Page 15 of When We Fall: Part One
“My dick is fine, man. No, I was simply trying to get some information on the whereabouts of people. Heard a few rumors I thought might lead me somewhere. Dead ends, though.”
I assumed he was still working on finding his mom and sister’s killer, so I didn’t push it. I knew what it felt like to try to deal with that sort of loss.
“Just…”
“Fox. Relax.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Go see the guys. Let me know how shit is going. I worry.” His voice trailed off before he cleared his throat.
Of course, he worried. Dom was family. He was my family as well.
Something I needed to talk to Enzo about, but the timing was never right.
“You know,” Anson said slowly as if reading my mind. “You’re the rightful heir.”
I swallowed hard and gave him a forced smile.
“That life isn’t for me, man. I’m not interested.”
“Yet you’re here, working on the other side,” he said.
“The same could be said for you.”
He smiled at that. “I suppose it could. I’d say we all need to be a little more truthful.”
He had that right.
“I’ll tell Enzo. Eventually. It’s not the right time now. I just…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence because Rosalie came into the room.
“Ani,” she greeted him, offering her pretty smile.
“LeeLee,” he answered, his eyes lighting up.
I watched the exchange, knowing how much fucking more there was to it and not hating it. And because I didn’t hate it, I hated myself for not hating it. It would never happen between them, and it seemed unfair.
Well, barring nothing happened to me. If I went out in the blaze of glory, Anson and Rosalie knew what my dying wish was.
I cleared my throat, bringing the attention back to me. “I’m going to head out. Plans?”
“Uh, music,” Anson said. “Rosalie has two tests today she can’t miss.”
Rosalie sighed. “Always a damn test. I-I actually need to do a few things for the wedding, too. I need to pick up the sample invitations and talk to the bakery this morning.” She winced as the words came out of her mouth. The light that had been in her eyes slowly faded as she realized who she was talking to.
I, the one who was desperate to be the groom, and Anson. The one who just wanted any part of her he could get.
“We-we don’t have to,” she stammered, her cheeks darkening. “Ani?—”
“We’ll do it all,” he said firmly. “Maybe I can talk you into a black invitation with gold lettering instead of boring white invitations.”
Her smile appeared again, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Yeah. Maybe,” she said.
I drew her into my arms. “I love you. Be good.”
“Don’t go. Let me grab the cookies.” She pulled away and left the room.
I sighed and looked at Anson.
“Shit sucks,” he muttered. “I’m not going to pretend it doesn’t.”
