6. Ethan
SIX
ETHAN
L ocked in my bathroom stall at the hospital, I snorted a line of sugar off the toilet paper dispenser. Not the worst place I’d ever snorted drugs, but I was ready to lose my fucking mind.
Being here made me sick. The circumstances were absolute shit, but it was more than that.
It was proof that no one was safe. If Dominic De Santis, a king, could fall, any of us could. And with Bianca being dead, it only ramped up my anxiety and fear that my sweetheart was next.
I couldn’t deal with it. It was killing me inside.
I wiped my nose and settled back against the toilet I sat on as I let the high take over. It wasn’t nearly enough, but I was running low. I hadn’t planned on a staycation here at the hospital, but Enzo was adamant that I not go home alone.
I knew why. It pissed me off.
Having a little space from this shit would be a godsend. Plus, being able to hold my girl would help.
I would try my luck again later today and attempt to get home. I needed some fucking sleep, but that sleep was always riddled with bad dreams and shitty aftershocks that sent me to the basement to get high.
I needed a fucking brain transplant so I wouldn’t have all these ugly memories in my head, ruining my fucking life.
Sighing, I doled out a final bit of sugar, hoping I could get home before the high wore off, and snorted it off the toilet roll dispenser again.
“E? You in here?” Cole’s voice called out.
“Y-yeah, man.”
“I jerk off in there, man. Is that what you’re doing?”
I let out a huff of laughter. “No. Unlike you, I know how to keep my dick in my pants.” I opened the stall door, came out, and washed my hands at the sink.
“You’re so fucking wasted,” he said, watching me in the mirror.
“Yeah,” I admitted. No sense in hiding it.
“Man, come on?—”
“Not the time, Cole.” I cut him off. “I’m at the end of my rope here, man. I need sleep. I need to get away from this shit. The sugar is keeping me sane. So let me be.”
He breathed out and shook his head, but didn’t push it.
“I’ll talk to Enzo and see if he’ll let you go home tonight. You do need some sleep.”
I grunted, really hoping Enzo would relent. I didn’t want to tell him to fuck off, considering we were here as a support system for the kings, but I needed a break. If I had to be a dick to get it, so be it.
“Come on. Fox is here.” Cole stuffed his phone into his pocket and pulled open the bathroom door. I followed him out, my body feeling light, but my head was still a mess.
“What’s in the bag?” Cole demanded when we reached Fox. Vincent and Levin had gone home to shower and change, something Enzo practically had to threaten them to do. He’d volunteered our services in the meantime.
“Rosie made cookies,” Fox said.
Cole snatched the bag from Fox and opened it. A groan slipped past his lips. “Fuck yeah. Chocolate chip. Monster cookies. Oatmeal raisin. E, she made your sugar cookies, too.”
I smiled at that. Of course, she did.
I took the cookie Cole handed me and sat in one of the hard chairs.
“E needs to go home. He’s high as fuck and needs sleep and food,” Cole said around a mouthful of chocolate and cookie.
Enzo and Fox looked over at me, and I gave them a weak smile.
Neither said a word, but Enzo took out his phone and texted someone. I ate my cookie silently and opted for a second one several minutes later. Rosalie was a hell of a cook and baker. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t do.
I smiled at the thought, really missing her.
I got lost in those thoughts when a voice pulled me out of them.
Blinking, I stared at Rosalie.
“Sweetheart?”
“Hey.” She went to her knees before me and took my hands in hers. “I thought I’d stop by and check on you guys.”
I gave her a sleepy smile. “I’ve missed you.”
“Enzo said you were exhausted.”
I nodded. “I am, but I’m feeling better now that you’re here.”
She cradled my face for a moment, her eyes searching mine. I shifted awkwardly in my seat, shame washing through me.
“You’re high,” she said softly.
I fiddled with a string on my hoodie and let my leg bounce. With a gentle touch, she rested her hand on my thigh, slowing my movements.
“When you come home, we’ll talk, OK? We’ll spend some time together.”
“Just us?” I looked at her, hope blossoming in my chest at the prospect of just me and her.
“Just us.” She leaned in and kissed me. I kissed her back, feeling light and relaxed. My sweetheart always knew how to put my troubled heart to rest. I’d been missing her like none other and needed this.
“I can stay—” she started, but I shook my head at her.
I didn’t want her here, enduring this shit.
It would only depress her, which was the last thing I wanted.
It was bad enough that I was here, reliving all the shit I’d been through last time I was in a hospital. Having her reminded wasn’t an option.
“No. Go,” I murmured.
“Ethan—”
“Rosalie?” Anson cut in, shooting me an apologetic look. “We have to pick up those invitations, and you have two tests today.”
She sighed before offering me her smile.
“I love you. Plan a date night for us. Come up with some ideas, OK?”
I nodded, excited at the prospect. “OK.”
She squeezed my hand and stood, her focus on Enzo. I watched as she took him by the elbow and led him away to talk, a stern look on her face. Enzo gave her an apologetic look before glancing from me back to her.
I didn’t want to be the reason they fought. While I knew they weren’t really fighting, I also knew Rosalie wasn’t using sweet words with Enzo.
I had to get my shit together. I was ruining everything.
“Hey, E?” Anson called out.
I looked up at him. “Hey, man.”
“Uh, you good?”
“Great.” I swallowed thickly and offered him a half-assed smile.
He glanced back to Fox and Cole, who were looking at Cole’s phone, then to Rosalie and Enzo, who were still in deep conversation, before focusing on me.
“If you’re not busy in the next few days, weeks even, my offer still stands to hang out and relax.”
“That-that sounds good. I’ve been meaning to set something up,” I said. “But shit got fucked…”
“I know. I get it. I just thought I’d remind you I’m still game for it.”
“I appreciate it, man. I’ll reach out once all this dust settles.”
“Alright. I’ll hold you to that.”
I nodded, knowing he would. Rosalie returned then and leaned in and kissed me again.
“I have to go. I have to get the wedding samples and these tests out of the way, and Ani has a meeting he needs to get to. Enzo said you’ll be able to come home soon, so that’s something we can look forward to.”
“Good,” I murmured, cradling her face. “Stop worrying so much. I’m OK.”
“I’ll never stop worrying about you.” She kissed me again before breaking away. “Be good.”
“Always.”
She backed away and went to Fox and kissed him before kissing Cole, who made it way more pornographic than he needed to, but that was Cole.
It was his way of marking his territory in front of Anson.
I glanced to see Anson’s cheeks redden. He caught my eye before quickly looking away. Poor asshole. I felt for him. Truly.
She kissed Enzo next before he said something to her, which made her nod and pull away. I watched as she gave us a final wave before leaving with Anson at her side.
“I really hate that motherfucker,” Cole said, eyeing them as they left through the main doors.
“He’s taking care of our girl. You should thank him,” I mumbled.
Cole shot me a glare. “That’s the problem. He’s taking care of her a little too well.”
“Cole, not now,” Enzo said.
Cole went quiet as Fox settled into his seat next to me.
I closed my eyes, ignoring everything except the thought of how to plan the perfect date for me and my sweetheart. It made me smile, and for that, I was grateful.