Page 137 of Fallen Rook

He went up the stairs to execute her commands, and I was glad to finally have a moment with her.

Grams descended back to her recliner, crocheting with her glasses perched on the tip of her nose. “Go on, then. Tell me what happened.”

“I managed to get him a plea deal. He didn’t take it. He could’ve freed himself of all of his family’s burdens; he is smart, Grams. He can go to med school. Finally come out. Be with me. I mean, people would talk at first…” But I didn’t give a shit. I’d never truly cared what others thought of me. I did hold myself to certain standards. But since Enzo had entered my life, those hadn’t mattered. All that mattered was the need to see him thrive, and—secondary to that—to be the person he thrived with.

“Why did he say no?” She sounded way too calm, and that infuriated me. A little empathy went a long fucking way.

“His two brothers would still get locked up. He couldn’t turn his back on them.”

She hummed, nodding to herself. “I see why you like him.”

“He’s being stubborn.”

“No, he’s being loyal. Apathy is a choice often made by cowards. Don’t date a coward, Thomas.”

“Grams, he is going to go to prison for life if I don’t stop this.”

“Then stop it.”

“How can I? He won’t even speak to me.”

“You’re a resourceful man, Tom.” She leaned to pat my knee absentmindedly. “You’ll figure something out.”

“And even if I could stop it, he still won’t ever be with me.”

“Welcome to true love. Commonly seen in the form of parenthood, when one sacrifices their everything for a person without expecting anything back. Contrary to general belief, there are very few true loves between grown people, especially romantically, but they do happen from time to time. The way he reacts to your sacrifice is irrelevant, honey. You should still make it if you truly love him.”

I groaned, digging my fingers into my eye sockets, wondering where he was right now and what he was doing. Was he cold? Uncomfortable? Experiencing the beginning of another flare-up?

We’d barely spent any time together. But for one season in our lives, he belonged to me. I already knew the last few weeks were the highlight of my goddamn existence. Everything from this point on would never compare.

“He has psoriasis. It gets worse when he is stressed.” I moved a hand over my face.

“Better come up with a good plan, fast, how to sink your case, then.”

“I did. He turned it down.”

She shrugged.

“You’ve no idea what lengths I went to get this plea deal. How many fucking—”

“Language.”

“It’s undoable. I can’t fix this.”

“Oh, I disagree. You’re bending your own rules so beautifully. Now it’s time to break them. For him.”

The woman was diabolical. That we were blood related was inconceivable.

“He’s probably going through so much right now,” I groaned.

She hummed to herself, her dainty fingers dancing around the needle so seamlessly, the movements didn’t seem to have a beginning, middle, or an end.

My hands felt heavy in my lap all of a sudden, weighted down by how helpless I was to help him, save him.

“I should’ve never followed Enzo to that club,” I said.

“Enzo. That’s his name?” Grams tasted it on her tongue, stopping her crocheting momentarily to stare at the ceiling, a mysterious smile on her face. “Enzo Rothwell. I like the sound of it.”