Page 204 of When We Fall: Part One
“Fallon Vasiliev,” Dom said gruffly, staring down at him. “You fucked up.”
Fallon visibly swallowed as he gazed up at the kings.
“You took Bianca from us. You made us believe she was dead. You made her believe we didn’t want her anymore. You endangered her life,” Dom continued. “You endangered mine.”
Fallon’s bottom lip wobbled, but he remained silent. I had to hand it to him. He was brave as hell to be doing this. Knowing Dom and the guys wanted him dead, I’d have been nervous to submit the way he was. I suppose that he was showing his bravery to them, though.
“Do you want to come back as a king?” Dom asked.
“Yes,” Fallon answered, his voice firm.
“Do you want to come back to your family?”
“Yes,” his voice was fierce.
“Do you understand the price is your blood?”
“Yes.”
Dom nodded. “Once we bring you into our circle, if you fuck up, the penalty is death. It doesn’t fucking matter if you love Bianca and the babies or if they love you. Fuck up, and we will end your life. Do you understand?”
“I understand.”
“So be it.” Dom nodded to Cole and me. We moved in behind Fallon, grabbed each of his arms, moved him to his feet, and held him.
Dom’s fist collided with a loudcrackagainst Fallon’s face, sending him shuffling back. Cole and I adjusted our hold on him as blood gushed from his nose. This wasn’t exactly how I wanted to spend my evening, but here I was. It only made me realize just how shitty this fucking life could be.
Vincent and Levin joined Dom in the beating of Fallon. It was rough, each of their hits colliding with different parts of Fallon’s body with sickening thuds and cracks.
Fallon let out a loud groan as the blood poured from his lips, nose, and other wounds. His eyelids swelled. Levin didn’t hold back as he landed a hit to Fallon’s ribs so hard that Fallon buckled beneath the pain. Cole and I struggled to keep him up, but he collapsed to his knees.
The complete ass-kicking went on for several more minutes. I feared for Fallon’s life as the kings worked him over. His body went limp, and his head lolled on his shoulders.
Dom finally stopped, fell to his knees, and grasped Fallon by the face.
“Look at me,” Dom snarled softly, slightly shaking Fallon. “Never fucking do that shit again. Tell me.”
“I’ll never do it again,” Fallon rasped. “I’m sorry, Dom. I’m so sorry.”
Dom studied him for a moment before resting his forehead against his.
“I love you,” Fallon choked out. “All of you. So fucking much. My-my family.” His body shook as we held him upright. It was both an ugly and beautiful scene as they held one another. It made me realize these guys were just like us, although none of us had done such brutal shit. I knew we would, though, if it meant keeping Rosie safe. On the other hand, I’d like to thinkwe’d communicate about it, but fuck, what did I know? I wasn’t exactly a fountain of truth lately.
Dom breathed out. “I love you too. Welcome home.”
“Thank you.Thank you.” Fallon sobbed, clinging to Dom.
My heart grew, and relief flooded through me. The kings would be OK.
We released Fallon, and he collapsed against Dom, who continued to hold him. Vincent and Levin joined in as Cole and I backed away.
“And they lived happily ever after,” Cole muttered.
“Until Drake,” Enzo added so only we could hear him.
I nodded, knowing something was up with that whole mess. Maybe they wouldn’t be OK, but that wasn’t our problem right now.
SIXTY-THREE
