, and Anson stared at Dante, his body still tense.

“Why did you take her?” Anson asked.

“Because she is mine to take. My sister,” Dante replied.

“You don’t own her,” Anson shot back. “She’s not one of the souls in the underground.”

“She was born there. All things that come into existence in the underground belong to its king. That would be me.” Dante’s voice held no emotion.

“There is no underground. It was burned.”

“I am aware. That wasn’t by accident.” Dante gave Anson a sinister smile. “It was by design.”

“You… did it?” Anson frowned.

“Technically, it was Ashes.” Dante nodded to Ashes, who inclined his head at Anson. “It was all part of the plan to take out my father. I assume we want the same thing regarding him.”

“I want him dead,” Anson seethed.

“As do I.”

“What about Fox and E? You were part of their torture.” Anson rested his hand on my knee and squeezed it.

Dante looked at me with a sad expression on his face. “Sister,” he murmured.

“Y-You said you weren’t,” I choked out.

Dante sighed. “Sylar and I had a part to play. Fox was aware of that part. I did hold back. I ensured he had food and water. That he had pain medications and anything else I could. Sylar worked on the outside to free him. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, he didn’t make it. We tried.” Dante stared me down. “We tried, Rosalie. If he could have hung on for a few more hours, he’d have been OK. My father sent someone to him who finished the job. I-I didn’t expect that to happen.” Dante visibly swallowed. “I regret not staying, but I was trying to save Cady and her father. Everything went to hell, and in the end, only Ethan made it out.”

I wiped at my eyes, and Anson held me tightly.

“So why are you letting her go now?” Anson asked.

Dante sat back in his seat and steepled his fingers, his green eyes locked on Anson.

“Rosalie entered into a contract with me. You know how that goes.”

“What is the contract?” Anson stiffened.

“It’s easy enough. She is to sign her music contract and leave this city. If she doesn’t, she must return to me. This is where she will stay until the day she dies. Under my thumb. My protection.”

Anson’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “That’s it? She signs up for her dreams, and she’s free?”

Dante inclined his head. “Correct.”

“There’s a catch. There’s always a catch,” Anson said.

“I am not my father, Alessandro,” Dante replied. “I lay the terms out in the open. She signs the contract, leaves the city, and goes on to live a good life. If she doesn’t, she will remain here.There is no place that she can ever hide that I will not infiltrate. She agreed. It was signed in our blood. The deal is done.”

Anson looked at me. “LeeLee, is this what you want?”