Chapter 36 Cole
THIRTY-SIX
COLE
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I stared down at E in his hospital bed. He was so littered with bruises and injuries, I wasn’t even sure how he’d survived. While the external injuries were extensive, I knew the ones he harbored inside were worse.
He’d gone through hell.
So had Fox.
I wiped at my tears. I was so fucking torn.
I needed to be with Rosalie, but Anson called Enzo and told him he’d put her down as requested.
He had to leave to do damage control, though, so my brother and Jamie were watching over her.
I had no fucking idea what damage control meant.
I suspected that since he “owned” the underground, he had shit to handle.
Fucking useless prick.
The door opened, and Enzo stepped into the room. He looked like a fucking mess. His hair was tousled. His clothes had blood on them. His face was slack.
“Hey,” I choked out, my hand still in E’s.
“I’m headed out.”
“Where are you going?” I demanded. “E needs you—”
“I have to find out what the fuck is going on. Everett Church wasn’t caught. I want that prick. He deserves to fucking suffer like E and Fox suffered. He deserves to fucking die too. Elijah and the guys went back. They got a few of his men. I need to talk to them.”
“Enzo…”
“Cole, don’t fucking start,” he snapped at me. “I can’t do shit for E right now. Or Fox. He’s gone. We need to try to retrieve his body.”
“Rosalie,” I choked out. “She needs us—”
Enzo exhaled. “She’s sleeping. Colten knows to call me if she wakes. He also knows how much to drug her to keep her down. She’s fine.”
“She’s not fucking fine,” I snarled, glaring at him. “Fox is dead—”
“I fucking know he’s dead!” he shouted at me. “I was there! I’m the one who held his fucking busted body! ME!” He pounded his chest. “I know he’s gone. I know it’s my fault.” His voice cracked.
I got up and went to him.
He fell into my arms, sobbing softly. I held him tightly.
“It’s not your fault,” I soothed, trying not to lose it too.
I wanted to cry, to scream, to beg God to bring Fox back, but I couldn’t.
I had to be strong. I was all we had left right now with E out and Enzo spiraling.
Plus, someone had to be there for Rosalie, and it sure as fuck wouldn’t be Ass Hat.
I didn’t care that he’d helped us get E out. He said the underground had been cleared.
He fucking lied.
And now, Fox was dead because he couldn’t fucking walk through the place and check all the rooms.
Fuck Anson Beyers.
“It is. He told me. He fucking told me, and now he’s gone.” He cried softly. “Rosalie. Fuck, man. Rosalie.”
“Ask Dom if he’ll go to her,” I whispered, pulling away from him. I hated the thought of another man with my girl, but one night would be fine. “For tonight. I know it’s asking a lot, but he’s been here before. He might be able to help if she wakes and Colten and Jamie can’t handle her.”
“I don’t want her to wake,” Enzo rasped. “I want her to sleep forever so she doesn’t hurt.”
“We can’t keep her down forever,” I whispered, my chest aching.
“We will for a bit.” Enzo looked at me. “We have to. She won’t be able to handle it.”
“Enzo--”
“Cole, stop. I-I can’t deal with this right now. Let me get Fox’s body. We have a funeral…” his voice cracked before he inhaled deeply. “We have to call his dad.”
“Get his body. I’ll call his dad.”
“No, it should come from me,” Enzo said. “It’s my fault.”
“Enzo, don’t blame yourself—”
He held his hand up to silence me. “Take care of E. Kill anyone who tries to get close.”
His phone buzzed, and he reached into his pocket and answered. I didn’t listen to his call. I went back to E’s side and brushed his hair away from his battered face.
“It’ll be OK,” I murmured, one of my tears falling on his cheek.
He was knocked the fuck out. Luckily, nothing was broken on him, at least not outwardly, but he was beaten to piss.
Docs gave him pain meds that I was sure would set him back a million steps, but he’d make it out to the other side. E was strong. He always made it.
He hadn’t been conscious yet to speak.
I feared when he would.
“The kings are coming. Dom is going to our place with Fallon. Vin and Levin are coming here. They’re going to sit with you.”
My eyes misted over. It wasn’t long ago that we’d done that for them while Dom was in the hospital.
I nodded, my throat tight.
Enzo moved to E’s other side and leaned down. I watched him kiss E tenderly on his forehead.
“I love you, brother,” he whispered. “I’ll bring Fox home. Stay strong.”
“Be careful,” I called out, my voice thick with emotion. “We can’t… I can’t lose you, too.”
He gave me a curt nod before leaving the room, the door clicking closed behind him.
I held my head in my hands and let my tears out.
If I didn’t cry, I’d explode.
I was so fucked. Everything was fucked. My heart was aching for my Rosebud. I dreaded the next few weeks.
There was one thing I knew, though.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
And for that, I wept harder.