Page 156 of When We Fall: Part Two
It hit me in the chest, making me wince because she’d put her elbow into it.
I shot to my feet and grabbed her by her biceps, giving her a gentle shake.
“Stop. Stop it,” I said to her. “You don’t throw things at me.”
“Let me go.” She tried to jerk out of my hold, but I held tighter.
“Rosalie, enough!”
She fought me for another moment before collapsing against me. I released her arms, not touching her.
She sobbed into my chest, her fingers twisting in my shirt.
“I need you,” she choked out. “Enzo. I need you. Please… give me anything…”
“Go to bed,” I said softly, uncomfortable with Emilio in the room to witness the moment. “We’ll talk later.”
“No. I want you. I need you! Please, Enzo?—”
“Go upstairs,” I snapped. “You need to rest.”
I hit the intercom again and called Colten to come back. He opened the door and strode toward me a moment later.
“Take her to bed. Have Jamie make sure she showers and eats.”
Colten shot me a look that told me I was being a dickhead, but I ignored it. The truth was, I knew exactly how I was being. I couldn’t stop. I hated myself. I didn’t want to make shit worse, but I knew I was.
I was on a downward spiral and had no way to stop myself. The guilt, the regret, all of it.
She was supposed to be my wife, but now she was my best friend’s grieving girl.
I couldn’t… I just fucking couldn’t.
Colten led her away amid her soft cries for me, further breaking my heart.
When we were alone, I sat and buried my face in my hands.
“It’s best if you release her sooner rather than later,” Emilio said softly.
I let my hands fall away and stared at him, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
“You know it’s your plan, Lorenzo. If you love her, maybe let her go.”
“I-I can’t,” I choked out. “I know I should. M-My dad told me to before he died. I can’t. I love her.”
“It doesn’t need to be forever,” Emilio said. “Just long enough for you both to heal. For you to secure a safe place for her. She loves you. She will wait.”
“I don’t know what to do.” I wiped at my eyes. “I’m terrified of letting her go, but I know… I fucking know it needs to happen. Fox told me. He told me, and I still can’t. What does that mean?”
“That you love her.” He sighed.
I nodded miserably. I did love her.
“E told me Vander Veer’s daughter, Celeste, was in the underground,” I finally said, needing to change the subject.
Emilio tensed, his facial expressions hardening. “What?”
“He said she was there. He wanted me to cut ties with Vander Veer.”
