12. Anson
TWELVE
ANSON
“ T ell Enzo,” Ryder said, staring me down as I drank deeply.
After E had come home and taken Rosalie away, I’d left and gone straight to Ryder, so much on my mind I wasn’t sure how to navigate it without Ryder and a bottle of booze.
In a way, I was glad E had shown up. I was a breath away from planting my lips on Rosalie’s and telling her I would be with her because I’d found a way.
The only thing holding me back was guilt.
It was always fucking guilt.
“The problem isn’t telling him. Not really,” I muttered before taking another swallow. I finished my drink and slammed the empty bottle on my coffee table. “Fuck.”
“What’s the problem then? You have the answer. Fucking tell the horsemen. Get your girl.”
“At what cost?” I shook my head. “She’s alive. She’s hiding for a damn reason. How can I ruin her life after she’s gotten away? All I want for Rosalie is to get away. It would make me a hypocrite if I ratted someone else out for the same damn thing I’m trying to do.”
“It’s your in , Anson. Fuck, man. You’re simply going to throw it away? Plus, Dominic is your brother, and she’s his wife. Have you considered that? He’s hurting, too.”
I took another drink and slumped back in my seat, feeling like shit.
“I’ve considered all of it. I just… I need to think about it. I’ll decide what to do tomorrow.” It seemed like a sound answer. “What was Trent doing?”
“Sleeping. Eating. Staying hidden in my spare room. He’s an easy roommate to have. He’s like a raccoon. Only really comes out at night and eats whatever garbage I have left in my fridge.”
I nodded. That sounded like my little brother. My phone buzzed before I could inquire further. Rosalie’s name flashed across the screen. Ryder raised his brows at me and went silent.
“Hello?” I slurred into the phone before clearing my throat. “LeeLee? Is everything OK?”
“Yes. I-I was thinking about the bridge for this song. I was wondering if you had a minute to go over it with me?”
I rubbed my eyes. “Of course. Where’s E?”
She was quiet for a moment. “He’s sleeping. I had a bad dream and decided to work.” She paused. “Ani? Are you drunk?”
“I, uh, just had a few to drink. I’m fine. What was your dream?”
“It’s not important. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were out?—”
“I’m not. I’m home hanging with Ryder. It’s fine. What’s the bridge?”
“Never mind. We can go over it later. I don’t want to intrude. Have fun, OK? And I’m sorry about leaving with Ethan earlier?—”
“LeeLee, seriously?—”
“Ani.” She let out a soft laugh. “It’s fine. Really. It’ll give me time to go over it again. I may have acted prematurely with my excitement. I couldn’t sleep,” she muttered. “I’ll run over it again and then talk to you about it. I want it to be perfect.”
I sighed, a smile touching my lips.
So Rosalie.
“If that’s what you want. Do you want to talk about the bad dream?” The thought that she had them sickened me. I’d heard her screaming into the night before, back in the early days of being around her. All I’d wanted to do then was hold her tight, but I knew it would end with me in a shallow grave.
“I’m… I’m fine. Really. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, OK? I made cookies. I’ll bring you some.”
I chuckled. “You made cookies at two in the morning?”
“Couldn’t sleep,” she repeated softly.
Fuck, what I wouldn’t do to go to her and hold her. Vow to keep her safe so she could sleep.
“I can come over?—”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Ani. Have a drink for me.”
I sighed. “OK, LeeLee. Tomorrow.”
She bid me goodbye, and I stared at my phone, my heart in my throat.
“You going to tell Enzo?” Ryder called out. “Put your ass out of your misery?”
I said nothing, my throat tight. So many thoughts raced through my head, but I kept settling on one. Having her.
If I could just get a chance to show her what my love could be like. Fuck.
But I also wasn’t a selfish prick. Or at least I tried not to be. Doing this could hurt someone else.
I scrubbed my hand down my face.
“I’m going to think on it,” I mumbled, repeating what I’d been saying all night. Ryder sighed and shook his head at me before handing me another beer.
“Then let’s drink tonight to forget then,” he said.
I couldn’t agree more.
I woke with a hangover from hell, but I stumbled out of bed and decided I couldn’t stand not being part of Rosalie’s life the way I wanted. I was going to tell Enzo.
After rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. It was already mid-morning. I never slept this long. Thank fuck it was a weekend, though.
Forcing the butterflies from my guts, I hit Enzo’s name on my phone and listened as his phone rang.
“Yes?” His silky voice came over the line on the fourth ring.
“I have information,” I said.
He let out a soft chuckle. “Oh? I think you’re too late.”
I froze at his words, hoping Dominic wasn’t dead and I hadn’t fucked everything up. “What? Is Dominic?—”
“He’s fine. Better than fine. Bianca made it back.”
My blood ran cold.
“What? S-she’s there?”
“Yeah. Showed up this morning. Drake brought her. How lucky, right?”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“I was bringing you that information.” My heart pounded.
“Yeah, well, Drake was faster. You should reach out to him. Maybe take a few lessons.”
“Enzo, this doesn’t change our deal. I had the information?—”
“This changes every -fucking-thing,” he snarled back. “Deal’s off. Nice try, though. Maybe next time.” He let out a dark laugh. “Or not.”
“Motherfucker, don’t do this?—”
“I didn’t. You did by not working fast enough. Take this and learn from it. It’s business, Beyers. I’m sure you understand.”
“It’s not fucking business. It’s Rosalie. It’s us?—”
“Maybe you didn’t hear me,” he said in a deadly whisper.
“There is no us for you and Rosalie. It’s over.
You had your chance and didn’t deliver. Fucking deal with it however you see fit, but fucking deal with it.
I have work to do. Goodbye.” The call disconnected, leaving me sitting in stunned silence.
I’d been too slow. I fucked everything up. I’d had it and lost it.
A snarl of anguish tore from my lips as reality set in.
She wasn’t my girl. I’d fucking lost my chance.
I threw my phone, letting it smash against my bedroom wall, before I got to my feet and punched a hole into the plaster.
I didn’t know how, but fucking Enzo De Luca was going to pay for fucking me over like this.