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Fox let out a soft scoff. “The biggest. Rosalie, stay away from him, OK?”

“OK,” she answered.

“If Anson says he has to see him?—”

“I know,” she cut me off. “I get it. I only told you because I didn’t want to keep it a secret.”

“Thank you,” I whispered. “That means something to me.”

The room fell silent for a long time before she cleared her throat.

“We should probably work on the engagement party. I’ve been neglecting it.”

“Already ahead of you,” I said, grateful for a subject change. “I’ve been working on everything while you were away.”

“Really?”

I nodded and kissed her. “Really. I can’t wait to be your husband.”

She hugged me, and I looked over to Fox, who was now sitting back against the couch cushions. I hoped my words didn’t hurt him. They weren’t my intention.

He offered me a sad smile before coming forward and wrapping his arms around us.

This. This finally felt right, even if it really wasn’t. I had faith it would be, though.

I just had to get fucking Matteo De Santis away from my family.

EIGHTY-THREE

COLE

Iwas exhausted off my ass. E was so tired that he was slurring his words. But we were done. Mission fucking complete. We zoomed home as fast as we could. I was eager to see my Rosebud. When I’d called Enzo for an update, he’d sounded sad, but said she was home and he was going upstairs to join her and Fox in a bubble bath.

Lucky fucks.

That was hours ago now. Based on what I knew of my brothers, they’d probably each fucked her twice by now and she was sleeping soundly between them.

“Do you think everything is OK?” E asked as we pulled into the garage.

“No, but it will be. We just have to not fuck it up. The engagement party is fast approaching. Once that shit is sorted, then it’s wedding time. And you know what that means?” I turned the car off and looked at him.

He rubbed his eyes tiredly. “I don’t know. That Enzo will whisk her away to Italy for their honeymoon, and we’ll be forced to watch you mope around in your pink thong?”

I snorted. “Well, yeah, but also it’s baby-making time. I’ll get to have my garden. Man, I can’t tell you how fucking excitedI am. I went online and picked out everything for the baby’s room.”

E winced. “Shouldn’t Rosalie be part of that?”

“Yeah. She will be. If she hates what I got, I’ll return it. I was just way too happy to stop myself. I got a crib, bassinet, and some adorable onesies with little frogs on them. I didn’t realize frogs were cute until I saw them on baby clothes. Fuck, E. I can’t wait. I’m just so damn excited.”

“I’m happy for you.” He gave me a tired, sad smile.

“You really don’t want kids?” I ventured softly.

He shrugged. “I’m a fucking mess. Anything that comes from me would probably end up twice as bad. I don’t want to burden the world with my DNA.”

“Not even if Rosalie begged you for a baby?”

He stared at the wall through the passenger window.