11. Cole
COLE
Ipaced the small cell I was trapped in. I was going insane being stuck down there in the bowels of Satan’s asshole, and by Satan, I meant fucking Dante Church.
I hated that prick.
I had since the moment I met him, but unfortunately, he was Rosalie’s brother, so I couldn’t kill his ass.
Maybe I could make it look like an accident, though…
I’d been down there for at least a week. I knew damn well it was longer, but I didn’t like to think about it. All I knew was that I needed to get the fuck out of there.
I went to the door and pounded on it for at least a solid ten minutes, shouting for someone as I tried to peek through the tiny slit.
Finally, I was met with vibrant blue eyes.
Asylum.
Of all the pricks to answer me, it had to be him.
I hated him as much as I hated Church.
He pointed down and showed me a note he had in his hand. I frowned and backed away as the slip of paper slid beneath my door.
I bent and unfolded it only to read what he’d written in neat scrawl.
Shut the fuck up. You’re ruining my nap.
I snarled and pounded on the door again.
“You fucking little prick! I’m going to choke you with your own cock when I get out of here! Soundproof my ass! Fucking asshole! Fuck you! You’re dead! You hear me?”
He shook his head, laughing hard, his hand up to his ear like he couldn’t hear me.
“Fucker! Ass napkin! Dead! Fucking dead!”
He blew me a kiss and left, making me so pissed I kicked the door.
Irritated, I hobbled back to my bed and sank onto it.
I couldn’t stop the tears that fell. I was spent.
Exhausted. I wanted nothing more than to get the fuck out of here and prove to Rosalie that I loved her deeply and that I was serious.
I wanted her. I wanted my daughter. I wanted to be part of her group.
Hell, I wanted fucking Anson if it meant I got my family back.
I’d propose to his ass tomorrow and be his bitch if it meant I had Rosalie and Ellis.
Maybe I’d gone crazy. They said that happens to people in the underground. I was beginning to think it was true. I was scared of what another week would bring.
I awoke to what I assumed was the following day, to my door creaking open. I stared as Evan came into my space.
Immediately, I sat up, the very real thought that he was there to kick my ass. It would make sense. Wasn’t like anyone would kick his ass back if he fucked me up. Hell, he may have even paid good money to be alone with me.
“I thought we were cool,” I said, getting to my feet. I recalled talking to him on the phone, and he didn’t seem too pissed at me.
“We’re not,” he said in the soft rasp of his. I could see his hands visibly shaking.
He really was going to beat my ass. Based on the fact he’d already beaten Enzo’s ass, I knew he’d give me a run for my money.
There was no way out, so I’d just have to take it.
He wore all black, his face gaiter in place and aviator glasses on.
“There’s not much room to fight in here,” I said, eyeing him.
“Good.”
I swallowed. I wasn’t scared of shit, but he was a big motherfucker, and I’d seen what he’d done to our house.
He settled into the chair in the room and gestured for me to sit back on the bed. Confused, I took the edge and stared at him.
“We should talk,” he rasped softly.
“OK,” I said, my heart hammering. “Are Rosalie and Ellis OK?” My voice shook with my words.
“Yeah. Yeah, they’re good,” he said, blowing out a breath. “I, uh, fuck. It’s hard for me.” He wiped his hands down his black, ripped jeans. I could see tattoos peeking out from beneath the tears.
His legs bounced.
He was nervous.
“Just say it, man.” I eyed him. He didn’t seem the type to get nervous.
He scratched his head, moving his black beanie before tugging on it. In every instance that I’d seen the man, he’d had nearly his entire face covered.
“It’s hard for me,” he repeated. “Being down here. It-It’s changed, but I can still… feel it.”
“You were tortured here?” I raised my brows. “Church—”
“Cole,” he said, his voice shaking. “Please. Let me just do this, OK?”
“Do what?” My heart pounded harder. A million things ran through my head. He was going to tell me Rosalie was done with me. My daughter was never going to be in my life. That they really were hurt or worse. That I was never leaving here. Fuck, so much went through my head that my legs bounced too.
Evan stood and paced the small area like I’d been doing. I watched him, my heart in my throat.
“Just fucking say it, man. We don’t know each other, but this shit freaks me out,” I said. “Especially when I’ve been locked up down here for god knows how long, worrying about Rosalie and Ellis. If it’s bad, just-just tell me. Please.”
He stopped in front of me and went to his knees, facing me. I crinkled my brows as I stared at the big fucker.
He reached out and pulled his hat off to reveal his black hair, which had been shaved to a low level, but looked like he was due for another shave.
He looked down before pushing his face gaiter off and removing his glasses.
I stared at him, not understanding.
He breathed in and out for a moment before finally looking at me.
I blinked in confusion, searching his face. An ugly, jagged scar ran down one side of his face. His eye was milky white on that side. I let my eyes wander to his lips.
Plump. Pink.
Familiar.
Then I looked at his other eye.
Vibrant blue.
Eyes I once knew.
“What?” I whispered. “F-Foxy?”
“Hey, brother,” he greeted me in a choked voice.
I blinked rapidly and reached out, gripping his face in my hands, tears stinging my eyes.
“What the fuck?” I sobbed softly. “Foxy?”
There was no way.
Maybe they were fucking drugging me down here. I’d heard they did that shit to people.
“Foxy?” I called out again. “Is it you?”
“It’s me,” he said, his voice shaking as tears streamed down his cheeks.
I threw myself at him, hugging him tightly and sobbing his name over and over as I clung to him.
He held me back, crying with me.
“How? How?” I cried, pulling away to look at him.
Fuck, he looked like he’d been through hell. His casket had been closed at his funeral on account of his body being burned. His father confirmed his death. There were dental records and all sorts of shit used. Plus, Enzo had seen him dead down here.
None of it made sense to me.
“Foxy, how the fuck are you here? Is this real? Am I dead?” I stared at him, shaking my head. “I’m dead, aren’t I?”
“No, man. You’re alive,” he said gently.
“Then how…?”
I couldn’t believe I was staring at one of my best friends.
“Matteo,” he said sadly. “The coin. It was a tracker. I pushed the button down here. He sent Alessio. I was dying anyway. I wanted to save E. I’d forgotten I even had it.
But Matteo followed through. Saved me. E was saved.
I-I was dead. I’d made the deal with Matteo that I’d be dead if I pushed the button, but dead to Matteo meant something else. ” He wiped at his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
I stared at him. “Y-You left us.”
He nodded, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I did. I wanted Rosalie to be safe. Matteo had officially killed me. There was no going back. I wanted to die anyway, and so I did, just not in the way I thought.”
“You left us,” I repeated, continuing to stare at him. “You-You took Rosalie… my-my daughter… you fucking knew all of it and you left us.” I shook my head, the tears still falling. “Why would you do that? To me, Fox? You knew how much I wanted my family. You knew…”
“I know.” His voice cracked. “I knew that, but I also love Rosalie more than anything. All I wanted was to save her from what was happening. It was killing me. I’d failed her so many damn times in the past. It was the one thing I could do for her.”
“So she found out you were alive and you married her the next day before fucking her with Anson and running off in the sunset.” My heart ached.
Fuck. What the fuck.
“With my baby,” I finished. “Y-You stole my entire fucking life! What the fuck sort of friend does that? Huh?”
My anger was taking over now. He’d fooled us all. The ultimate fucking fox indeed.
“That’s why Church told us to fuck off and leave Rosalie alone. He was protecting you too. Fucking assholes!”
“I’m sorry for your pain—”
“Do you have any fucking idea what this has done to us? Huh? It tore our family apart! We had a funeral! We buried you! We mourned you! We still fucking mourn you and visit your grave. I talk to you when I’m alone because I have missed you so fucking much, but you…
You son of a bitch. You were off living my life.
With my girl. My daughter.” My jaw trembled as I stared at him, the tears still slipping free. “Foxy, why? Did you never love us?”
“In or out, and out was through a body bag,” he whispered. “You know I loved you guys, but I have always loved Rosalie more.”
“Fucking prick.” I glared at him. “Does Enzo know?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I haven’t told him. I-I told E. He knows.”
I scoffed. “I hope he punched you in the fucking face.”
“He told me I was dead to him,” he said, his voice cracking.
I let out a soft huff of bitter laughter. “He always was smart. He’s right. You are dead. Fucking stay that way. Dick.” I shoved him, and he fell on his ass as I flopped back onto my bed and stared at the ceiling, my tears streaming out silently.
He slowly sat up but didn’t stand to leave.
“Go away,” I whispered. “I-I can’t fucking do this right now, Fox.”
“Evan,” he murmured. “Fox died.”
“Fox is right fucking here trying to convince me he’s real, all while telling me he’s dead. You’re giving me whiplash, dick. Make up your mind.”
He was quiet for a moment before I felt his warm hand wrap around mine.
I squeezed my eyelids closed at his warm, familiar touch. This time, though, he had a wedding band on.
“I want you to come with us,” he said, his voice shaking.
“Where are we going? To hell? I’m sure you know the way, dead ass.”
“No, Cole. I-I want you to join us. Please.”
“Rosalie knew and didn’t tell me,” I murmured sadly. “She fucking knew. Ass Hat knew.” I shook my head. “What a fucking joke. Just… Just fuck off, Fox. I can’t even look at you right now.”
He continued to hold my hand for a moment before releasing it and getting to his feet, putting his shit back on.
“For what it’s worth, I do love you, Cole. I miss you, and I’m sorry I hurt you, but I’d do it all again if it meant saving Rosalie. If it meant saving Ellis. The offer stands. Join us.”
I closed my eyes as his heavy footsteps went to the door. I heard the door open and close. I opened my eyes to find myself alone again.
And this time, I didn’t hold back my tears because, seriously, what the fuck?