But not so. Impossible.

"I killed him." Rosabella closed her eyes against the images her mind created, only to discover that they were even more colorful against the black canvas of her closed eyelids.


"I killed him." She repeated it over and over until she wasn't sure if the words were still leaving her lips or if it was the echo in her ears.

"Rosabella," Charles said firmly, the fingers he placed on her face clenched.

"Look at me."


She opened her eyes wide, staring at the worried face of the man beside her.

"You did the right thing."


Right?

It's hard to see the line between right and wrong from all the death and blood that has happened since she was exposed to the life of the Black Roses family.

"You did what you had to do. It was self-defense. Archibald would kill me already, friend." His fingers stroked her chin.

"But..." He drew in a steady breath through his nose as his brows furrowed. "I need to be honest with you..."

Frowning, Rosabella felt the tension suddenly invade her body. Oddly enough, this change in him almost made her stop enough to wonder what was going on.

"What's going on?" She whispered.

Charles locked eyes with her and swallowed hard, looking as if he was fighting the bitter taste on his tongue.

"Now they've seen you. At least the one who escaped... and when he told the others..."

"What do you mean?"

She knows she shouldn't ask. Rosabella knows that. Because deep down, she was aware of exactly what this meant for her.

Though, the numbing sensation in her chest only pushed her harder to the point of wanting to hear him say it out loud.

"That means you'll need protection - you've killed one of their men. There will be a target on you."

"What does this mean?" Her voice was shaky but slightly increased in volume.

It only adds fuel to the fire as the guilt Charles feels towards her.

"That means you can't leave now. Even if we catch Mr. Aiden. They'll see you as one of us. You won't be able to go home..."

"Are not." Rosabella got up and got out of bed, holding the towel against her as if her life depended on it.

Charles also got up from the bed and reached out his hand.

"Rosabella..."

"Don't touch me. You don't dare..."

But when he did, a hard slap landed on his face as Rosabella glared at him, tears welling up in her eyes.

Charles's face was turned to the left by the impact, though he slowly turned to look at her.

He wasn't even angry because she hit him. He understands her feelings. Her disappointment. Her fear.

Reaching out again, this time she resorted to pushing him away.

"It's all your fault."

"I didn't tell you to kill him."

"And you think I'll just watch? Is he trying to strangle you?"

"I certainly didn't expect you..."

"Shut up. It's all your fault." She pushed his chest again as she took a few steps away again.

However, Charles was hot on his heels.

"No, listen to me." He grabbed her shoulder and forced her to turn, holding her in place as he held her with his upper arm.

"Tell me why, why did you kill him?"

"Fuck you." She yelped, tears streaming now as she tried to break free of his grip.

She doesn't want to hear it. Doesn't want to face the truth of why she actually walked in and shot Archibald.

Rosabella didn't want to know. She wants to be in the safe space of rejection, where she can be strong and not be vulnerable.

Where she doesn't have to give up some of her control by letting someone else into her heart.

But Charles insisted.

"Tell me, Rosabella." He searched in her eyes for a gift that would confess to the fact that Rosabella was not ready to give up.

"I can't let him be okay. I can't let him kill you. You can't die, Charles ok? I..."

He kissed her. Almost desperate, he covered her mouth, his tongue probing her as he felt Rosabella's hand wrap around his neck, her body finally giving up the fight and sagging against back to him while her fingers curled in his hair.

They parted in a split second and when he saw her eyes, eyes begging her not to hurt her, he lowered his head and kissed her again.

There was only one thought left in his head. What kind of twisted mind does he have that he finds the salty taste of her tears added to the lock of their lips the most excruciating and painful epiphany that he loves this woman?

Charles made sure Rosabella was asleep before sneaking out of the room to go to the office.

He had received a text from Michel that they had all met ten minutes ago, so when he entered the room he could tell that he was the last to arrive.

Michel shot Charles an annoyed look but did not comment on it because he was busy lighting a cigarette.

Vengo was pouring them drinks, despite letting Charles out, thinking he would stick to his usual no-drinking rule.

"I'll take one," Charles told him, surprising his brother as he raised both eyebrows in surprise.

"Oh, really?"

Charles nodded. With curious surprise on his face, Vengo handed him a glass of whiskey as the two quickly found a place to sit, noticed that Michel was losing patience as he got up from his seat and walked around the table to stand in front of it.

He looked at everyone with a dead look, but still took a moment, smoking a cigarette before speaking.

"He looks more dangerous than usual..." Carlos muttered while Andy nodded.

"He had an argument with Fanny before… things got heated," Andy whispered back, looking over to Kaylin to see her reaction, knowing exactly that it had something to do with her.

"If you're done with your stories, I'd like to start this meeting." Michel's voice suddenly barked at them, causing them all to straighten up and head toward him.