She tried to sit forward, but Church held her in place.
“Tell her,” Church said softly.
“I lied to you. Five years ago. I-I never fucked Celeste.”
Her brows crinkled as she stared back at me. “What? I-I don’t understand.”
“I lied, Rosalie. Fox was dead, and you were his whole world, and let’s be honest, he was yours. He and I spoke about his desire for you to be free. I realized after everything that he was right. You needed to be free from us. Vander Veer wanted me to marry Celeste. I agreed to do it. I knew you’d never let us go, so I said I was with her. That I’d gotten her pregnant. I-It was all a lie. I-I didn’t.Fuck.” I wiped at my eyes. The last damn thing Iwanted to do was cry in front of the fucking watchers. The ghosts of the underground. But here I was.
“You deserve so much more in the world than me,” I continued, my voice thick. “After, I pushed you away because of the contract with Church that said Cole and I would never go near you. We’d never reach out to you. We’d have to wait for you to come to us, but you never did.” My voice cracked. “I’ve been pushing you away because this shit has been killing me, eating me alive, to know what my actions cost us all.”
“Y-You didn’t cheat on me?” Rosalie asked, her voice shaking.
I shook my head and stared at her. “No. I never fucked her. Not even when we were married. I found out that her father was behind the attacks on you. That he was behind a lot of shit that happened. I promised to the top, and I did what I had to do to get it.”
“You killed him,” she murmured. “Then…”
“Then I killed her,” I whispered. “Because she was a fucking monster who didn’t deserve to live.”
“I don’t understand. You have a son…”
I shook my head and looked away from her, my throat still painfully tight as I tried to fight my emotions.
Church nodded. “Ethan. Now you.”
E stared back at Rosalie, tears rolling down his face.
“Sweetheart, I am so fucking sorry. All of this was my fault. I-I asked the guys to protect me. To protect you. I-It was me. I-I’m Laz’s dad. I fucked Celeste.” He sobbed softly, holding himself.
“What?” Rosalie choked out.
It was the sound of her voice that got me. Not the way she paled, or the betrayal I saw burning in her pretty eyes. It was her voice. She expected that shit of me, but she didn’t from E.
“In the underground, I was raped. She-She raped me, but I also agreed because I thought I was saving Fox. I begged for itto end, but she never stopped. None of them did. I lost count of the number of times I was fucked or had fucked.” His jaw shook as he wiped at his eyes. “I was fucked up, Rosalie. I was sick and scared. I had told you a hundred times that I didn’t want kids. That I’d never have them. Then I did it with someone else. Laz is my son. I’m his real dad. I asked the guys not to tell you because I didn’t want you to hate me for it. I-I still don’t want you to hate me. I’m so fucking sorry. All of this was because I was weak and scared. Enzo took the heat. Said he cheated. He married her to protect me. Then she tried to kill Laz, and something inside of me snapped. I realized I needed to man the fuck up and get my shit together. I did, but I regret a fuck of a lot of my choices.” He let his head fall forward as he cried. “Don’t hate Cole and Enzo. This was my fault. I fucked up. Please.”
Rosalie said nothing, letting E’s words hang in the air.
All was quiet except E’s soft sobs.
Church cleared his throat. “Cole. Your turn.”
“I-I didn’t know what was happening,” Cole said finally. “But I love the guys, and I will always be all in with them.”
“Did you know a-about Ethan?” Rosalie asked, her voice a soft tremble.
“Yes,” Cole replied. “I did. I love him, Rosalie. You know what a fucking mess he was. I only wanted him to be safe. I was terrified he was going to kill himself. You were a fucking mess, but god, baby, you were always so strong, and I knew you had Anson. I know I came off hating him, and that’s not a lie, but I fucking knew you’d still have him. I had to save my brothers. I’m sorry.”
I closed my eyes.
This was a fucking nightmare.
This was Church’s plan all along, though. He wanted this shit to happen. He knew she’d walk based on all the lies.
“Rosalie?” Church asked finally. “What do you want to do? They’ve lied to you. Ethan is a father. Lorenzo and Cole are liars and chose themselves as a group over you and your heartache. Make your choice, and I will carry it out.”
Fuck.She was going to let us all swing. I would if I were her.
She wiped at her tears, and Church released her as she stood. His men had been silent this entire time behind us, but they’d likely strike in silence, and we’d be dead on the floor within moments. But if she were the last thing I got to see, then I’d die a happy man.
