Chapter 10 Anson #2
“You’ll have both.” I kissed the top of her head and closed my eyes. “Rest, sparkles. I need you and the babies to be strong for what’s coming.”
Fuck, what a mess.
I’d turned a movie on and watched it with Bianca before returning her to her room later that night, so when Fox’s text came through to meet with him, I left Matteo’s and went and paced my living room, really fucking hoping he wasn’t going to tell me what I thought he was going to say to me because I was already asshole deep in a big fucking mess.
The moment a knock on my door sounded out, I opened it to find Fox standing on my stoop holding a box. I stepped aside wordlessly for him, and he came in.
He was thinner. He looked tired and unwell.
Not. Fucking. Good.
But he smiled. A genuine smile.
“What’s that?” I asked wearily, nodding to the box he placed on my coffee table.
“It’s a box for Rosalie. All our memories I’ve kept over the years—”
“Fox, don’t fucking do this,” I warned softly, shaking my head. “Now isn’t a good time.”
“Anson, it’s happening. I’ve picked a date,” he said, settling on my leather couch.
My jaw quivered as I stared back at him. He looked… relieved. Happy. Content.
Fuck. Definitely not good.
“Don’t,” I choked out. “Please, man. Rethink this.”
“Once Rosalie goes to bed the night after the engagement party, I’m going to leave. Once everyone is sleeping, I’ll drive to the lake and stare out at the stars. I’ll push the button.”
“No.” My voice cracked. I couldn’t believe I was having this conversation.
“I’m happy, Anson. I need to leave. I need to free her.”
“You’ve lost your mind. You need help, Fox. Please. Let’s call someone to help—”
“If you call someone to help, I’ll push the button now,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m asking this as a dying wish. Let me go. Take Rosalie like you promised me.”
“I-I can’t,” I said thickly.
He crinkled his brows at me. “Why? You promised.”
I rubbed my eyes. I was in a real fucking bad position.
“I’m getting married.”
He blinked rapidly at me. “What? To fucking who?”
“To Bianca,” I mumbled.
Fox practically flipped the coffee table as he got to his feet so fast.
“What? Why the fuck… how the fuck… have you lost your goddamn mind?”
“I’m not worried,” I said sourly. “My lost mind is probably in the same fucking ditch where you lost yours.”
“Why the fuck are you doing this?” he demanded, glaring at me. “You made me a promise—”
“Don’t do this, Fox. Constantino. Fucking don’t.”
He stared me down for a long time before he spoke, his words soft and concise.
“I am going to do this. Whether you step up or not is irrelevant. I’ll make other arrangements for her safety.”
Damnit. Of course, he would.
“Fox, I-I have to marry Bianca—”
“Why? You don’t love her, right?”
I swallowed thickly. “I care about her and the babies. I’m saving their lives. If I don’t, Carmine will kill her.”
Fox shook his head, a sour look on his face.
“Then take her back to fucking Dominic and the kings,” he snarled.
“Then I’ll be betraying my father. There is a fucking rhyme to his reason. I have to trust that.”
He shook his head at me. “I thought we were friends. You promised.” Despair washed over his face.
“We are.” I stood and faced him. “You and Ryder are my two best friends, man. Truly. I care about you. I’m worried about you.
What you’re doing isn’t right, Fox. You’re sick,” I said gently.
“You need help. Let someone help you. Don’t let yourself die.
I’m begging you. Rosalie will fucking die with you.
Don’t you understand that? She lives and breathes for you. ”
“I have to save her.” His voice shook, and tears spilled down his cheeks. “Help me save her. Please, Anson. Fucking please, man.”
I reached out and cradled both sides of his face. “I will. I promise, but we’ll do it together, OK? I’ll help you, but you have to promise to stay. Promise me, Fox. Promise you’ll not follow through with this.”
“You promise to help?” he asked, his lashes damp with tears.
“I swear to you. I’ll talk to Alex. I’ll really talk to him. Maybe he’ll increase the money and sweeten the deal for her. I’ll do whatever I have to do so she’ll leave. Just… stay.”
He studied me for a moment without saying a word.
I licked my lips. “I told Rosalie a story once. It was about us when we were older. Life was better. In the story, we had a beautiful home in the country. A little dog. Children. We had a front porch where we could sit and watch the sunset. I promised her we’d be on the front porch together.
I want you to be there with us. I know she wants it too. Will you be with us?”
He nodded, his bottom lip trembling.
“Fuck, man. Come here.” I dragged him to me and hugged him tightly as he sobbed into my neck, clinging to me.
“You’ll have a son someday,” I whispered, rocking him. “He’ll play football. You’ll teach him. He’ll sing too. He’ll be a legend, Fox. You know he would be. You have to stay for your Rosie. For your son. For me. We need you more than you’ll ever understand. I love you, man. I fucking love you.”
“I love you,” he choked out.
“Come on. Let’s have a drink to celebrate all the good things coming our way.” I released him and took a step back.
Quickly, he wiped at his eyes and nodded. I took that opportunity to go and grab us some glasses and pour out some whiskey. We needed something hard.
I placed the full bottle of alcohol on the coffee table and took a seat in my chair, drinking deeply with Fox. Within the hour, we’d smoked sugar and drank ourselves into a stupor.
“Keep the box,” he slurred out. “I don’t need the guys finding it. It’s better with you.”
“OK,” I agreed, trying to keep my vision from doubling. “So you’re not going to die?”
“Not today.” He sighed and smoked more as he stared up at the ceiling. “If Rosie were here, I’d let you fuck her.”
I let out a soft chuckle.
“I mean, if she wanted you to,” he finished. “I’d like to watch you two fuck.”
“Man.” I raked my fingers through my hair. “Shut up. You’re wasted and talking shit.”
“No.” He looked over at me. “Let’s talk about it.”
I shook my head before drinking deeper.
“I want to fuck her with you. I want you to be with her, too. I think someday we can make it happen.”
“You think so?” I laughed. “I’m getting married, man. I’m not going to cheat on my wife.”
He waved me off. “Whatever. Bianca won’t stay married to you. You’ll go to fucking work and she’ll be bouncing on Levin’s cock the moment you walk out of the house.”
I snorted at that. “You’re probably right. She doesn’t love me. I don’t love her. We’re just playing the game, right?”
“Sure seems that way.” He polished off his 4th glass. I refilled his and mine again, and we continued to get shit-faced.
“Tell me how you’ll do it,” Fox pressed.
“You’re too drunk. I’m cutting you off.”
“Fuck off. Come on. Since you’re off in Palmville jerking your cock, you may as well fantasize. I’ll tell you if you’re doing it right.”
I scoffed. “Oh, please, man. I’ve fucked a lot of chicks in my day. Trust me, I know how to make a girl come.”
“Then tell me.”
I sighed. “I don’t know. I’d start by kissing her. Whispering to her.”
“What are you whispering? The fucking recipe for fried chicken? Come on, man. Be more creative than that.”
I shook my head. “It’ll be good. Trust me.”
He rolled his eyes and smoked more. I knew Fox wasn’t OK yet, but I really fucking hoped he would be soon.
“You’ll be there to hear it,” I continued, gauging him for a reaction.
His lips curled into a smile. “Yeah, so you better make it good.”
“I will,” I murmured, drinking deeply. She’d told me we weren’t ever going to happen, and fuck me, I believed her. Her words had shredded my heart. There was no coming back from them, but to keep Fox alive, I’d believe whatever lie he wanted to tell me.
So I played along, laughing with him and planning a future I’d not be able to be a part of, but fuck it.
Anything for LeeLee.