Page 179 of When We Fall: Part Two
I exhaled.
Anson: How is Rosalie? Did she make it home?
Colten: She’s…Idk. Probably worse? She got home the following morning looking like hell. I was trying not to be seen in the kitchen. Sounds like Enzo thinks she was out with some guy all night. He was pissed. My brother, well, he’s not handling any of it very well.
I frowned at that information. Who the hell would Rosalie be out all night with? I was her only male friend outside her horsemen. She was never close to anyone in classes.
Colten: Jamie talked to her. Asked her what happened. I’m guessing she told her, but she won’t tell me. I tried.
Anson: Aside from that, is everything OK?
Colten: It’s really the same, man. My brother is all up in his feels over her. She won’t speak to him. In fact, she’s stopped letting the kings in too. Jamie is the only one she will see. E is just… fucked. He spends his time in the basement or screaming at night from nightmares. It’s like living in hell here. I’m actually going to be heading out soon. I have some shit I have to deal with back at home.
Anson: Do you know if Enzo has been leaving to have meetings with anyone?
I wasn’t even sure if he’d answer me. Colten was a lot more pleasant to deal with than Cole was. I wasn’t sure how deep his loyalty to Enzo ran. I assumed it was deep when it came to Cole, though.
It took him a minute to reply to me.
Colten: He has been leaving in the evenings. He always does. Cole and he have been going to separate places. I don’t know where they’re going or what they’re doing. I stay here with Jamie and keep an eye on E and Rosalie. That’s it. I’m not really in the know unless Cole tells me. I’ve made it a point to keep my nose out of shit. The less I know, the less I can take the fall for, if you know what I mean.
I scrubbed my hand down my face and blew out a breath. I decided fuck it, maybe he’d tell Rosalie since I couldn’t bring myself just to send her random pictures of Enzo with another woman. Plus, I didn’t even know if Cole had taken her phone from her. If she was going to find out, someone had to tell her face-to-face. Colten seemed close to Jamie, so maybe he’d tell her and she’d tell Rosalie. I hated it, but it was better than her never knowing.
Anson: I’m going to send you photos. I’m torn on what to do. Rosalie is hurting, and I don’t want her to hurt anymore. I care about her. I don’t think these are images that should be sent to her phone randomly. I want to show her myself and be there for her, but I know that’s an impossibility since Cole and Enzo have made it clear there will be violence. I don’t want to put you in a difficult position, but I also can’t just sit back and do nothing. I hope you understand.
I attached the image of Enzo kissing Celeste and stared down at the message for a long time, my chest aching. I didn’t know what the fuck to do. Eventually, I gave in and hit send, really hoping Colten would step in. He seemed like a guy who was neutral and cared about Rosalie. I was really fucking banking on his morals.
I sat back, my heart in my throat. My phone was silent for at least half an hour before the screen lit up with Colten’s name.
Clearing my throat, I answered.
“Hello?”
“Where did you get that picture?” Colten asked in a hushed voice.
“One of my friends saw them and took the photo. They sent it to me.” I didn’t want to rat out Trent and Ryder.
Colten swore softly.
“My advice is don’t get involved with this shit. Enzo is a dangerous man. He’d put a hit out on you. I know your old man is a big deal, but Enzo is too. And when it comes to Rosalie? Cole wouldn’t hesitate. You know that.”
“I know, but I can’t stand by?—”
“I don’t think she could handle it,” Colten cut in. “I don’t, man. If you need to tell her, do it, but not right now. Now isn’tthe time. She’s barely dealing with Fox’s death. Enzo doing this shit will gut her. If you care like you say you do, wait it out. Even just a few more weeks.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “OK. I just… I don’t want this for her.”
He let out a sigh. “I don’t either. Enzo fucked up. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but my brother…” He went silent for a moment. “Cole loves Rosalie. Legit love, Anson. He’d die for her. You know that.”
“I do,” I said thickly.
“He’d also kill for her. Just don’t. OK?”
“I’ll wait.”
“Good. It’s hard to call off Cole when shit gets going. Perhaps I can talk to Cole and gather some information. I’ll be in touch. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I appreciate this,” I said earnestly. “I do.”
