Page 299 of When We Fall: Part Two
I just had to convince him.
NINETY-THREE
ROSALIE
Iopened the door to the bedroom and stepped out. I had no idea what to expect, but I was greeted by a group of people my age who sat in various places in the massive living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows ran along one wall, where we could overlook the city.
I swallowed, nervous about what to do with my hands as I twisted them in front of me. I was still wearing Dante’s sweatpants and t-shirt.
“You came out,” Dante murmured, coming to me. He took my hand and led me to the center of the room. “I want you to meet my family.Ourfamily. This is Malachi. We call him Stitches. He’s our brother.”
Dante gestured to a muscular, tatted guy dressed in black, who stood. I widened my eyes at him. He was the guy who spoke to me at the bar.
“Hey,” he said, raking his hand through his shaggy black hair. “Sorry about the bar shit. Just checking things out, you know?”
“Um…” I winced. “Y-You’re my brother?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I guess. Adopted.” He reached for me and gave me an awkward hug. “I really am sorry. Church can be a lunatic. We can’t control his ass.”
“Noted,” I murmured as he released me and went back to his spot on the leather wraparound.
“This is Sinclair. Sin for short.” Dante nodded to another big, tatted guy with a blond man bun and several piercings. Sin inclined his head at me.
“This is Bryce. We call him Shadow.” Dante pointed to the tall guy with a mess of copper curls on his head. The guy seemed out of place amidst the darkness in the room. He smiled back at me.
“Asher. He goes by Ashes.”
I looked to the next guy and noted he was holding a lighter. I was sure that wasn’t by coincidence.
“Welcome,” Ashes said, getting to his feet. He hugged me against him. “Sorry about Dante. He’s a work in progress. Be tough, OK? Don’t take his shit.” I knew his words were meant to soothe since they were so soft in my ear.
“And this is our girl. Sirena.” Dante held his hand out to the beautiful girl with colorful eyes who had been sitting next to Ashes. She rose. She reminded me of a ghost, so soft and delicate. Her black hair spilled around her like a shadow. She was breathtaking.
“Sirena doesn’t speak,” Dante continued as Sirena stared into my eyes. She reached out and traced her fingers along my lips, a tiny smile on hers. She signed something to Church, who let out a soft laugh.
“What?” I asked nervously. She was small, but her presence was overwhelming. I could tell she was in charge of these guys. Hell, she could probably command the city if she wanted. Some people just had that energy about them. She was one of them.
“She says I look like you,” Dante answered, a tiny smirk on his lips. “That I’m pretty like you.”
I smiled at that, feeling my cheeks heat.
“I-It’s nice to meet you all,” I said, swallowing nervously as I shuffled from foot to foot. They didn’t seem like they were going to kill me. The feeling of being in danger was passing. It was Dante who made me most nervous. I felt like he was just a breath away from losing his mind.
“Relax, Rose,” Stitches said, winking at me. “Ain’t no one here going to bite you. Church might, but he’s into that shit. The rest of us just deal with his strange ass.”
Dante shot him a sour look as the door to the apartment opened.
My mouth dropped open as Sylar walked into the room, dressed in all black, wearing a t-shirt with “Unbothered” in bold pink print.
“Sylar?” I called out, confused about what he was doing here.
“Hey, there, pretty lady,” he greeted me, a grin on his face. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“What are you doing here?” I blinked at him.
“These are my people. Church hasn’t let you go yet?” Sylar looked at him. “I told you to let her go. Fate can’t move if she’s stuck in your bedroom.”
“She’s in the living room,” Stitches piped up. “So…”
