Chapter 23 Rosalie
TWENTY-THREE
ROSALIE
Istared at the wall in my bedroom. I’d barely moved out of my bed. I’d been home from the hospital for a week now, but it didn’t feel like home without Fox and Ethan.
Enzo was a zombie. He didn’t even speak to me. In fact, I hadn’t seen him in days. He’d brought me home from the hospital, and Cole carried me to my bed. After placing a soft kiss on my forehead, they both left me.
And that was the last time I saw Enzo.
I knew both his parents had been killed. My heart was crushed at the news, and I’d cried nearly every day since. Add it to Fox and Ethan being gone, and I was barely keeping it together.
Cole tried to be with me, but I knew he was trying to be with Enzo, too, since he was breaking apart at the seams.
The bullet that struck me had gone in and got my side, missing all the vital bits. I had to have surgery to remove it and fix a few things. I was still hurting two weeks later.
Jamie was still here, but I kept pushing her out, too heartbroken to even look at her. She’d made it out by going through a bathroom window. I was grateful for that. I wasn’t sure what I’d do if something had happened to her, too.
Colten was here and was staying. So, while the house was full, it still felt empty. I kept having nightmares. I’d wake in the night screaming for Fox and Ethan. But it was Cole who answered. Exhausted. Crying with me.
I hadn’t told my parents what had happened.
I was sure they knew. And Kurt. He had to be going nuts right now.
I wasn’t sure if he knew, but I assumed he did.
My dad had called a few times, but I’d sent him a text telling him I couldn’t talk.
I wasn’t ready, and I knew he’d beg me to come home to him.
“Hey,” Jamie called out, poking her head in after knocking. “I made food. Do you want some help downstairs to eat?”
I shook my head, numb inside as I stared at the wall.
Jamie came into the room and sat on the edge of my bed.
“Babe, you need to eat. You’ve barely had anything. I’m so worried about you.”
“I’m OK,” I whispered.
“Please eat. I can bring it to you—”
“Is Enzo here?”
“Um, yeah. He’s in his office with a whole bunch of guys. They’re having a meeting.”
Jamie leaned in and hugged me tightly. “It’s going to be OK. I think they’re talking about finding Fox and Ethan. It’s all they’ve been doing. Enzo is barely home. Cole too. It’s why they haven’t really been up as much.”
I nodded. I knew this. Cole did make the effort to see me, though. I didn’t know why Enzo wouldn’t. I wanted to hug him and tell him I loved him, and I was scared. I wanted to know that he was OK.
“I’m going to bring you food.” She got to her feet.
“No,” I said. “I’ll come down.”
“Do you want some help?”
I shook my head. “No.”
She hesitated for a moment before leaving me, her footsteps fading away.
With a great deal of effort, I got to my feet, wincing at how sore I was. I was supposed to be resting, but I needed to see Enzo. I needed to know what the plans were for getting Fox and Ethan back. This was unacceptable. He couldn’t avoid me forever. I needed him.
After using the bathroom, I walked slowly, holding the wall for support, as I went downstairs. I skipped the kitchen, where I saw Jamie pulling food out of the oven, and went to Enzo’s office. Each step felt like fire in my body, but I needed to see him.
I knocked lightly on the door before opening it, not waiting for an answer.
“Rosalie,” Cole said, getting to his feet and rushing at me as I took an unsteady step into the room to see it was filled with men, listening to whatever Enzo was telling them.
I recognized the four new guys Enzo had hired.
Elijah, Christian, Dmitri, and Memphis. His other men, whom he kept close, were there too.
Even the kings were there.
“Baby, what are you doing out of bed? What’s wrong?” Cole’s blue eyes raked over my face, concern in them.
“Enzo,” I whimpered.
“Enzo,” Cole shouted.
Enzo moved toward me.
“Leave us,” I whispered to Cole. “Please. I need him.”
Cole hesitated for a moment before he went back to everyone to continue their discussion. I knew the men in the room were trying to ignore me, but I could tell they were also paying attention.
“You need to be resting,” Enzo said gently. “Cole will take you upstairs—”
“Enzo, please,” I choked out. “I want to know what’s going on.”
“I’m working on things,” Enzo replied. “We haven’t found anything yet, OK? When we do, I’ll make sure you know—”
“I’m scared. Please. I-I need you. You haven’t come to see me—”
“Because I’m fucking working!” he shouted at me.
I jumped at his sudden outburst. My bottom lip wobbled as he closed his eyes and blew out a breath. I knew everyone was uncomfortable having heard him yell. The room had fallen silent before Vincent cleared his throat and said something to draw everyone back.
“Rosalie, I need to work, OK? We won’t find the guys if we aren’t working.”
“I know. I understand,” I said, my voice wobbling. “I just miss you too, and I’m so s-scared—”
“Go upstairs,” Enzo said firmly, his face slack. “I’ll come see you tonight. Just let me do this, OK?”
I nodded.
“I’ll take her if you don’t mind.” Dominic stepped up. “I’ll talk to her.”
Enzo studied him for a moment before nodding. “Thanks.”
Enzo didn’t say another word to me. He simply returned to everyone else, leaving me staring up at Dominic De Santis.
“Come,” Dominic murmured, taking me by the elbow. I let him steer me out of the office.
I was shaking, my body weak. My eyes prickled with unshed tears. I stumbled and cried out, but Dominic caught me.
“Here,” he said, lifting me easily into his arms. I stiffened in his hold as he ascended the stairs quickly without any effort.
“Which room?” he asked.
I pointed to my bedroom, and he brought me inside before placing me back into bed. He tucked me in without a word before leaving me to my troubled thoughts.
If I thought that was the end of it, I was wrong because he returned a few minutes later with a baked potato, a piece of chicken, and a glass of apple juice. He placed the items on my bedside table.
“How is your wound?” he asked.
“It’s OK,” I said softly. “I hurt.”
“May I see it?”
I hesitated for a moment as he pulled the covers back. I let him lift my camisole, the cool air chilling my skin.
He lightly ran his fingers along the purple bruising on my ribs where I was kicked repeatedly, his green eyes dark.
“You’re healing well,” he commented after eyeing the healing wound. “This is good. I’m glad. You may barely have a scar. Your surgeon did well. Where are your pain meds?”
I pointed to my bathroom. He left and came back with one of the pills in his hand.
“Open,” he instructed.
I did so. He dropped the pill onto my tongue and offered me the glass of apple juice. I drank from it while he held it, feeling the pill slide down my throat.
“There. That should help. Mine made me so tired.”
I swallowed. “These make me tired, too.” I paused. “I’m sorry to pull you away—”
“You need someone,” he said gently, his gaze meeting mine. “I know what that’s like.”
My bottom lip trembled, and a tear slid down my cheek.
He reached out and swiped the tear away, a pained look on his handsome face.
“This world is a cruel place, piccola fiamma. For what it’s worth, my heart hurts for you, and I am deeply sorry for what you’re going through. I, too, have suffered similar.”
I knew he had.
Bianca.
When she was taken, he’d tried to kill himself. And now she was gone again and marrying Anson, all while pregnant with Dominic’s baby.
He let my shirt fall back over my stomach before he reached for my phone. I watched him unlock the screen and tap on the keyboard.
“I’ve put my number into your phone. If you need someone to talk to, I will answer.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, another tear snaking down my cheek.
He reached out and thumbed it away, his touch gentle. Looking at him, one wouldn’t think he was the caring sort. As tall as my guys and just as built, he had the appearance of someone wicked, right down to the tattoos on his fingers.
But it was his voice and actions in this moment that made me realize he was probably one of the only people in the world who knew exactly how I felt. I was sure Levin and Vincent could relate, but Dominic had loved so hard he’d tried to kill himself to join Bianca when he thought she was dead.
“Don’t do it,” Dominic murmured.
I blinked at him, another tear slipping down my cheek. He swiped that one away, too.
“Leave to be with them. To find them. They’re here, piccola fiamma, not anywhere else. Believe that.”
“How do you know?” I whispered.
He took my hand and squeezed it. “Because a love as deep and fated as you have with them won’t leave you. It’ll return. True love never dies, I hear.”
A soft sob left me at his words.
He leaned in and hugged me gently, his cologne sweet on my senses. For whatever reason, his arms around me and the way he smelled calmed me. Maybe it was because I felt so alone, or perhaps it was because I believed him. After all, he’d gotten Bianca back.
“You need to eat. You’re wasting away.” He released me and reached for the food.
I watched as he cut the chicken breast and potato, then put some on a fork and offered it to me.
I tried to reach for it, but he tutted softly at me.
I parted my lips and allowed him to feed me. Slowly, I chewed and swallowed. He wasted no time in giving me more to eat. Before long, my stomach was full, and I’d turned my head away.
“Drink,” he murmured, offering me the apple juice. I sipped it as he held the glass.
“More,” he commanded gently when I made to stop. I did as he wanted, gulping down more before I couldn’t possibly fit more into my stomach.
“Good,” he said, placing the juice back on the table.
“Dominic?”
“Yes?”
“Are you scared?”
He studied me for a moment before answering. “Yes. I’m scared I’ll never see my sons. I’m afraid Bianca will be hurt and that I’ll never get her back. I’m scared my family will be harmed. I have many fears.”
“Are you mad about Anson?”
“Furious,” he whispered. “But I have faith. You should have some too.”
“They shot Fox. I watched him fall,” I said, my voice trembling.
“Fox is strong. He loves you. He will fight to come back to you with E. I know this. I believe this. You need to believe it, too. I know how hard it is. It’s a nightmare.
A living fucking hell, but Rosalie, if you don’t believe, then what will you have left?
Hold onto knowing the guys are strong. That they love you.
That they will fight to come home to you. Can you do that?”
“I’m trying.” I wiped at my eyes.
“Don’t hurt yourself,” he said gently. “Promise me that no matter what, you won’t do that.”
I nodded, my throat tight. If I lost Fox or Ethan, I knew I’d die. There was no way I could go on without them.
“Enzo won’t talk to me. I’ve barely seen him.”
“He lost both his parents,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “Then Fox and E are gone. It’s a lot. The whole empire has collapsed onto his shoulders. Grant him some grace. I know you miss him, but he needs to work. He knows how strong you are. He knows you can heal and join him.”
I absorbed his words. He was right. Enzo had a lot going on. I needed to let him work. Time was of the essence. Fox and Ethan had been gone way too long.
“He couldn’t even have a funeral for his parents because of the danger. That’s not right,” I whispered, staring into Dominic’s eyes. “It’s not fair.”
“It’s not, but this is our world. Not much in it is fair, so we rig the game and just try to stay ahead. Once things settle, I’m sure he will have a memorial for them.”
He likely would. He loved his parents so damn much. My heart broke all over as I thought about never seeing them again.
“You should sleep,” he continued. “Rest so you can heal.”
I nodded and settled back against my pillows.
“Are you going to hurt Ani?” I asked. “For marrying Bianca?”
He sighed. “I want to believe Bianca has plans set in motion. I’m actually going to try to meet with Anson. Hopefully, I’ll get some answers so I know my next steps.”
“You won’t hurt him, right?” Fear bubbled in my chest. There was no way I could deal with three of the guys gone, even if Anson weren’t a horseman. He was still my friend.
“Do you love him?”
I blinked at the question.
“You remind me of Matteo,” I said, my voice low. “He asked me the same thing.”
He scoffed. “I am not Matteo, I promise you that.”
“I know you’re not.” I paused. “I do love him,” I answered, staring into Dominic’s eyes. “But we cannot be.”
“Never say never.” He gave me a sad smile. “One of the ones who couldn’t be got my girl pregnant.”
I nodded at his words. Fallon was a lord and had gotten Bianca pregnant. It had been a whole mess.
“He doesn’t talk to me. Anson. I haven’t seen him either. Not since I woke at the hospital.”
“Rumor has it he’s tearing down heaven and hell to find the guys. I’ll know more soon.”
My eyelids felt heavy.
“Thank you. For talking to me.”
“Of course,” he murmured, tucking my blankets around me again. “I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”
I reached out and took his hand.
He didn’t pull away. Instead, he held it right back.
Guess we both needed some comfort.