Page 318 of When We Fall: Part Two

“Yes,” I murmured. “I-I’ve been so scared to leave, but Fox wanted me to do it. I-I have his list. This is on there. There is nothing left for me in this city.”

“Klaus?” Anson asked.

I smiled at his name. “If he wants me, he can come get me. I can’t wait for a man to make up his mind. I trust he has other things he needs to tend to. If nothing ever happens between us, we’ll both be OK. I know we will.”

“OK,” Anson murmured. “I’ll call Alex.”

“Now,” Sylar said, finally speaking. “If you don’t mind. She doesn’t leave this space until the contract is signed and sent.”

Anson narrowed his eyes at Sylar for a moment before pulling his phone out and calling Alex. Everyone else in the room remained silent as Anson spoke to him.

“Hey, Alex. It’s Anson. Yeah. Uh, Rosalie is ready to sign the contract. Is there any way you can email me a fresh copy? I can get it back to you within the hour. Yes. Absolutely. Me too. Yes. We can arrange all of that once everything is finalized. Of course. Thank you. I appreciate you. Bye.” Anson hung up. “Do you have a computer we can use?”

“This way,” Shadow said, getting up and gesturing for us to follow him. Dante and Sylar came with us to another room. It was a library filled with so many books on shelves that were floor to ceiling. Two levels of them. Along the wall were numerous computers.

“Wow. I didn’t know you had a library,” I murmured, staring around.

“Mother loved books,” Dante said as Sylar led Anson to the computer after Shadow left us. “She always wanted a library. This is a tribute to her, I suppose.”

“Do you like to read?” I asked, looking at him.

“I don’t hate it.” A tiny smile curved his lips upward. “I know you love to read. You look like the type.”

“And what is that?”

“You just look intelligent. Bit of a nerdy look about you.”

I let out a soft laugh at his assessment. “You’re kind of a jerk.”

His smile grew. “I’ve been called worse.”

I noticed Anson was watching us, a curious look on his face. He quickly went back to his email.

“Did Fox suffer a lot?” I asked softly.

“Rosalie.” Dante sighed. “Everyone suffers in the underground, but I promise, he suffered the least. Not that it’s any better, but that is what it is. He was strong, and he spoke of you to me. He asked me to keep you safe.”

“H-He did?”

“He did,” he murmured, squeezing my hand. “I’m doing right by him and following through. I think a lot of us are. He wasn’t supposed to die. I cannot tell you how sorry I am.”

I hugged him, seeming to surprise him. He was quick to hug me back, though. He kissed the top of my head.

“I will always protect you. You have my word.”

“I believe you.”

“Here.” Anson called out. “It’s ready to sign, LeeLee.”

I pulled away from Dante and wiped my eyes before going to the computer. I sat in the seat Anson stood from and digitally signed everything as my heart banged hard.

This was it. The start of a new life.

“You’re going to love it,” Sylar said softly, kneeling beside me as I finished. “Now, I believe you have one last thing on your list to do.”

“The mountains,” I whispered, knowing it was my last stop before I made it to California.

“The mountains,” Sylar repeated. “Just don’t look back, OK?”