Page 127 of When We Fall: Part Two
ETHAN
Everything hurt.
Every-fucking-thing.
This was the first time I’d been awake and coherent in days. I thought it was a dream when I opened my eyes.
“Fox?” I mumbled, reaching out for him, my heart tripping in my chest.
“Hey, E,” Cole’s voice met my ears. “Welcome back, brother.”
I blinked in confusion.
“Where am I?”
“The hospital,” came Cole’s reply. “We got you out. You’re safe.”
It took me a moment to compute his words, but when they finally made sense, I sat up with a cry, my body screaming at me.
“Fox. Where’s Fox?” I scrambled to get out of bed, my body begging me to slow down.
Cole caught me before I hit the floor.
My legs were weak. My head spun.
“D-Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me! I-I need Fox. Where is he? I need him.”
“E, come on, man,” Cole said, helping me back to the edge of my bed. I fought against him.
Fuck, please don’t touch me!
I heard the door open.
“He’s awake,” Cole called out.
Enzo went to his knees in front of me, his dark eyes filled with tears. He reached out and cradled my face.
“I’ve missed you,” he choked out. “Ethan. My brother. I love you.”
“Please don’t touch me,” I answered back, my tears falling. “Please…I-I need Fox. Please. Where is he?”
“Fuck,” Enzo sobbed softly, letting his hands fall away from my face. “I-I’m sorry. Fox… Fox didn’t make it.”
I wasn’t sure if I heard him correctly.
I blinked rapidly at his words.
“Where is he?” I rasped. “H-He said he’d be OK. H-He told me we’d be OK.”
“He died, E,” Cole said gently, his voice cracking. “He was already gone when we got there.”
A wail ripped from my lungs at the news.
There was no way. No fucking way. Fox was strong. He was stronger than I ever hoped to be.
No. No. NO!
Fuck. Rosalie. My sweetheart. She’d been shot.
