“If she gets hurt, Enzo, that’s it. One time,” Fox whispered so only I could hear him. “Once.Do you understand me? Then I’m taking her away from here. I don’t give a fuck if you’ve planted ten babies in her belly; I will take her and keep her as far away from this shit as I can. I would die for it. This is my vow to you. One. Fucking. Time.”
I breathed out and nodded. “OK.”
He pulled away from me, his eyes still locked on mine.
“Then we have a deal.”
“We do,” I answered, mentally noting how I’d just permitted her to drive herself to and from classes. I’d ramp up security. I’d contact the school and make sure they could be stationed in and around places. It would be a mess, and I may find resistance with Mayfair, but my father was right. Money did talk louder than words. I’d pay whatever I had to as a way to ensure she’d never be in danger.
“I should also mention that Rosalie asked to be able to drive herself to and from classes. I agreed.” I stood and stared out at the guys.
“What?” Cole snapped. “Absolutely not?—”
“I’ll arrange my schedule so she doesn’t have to,” E started.
“Fucking hell.” Fox scrubbed his hand down his face.
“I’ll be fine, guys. Enzo said he’s going to have his men watching.” Rosalie said.
“Then let them drive you.” Cole looked to me. “Wouldn’t that make more sense?”
“She wants a little bit of freedom. I do want her to have that,” I answered. “If you guys are OK with it, we can do a trial run. If it doesn’t work out, we will shuffle around schedules.”
“I can drive her home as I’ve been doing,” Fox said. “Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”
“Fox, you have all that stuff you do for training,” Rosalie said, frowning.
“Fuck it. I’d rather you be safe?—”
“I can drop my physics class,” E said. “It’s Tuesdays and Thursdays in the evening. I’ll be able to make sure she gets home those days. I can also move my work hours around. I don’t need to be working as much as I do.”
“You do,” I said, meaning it. “I know it’s exhausting, but until you’re willing to let someone else have the recipes, you’re the only one who can make shit. You have to be working, E. I’m sorry, man. You know it’s true.”
He grunted and nodded. He wouldn’t even give us the recipe. He was just so strict with it all. It was genuinely his baby.
“I’ll drop out altogether,” Cole said.
“You’re going to be a doctor. You can’t drop out.” Rosalie kissed him gently. “Dr. Cole needs to be able to care for the kids when they’re sick or hurt.”
He went silent immediately and melted against her, kissing her deeply.
“Wait. You’re going into pediatrics?” E called out.
Cole broke his kiss off from Rosalie. “Uh, yeah.”
“I thought you were going to do emergency medicine?” I asked. He hadn’t mentioned he was switching anything up. Of course, he had time to decide, but still. It was apparently news to all of us but Rosalie. I assumed he’d told her when he’d ferreted her away a few weeks ago and nearly gave us all a heart attack.
“Changed my mind. Rosalie and I are going to have kids. Yes. Plural. You guys will have kids with her, too. I want to make sureI have all the knowledge I need to keep them happy and healthy. So I’m going into pediatrics.”
“I’m still not having kids,” E cut in. “I love Rosalie to pieces, but I can’t. I’m not the sort of person who should be spawning anything into the world. I can’t imagine it would go well. I can barely take care of myself.”
“That’s what we’re here for. To pick up the slack if there is any,” Cole said. “So, E, if you want to have kids, you can. I don’t mind helping. You know I fucking love anything to do with babies.”
“Even worms?” Rosalie asked, drawing the attention away from E. I understood what she was doing. Taking the heat and pressure off him. I also knew kids were a sore subject with him, and he really didn’t want to have any. When E made his mind up about something, he kept it that way. This was a huge deal for him, given his past. He simply did not want to be a father.
“Worms?” Cole wrinkled his nose. “I always assumed worms just came out as worms. But yeah, even baby worms.”
“Mm,” Rosalie wrapped her arms around his neck. “Would you love me if I was a worm?”
