Chapter 27
ENZO
Cole left the house and didn’t return home that night. His tracker said he was at a hotel, likely needing some space.
“Are you going to talk to her?” E asked from his spot on the couch as I came into the living room from my office.
“No,” I said. “Have you talked to her?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. I will, though.”
I nodded. Seemed about right.
“I think you should talk to her,” E said softly. “It might clear the air.”
“I’m good, man. I brought her here and spoke to her earlier about the situation. There’s no need for closeness or a reunion. I’m not interested.”
E scoffed, but didn’t call me out on my shit. The truth of the matter was, it was killing me to know she was just upstairs in my home and not my girl. She had new men to love her. I wasn’t about to fight with them, either, although everything within me said I should.
I’d called Emilio earlier, and he said to do what I felt was right.
It felt right to let her go and continue her life. She was happier without us. I wanted that for her, and I wouldn’t stand in the way of it happening.
“Go talk to her, E. Might be your last chance once Dante Church hears about this.”
E nodded. “I will. Just not right now. I’m going to go check on Cole.”
“Fine. Tell him she’s going to need crutches so she can get around.”
He nodded, got up, and grabbed his keys before leaving. I sat on the couch for a long time before I went into the kitchen and put together a sandwich for Rosalie. I grabbed her some water and went upstairs. I had been hoping that E would do this so I wouldn’t have to see her.
I knocked lightly on her door before cracking it open to find her sitting on the edge of her bed and staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows to the city.
“I brought you food,” I said softly, stepping into the room.
“Thank you,” she murmured, not bothering to look at me.
I walked around to the side where she was sitting and offered her the plate.
She shook her head, not looking at me.
I placed it and the water on her bedside table.
“It’s so strange, isn’t it?” she asked softly.
“What is?”
“This. We’re two strangers in a room that overlooks an empire.”
I swallowed hard at her words. “I suppose it is strange.”
“Are you well, Enzo?” She still didn’t look at me.
“I am,” I replied.
“Do you visit your dead wife’s grave as much as you visit Fox’s?”
I balled my hand into a tight fist to keep myself from screaming my hatred of my dead wife.
“I only want to know which you loved more,” she whispered.
I said nothing for a moment. I knew she still hurt from what I’d done.
“I am arranging for your men to retrieve you tomorrow morning. I expect they’ll be here bright and early. Perhaps you should rest.”
“Is Cole coming to see me?” Her voice was soft and trembled.
“I don’t think so,” I answered. “But I don’t know for sure.”
She finally looked over at me. “I know you fell out of love with me a long time ago.”
My heart clenched at her words. I wanted to scream to her that she was wrong, but I held my tongue.
“But I know you love Cole. Please. I need to speak to him. Can you get him?”
“Rosalie, respectfully, Cole needs time to sort through his emotions—”
“Then can I please call my husband?”
“I will let you speak to your husband in the morning when I make arrangements for him to retrieve you.”
“And E?”
“You mean your little secret?” I asked, my bitter words sliding out. “He said he will come see you later this evening. He’s dealing with a few matters right now.”
“OK.” She looked back to the city lights.
I didn’t say anything for a long time, but I didn’t move either.
“Please eat. I don’t want to be accused of starving you on top of kidnapping you,” I finally said.
“I will.”
I turned to leave, but she called out to me, her voice shaking.
“You did well for yourself, Enzo. I’m happy that you got everything you wanted.”
I closed my eyes at her words, but didn’t reply. I simply walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.
Even after all these years, she was still just as beautiful and perfect as always.
I fucking hated that.