Chapter 9 Fox
NINE
FOX
Iyawned and rolled over as my phone buzzed. I snatched it off my nightstand and looked at it.
“Hello?” I mumbled as I answered it, noting it was way too damn early for a phone call.
“Fox,” my dad’s voice came over the line.
“Dad?” I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “Is everything OK?”
“Yeah. I was just up and moving around. Getting ready for work. Figured I’d see what you’re up to since it’s been a bit since we last spoke.”
“Yeah, it’s six thirty in the morning.” I yawned.
He chuckled. “You never were an early riser.”
I tried to push my bed head down and let out a soft grumble.
“I wanted to see how you’re doing,” he continued, clearing his throat. “How is everything?”
“It’s shit, but you know that,” I muttered.
Cole had taken Rosalie to his room the last few nights.
I knew he was trying to make things better, but I also knew he’d been buying shit for a baby that hadn’t been conceived yet.
Rosie smiled at him and didn’t tell him no, which only frustrated me more. I wanted her to say no at least once.
“I figured.” He sighed. “How’s Rosalie? The wedding still happening?”
“Yeah. It’s happening. She’s good. She got a recording deal—”
“That’s fantastic!”
“She turned it down,” I finished.
Dad was quiet for a moment. “Fox, you can’t let her throw this away. She deserves to get out and have a life.”
“I know. I try, she’s just… Rosie.”
“Headstrong. Sweet. Loving. I get it.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
We were both quiet for a moment.
“Can I ask you something?” I finally said.
“Of course.”
“What was Matteo like when you were growing up?”
He was quiet again for a long beat. “Why?”
“Listen, I’ve met with him—”
“Stay away from Matteo, Fox,” he warned, his voice lowering. “He plays a good game. Don’t get caught up in anything he says. It’s bad enough you’re dealing with Lorenzo’s bullshit.”
“I know. It’s just, would you say he can be trustworthy?”
He sighed. “What has he offered you?”
“Nothing,” I mumbled. “It’s just… Rosie likes him.”
“She likes him? How the hell does she know him?”
I launched into the story of Anson and her meeting with him, finishing after telling him everything except about the coin.
He blew out a breath. “I would assume that he treats Rosalie so well because she’s a sweet girl.
I do not know my brother anymore. He was young when I left, but I do know his reputation.
He used to be a good guy. Kind, caring, no-nonsense, but things change.
Watch her, Fox. Keep her safe. If you can get her and you out, do it.
Get the hell out of there and live. You’re going places, son.
I don’t want you to stall out and get trapped. It’s OK to walk away.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I-I want to leave. I want to take Rosalie and give her everything she’s always wanted. But I also love the guys. They’re my brothers. I-I don’t want this life, though. I’m so fucked, Dad. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
“Fox, I raised you to be strong. To not back down. To take what’s yours. Rosalie has always been yours. You know that, right?”
“I know,” I choked out. “I love her more than anything. I-I even bought her an engagement ring, but Enzo had to ask her because of his father’s stupid traditions.
I wanted to keep us together, so I said OK.
I regret it. Fuck, I regret it. It’s killing me to be stuck in this nightmare.
It’s made worse by my constant worrying about her safety.
She’s so damn stubborn and won’t listen.
Short of dying, I don’t know what to do to get her to understand it’s dangerous to keep staying. Especially right now.”
“Fox, take your woman and run with her. Don’t look back. Don’t let her marry Enzo.”
I licked my lips. “How? He’d not let us go. None of them would.”
“Then you’re going to have to get creative. If you love her, make the sacrifice.”
I frowned. “OK. I’ll try to get it sorted. If I can’t, will you be coming to the engagement party?”
“No. Being around that life doesn’t interest me. I’d prefer it if you didn’t go either. It’s a hotbed for targets. Lorenzo De Luca, his men, his father’s men, his father, all of you… In the same place? Fox, it’s not a good idea.”
“I know, but Enzo wants to give this to Rosie.”
“If you don’t get it sorted before then, make sure you’re carrying. Get her out if it goes south. Don’t hesitate.”
“I will,” I said thickly.
We were both quiet again.
“We should get dinner sometime. I’ll be in town in a few weeks. Maybe I’ll have an idea of what to do by then.”
“Yeah. Yeah, that would be good. We can meet up.”
“Stay safe, Fox. I’d lose it if something were to happen to you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad,” I said softly.
“We’ll talk soon. Keep your head up.”
I agreed and we said goodbye. I placed my phone back on my nightstand and opened the drawer. Carefully, I lifted the coin out and swallowed hard as I stared at it.
I really was going to have to push the damn thing.
I sat staring out my bedroom window later that afternoon as the rain drizzled down. I’d not bothered to go downstairs yet today. I knew I needed to, but my mind was so full of what-ifs and what-the-fucks that I couldn’t be bothered to go.
I didn’t even hear Rosalie come into my room, but she did. She slid onto my lap in the green sundress Cole was adamant she needed. I had to hand it to him. He knew how to dress her. She looked incredible in it.
“Foxy?” she murmured, cradling my face. “I’m worried about you.”
I took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I’m fine, baby. Just tired.”
“You’ve been in here for most of the week. Is everything OK?”
“No, but when is it ever?”
She frowned at me. “What can I do?”
I studied her pretty face for a moment, my heart hurting. “Nothing. You’re perfect. This is a me problem. It’s just a funk. They happen. Probably because I’m just stressed. Football season is coming and all that.”
“And I’m marrying Enzo,” she said softly.
“Yeah. And that.” No sense in lying to her about it.
“I want us to be together. All of us. You know I have to—”
“I know. I get it. I just wish…” I sighed. I wished for so many fucking things. Nothing I said would change the plan. She was going to marry him. She thought she was saving us all. Enzo wouldn’t relent. It was set in stone, so it was up to me to handle it.
It was up to me to save her.
I knew Enzo and the guys loved her to pieces. We are young and stupid. We do stupid shit. Cocky. Big egos. I understood it all. I just didn’t want this for her.
“Are you going to talk to Anson about reaching out to Alex for your contract?” I asked.
“No. I’m done with that.”
“Rosie—”
“Fox. It’s OK. I accept this. It’s not like I’ll never make music again. I can teach it and help others. I’m good with that.”
I clenched my jaw and looked out the window again.
“You’re making a mistake,” I said.
“It’s my mistake to make.”
“I know. I only wish you’d reconsider.”
“Maybe someday, but I don’t want to think about that. I want to see you smile for me. I miss you. I’m worried about you. We all are.”
“I’m fine. It’s just stress. It’s a funk. I’ll be OK. I promise.”
She nibbled her bottom lip for a moment before sliding off my lap and going to her knees in front of me. I watched her unbutton my pants.
“What are you doing?” I murmured, shifting so she could pull my pants and boxers off. My dick perked up as she stroked it gently.
“You’ve not wanted me,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “We haven’t…You haven’t…”
I reached out and tilted her chin upward. She was right. I hadn’t had sex with her in what felt like forever, but it wasn’t her. It was, once again, me.
“I will always want you, Rosalie. Never think otherwise.”
She blinked at me, her lips parted. Fuck, I loved her more than I loved myself.
I loved her more than I loved anything in this world.
I had to save her. I fucking had to. Anson would come around.
I knew when push came to shove, he’d come for her.
I believed it to my bones because Anson loved her like I did.
I let out a soft groan as she sucked my cock deep into her mouth. She could suck my soul through my dick, I swear.
I gently thrust upward into her soft, warm mouth, shoving all morose thoughts from my head and focusing on the moment we were in.
“Fuck, Rosie,” I moaned softly.
She sucked me harder. Faster.
She was going to make me come.
As hard as it was to do, I pulled her mouth off my dick.
“Am I doing something wrong?” Doubt and worry immediately filled her voice.
“No, baby, you’re doing everything perfectly.
I want to come inside you.” I helped her stand before I reached beneath her skirt and dragged her panties down her thighs.
Deciding I wanted to see all of her, I removed her dress.
She reached behind and unhooked her bra before letting it fall to the floor.
I tugged her between my legs and kissed her abdomen.
“I love you,” I whispered. “So fucking much, Rosie.”
“I love you, too, Foxy,” she answered softly, her fingers threaded in my hair.
I licked my lips, my jaw trembling.
“I want to get you pregnant, too,” I admitted. “Cole told me you agreed to a baby.”
Her hand stilled in my hair.
I looked up at her and gave her a shy, nervous smile. “I’m not asking you to, since I know Cole is on you all the time about it, and he’s so excited about taking you away, but just know I want to be a dad, too.”
“Foxy… I want that with you. I-I want it now.”
“What?”
“I-I would. I think Cole would be OK with it. I know he’s excited for me and him, but he loves babies, and I know he’d love ours like it were his—”