Page 15 of When We Fall: Part Two
His bottom lip wobbled. “She passed away a few years ago. Her and Everett’s son killed her.”
I blinked rapidly at the information, my tears falling harder. My real mom was dead, and I had… a brother. Oh, god. My brother was Everett Church’s son. I was going to be sick.
“Everett felt compelled to send me images of himself… defiling her body,” his voice cracked. “He is a wicked man. Untouchable. Someday though…” A muscle thrummed along his jaw. “He deserves worse than death, but I can’t give it to him. I don’t have that kind of power.”
“I do,” I whispered. “Enzo does.”
“He doesn’t, pumpkin. Not yet. Everett is too powerful. Too many allies that look like enemies. He was always a snake.” He paused. “I haven’t been a good father to you. I’ve disowned you, too, and it wasn’t right of me. I-I thought pushing you away would bring you closer, but I was wrong. I messed up. When you told us you were pregnant, I could only think about Calista and me. How history repeats itself. I don’t want that for you, Rosalie. Please. It’s why I’m the way I am. I want nothing more than to walk you down the aisle, but I-I can’t, knowing what I know. Having lived what I’ve lived through. I’d be feeding you to the wolves and breaking my promise to your mother. I-I can’t do it. I’m so sorry. I already have so much guilt. Please. Don’t marry Lorenzo. Come home. We can help you. You can transfer. I-I can hide you?—”
I cried softly, my body shaking. All of this information was taking its toll on me. I needed air. I couldn’t breathe.
“Hey. Hey, pumpkin,” he said, reaching for me as I rocked in my seat. “I-I don’t know what to do.”
I was going to pass out. I couldn’t breathe. Everything, my life, my family, was a lie. I’d been a part of this world before I was even born. I was going to throw up.
I wasn’t aware my dad had made a call until the passenger door was flung open and Fox was at my side.
“Rosie, baby. Hey, look at me,” Fox called out. “Hey. Come on. Breathe, Rosie.”
He cradled my cheeks in his hands, a look of concern on his face. I was shaking violently. This had to be one of my worst panic attacks I’d ever had. It just kept building.
“She needs her medicine,” Fox said, lifting me out of the car and carrying me into the house. I vaguely heard my dad following.
“What’s going on? What happened?” Enzo demanded through the fuzzy tunnel I was in.
“I told you to bring her back the way she fucking left,” Cole roared, coming into the room.
“Fucking handle him,” Fox shouted, taking me upstairs. I heard the scuffling behind me. It only made me worse. I wanted to claw my face off. My skin off. I wanted to escape. To run away from this madness.
It wasn’t real. None of it was real. This was a bad dream.
“Breathe, baby,” Fox commanded, placing me on the edge of my bed and kneeling in front of me. Ethan rushed in and sat beside me, his arm wrapped around my shoulders.
“Watch her. I need to get her meds,” Fox said, moving away from me.
“Hey, sweetheart. Come on now. Close your eyes for me. Go to a happy place,” Ethan murmured.
I tried to do as he said, but I couldn’t focus. I was spiraling hard.
“I don’t have the candies with me,” Ethan continued, his voice strained. “Damnit. I-I suck at this. I’m sorry. Just… spiral, baby. If it feels good, do it so you can come back.”
I cried harder, hiccupping and gagging, my body trembling violently.
Fox rushed back in with a syringe in his hand.
“I can’t find her meds. I-I think Anson has them just in case,” Fox muttered. “I’m going to give her your stuff, E. Is this enough?”
“It’s good,” Ethan said tightly.
I felt a pin prick, and a sudden warmth washed over me. I blinked rapidly, trying to fight the sudden intrusion into my veins.
“Don’t fight it,” Ethan urged. “Let it happen.”
I flung my hands out, trying to reach for something to stop me from disappearing, but it was useless.
Darkness descended, and I was gone.
FIVE
