“OK. OK, I’ll tell Anson. I don’t want to hang up on you. Fuck. You have no idea how much we’ve all been searching for you. Please. Is there anything else?”
Cole stood and paced the room. He was getting antsy.
“Just that I am OK. I… can you tell my-my husband that I miss him? And to please have faith?”
Ethan was quiet on the line for a moment. “I’ll tell Fox.”
My heart lurched.
“Y-You know?” I whispered.
“Yes,” he said tightly. “He told me.”
“Ethan,” I wept softly. “Please…”
“Just…stay strong, OK? Don’t worry about shit here. I’ll make sure you’re brought home, Rosalie. I promise. I-I love you. I’m not mad. I’m not mad at you. Just please. Keep fighting for me, OK?”
I cried harder at his words.
Cole reached out and took the phone from me gently before disconnecting the call.
“I-I can’t… breathe,” I choked out, the panic setting in.
Evan told Ethan. Ethan knew Fox wasn’t dead. Evan had been desperate. He’d come to Chicago. God. I’d ruined everything.
“Hey. Hey,” Cole said, at my side and cradling my face. “Rosalie, look at me.”
“P-Please. I-I need to go h-home.”
“Shh.” A pained look crossed Cole’s face.
The meds were definitely kicking in now. I wasn’t sure what the hell he’d given me, but they felt stronger than the ones from last night. My words were slurring, and I didn’t know if my thoughts were my words.
“My family. Please. Please, Cole.”
He lay me back against my pillows.
“Rest, please.” He cradled my face gently.
“Cole. Please!”
“E will make sure Anson gets the message. He will. Please don’t worry.”
He let his hands fall away, but I reached for them. The move seemed to surprise him as he stared back at me.
“Do you love me?” I whispered, crying softly.
“I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything in this world,” he answered back, his words choked. “I-I would rather die than be without you, Rosalie. You are in every breath I take. Every dream I have. You are what makes my heart beat so hard in my chest. When I say I love you, I don’t mean I love you. My lovemeans I would die for you. Suffer for you. Take away the pain for you. All I ask is that you give me a chance to show you that. To prove to you that you’re the only one I am ever going to want. I would do anything to have you.” His voice cracked. “I fucking yearn for you, Rosebud.”
I cried harder at his words.
Damn him. Damn him to hell.
“Sleep, my sweet girl,” he whispered, his voice shaking. He pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. “I’ll get better pain meds for you, OK?”
“Don’t go,” I slurred out. “Don’t leave me again.”
I wasn’t even sure if I said the words or not because I was far too tired to keep my eyes open.
