Page 184 of When We Fall: Part One
“OK,” he said after a moment of silence.
“It’s really not, though.” I studied him. “What would we do? Marry and pretend this life never happened?”
“Yes,” he said softly, his focus back on me. “I’d marry you. Make you my wife. Give you the world. A safe world.”
My heart lurched at his words.
“You’re still you, Ani,” I whispered. “You’re an heir just like Enzo is. Like Fox would be if he stepped into the life and reclaimed it. How would being with you be any safer than staying here?”
“Because I don’t fucking want this world, Rosalie. I don’t. I know I could have power and wealth, but that’s not exactly what I had in mind when it came to it. You know what I want? I want to marry the woman I love, raise a family with her, sing, and play the damn violin. Maybe see the world with the people I love at my side. Raise good, decent kids. Then grow old with my girl. Sit on the fucking front porch and hold her hand while we watch the sun set on another day. That’s it. I don’t want to be out therekilling people or taking over empires. I’m a simple man who wants simple things.”
I exhaled at his words. He was describing a life I yearned for, too. A life that I’d never have here.
“I can give that to you,” he said fiercely. “I know I said I’d stay in my lane, but fucking hell, LeeLee. I also can’t sit back and watch this nightmare unfold. So I’m proposing this. My door is, and will always be, open to you. Come join me on the front porch when you decide you’ve had enough. Deal?”
I bit my bottom lip, and our eyes locked on each other.
“Deal,” I answered thickly.
“And if these dickheads decide they want to join us on the front porch, this world forgotten, they can sit with us too.”
I smiled at his words.
“Even Cole?”
He sighed, a tiny smile playing at the corner of his lips. “I guess. Even Cole.”
“You’re the best,” I whispered. “I don’t deserve someone like you?—”
He pressed a finger to my lips. “Shh. You deserve the world, Rosalie. And someday, I will be the man who gives it to you. I promise.”
“Ani, I know the idea is wonderful, but we can’t?—”
“Shh.” He closed his eyes, his finger back to my lips. “Just dream with me. Close your eyes and dream with me.”
I closed my eyes, my breathing matching his. Calm settled over me.
“Are you on the front porch?” he whispered, his hands clutching mine.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“The sun is beautiful. Look at all the colors.”
I swallowed hard, my heart aching. “It’s beautiful.”
“Another day, Rosalie. We made it another day.”
“We did,” I answered, my voice wavering. I opened my eyes to find him staring back at me. He reached out and tucked a curl behind my ear.
“Go inside. See Cotton. Get some food. I’ll be around if you need me.”
I nodded wordlessly as he reached out and cradled my face. We stayed that way for a moment before he pulled away and got out, going to my door to open it for me. He helped me out before dragging me in for a hug.
“See you, LeeLee,” he said, breaking away from me.
“See you,” I answered, leaving him to go to the front door, my heart heavy. I’d have gone anywhere Ani wanted me to go in another life. This wasn’t that life, though.
I turned to see him standing where I left him, his blue eyes on me.
