Page 311 of When We Fall: Part Two
“Rosalie, this part of your life ended a long time ago,” Dante said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. “What you’re doing now is risking your life for nothing. Your guys left you. They moved on. Marriage. Babies. It’s over.”
His words crushed me. I’d been avoiding all of it for months now. I hid in clubs and distractions to take my mind off the pain.
Dante pulled my chair out and kneeled in front of me. He reached out, tilted my chin up, and wiped my tears.
“Rosalie, my sweet sister, if you can leave, do it.”
“Y-You’ll let me?” I choked out.
“I-I want to be part of your life, but I want that life to be something you’re proud of. This isn’t it. It terrifies the fuck out of me that you’d go, but I also know it’s so far from this world that you’ll be safer. I’d ensure it. I have resources you can’t even imagine.” He wiped another of my tears away. “I will let you go if you swear to me you’ll sign that contract and get the fuck out of this city. You told me last night that your dream was always to sing. Here is your chance. Fucking sing.”
“I’m scared,” I whispered.
“Good. It means it’s challenging,” Dante said fiercely. “It means it’s worth it. Right?”
I nodded, looking down at my hands. “I’ll be alone.”
“You won’t,” Sylar broke in. “Trust me.”
I sniffled. I didn’t question him. I was quickly learning he really might be magic.
Dante pulled his knife from his boot. “Do you remember what you agreed to with me that night we cut one another in the bedroom?”
I nodded. “We-We agreed to make a deal.”
“Well, it’s time to sign on the dotted line,” he said. He held his hand out and cut his palm. His blood blossomed out. “Give me your hand.”
I stared into his eyes, noting there was no malice in them. Only… love. It made my breath catch. He was my brother. He cared. He loved me.
I trusted him.
I gave him my hand, and he brought the blade down and broke the skin on my palm. I hissed at the pain, watching as the blood blossomed out.
He slid his bleeding palm to mine.
“Tell me you’ll sign the contract. That you’ll leave and live this new life. In return, I will guard you. Protect you. I will be your eyes. Your ears. Your protector. I will kill anyone who gets too close. I am your monster, sweet sister, and I would die to protect you. I would kill to protect you. Tell me you agree.”
God, could I do this? It was a huge step, but it was on Fox’s list of things for me to do.
I had to do it.
For Fox. For me.
I nodded, exhaling. “I agree.”
“If you back out on me, you’ll stay here forever,” he continued. “This will be your new home. Your new life. You will never leave this place. It doesn’t matter if you try to escape. I will find you and bring you back. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I whispered, knowing damn well he wasn’t bluffing. “I-I have a modification.”
He raised his brows at me.
“Enzo and the horsemen are to be kept safe. Anson, too. I-I want Matteo, Alessio, and Klaus to be safe. The kings as well.”
“That’s a tall order,” Sin muttered.
Dante didn’t look away from me. “I will control the entirety of the underground in only weeks. This will be a very different world. We are the judge and jury once that happens.”
“Please,” I begged softly.
