Page 56 of When We Fall: Part Two
“Is it about not coming to the engagement party?”
He let out a humorless laugh. “No, although I do know that upset her as well. I can’t believe she didn’t tell you.”
I licked my lips, completely confused. “She didn’t. What’s going on?”
He blew out a breath. “Fox, I came to tell her about her mom.”
“What’s wrong with Marcy?” I sat up straighter. Rosalie had always been close to her mom. “Is she OK?”
“Marcy isn’t Rosalie’s mom,” John said softly. “I came to tell her about her real mom.”
I blinked rapidly at that information.
“Who the hell is her mom?” I finally asked.
John sighed. “Listen, if she didn’t want you guys to know, then she made that decision?—”
“John. It’s me. It’s Fox. You know how I feel about her. I’m worried. She was so broken after you left. Please. Tell me. I won’ttell her you did. I won’t even tell the guys. If she has a breakdown again, I need to know where it’s coming from. She’s everything to me.”
“I wish you were the one marrying her,” he murmured. “It kills me you’re not.”
“Me too,” I said thickly.
He was quiet again. “I used to go to Mayfair.” He paused for a moment and cleared his throat. “I fell in love there.”
I sat and listened to his every word, my pulse pounding in my ears as I learned who her real mom was. Who her brother was. When he was done, I continued to sit in stunned silence.
“I understand why you’d want to tell Lorenzo, but I’m asking you not to. Let her?—”
“I won’t say a word,” I whispered. “Promise.”
“You’re a good man, Fox. Take care of her, OK? I trust you with her life. Promise me you’ll keep her safe. No matter what. She needs out of that life. You know she does. Please… do what you have to do to make that happen. I can’t save her. I couldn’t save her mom, and it kills me. But you… she listens to you. Please.Save my daughter.”
I swallowed hard. “I-I will, John. I promise.”
“Thank you. I’ll be worried sick tomorrow. Please… do whatever you have to do.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me before we bid one another goodbye.
I sat in stunned silence for the better part of an hour before Enzo knocked on my door.
“Did you reach John?” he asked, coming into my room.
I nodded.
“What did he say?”
I breathed out. I made a promise not to say anything, and I intended to keep it. “It was what we suspected. He said hedoesn’t support the wedding and can’t be there. Work and his hatred of your ass.”
Enzo grumbled but nodded. “Figured. Well, at least we know. You coming down? Rosalie and Jamie are downstairs with us.”
“Yeah. I’ll be down in a minute,” I said.
He left me alone, and I tugged at my hair.
My Rosie was an Ivanov. She was in this life and in deeper than we thought.
Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.
