Page 22 of Into the Fire

“With all due respect, I knew you’d tell me no, and that wasn’t an option I was willing to hear,” Enzo said in his no-nonsense voice. “Rosalie will be my wife. That’s her choice alone.”

Dad swore again.

“Honey, Rosalie?”

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you think about this some more?” Mom said. “We worry about you enough already. And-and. . .” she trailed off. “What about Fox?”

“Fox agreed to this,” I said softly. “He’s OK with it.”

“I don’t believe that for a damn moment,” Dad said into the phone. “He called me not all that long ago and asked me for your hand. I gave him my blessing.”

Enzo tensed beside me. Clearly, it was news to him.

“Rosalie and I are marrying. I’m sorry you aren’t happy about it, but I’d like the opportunity to convince you I’m a good choice. Fox will remain in the picture with us,” Enzo said.

“Ridiculous,” Dad grunted. “Absolutely ridiculous.”

“Rosalie, honey—”

“Mom, please,” I whispered, tears prickling my eyes. “Will you come with me to pick out my dress?”

“Of course, I will—”

“Absolutely not,” Dad snapped. “Because you’re not getting married into a fucking family full of criminals. I had hoped you’d have gotten into college and left this shit behind. If you couldn’t marry Fox, at least find a nice boy who isn’t a goddamn drug addict, violent sociopath, or a criminal. Fox is going places, Rosalie. You’re throwing your life away with these other ones. They’re not going to amount to anything and will drag you down with them—”

“Rosalie, I’ll come with you,” Mom started, but my dad silenced her again.

“Not happening. We aren’t footing the bill for this bullshit. Didn’t you learn your damn lesson when you lost the baby? Huh? Now you want to lose your damn life? I have half a notion to pull you out of that college and bring your ass home where you’re safe. You can do online school or community college. That entire baby ordeal was your fault and you’re going to run off and do it again—”

“We’ll call you back, sweetie,” Mom said.

“OK,” my voice cracked, my heart pounding a rhythm in my chest.

“We aren’t letting this happen—” The phone disconnected, and we sat in silence for a long time before Enzo spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

I sniffled and wiped at my eyes. “I knew he’d react like this.”

Enzo turned my face toward him. “I love you. Nothing he said is going to change that or the fact you will be my wife.”

“Enzo, they’re my parents—”

“And even parents can be bad, Rosalie. Look at E’s parents. Cole’s parents. Not everyone gets decent ones. We’ll give themsome time to come around. If they do, wonderful. If they don’t, we can try again. OK?”

I nodded, a tear slipping down my cheek.

“He talked about Blossom like I screwed up.” I winced.

“You know that wasn’t you. That was fucking Ian, Rosalie. Don’t let his anger hurt you. He was just talking. Let that shit go. Blossom died because of a madman, not because of anything you did.”

“Yes, it was,” I said, wiping furiously at my tears. “I went to Ian. I let this shit happen. I’m to blame just as much as he was. I did this. I lost our baby. You don’t think it’s been eating at me for months? It fucking haunts me, Enzo! I want to try again, but it scares me so much. It makes me feel like such a failure. I’m a failure."

“Rosalie, no. You’re not—”

“I need to be alone,” I choked out, getting to my feet and going to the door. “I can’t do this right now.”

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