I shook my head. “No. It’s Dante. He-He was working. He had blood on him. I-It’s not mine.”
He said nothing as he stared down at me, letting his hand fall back to his side.
“Why are you here? You’re not being forced here, are you?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I-I came to talk to you.”
He stared at me for a moment before he reached out and hit the light switch. It turned the lights brighter. He moved back to the bed and sat as I stood nervously in front of him, twisting my fingers together.
“What time is it? What day?”
“Uh, it’s just after midnight. You’ve been here almost two weeks.”
He nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “What do you want to talk about?”
“I-I’m sorry. About this.” I gestured around.
He let out a soft, sad laugh. “I’m being punished for my sins against you. You shouldn’t be sorry. This is what I deserve. I accept that.”
“I-I don’t know that you deserve it.”
“It was your decision,” he muttered, looking at the floor. “I accept it.”
I went to my knees in front of him. He lifted his head and stared at me, his dark eyes red from exhaustion and sadness.
“Enzo, is that all true? What you did? Everything with Ethan and Cole? With-With Celeste?”
“Yes,” he whispered.
“You never cheated on me?”
“No. You are the last woman I have been with.”
I swallowed at his words.
“But you cheated on me,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I deserved it. I pulled away from you. I was going through hell, and I-I fucked up. I wanted to fulfill what Fox wanted. I knew he was right before he died, and I definitely knew it after he did. I had to let you go. It killed me to do it, but I knew it needed to bedone. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for the pain I caused you. All of my actions. My ugly words. All of it. I’m sorry.”
“You never apologize,” I said thickly.
His lips twitched in the corner, his dark eyes still filled with sadness. “I know, but it’s time I said the words to you. I didn’t treat you the way you deserved. I lost myself in this fucked up world. I knew I was falling hard and fast into it, then when I landed, I crashed to the ground and was broken. I-I tried to pick up the pieces, but there were just too many, so I had to let some go. I had to let you go.” His voice cracked. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for your pain. Your anguish. The way I made you feel. I’m so fucking sorry for Fox. I always felt inferior to him, and I was selfish and an idiot. You two just had this connection I wanted so badly. When I got the chance to claim you, I did it. I put my ring on your finger. It wasn’t right. I knew it then, and I know it now. The last five years have been killing me. I-I wish I’d died, not Fox.NeverFox. He was my brother. A best friend. And he was yours. I took that away, and I can never forgive myself for that or what I did to you. Fuck, I am so goddamn sorry. I don’t know what else to say but that.” He wept softly, his big body shaking.
I said nothing for a moment before I reached out and took his hand in mine.
“I-I have to tell you something.”
He stared at me, his cheeks tear-stained. “OK,” he whispered, his voice trembling.
“Fox…Fox is alive.”
He stared at me for a second, confusion on his face. “What?”
“He’s alive. H-He… Matteo gave him a coin to push. It was a tracker. I didn’t know about any of it until I saw Fox again. It was months later. Matteo kept him. Helped him heal.”
“No.” Enzo shook his head. “No. I-I was there. He was dead. I-I checked him myself. His lips were blue. H-He had no heartbeat. I-I was even at the morgue. He was there. He wasthere, Rosalie! He’s dead! Fuck.” He reached out and placed his hands on either side of my head. “Are you OK?”
“What?” I frowned at him as he held my face.
“I know it’s been hard on you. Losing him. If you need help dealing with it?—”
