Page 123 of Into the Fire

“I’m not the sort of guy you fuck with,” Anson said softly. “Don’t make me do things you’ll regret.”

Cole blinked at him.

“Easy,” I said, not wanting to escalate this to Cole dying. The look in Anson’s eyes suggested it was a real possibility.

“Let me guess. You know about last night.” Anson looked to me.

I nodded tightly.

“OK. Release Rosalie, and we’ll talk about it. Sound good?”

I wanted answers. I wanted to make shit clear and put things out in the open.

I let Rosalie go, and she let out a choked sob as Anson lowered Cole’s gun and handed it back to Cole.

“I don’t need a gun if I’m going to kill you. If you thought I was fast disarming you, imagine how fast I’d be if I were intent on your demise,” Anson said, backing away when Cole took the gun from him.

Cole gave him the finger, which only made Anson chuckle.

“Come, LeeLee,” Anson said, offering her his hand. She shook her head and stared down at her feet.

He sighed, then went to his couch and sat down. He gestured for us to choose our spots. I snagged Rosalie’s hand, led her to a chair, and sank onto it before tugging her down. I meant for her to sit on my lap, but she jerked her hand away from me and sat on the floor, still crying softly.

Cole took the loveseat and glared at Anson.

“So. I watched Fox fuck her last night,” Anson said easily. “It wasn’t my finest moment, and I’ve apologized to Rosalie for it. I should have left, and I’m a disgusting piece of shit for staying. I only have two regrets in my life, and one is not leaving the room last night. Now, what is it you want?”

“You’ve kissed her,” I said to him. “In my fucking home, you put your goddamn lips on our girl.”

He nodded. “I did.”

“Is that the second thing you regret?” I asked, staring him down.

He shook his head. “No. I told Fox I don’t regret it, and I’ll tell you the same damn thing.”

I glared at him, my jaw aching from clenching it.

“Listen, Enzo, I’ll be straight with you. Let’s lay it all out. I care about Rosalie. A hell of a lot. I’ll do anything for her. That includes killing any of you if you hurt her.”

I laughed softly at him. “I’m not happy right now.”

“Well, might I suggest focusing on the most important thing? It’s not you and your feelings,” Anson said, nodding to Rosalie on the floor, a look of pure concern on his face. “It’s her. You seem to forget that.”

“Don’t fucking tell me what I forget,” I snapped at him.

“Why are you really here? To tell me I’m done seeing her? That I can’t be her friend anymore? Because if that’s what you came for, you’re wasting your time. I’m not leaving until she tells me to. Not you. Not fuckhead over here. Her. So unless she’s here to tell me that, then I don’t think there’s much else we can say to one another except one thing.” He looked directly at me. “If I ever fucking see her crying like this again because of something you and asshole here did, I won’t hesitate to pull the fucking trigger. Get me?”

I let out a soft laugh. “If I ever find out you touched her inappropriately again, then you won’t get the fucking chance. Tonight could have ended very differently, Beyers.” I slid the knife from my sleeve and flung it at him.

He jerked sideways and caught the handle before it whizzed past his head. He did an elaborate twirl of it around his fingers and offered me a smirk.

“Cute, De Luca.” Without looking away from me, he threw the blade with an expertise that rivaled my own. It lodged in the wall next to Cole’s head, taking the slightest bit of blond hair with it.

“What the fuck?” Cole yelped, jumping and looking to the knife embedded next to his head and then at Anson. “You crazy, stupid motherfucker!”

I hated Anson even more.

“Stop. Please,” Rosalie called out, wiping at her eyes.

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