Chapter 15 - Fox
FIFTEEN
FOX
Rosalie seemed a lot happier lately.
Truth be told, everything was perfect. I was perking up a bit more. Having Enzo tell me he thought he had a way for us all to marry my Rosie made me feel like the world wasn’t so heavy.
Well, not really.
We still had the issue of her safety, but I’d been convincing myself lately that she’d come around, take her record deal, and that would take her away from it all.
Anson would join her. He’d leave behind whatever bullshit he had going on with Matteo, and I’d get to play ball.
Everything would work out, and the guys would eventually come around to him joining us.
That’s what I kept praying for and repeating to myself anyway.
I watched as Enzo brought Jamie into the living room. Rosalie flew to her, and both girls squealed and hugged.
They didn’t even bother with us guys. She and Rosalie were talking a mile a minute as Rosalie led her to her bedroom.
“Damn,” Cole muttered. “Not even a hello, Cole. How are you, Cole? Your hair looks nice, Cole. Is that a new shirt, Cole? That blue brings out your eyes, Cole.”
“She doesn’t give a shit about your weird ass,” E called out, snickering. “And why do you keep repeating your name?”
Cole scowled and flopped onto the loveseat.
“How was everything?” I asked Enzo. “Did the guys say there were issues getting her from the airport?”
Enzo waved me off. “Jake said it was fine. Just traffic like always. He took Elijah and Christian with him. It went well.”
Seemed typical. Fucking Chicago and its traffic.
I had to admit, these new guys were a breath of fresh air.
Young and eager to please us, especially Enzo.
Already, they were making a name for themselves, and that helped put the horsemen closer to the top because people on the streets were realizing there was a shift in power in the city.
Lorenzo De Luca and his horsemen were the new leaders. It was upsetting a lot of people.
At least that’s how I saw it.
“I have some work to do,” E said, getting to his feet and stretching. “I need to finish out this last batch so I’m ahead for a few weeks.”
“You’ll spend the weekend with us?” Enzo asked, raising his brows. “No basement cave dwelling?”
“I’ll be present all weekend,” E said. “Promise.”
“Hey, E?” I called out as he made to leave the room.
“Yeah?” He looked over his shoulder at me.
“When was the last time you got high?”
“A week ago,” he replied.
“I’m proud of you,” I said, really meaning it. I’d noticed he hadn’t been blitzed out like he typically was. “Seriously.”
A tiny smile graced his lips before he left and went back to the basement.
“You noticed it too?” Enzo asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. Sober E is way different from strung-out E. He’s happier and jokes more.”
“It’s weird,” Cole murmured. “He’s a completely different person. What changed?”
“He made a promise,” I replied. “I think he’s working hard. I really am proud of him.”
“Rosalie said he wrote a song with her. Well, he wrote a song and she worked on it with him,” Enzo said.
“Nice,” I said, nodding.
We were all quiet for a minute.
“Fox, did Rosalie talk to you about her dad?” Enzo asked.
“No,” I answered. “Which is weird because she tells me everything. I didn’t push her on it.
I’m honestly assuming he told her he isn’t coming to the engagement party and won’t be there for the wedding.
She asked me to give her away, and I said I would.
” It sucked, but it was what it was. The prospect of her marrying me someday kept me going.
Enzo better uphold his promise; that was all I knew.
“I think that’s what it was, too.” Enzo sighed. “Fuck, he’s a dickhead. He knows what this means to her.”
“That’s John,” I said. “He’s stubborn. I’m glad Rosie didn’t inherit too much of that from him. I can call him and try to talk to him.”
Cole and Enzo exchanged looks.
“I hate him,” Cole muttered. “But maybe you should. She’s been smiling a lot lately. I like that. I like how happy we’ve been. Don’t tell her you’re doing it. If he ends up showing up with her mom, she’ll be ecstatic. It’s worth it.”
“OK. I’ll call.” I got to my feet.
“Do that. I have some men coming in for a final rundown of everything for tomorrow. I have to deal with my parents’ shit too.”
“I thought your parents were coming in tonight,” I said.
“They’re going to drive in for it with Emilio and some men. Seemed safer that way.”
I nodded. It made sense.
I bid the guys goodbye, listening as Cole asked Enzo if he’d ordered an at-home engagement cake because the guests would eat all the cake at the party, and he wouldn’t be able to have his fill. I chuckled at that. He sure enjoyed cake.
I got to my room and closed my door. I sank onto my bed and pulled up John’s number on my phone before sending it.
It rang four times before he came on the line.
“Fox,” he said. “Is Rosalie OK?”
“She’s fine, John,” I replied. “I didn’t mean to alarm you. I only thought we could talk for a few minutes if you have some time.”
“Sure. Of course,” he said. “What’s going on?”
“Uh, nothing. Rosalie was really upset when you left.”
He was quiet for a moment. “She didn’t tell you what I told her?”
“Is it about not coming to the engagement party?”
He let out a humorless laugh. “No, although I do know that upset her as well. I can’t believe she didn’t tell you.”
I licked my lips, completely confused. “She didn’t. What’s going on?”
He blew out a breath. “Fox, I came to tell her about her mom.”
“What’s wrong with Marcy?” I sat up straighter. Rosalie had always been close to her mom. “Is she OK?”
“Marcy isn’t Rosalie’s mom,” John said softly. “I came to tell her about her real mom.”
I blinked rapidly at that information.
“Who the hell is her mom?” I finally asked.
John sighed. “Listen, if she didn’t want you guys to know, then she made that decision—”
“John. It’s me. It’s Fox. You know how I feel about her. I’m worried. She was so broken after you left. Please. Tell me. I won’t tell her you did. I won’t even tell the guys. If she has a breakdown again, I need to know where it’s coming from. She’s everything to me.”
“I wish you were the one marrying her,” he murmured. “It kills me you’re not.”
“Me too,” I said thickly.
He was quiet again. “I used to go to Mayfair.” He paused for a moment and cleared his throat. “I fell in love there.”
I sat and listened to his every word, my pulse pounding in my ears as I learned who her real mom was. Who her brother was. When he was done, I continued to sit in stunned silence.
“I understand why you’d want to tell Lorenzo, but I’m asking you not to. Let her—”
“I won’t say a word,” I whispered. “Promise.”
“You’re a good man, Fox. Take care of her, OK?
I trust you with her life. Promise me you’ll keep her safe.
No matter what. She needs out of that life.
You know she does. Please… do what you have to do to make that happen.
I can’t save her. I couldn’t save her mom, and it kills me.
But you… she listens to you. Please. Save my daughter. ”
I swallowed hard. “I-I will, John. I promise.”
“Thank you. I’ll be worried sick tomorrow. Please… do whatever you have to do.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me before we bid one another goodbye.
I sat in stunned silence for the better part of an hour before Enzo knocked on my door.
“Did you reach John?” he asked, coming into my room.
I nodded.
“What did he say?”
I breathed out. I made a promise not to say anything, and I intended to keep it. “It was what we suspected. He said he doesn’t support the wedding and can’t be there. Work and his hatred of your ass.”
Enzo grumbled but nodded. “Figured. Well, at least we know. You coming down? Rosalie and Jamie are downstairs with us.”
“Yeah. I’ll be down in a minute,” I said.
He left me alone, and I tugged at my hair.
My Rosie was an Ivanov. She was in this life and in deeper than we thought.
Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.
This had been one of the best weeks of our lives lately. Of course, some shit had to pop up to ruin it. No wonder she was freaking the fuck out. Everything she thought she knew had come crashing down on her. I’d been too blind to notice her smile wasn’t real. I was just happy she had one.
My Rosie was hurting.
Damnit, I didn’t want her to hurt. I’d talk to her about it. And if I had to, I’d still push that fucking button. She was in too deep.
Back to square one.