41. Fox
FORTY-ONE
FOX
R osalie came downstairs looking beautiful.
I smiled at her, taking in the fancy twist she had her hair up in and the pretty green dress she wore.
Impressing Enzo’s parents mattered to her, but I knew she didn’t need to try hard at all.
Enzo’s mom adored her, and while I knew his dad wanted him not to marry her, he cared for her too.
Enzo told me Anthony wanted him to let her go to save her from this life.
As much as I hated to admit it, I agreed more days than not lately.
I still carried my coin from Matteo on me. My plans had hit a wall with Anson’s disappearance, but I knew he’d come back if I made the choice. He vowed it to me. He may think he was doing me a favor, but he wasn’t.
While I didn’t want to fucking die, I also didn’t want Rosalie to either. If my death could save her life, then I was going to do it in a heartbeat.
Cole captured Rosalie in his arms and twirled her around. She laughed and was silenced by his kiss. He broke away from her and slapped her ass before calling out for Enzo.
I shook my head as she approached me, a smile on her lips.
“I haven’t seen you wear your hair up in forever,” I commented.
“Do you like it?”
“Rosie, you could shave your head bald, and I’d love you right down to the shine on your forehead.”
She grinned at me before giving me a playful shove. I snagged her and pressed my lips to hers, earning that soft whimper from her that always made my heart race.
“You look beautiful,” E said, coming into the room from the basement. I released her, and she went to him, offering him a sweet kiss he just ate up.
“Mm, you don’t look so bad yourself.”
He chuckled. “You did buy me this shirt.”
“Exactly.” She kissed him again, making him grin, his green eyes bright. He’d been happier lately. I think Enzo’s promising to let him off from attending meetings lifted a huge burden off his shoulders.
He was smiling more, spending more time upstairs, and had taken to doing photos again. I’d caught him in the backyard just last night shooting pictures of birds, a boyish smile on his face.
“We have to do your engagement photos,” E said, backing away.
“Oh. I forgot about that.” Rosalie frowned.
“Guess we need to stop being so distracting.” He kissed her again, making her melt against him.
“I like it when you’re distracting.”
I watched as E lifted her into his arms and sat her on the kitchen table. I knew where this was going.
“E, man, Anthony and Marissa?—”
“Five minutes,” E mumbled, not bothering to stop his trek beneath her skirt.
The doorbell dinged loudly.
“Then take her upstairs because they’re here.”
E let out a groan as Rosalie laughed. Sighing, he helped her off the table and straightened her outfit before smiling down at her.
“You are the most beautiful girl in the world,” he said softly before going in to kiss her gently.
Smooth talker.
The doorbell rang again, and Cole darted into the room, his pants unbuttoned and his hair a mess. Rosalie grinned and tugged E out of the room with her to answer it. Enzo followed from the office, his footfalls sounding out.
“What were you doing?” I asked, looking Cole up and down.
“Jerking off in the laundry room.” He ran his fingers through his hair quickly before doing his pants up.
I snorted at him. “What? Why?”
“Well, I was trying to save Rosalie the job of getting me off today. Did you even see what she’s wearing? My dick is going to be hard all day.”
“Man, it’s just a regular dress.”
“And she’s in it.” He glanced at me. “Her tits look so damn good.” He let out a groan. “Enzo has been hogging her lately. And I’ve been busy when he’s not.” His expression grew sour. “I haven’t been laid in days, Fox. Days. Do you know what that’s like?”
“Apparently, bad? You can’t handle going a few days without getting laid?”
“No. I can’t,” he muttered, smoothing down his shirt. “Pointless self-abuse with my dick is my thing lately.”
I shook my head at him. “I’m sure you only need to make it through the weekend, and things will die down. Then you can be with her.”
“I’m not going to make it through the day,” he said, his blue eyes fixed on her as she walked back into the kitchen, Enzo’s arm around her waist. “Yeah, I’m toast.”
“Mr. and Mrs. De Luca,” he called out as if he weren’t talking about his cock a second ago. He grinned and strode forward to greet them.
“Cole,” Anthony said gruffly, pulling him in for a hug. “No need for formalities. You’re like a son to us.” He pulled away and surveyed Cole, his dark eyes twinkling. “You’ve done so much to help us.”
I knew us was the syndicate. I hated that we’d even come to this part of our lives.
It didn’t seem to matter. It always came back to this mob bullshit I was completely over.
Going through the motions and hoping it panned out was the name of the game right now, but I already knew I was out the moment shit went too far.
I could endure. Rosalie shouldn’t have to.
It would be my way of saving her since I knew the guys would never let her go without one of us fucking dying for it.
I shook the ugly thoughts out of my head and greeted Anthony.
“Fox.” He hugged me tightly.
“How are you doing, Anthony?” I asked.
He smiled at me. “I’m well. How have you been?”
“I’m good. Busy.”
He clapped me on the back. “Football. So many accomplishments. I bet your dad is proud.”
“He is.” The truth of the matter was that I hadn’t spoken much to my father since I found out our family secret of him being a De Santis.
My father, the carpenter, was a former enforcer for the mob. An heir. A runaway. The reason my mom was dead.
Well, not entirely. I knew how much my dad loved my mom. She was his whole world. He left the mob life so he could have his family and life. Where it got him was nowhere good, though, because now Mom was gone, and I was in deep.
In all the years I’d known Enzo, our fathers had never met or spoken. I now knew why. My father had even asked me several times not to be friends with Enzo, citing ridiculous things like he was in trouble too much and basic parental complaints. At least, that’s what I always thought they were.
Now I knew.
He’d given up on it sometime during our junior year, though, so I assumed he’d just gotten over it. And maybe he had, but it didn’t change shit. He should have told me long ago what was going on.
I was still pissed over it.
And hurt.
Had I known…
“What’s wrong?” Rosalie murmured, pulling me from my thoughts.
I forced a smile onto my face and kissed her temple. “Nothing, baby.”
She crinkled her brows as she stared up at me, not buying the shit I was selling. I didn’t dwell on it because Marissa came to greet me.
“Marissa,” I said as she pulled me in for a tight hug. “How are you?”
“Oh, Fox.” She pulled away and cradled my face. Enzo’s mom was an absolute sweetheart. Truly beautiful and kind, Anthony was lucky to have someone like her, and Enzo was fortunate she was his mother. “It’s been rough, but that’s how this life is, right?”
The sadness in her eyes was notable, especially when she darted her dark eyes to Rosalie. I swallowed hard.
“That’s the truth,” I murmured.
She patted my cheek and moved on to greet Cole, who waggled his brows at Enzo.
Enzo shot him a sour look. It had been a long-running joke in our group growing up that Cole was going to nail Enzo’s mom.
I guess he still wanted to tease Enzo about it.
We all knew he wasn’t serious, but Enzo used to get so pissed.
I moved back to Rosalie, who still seemed nervous.
“Relax, baby,” I whispered to her as I gave her a squeeze.
She nodded but definitely stayed tense.
I ground my teeth when Enzo pulled her away from me.
And that’s how the afternoon was. He kept her at his side, not letting any of us get close to her.
I watched as she smiled up at him, all doe-eyed and in love.
Jealousy flared red hot inside me. I knew it shouldn’t since she was still mine too, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was meant to be my wife, if anyone’s, and none of this shit seemed fair to any of us.
Except maybe Enzo since he was winning the goddamn world.
I’d give everything up for this one win.
Everything.