44. Enzo #2
I put my hand on the doorknob right as Rosalie came into the room wearing a pretty little skirt and top, her red hair cascading around her. She’d missed breakfast this morning. So had the guys. I’d had it with my parents on the patio, wishing shit was different.
“Thank you for coming,” Rosalie said, going in to hug my mom. My mom held her tight and whispered something to her that made Rosalie nod her head before she pulled away. My father moved forward and gave Rosalie a hug.
“We love you, Rosalie,” he said, pulling away. “Be good. Stay safe. We worry.”
“Of course.” Rosalie backed up, and I quickly wrapped my arm around her tiny waist, desperate to keep her at my side for eternity.
We bid my family goodbye and watched them pile into the waiting SUV. Emilio had brought an entire convoy to the house. A line of cars followed them out, with one leading. Once they disappeared from sight, I turned to stare down at Rosalie.
“This weekend was a shit show?—”
“Shh.” She pressed her finger to my lips. “We all would like to talk.”
I nodded, swallowing hard, and followed her into the living room, where the guys were already waiting.
I sank onto the chair, my soul empty as Rosalie moved away from me and went to sit between Cole and E. Fox stared at his feet from the loveseat, not bothering to even look at me.
“We’ve been talking,” Rosalie started. “We don’t like that you’ve been making decisions without us.”
“I know,” I said simply. “I was wrong. It was out of line. I did plan on discussing everything with you guys.”
“But you didn’t,” Cole said, glaring at me.
“These aren’t little things, Enzo, like deciding we’re having fucking sheep for dinner instead of chicken.
If my ass is expecting chicken tenders, and you decide to change it to a baby fucking sheep, I deserve to know!
I shouldn’t get slapped with a leg of lamb! ”
“Is this about dinner…?” E frowned.
“No, man. It’s about this prick taking our choices away. Also, I don’t ever want to see a lamb in this house again unless it has a pink bow around its neck and is eating out of my fucking hand.” Cole folded his arms across his chest. “That shit was fucked, man. I don’t eat baby anything.”
“Noted,” I muttered.
“Look, we only want to be included,” E said. “Rosalie is our girl, right? Not just yours.”
“You’re right. I was wrong to behave the way I did. I take full responsibility for it,” I said.
“And Italy?” Fox finally looked at me, his blue eyes hard. “You going to keep that the way it is? Did you even fucking ask her what she wanted?”
“We agreed to talk about this calmly,” E started, worry on his face.
“Yeah, what the fuck? The baby? I’m not letting you go three weeks anywhere. Rosalie and I are going to try before the wedding,” Cole added.
My heart fell at what he said, but I forced calm words from my mouth.
“We can talk about all of it,” I answered. “Rosalie, I booked us a trip to Italy for our honeymoon. Would you please come with me?”
She looked back at me. “I-I want to, but I think three weeks is too long. I have classes, and the guys…”
I nodded, my throat tight.
“But we can go for a week. I’d like that. Then maybe next summer, we can go somewhere else together. We could go back to Italy or-or even visit New Zealand. I’ve always wanted to go there. Or Egypt. I love Egypt.” She gave me a hopeful look.
“OK.” I licked my lips. “One week in Italy for our honeymoon and then two weeks next summer anywhere you choose.”
“And the guys get to come with us,” she added.
I glanced at the guys to see their faces. They were unreadable, but I knew Fox and Cole were both pissed. Their words suggested as much.
“I’d really just like it to be me and you,” I said, my voice low. “For this.”
“Not fucking happening,” Cole snapped before Fox could. “I know what you’re up to, De Luca. If I can’t get Rosebud pregnant before you get married, you will try. No fucking way?—”
“I won’t. I-I promise, Cole. You and Rosalie can have a baby first. I’ll wait.”
Cole glowered at me for a moment before the tension visibly left his body.
“But please, fucking wait until after the wedding,” I added thickly.
Cole’s face fell. “Man, come on. No?—”
“What does Rosie want?” Fox broke in.
I looked at Rosalie, my heart in my throat.
“What do you want, Sunshine?”
She bit her bottom lip and fiddled with her fingers on her lap.
“Rosebud?” Cole called out tentatively, a twinge of worry in his voice. “Last night, you said we could. Have you changed your mind?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about it this morning. What if I have to resize my dress and it’s not ready in time?” She looked to Cole with her green eyes wide.
He visibly relaxed. “So you still want to try, even if we wait until after the wedding?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I-I do. I’ll stay on my birth control until after the wedding. You and I can try when we return from the honeymoon.”
“Oh fuck yes.” Cole dragged her into his arms and held her tightly. I couldn’t make out what he said to her as he rocked her, but I knew it was him probably thanking her and telling her he loved her.
“So everything is settled. Right?” E looked from Fox to me.
Fox shook his head and looked away.
“Fox, hey, I’m sorry about last night. I was rude.
I shouldn’t have been. Without you, none of us would be here right now.
She’d not be our girl. I love her, and I love you.
I don’t want to fuck things up. I’m sorry, brother.
” I got up and went to him. I dropped to my knees before him and took his hands in mine.
“I’m trying to hold everything together. I’m not very good at it, though.”
Fox locked eyes with me.
“You’re going to fucking ruin everything, Enzo. You need to let go of some of these stupid ideas and plans you have. I love you too, but we won’t survive the way we’re going,” he said, his voice wavering. “This is your father’s empire. It doesn’t have to be yours.”
“I can’t run or hide from this life. It’ll find me,” I whispered. “My father is an enemy to many, which makes me one by default. If I leave, they’ll just come for me. For Rosalie. For all of you. So we fight and get to the top.”
Fox scoffed and looked away. I reached out and forced his face back to mine.
“I swear to you, this will work out. I will take it all and give it to you to prove it. Trust in me, Fox. Please. I’m begging you to trust in me.”
“Things are changing, and I don’t like it,” he answered. “One of us is going to get hurt or worse. Then what? Will it have been worth the climb?”
I swallowed at his words. “I won’t let that happen.”
Fox stared back at me.
“ Constantino. My brother. Please. Trust in me to get us there.”
He stared me down for a moment, a muscle feathering along his jaw before he let out a soft sigh and gave me a slight nod of his head.
I leaned in and rested my forehead against his.
“If she gets hurt, Enzo, that’s it. One time,” Fox whispered so only I could hear him.
“ Once. Do you understand me? Then I’m taking her away from here.
I don’t give a fuck if you’ve planted ten babies in her belly; I will take her and keep her as far away from this shit as I can.
I would die for it. This is my vow to you. One. Fucking. Time.”
I breathed out and nodded. “OK.”
He pulled away from me, his eyes still locked on mine.
“Then we have a deal.”
“We do,” I answered, mentally noting how I’d just permitted her to drive herself to and from classes.
I’d ramp up security. I’d contact the school and make sure they could be stationed in and around places.
It would be a mess, and I may find resistance with Mayfair, but my father was right.
Money did talk louder than words. I’d pay whatever I had to as a way to ensure she’d never be in danger.
“I should also mention that Rosalie asked to be able to drive herself to and from classes. I agreed.” I stood and stared out at the guys.
“What?” Cole snapped. “Absolutely not?—”
“I’ll arrange my schedule so she doesn’t have to,” E started.
“Fucking hell.” Fox scrubbed his hand down his face.
“I’ll be fine, guys. Enzo said he’s going to have his men watching.” Rosalie said.
“Then let them drive you.” Cole looked to me. “Wouldn’t that make more sense?”
“She wants a little bit of freedom. I do want her to have that,” I answered. “If you guys are OK with it, we can do a trial run. If it doesn’t work out, we will shuffle around schedules.”
“I can drive her home as I’ve been doing,” Fox said. “Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”
“Fox, you have all that stuff you do for training,” Rosalie said, frowning.
“Fuck it. I’d rather you be safe?—”
“I can drop my physics class,” E said. “It’s Tuesdays and Thursdays in the evening. I’ll be able to make sure she gets home those days. I can also move my work hours around. I don’t need to be working as much as I do.”
“You do,” I said, meaning it. “I know it’s exhausting, but until you’re willing to let someone else have the recipes, you’re the only one who can make shit. You have to be working, E. I’m sorry, man. You know it’s true.”
He grunted and nodded. He wouldn’t even give us the recipe. He was just so strict with it all. It was genuinely his baby.
“I’ll drop out altogether,” Cole said.
“You’re going to be a doctor. You can’t drop out.” Rosalie kissed him gently. “Dr. Cole needs to be able to care for the kids when they’re sick or hurt.”
He went silent immediately and melted against her, kissing her deeply.
“Wait. You’re going into pediatrics?” E called out.
Cole broke his kiss off from Rosalie. “Uh, yeah.”
“I thought you were going to do emergency medicine?” I asked.
He hadn’t mentioned he was switching anything up.
Of course, he had time to decide, but still.
It was apparently news to all of us but Rosalie.
I assumed he’d told her when he’d ferreted her away a few weeks ago and nearly gave us all a heart attack.