13. Cole
THIRTEEN
COLE
B ianca was back and sitting in the same room as us. I glanced over as she spoke with Vincent and Levin at their table in the hospital cafeteria. The looks on their faces said everything I couldn’t hear.
Love and wonder.
It was what I felt whenever I looked at my Rosebud.
I cleared my throat and looked to Drake, who was zeroed in on Bianca with the kings.
He didn’t pay me a bit of attention, a hungry look in his eyes.
His arrival with her only hours before had blown my mind.
I hadn’t expected it, but Enzo was a miracle worker when he wanted to be.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t overjoyed Drake had come through before Anson had.
He was out of the picture now, not meeting Enzo’s requirements.
Fuck. YES.
Fox raised a brow at me, clearly noticing what I was seeing, too. Even E shifted in his seat and cast a quick glance between Drake and Bianca.
“Petrov,” Enzo said, breaking the silence.
When Drake didn’t answer, I kicked him from beneath the table.
“Ouch. Fuck,” he said, finally tearing his gaze away from Bianca.
“Probably should make it less obvious,” I said to him. “You know, before you get gutted and left in a dumpster.”
Drake scowled at me and ran his hand down his face before answering. “I’m just worried.”
“Sure you are.” I sat back in my seat and surveyed him, noting his gaze darting over to her.
“What happened?” Enzo demanded, ignoring everything and getting down to business.
“Nothing. I just…” Drake’s voice trailed off. “I was trying to save her. And I did. So you’ll be disappointed if you’re looking for me to have regrets.”
“I’m glad you saved her, but you should have told someone,” Enzo snarled. “Dom nearly died?—”
“But he didn’t,” Drake snapped back. “So let’s consider this a success. Maybe he’ll change the way he does shit now. Maybe she’ll get treated the way she deserves.”
“You love her,” E murmured.
Drake swiveled his attention to E, a muscle popping along his jaw and his hands clenched into fists. Before he could answer, Bianca called for him. Without a backward glance at us, he was on his feet and at her side.
“Well, that’s fucked,” I muttered, watching Vincent and Levin eye Drake with distaste as he loomed at Bianca’s side. We’d already had to pull them off him once today when they’d found him outside Dom’s room.
“Not really our problem now.” Enzo turned his attention from the kings and their situation back to us. “We’ll see this through for a bit longer before we return home. That being said, who’s going home tonight?”
“Me.” Fox rose to his feet before I could get to mine.
“Dick,” I muttered at him. He only smirked back at me before Enzo gave him a nod and spoke.
“Take E with you. Cole and I can handle it tonight.”
Both Fox and E wasted no time in getting the fuck out of there.
But I’d have been the same way too. Hospitals only reminded me of shit I was trying my hardest to forget.
I’d seen how happy E was this morning when he’d gotten back.
I wanted more of that for him, so I sucked it up and didn’t argue.
Besides, soon I’d be going on that trip with Rosalie she’d booked for us. I could wait. Hopefully.
After a miserable night in another plastic chair, I rubbed my eyes and stared out to the parking lot, taking in the multitudes of people coming and going. This place was dull as fuck, and I was more than ready to jump ship.
“Come on. Let’s get something to eat,” Enzo said, nudging me.
I stood, and Enzo clapped me on the back while we walked to the cafeteria.
“How fucked is all this shit? I mean, really, Enzo. If Drake was fucking Bianca?—”
“It’s not our problem,” he said, cutting me off. “We all do things in distress.” He shot me a look. I knew what he was referring to. Fucking Juliet. Her name in my mind made me sick. I was glad she was fish bait now because, seriously, fuck that bitch.
The elevator opened, showing us a full view of Drake with Bianca backed against the wall.
He stepped away from her quickly when he noticed us.
Her cheeks darkened as she pushed past Enzo, her shoulder knocking against his.
He and I shared a look for a moment before I darted off after her, eager to get some tea, and by tea, not that nasty-ass drink bullshit.
“Hey, blondie,” I called out to her when she grabbed a tray in the cafeteria a few minutes later.
“Hey, psycho,” she answered back.
I let out a soft laugh at that. While I didn’t know her a ton, I did know she had a great sense of humor. I appreciated that because this life could be fucked. “Good to see you missed me.”
She gave me the smallest of smiles before I continued.
“So, how was the afterlife?” I asked.
She put in her order for some burgers and fries before turning to look at me.
“Hell.” She grabbed two bottles of apple juice and a bottle of water and went back to looking away from me.
I nodded. “I can see that. You know, these guys missed the hell out of you. It was rough.”
She didn’t move an inch for the longest time. I wasn’t even sure if she’d heard me until she finally turned toward me.
“I know it was. I screwed up that night. It hurt everyone.”
The pain laced in her words had me reaching forward and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. I knew about bad fucking decisions. Mine still haunted me. “Fuck everyone. How are you? I heard things.”
She looked away from me again. “I’m alive.”
I gave her a sad nod, knowing that feeling too. “But dead inside. I get it. I’ve been there.”
She hesitated for a moment before licking her lips.
“Cole?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we talk?”
I blinked at her, surprised she wanted to get to spilling the proverbial tea to me already. I didn’t want to seem too eager, so I covered it with a joke, hoping to lighten the tense mood surrounding her. “Wait. We aren’t talking? Are we barking at each other?”
A smile spread across her face before she let out a soft laugh.
I gave her a smile and nodded for her to follow me. “Of course we can. Come on.”
I led her to a table and we sat, her across from me. She was quiet again, and I didn’t push the matter. If she needed time to gather her thoughts, I’d give it to her.
“Can you keep a secret? From the kings?” she finally asked softly.
Well, fuck.
“Uh.” I looked around to make sure Vincent and Levin weren’t nearby before letting out a huff of laughter. “I mean, yeah. As long as it doesn’t get Dom’s fucking gun pointed at my skull.”
“I just… you were-were going to be a dad before, right?”
My heart felt like it had stopped as I stared at her. The pain of losing our Blossom squeezed my heart. I inhaled deeply before answering. “I was.”
She licked her lips before continuing. “I-I’m pregnant.”
Her words floored me into silence. She was pregnant. Fucking hell. She was going to have a baby. Wait, did I hear her right?
“You’re pregnant?” I repeated, wanting to make sure I hadn’t misheard her.
She nodded wordlessly, her blue eyes downcast.
“Fuck. I-is it… Tate’s?” The words were acid on my tongue as I said them. Hate roiled from the bottom of my soul all the way to my chest, making it tighten with awful memories.
She wiped at her eyes, sniffling.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice wobbling. “He-he raped me.”
“Fuck.” So many emotions washed through me as I tugged at my hair in anger.
Motherfucker hurt her. Might have gotten her pregnant.
My mind raced before settling on one thing.
My Rosebud. Our baby. The fury was replaced by an endless sea of sadness.
Not just for me and my girl, but for Bianca and the kings.
“I-I went to the doctor. I had some tests done. I-it’s twins. One is Fallon’s. The other was inconclusive, so it might be Tate’s,” her voice trembled before cracking.
“Bianca, I’m so sorry,” I managed to say, noting the strain in my voice. My hands shook as I said the words. “What can I do? We’ve been looking for Tate. He’s fucking dropped off the face of the earth. We’ll try other tactics. Fuck. Goddamnit.”
“I need some advice, I guess.”
“OK.” I inhaled deeply and forced myself to cool my shit and focus.
“Everything is different now. Dominic… he’s bad. Levin and Vinny… Even Fallon. There’s just so much going on in my head. I don’t know what to do, and now I’m pregnant. I want to have the babies. I just don’t want the other to be Tate’s.”
“I can’t change that,” I said gently, sitting forward and wishing I had that power because fuck, I’d have changed a lot of things, starting with my own Blossom. “I would if I could.”
She nodded, tears glistening in her blue eyes.
“Is there a chance it’s one of the kings’ babies?” I ventured softly.
She nodded again. “Dominic. We-we had sex before I was taken.”
I exhaled, a little relief washing through me. “Good. OK. Well, I think you need to tell Dominic. Get the tests or whatever you need.”
“What if it’s not his? And it’s Tate’s? What do I do?” She gave me a pleading look.
I studied her for a moment, taking in the worry in her eyes. “Bianca, I can’t tell you what to do. That’s something you’d need to decide for yourself.”
“Fallon wants the babies. Both of them. He said he didn’t care who the other father was. That he’d be there for me. But in light of the shit he’s pulled recently…” her voice faded away.
“You’re in it real thick,” I said, sitting back in my seat and folding my arms across my chest. “So here is what I’d do. I’d find out who the father to the other baby is. If it’s Dom, tell him. I’m sure he’d be overjoyed.”
“And if it’s Tate’s?”
“Then you have a choice to make. It’s a really fucking shitty choice, Bianca.
I’m not for undoing unborn babies, but I also know in this instance…
well, I don’t know. One is with someone you love, and the other with someone who robbed you.
It’s a tough choice. Whatever you decide to do, I know you won’t do it alone, but judging by the time it’s been, you don’t have much more time left to get it sorted if you plan on not having the babies. ”
Fucking damnit, please let it be Dom’s.
She gave me a sad nod. “I didn’t want to have kids right now, but knowing one of the babies is Fallon’s… I-I want to do it. I’m just so scared. I’m so pissed at him right now, though.”
“I understand. You’re not the only one. He left a hell of a mess behind when he did this shit. It was a fucking nightmare to watch the kings cradle a burned body. And Dom’s spiral into fucking hell?” I shook my head at how fucked things had become. “Not a pleasure cruise.”
She sat quietly, clearly lost in a sea of worry and confusion. My heart ached for her and the kings.
“Listen. You have my number. Call me. Text me. I’m always around if I’m not killing someone or fucking.” I offered her my best smile in the hopes of making her feel better and have some semblance of hope.
She scoffed, and a tiny smile spilled over her lips. “I hope they aren’t the same person.”
“In a manner of speaking, killing some pussy ain’t a bad job.” I winked at her, making her laugh.
“Maybe you and my Rosebud should talk,” I continued.
“We lost our Blossom. She’s an incredible listener and has the best advice for all things.
I’m a bit biased, but maybe she can help.
We are going through our own shit right now.
” As hard as I tried, I couldn’t keep the sadness at bay.
Our shit was fucked also. Relationships were hard in this world. “I think she could use a friend too.”
“I’d like that,” Bianca said. “If you could give me her number.”
Immediately, I pulled my phone out and sent her Rosalie’s number, hoping she’d use it. “I’ve sent it to your phone. When you get it back, it’ll be there. I’ll let her know to expect to maybe hear from you.”
“Thank you, Cole.” She rose to her feet, and I followed.
“You’re welcome, Bianca.”
I walked with her back to the counter to get her food.
“Can you put this in a box for her?” I asked the woman behind the counter. Her cheeks darkened as she got everything together in boxes for Bianca to take.
“Thank you,” Bianca murmured, taking the food.
I handed over some money for the lunch since I knew she didn’t have any on her. It was the least I could do.
“I guess I owe you,” she said as we walked back to the elevators.
“You don’t owe me shit, dandelion,” I replied.
“Dandelion?” She raised her brows at me.
“Your hair reminds me of dandelions. Like summer.” I said, shrugging.
Before I could elaborate and not make shit awkward, Enzo and Drake showed up.
“Queenie,” Enzo said, tilting his head at her in greeting.
“Enzo. How are you?” She gave him a wobbly smile in return.
“Good. How are you?”
She gave a slight shrug. “Not dead.”
“I’m glad you’re alive.” He gave her an even look. I knew he meant it too. We all were glad she was alive. Watching Dom and the kings stumble and fall hadn’t been a good time. In fact, it terrified the shit out of me because if I lost Rosalie, I’d probably kill every motherfucker on my way out.
“Truly. You were missed,” Enzo said.
She said nothing, opting to look at the food cartons in her hands.
“Cole, the guys are on their way. It’s time to swap. Queenie, always a pleasure. Take care of the kings, OK?” Enzo said, clearing his throat.
“I will.” Bianca offered us a small smile again.
Enzo stepped forward and leaned closer. A moment later, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. He whispered something to her that clearly made her feel the emotions she was trying to hide.
She nodded wordlessly at Enzo when he stepped away from her, a gentle smile on his face. Enzo gestured for me to follow, and I did after giving Bianca and Drake a goodbye.
“Thoughts?” I asked once we were back in the lobby.
“Many,” he muttered.
“Well, here’s another one. She’s pregnant,” I said, staring out the window.
Enzo was quiet for a moment before letting out a sigh. “Hope it’s not Drake’s.”
“Why not hope it’s not Tate’s? He raped her.”
Enzo looked over at me. “Because I don’t want Drake to die just yet. He still has work to do, but to be fair, I hope it’s not Tate’s either. In the end, he’s a dead man either way.”
I nodded, thinking about Ian. I’d snap Tate’s neck exactly like I’d done to Ian. I was a giver if nothing else, even if that gift was death.