39. Enzo
THIRTY-NINE
ENZO
R osalie sat on the couch in the office, and I took up the spot next to her. We sat in silence for a long while before I finally spoke.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how else to show it.
You were right, though. My priorities were fucked.
I needed to be focused on my family, and I failed you.
I don’t deserve you, Rosalie. I know I don’t, but damn me for wanting you.
Damn me for fucking everything up. I wish I were that kid you fell in love with, but I’m changing.
We all are, but I want us to change for the better.
I’m not. I see the disappointment in your eyes whenever you look at me.
I’m fucking trying,” I choked out, my throat tight.
She said nothing, opting to simply stare back at me. I was desperate to hold her. Kiss her. Beg her to love me because I was nothing without her.
“Would you believe me if I said I won’t do it again?
” I asked weakly. I didn’t know how to make this right.
We were in a vicious cycle. I was tired of it, but I loved her beyond anything else in the world, and the thought of losing her cut me to my very soul.
Fear of her telling me to completely fuck off ate at me, but it was more than that.
My brothers meant the world to me too. If I couldn’t fix this, I would be failing them.
I had to figure everything out and keep her as ours. I was out of ideas, though.
“Yes.”
I blinked at her answer. “What?”
“I’ll believe you if you tell me.” She bit her bottom lip.
“I love you, Enzo. That hasn’t changed, but I need to know Ethan is safe.
That you all are. You can’t be putting yourselves into the situations you’ve been in.
If it’s going to be that way, I can’t be with you.
I won’t compete with other women. It’s either me or nothing. ”
“It’ll always be you,” I said fiercely, taking her hands in mine. “There will never be anyone else in this world I’ll love the way I love you. I swear that to you.”
“And if you do?”
I shook my head. “Won’t happen. You’re it, Rosalie. I want to marry you. Spend my life with you. Make babies with you. I wouldn’t have asked you to marry me if I didn’t mean forever.”
“OK.” She nodded.
I blinked at her. “That’s it? We’re not going to fight?”
“I’m tired of fighting.”
“Me too.”
“So, let’s make a pact.”
I crinkled my brows. “OK.”
“If this stuff ever happens again—women and all that, we call it quits.”
“Rosalie,” I said gruffly. “I wasn’t with other women. None of us were.”
“I don’t want you in those situations. If you find yourself in them, especially with Ethan, I expect you to respect me and our family and leave.
You sitting around watching some old guy get his dick sucked at your table is gross.
It’s not only disgusting, but it’s disrespectful. I won’t put up with it.”
“Deal,” I said. “I’ll do everything I can to avoid situations like that.”
“And if you fail?”
“Then I’ve failed us all, and you’re free to leave.” The words were ugly and bitter on my tongue. I knew if she left, I’d still do everything within my power to get her back.
“Pinky promise.” She held her pinky out to me.
I hooked mine with hers. “Promise.”
We stayed that way for a second, our pinkies hooked, before I spoke. “Will you still marry me, Sunshine?”
She leaned in and brushed her lips against mine. “Yes.”
I let out a breath of relief and hauled her into my arms, my tongue tangling with hers.
I was so ecstatic that I couldn’t keep my hands off her.
Within moments, I had her on her back and was pushing into her pussy, desperate to prove I was worth all the pain and that I loved her more than anything else in the world.
“Enzo,” she cried out, coming hard for me after a few deep thrusts.
I didn’t stop. I picked up my pace, dragging another orgasm from her body before I unloaded inside her. Wanting to take my time and wanting just to feel good with her warred it out. Only one won.
I slowed my movements and kissed her slowly as I balanced over her.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you, too.” She gave me a sweet smile. I didn’t know what she and Cole had done or what he’d said to make this go smoother, but I’d have to thank him later.
I pulled out of her and grabbed my pants. Quickly, I brought the ring out, then moved back to her and held it up.
“Marry me?” I asked softly.
She cradled my face for a moment before offering me her hand. “Yes.”
I slid the ring back to its rightful place and kissed her ring finger. “I will be the best man I can be for you, Sunshine. And if I ever fail you, I’ll let you go. For a bit.”
She grinned at me before moving forward to kiss me again. I fell into the kiss and was ready to push back into her when there was a soft knock on the door, and Cole poked his head in.
“Anson is here,” he called out, his voice holding a hint of annoyance. “Deal with him, please. I can’t. He pisses me off.”
“Take care of our girl,” I said reluctantly, pulling away from her. I quickly dressed as she sat up.
“Should I come too?” She frowned up at me from her spot on the couch.
“No, baby. I’ll talk to him. Unless you want to…?” I wanted to give her a choice.
She shook her head. “No. He’s not here for me. It’s fine.”
I could hear the pain in her voice, and it put me on edge. I knew she liked him more than she let on, but I couldn’t fix that. I placed a kiss on her forehead before nodding to Cole to come in.
“Take care of her,” I murmured to him. “I’ll deal with Anson.”
“Deal.” Cole strode forward without looking back. I watched him gather Rosalie into his arms and take her hand in his before he kissed her finger with her engagement ring on it.
I smiled at that.
Anson looked up when I came into the living room. I’d passed E in the hall heading to Rosalie, so I knew he wouldn’t be part of the conversation I was about to have. He clapped me on the shoulder in passing, making me smile.
I expected Anson thought he’d see Rosalie, and judging by the crestfallen look on his face at only my presence, I’d say I was right. I knew Fox had left to give me a chance to talk to Anson, which I appreciated.
“Thanks for coming to help today. We didn’t mean to drag you from whatever you had going on,” I said, taking a seat on the couch. He shifted on the loveseat, his hands clasped in front of him.
“It’s fine,” he said. “I’m just glad she’s home.”
I nodded. “Me too. I’d like to compensate you for your time?—”
“I don’t want your money, Enzo.”
“Then what do you want?” I stared him down.
He scoffed. “Nothing. I wanted to make sure she was safe.” He got to his feet and made to walk to the door. “I’ll see you around.”
“Anson, wait.” I sighed.
He paused and looked at me. “Yeah?”
“She misses you. Your distance hurts her.” I hated to say the words, but I’d been lying to myself long enough.
“That’s not my intention.” He looked around like he was trying to find the right words. “I… I know I’m the cause of a lot of the issues that go on here. I know she loves you guys. My being around is fucking all that up. Because I care about her, I’m just letting go. One of us has to, remember?”
“Letting go is hurting her more. We can get through our shit, but she can’t get through hers alone. She needs you.” The words were heavy in the air. I didn’t want to say them, but I was trying to put Rosalie ahead of my feelings.
He nodded and backed away. “I’m only doing what I think is right. I just want her happiness, even if it’s at the cost of my own. I gotta go. I’m meeting with my father.”
“H-how’s that going?” I called out as he turned to go again.
He sighed and looked down for a moment before turning back to me, a sad smile on his face. “It’s going good. I wish you knew the man I knew.”
“He’s a monster, Anson.”
“We’re all monsters, Enzo. You know that.” And with those words, he walked away, letting the front door click closed behind him.
I stood in silence, his words hitting home.
We really were all monsters.