“I-I was hurting. I-I…” I didn’t know what to say. Did I really hate her? No. Did I love her?
Fuck.
“Cole,” I tried again. “Put the gun down. Let her go home.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m keeping her.”
“Cole,” E said. “I know you love her. I know you love your daughter. And I know they both love you. Anson and the guys are willing to let you join them. No fighting. Nothing. You know this. They told you this. If you want to keep that, please. Give herto me. I’ll make sure she gets home. I’ll talk to her guys. I-I’ll tell your Ellie-belly that her daddy is coming to see her soon. In that time, we can all cool off. You can go out and visit them. See if you even like California.”
“I fucking hate California,” Cole said, sniffling. “It’s too hot there, and the ground fucking shakes randomly. I want her to be here with us. Like it used to be.”
“OK. OK, maybe that can happen,” E continued, trying to reason with him. “But we just need to get over this bump in the road. You need to let her go. She loves you. We all know she does, or she wouldn’t have let you join her and Anson that night. She wouldn’t have brought Ellis to you. She’s hurt and angry like we all are. Please, brother, if you do love her, you need to let her go and work on this in a healthy way.”
Cole stared at him for a moment.
“Do you promise it’ll be OK?” he asked.
“I-I can’t guarantee it, but I know that it will be better than what could happen if you keep her. Ellis will definitely lose her dad. Please. Give her to me. I’ll make sure she gets home.”
Cole sobbed softly and clung to her tighter.
“I-I just want some time with her. Please? Just… I want to be with her alone. C-Can I do that?”
“Cole,” I said gently. “Give her to E.”
He said nothing, but his shoulders sagged in defeat. We watched him adjust her top and brush her wild red curls away from her face.
“I love you, Rosebud,” he whispered, his tears falling onto her. “Please, baby, love me back. I-I’ll wait forever.”
He kissed her sweetly on the lips before he pulled away, looking like a man destroyed.
“Take her,” he choked out.
I was closer, so I lifted her easily into my arms, safely away from Cole.
She was light and smelled so fucking good I could cry. I adjusted her in my arms.
“What did you give her? What was on that cloth?” E asked.
Cole mumbled something to E I couldn’t hear, and E sighed. He didn’t seem overly concerned, though, so I wouldn’t be. I assumed whatever it was he used was the same thing he’d used to take her in the first place.
“Give her to me. Handle him,” E said, reaching for Rosalie. I pulled away for a moment, which caused E to widen his eyes at me.
I stared down at her, so beautiful in my arms. I leaned in and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Until we meet again, Sunshine,” I whispered before handing her off to E.
He took her and was quick to leave the room, the front door closing behind him.
“Come here,” I said, dragging Cole into my arms.
“Fix this, Enzo. Please. I’m begging you,” Cole choked out. “I love her. I love my family. Please.”
“I’ll fix it,” I murmured. “Promise, brother.”
He nodded and held me back, sobbing softly.
The only problem was, I didn’t fucking know how to fix it.
