Chapter 29
ANSON
“Iwant their fucking heads on stakes at my front gates.” Dante slammed his hands onto his desk.
“I understand, but we don’t know the story yet—” I started.
“I don’t fucking need to know the whole story,” Dante snarled. “Those pricks signed a blood contract with me.” Dante grabbed a folder and slid it across his desk at me. I opened it and read it, my stomach sick.
Enzo and Cole signed in blood that they’d never reach out to Rosalie. That they’d never speak to her. Never make any sort of contact with her unless she reached out first. There was other little stipulations, but they’d clearly broken the rules if they had her.
“Rosalie reached out to E—”
“Luka Stepanov is not on that fucking contract,” Dante snapped. “Ethan is a free man. For now.”
I slid the contract to Klaus to read. Ryder and Evan were collecting Ellis and trying to help clean up glitter.
“Let us get the details, and then we’ll discuss this further,” I said calmly. I wanted to bust heads, too, but Rosalie and Ellis mattered more than any anger and betrayal I had.
“I am going with you—”
“You’re not,” I said firmly. “They asked for us. Not you. You will stay right here, and we will handle this.”
“This is my city,” Dante started.
I held my hand up. “I am not disputing that. I am saying that she is our girl. I know she’s your sister, but do you think she’d be happy if you came in and fucked everything up that she was trying to fix?
She’s wanting Ellis to know Cole. You know that.
You know Ellis wants to know her dad. Don’t fucking ruin this for them. ”
Dante glared at me before sitting in his chair and steepling his fingers.
“Enzo approached me not long ago about amending the contract,” he said as Klaus closed the folder and slid it back to him.
“What did he want amended?” Klaus asked.
“He wanted Cole removed from the contract. He wanted Ethan to take his place.”
“Then maybe Cole did all of this,” I murmured.
“The prick is crazy enough,” Klaus said, nodding.
“Get me answers,” Dante said. “Bring my sister home. I want to speak to her.”
That was acceptable and probably the best we were going to get from him. If something needed to be negotiated with him, it would have to be Rosalie who did it because Dante Church didn’t listen to anyone but Rosalie and his watchers.
“OK. Deal,” I said, reaching out and shaking his hand.
“I only deal in blood.”
“No offense, but I’ve spilled enough of my blood for the underground. Our handshake will have to do.”
He laughed darkly at that. “Fine.”
I got up, and the guys followed me out.
For a monster or demon, Dante had a beautiful home. I suspected Sirena was the decorator, but then again, there seemed to be touches of all of them in every room.
Their cat’s portrait hung on the wall over the mantle in their living room. The image was massive, taking up nearly the entire wall. He was a very fat black cat who was apparently named Professor Fuck You.
Ellis called him FuFu, which gave me relief.
When she visited, she’d put a dress on Professor Fuck You. He was pretty docile and let her do whatever she wanted to him. I had seen the cat beat the shit out of Malachi before, though.
And, of course, there was the giant fucking snake named Bill they had. We did ask that Bill be kept away from Ellis when she visited.
I walked past Professor Fuck You, who sat on a chair in the living room. He slapped me as I passed by.
Prick.
“Daddies!” Ellis called out, dropping the bucket of glitter. It tipped over and spilled, making both Ryder and Evan groan as she ran to us.
I scooped her into my arms and rained kisses all over her cheeks. She giggled and hugged me back before reaching for Klaus, who took her into his arms and hugged her.
“Unkie Dunkie?” Ellis called out, eyeing Dante as he pointed his finger at Jameson and his sword.
“Out, hellion,” he said.
“Aw, man,” Jameson said, but not before he grabbed a handful of glitter and ran from the room, calling for Malachi.
There really was glitter everywhere.
“Hey, peanut butter,” Dante said, his tone changing to one of affection before he took her from Klaus and snuggled against her cheek. “You’re going to go see Mommy.”
Ellis’s eyes lit up. “I get to see Mommy today?”
“Mmhm. I expect you’re going to be a good girl. Aunt Rina has a dress for you to wear that she got you just for this day. She’s upstairs in the baby’s room. Go tell her you need your dress.”
Ellis squealed, and Dante released her. We watched her run out of the room, calling for Sirena.
“Baby’s room?” I asked, raising my brows.
“Uh, yeah. Sirena is pregnant,” he said.
“Yours?” Evan called out.
We all stared at Dante.
A tiny smile graced his lips. “Yeah. Mine.”
“Congrats, man,” I said, pulling him in for a hug. I didn’t expect him to let me, but he hugged me back.
“Thanks,” he said gruffly.
I released him, and Klaus clapped him on the back before Evan hugged him.
Evan said something to him that made Dante chuckle softly before they released one another.
“How far along is she?” I asked.
“Not far,” Dante said. “So I have fears…”
“She will be fine,” Evan said immediately. “A son. Strong like his dad.”
“Yeah?” Dante’s expression softened, and Evan nodded.
“Yeah. I’m sure of it.”
“How do you know?” Dante asked.
Evan shrugged. “Just do. If you’re the dad, then we already know the baby will be strong. No worries. Brother.”
Dante cracked a genuine smile and exhaled. “Brother. I like that.”
“For better or worse, we’re related,” Evan said with a soft laugh.
“Can’t pick your family.” Dante laughed. “If I could, I’d have picked a different father.”
“It’s not so bad,” Klaus said. “You came out… somewhat normal.”
Dante laughed at that. “You’re right. I did.”
“Except for the eating part,” I muttered.
Dante shrugged, his green eyes sparkling. “You should stay for dinner sometime.”
“I’ll, uh, pass, but thanks for the offer.”
Dante clapped me on the back and called for Shadow and Ashes. They seemed to know what he wanted, because they came into the room with brooms, both of them grumbling.
“I hope to one day have a home as happy as this one,” Klaus said softly. “Filled with the laughter of children.”
“Can we skip the glitter?” I asked as Ryder tried dusting it out of his hair and cursing when more seemed to rain from it.
“Yeah, we’ll definitely skip the glitter,” Klaus murmured as Evan tried getting the glitter off his black shirt.
I couldn’t agree more.