Page 84 of Into the Fire

It was perfect timing, though, because Enzo popped in. “Fox, I’m taking a call in the office with Cole.”

Fox gave him a quick thumbs up before Enzo disappeared to his office, his and Cole’s voices fading away. A moment later, Ethan came into the room and settled on the loveseat.

“What are we watching? And when is the pizza coming?” he asked. I could see a faint outline of Rosalie’s lipstick on his neck. I looked away from him quickly, assuming the crash was the three of them doing all sorts of shit to her while we were in here.

“Within the next thirty, and I don’t know what we’re watching yet,” Fox answered.

I kept glancing to the kitchen to see if Rosalie was going to make an appearance.

“She’s getting a tray together,” Ethan said, catching my eye and giving me a quick smile.

Of course, he was watching me. It wasn’t like I was playing it cool. Fuck me though. I cared about her. It was becoming quite an issue for me getting past it and focusing on being her friend. I’d make it happen, though. She was worth it to me. Life without her wasn’t an option, so if I had to just be her friend, I’d find a way to crush my feelings and be what she needed me to be.

When that day happens, however. . . the day where she comes to me and says she wants me, all fucking bets are off. I was going to take her, no questions asked.

Rosalie came in carrying a tray filled with chips, popcorn, and drinks. Ethan beat Fox to his feet to take it from her and place it on the coffee table.

Rosalie kissed him before coming straight for me and sliding in between me and Fox.

“Hey,” she said, looking over at me.

“Hey.” I smiled at her.

“Sorry about Cole—”

I held my hand up to silence her. “Don’t even worry about it. We know how he is.”

“He’s a great guy,” she assured me, her cheeks pink.

“I’m sure once I get past his hard candy coating, he’s a real gumdrop,” I said.

Ethan chuckled at that while Fox got up and answered the doorbell. He handed the remote off to him on the way.

“Are you OK? I really am sorry about Cole. He’s just. . .”

I raised my eyebrows at her. “Possessive. He wants me to know you’re his. Tell him I received the message. He can relax.”

She gave me a pained look but schooled her face when Fox came back in, his arms laden with all things pizza.

“Food’s here,” he said.

I tugged Rosalie to her feet and released her hand as soon as she was up and followed her and the guys into the kitchen. Enzo and Cole popped back in as we all grabbed some slices and loaded down our plates.

“Who’d you have to call?” Fox asked around a mouthful of cheese and pepperoni.

Enzo glanced at me. I got it. I wasn’t privy to that information.

Rosalie took note and nodded for me to follow her out of the room. I did so but made it a point to walk slowly. Enzo’s voice carried out easily.

“Vander Veer has another order for us. He wants us to meet him for dinner next week,” Enzo said.

“I’m not fucking going,” Ethan snapped, his voice carrying. “Fuck that.”

“I know. It’s fine. Cole will go in your place. You can stay behind with Rosalie,” Enzo said.

“Good,” Ethan muttered.

I was too far away to hear the rest. I knew who Vander Veer was. Owned a gun company. Big money. Old money. Had his hand in a lot of the Underground game. Heard he was trying to expand and marry off his daughter into a rich family with even more power.

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