“I’ll fix this,” he said softly. “I promise. I know it’s a big ask, but can you trust me?”
“Fucking asshole.” I wiped at my eyes.
“E, man. Please.”
I blew out a shaky breath. “Yes. I will trust you.”
“Then give us a few days, OK? Everything will be fine. I promise. Do you believe me?”
I stared at him. He was Fox, but he wasn’t. So much about him had changed. He didn’t look a thing like his old self. Bigger. Tatted. Gruffer. All the soft edges that had made Fox who he was were gone. Torn off by the underground.
“I can’t leave them to the underground,” I whispered. “I can’t?—”
“Ethan,” he said. “Trust me.”
It was so fucking hard to trust him after everything, but in the end, he’d never done anything to hurt me intentionally. I knew that. Just like I hadn’t with keeping the truth from Rosalie. All I’d wanted was protection. For her. For me. God, I’d fucked everything up.
Plus, Fox was the one who got me through the underground. I owed my life to him. In a way, he’d sacrificed his life for mine. It was the only thing that kept my anger at him in check.
“OK,” I rasped. “I trust you.”
“I’ll see you soon, OK? Get to your son and take care of him. I’m sure he misses his dad. Can you do that for me? That’s all I want you to focus on.”
“I-I can do that,” I said, wiping at my eyes again.
“Good. I-I love you, E.”
I closed my eyes, letting my tears leak out.
When I opened my eyes, Rosalie was there, and Fox was gone.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated softly.
“We’ll talk soon.”
I nodded. “OK. Do you promise?”
“Yes. I promise.”
“Goodbye, Rosalie.”
“Bye, Ethan.”
I disconnected the call and slumped in my chair. Church returned moments later and sat on the edge of his desk, staring down at me.
“It pays to have friends in high places,” he said. “I really didn’t think she’d answer your call and that I’d get to keep you.”
“Do you want to keep me?” I asked, staring up at him.
“I have always wanted to keep you,” he murmured, eyeing me.
I didn’t move as he squatted in front of me and stared into my eyes.
“When we were kids, you kept me alive. You gave me a purpose,” he said, his voice low, as he took my hand in his.
I crinkled my brows at his words.
“We were two tortured kids, desperate for a way out. In a way, you were one of my first real… friends.” He paused. “I have always been fascinated with you, Luka. I have always wanted to save you.”
