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?
12
ROSALIE
Evan walked through the door to the apartment Dominic had set us up in, looking like a storm cloud. I hadn’t seen Dominic yet, or any of the kings, but Klaus said Levin had called and mentioned they’d be stopping in.
It had been many years since I’d seen Dominic. He’d helped me through some of the worst times of my life, and I never got to thank him. He never visited us. If Ani wanted to see him, they would talk on the phone, but that was pretty much it.
I saw Levin more often, since he flew from Chicago to L.A. from time to time to see Klaus.
And more often wasn’t all that often. Maybe twice in five years.
“How did it go?” I asked, getting to my feet from the couch where I’d been strumming my guitar so Ellis could dance.
Klaus came out of one of the bedrooms where he’d set up a makeshift office for the time being.
“Fucked,” Evan said. “Dante won’t let them go. I tried to reason with him, but he said they had violated their contract with him.”
“He promised he wouldn’t hurt them?—”
“He hasn’t,” Evan said. “Baby, he’s not done anything to them. I don’t know what he’s doing to them, but physically, he hasn’t touched them.”
I breathed out, grateful for that.
“Did you tell Cole?” Klaus asked as we moved to settle back onto the couch. I sat next to Klaus, and he wound his arms around me as Evan knelt in front of me.
“I did.” Evan gripped my hands tightly. “He’s pretty pissed.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, sitting forward to cradle his face. I could feel his tears beneath my fingers. “Evan, I’m sorry.”
His jaw trembled. “I expected it, and I get why he’s pissed. I accept it. It just sucks. I-I hope it doesn’t mess things up for you and Ellis. It’s my biggest fear. I’m sorry, Ro.”
