21. Cole
COLE
Ibreathed out and stared at the mansion in front of me.
I didn’t want to ask for permission, so I had just found out where Rosalie’s house was in L.A. and showed up.
Fuck an invitation. I wanted to see my girl and my daughter. I had no idea how I’d be received, but I had to try.
Life was complicated back home. I’d killed four people earlier that week and spent what time I wasn’t at the hospital or a warehouse killing time in my shower, jerking off to images of my night with Rosalie and Anson.
E was MIA most of the time since he was working at Mayfair now, on sugar and whatever other weird shit he was researching. Laz was struggling in his preschool shit E had him in. Enzo was… terrible.
A true monster, and he was killing anything that moved too close to him.
I needed a fucking break.
I’d stayed completely away, letting Rosalie and the guys calm down and allowing myself time to clear my head. Now I was ready to face this shit head-on.
So, I hopped a flight that morning after some deep thinking during naked push-up time. I left a note that said I’d be back on Monday.
I figured this mini vacation would make or break me.
I pushed a button on the gate and was met by four armed guards.
“Uh, hey,” I greeted them. “I’m here to see Rosalie.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but she’s expecting me.”
“No appointment, no entry. Move along.”
I shifted my bag on my shoulder. “Listen, motherfucker, open this fucking gate. I’m not leaving until I see her.”
“Then you’ll be standing there for a long time,” the guard replied. “No appointment. No entry.”
“Call her,” I snapped. “She’ll let me in.”
“No appointment—”
“For fuck’s sake!” I shouted. I stopped from calling them every colorful name I knew because Ryder appeared, dressed in black like the fucking night, with a piece in his ear. He’d obviously been listening to everything.
“Ryder. Hey, shit brick,” I called out.
“Cole Scott.” He approached and stared at me from the other side of the iron gate. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to see my girl and my kid. Let me in.”
He chuckled. “Do you have an appointment?”
“Man,” I snarled. “Stop this shit. You know who I am.”
He smirked at me. “You’re in our world now, pretty boy. You seem lost.”
“Pretty boy? Fuck you, man. You’re a prettier motherfucker.”
He grinned at me before pushing a button. The gate swung open, and I stepped inside.
“Assholes,” I muttered to the guards.
They glared at me as I followed Ryder to some little weird golf cart thing.
“This looks like something your bitch ass would drive,” I muttered, getting into the passenger seat.
“We have plenty of trees on the property. I don’t mind crashing us into one,” he replied as we surged forward.
This little fucker could cruise.
“You have a glass jaw, bitch. You’d die before me.”
He scoffed. “Sucker punching me doesn’t mean shit… bitch.”
I snickered but let out a gasp and clutched at a handle as he swerved at a tree, putting my asshole in my throat. Dick was crazy.
He chuckled and straightened the wheels, and I held on as we made our way down a winding driveway.
“I can’t believe she really lives here,” I murmured, staring out at the estate. The place was fucking gorgeous. Nestled in the hills. The ocean not far off. Loads of trees and flowers. Perfect rolling lawns.
This place had to cost a fortune.
Millions.
I was impressed.
My mouth dropped open as the mansion came into view.
“Holy shit,” I murmured.
Our old house had nothing on this place. It was a fucking castle.
“Nice, huh?” Ryder asked.
“Do you have cars inside to get you around?”
Ryder chuckled. “Ellis has a little battery car she drives around in.”
I grinned. Of course she did. I hope it was bright fucking pink. I’d get one to match.
We pulled up at the front, and I got out, completely mesmerized by the place.
“Come on, dick tits,” Ryder called out.
Dick tits.
What a prick.
I followed him to the front door, where he pressed his thumb onto a keypad. It lit up, and the door swung open.
“Wow,” I murmured, stepping into the entryway. The place was fucking beautiful inside. High ceilings. Marble floors. Pillars. Pristine and rich as fuck.
I bet our high-rise looked like a sack of shit to her.
I wouldn’t want to live with me either if I had this place.
Evan came into the living room and stopped in his tracks.
“Hey,” I said, feeling nervous and maybe like I should probably have called.
“Hey… Cole. What are you doing here?”
“Uh, I want to say I was in the area, but that’s a lie. I-I came to see Rosalie and Ellis. A-And you guys.”
“Does Ro know you’re here?”
I shook my head, wincing. “No. I wanted to surprise her, but based on your reaction, I’m thinking that may be a bad idea.”
He shook his head. “No, man. I’m sorry. I just… I wasn’t expecting you. After everything….”
“I’m an asshole,” I said immediately.
“No shit,” Ryder muttered.
“Hey, man. No one invited you to this conversation,” I snapped at him.
“And no one invited you here,” he retorted.
He had me there.
“Ryder, it’s fine,” Evan said. “Let Klaus and Anson know Cole has… arrived.”
“What about Ellis and Rosalie?” I asked hopefully.
“Just because you show up here doesn’t mean you’re entitled to see them,” Evan said.
I bristled at his words. “I-I’m trying, man. Come on. I don’t want to fight. I only want to see my family. Please. If Rosalie tells me to fuck off, then off I’ll fuck, but at least give me a chance to be told. That’s all I’m asking for.”
Evan stared at me from behind his sunglasses before nodding. “Fine. But they’re not here right now. Anson and Rosalie are doing a photoshoot, and Klaus is at work. Ellis is at ballet with Trix.”
“Trix?” I asked.
“Her nanny.”
“Oh.” I stood in my spot awkwardly.
“You can sit,” Evan said, gesturing to one of the leather couches. I moved forward and settled on one across from him. The leather was white, and he was dressed in black and tatted to fuck. He didn’t look like he fit in at all.
“I’m sorry about what a dick I was in the underground,” I said after a few moments of silence. “I was shocked. I was out of line. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I understand,” he replied.
I stared at him. He was unrecognizable.
“You don’t look like yourself at all,” I said softly.
“Because I’m not myself,” he said, getting to his feet.
I looked up at him. “Where are you going?”
“Smoke break,” he muttered.
I left my bag on the couch and followed him out to a back balcony that overlooked a lush backyard, complete with gardens and high walls. Even an infinity pool near the edge of the cliff they were on. They could overlook the city at night.
Fuck, the place was gorgeous.
Evan pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up. I watched as he took a deep inhale before blowing out a cloud of smoke.
“Cigarettes are bad for you,” I said, eyeing him. “You never smoked—”
“Evan has always smoked,” he said. “You want some?”
I hesitated before taking the cigarette from him. I wasn’t a smoker. Not even fucking close, but I wanted to bond with Fox, er Evan, so I was willing to kill my lungs for a bit.
I took a deep drag and blew the smoke out without coughing. Thank fuck.
I handed it back to him and watched him continue smoking.
“So what are your expectations?” he finally asked me.
“Um, I don’t know what you mean.”
“What are you hoping to gain from coming here?”
“Forgiveness,” I muttered. “Not just from Rosalie, but from you, too. I-I’ve missed you. It’s just surreal, Fox.”
“Evan,” he said sharply.
“Right. Evan. It’s hard to believe you’re here. You don’t even look like you. Or sound like you.” I winced. “I’m sorry, man. I just… fuck. Can I hug you?”
He stared back at me from behind his glasses like I’d grown a second head.
“Man, come on. Bring it in.” I opened my arms to him. “Please. Hug me. I look like an idiot standing here.”
Evan hesitated before hugging me.
“Fuck, Foxy,” I choked out, holding him tightly. “I’ve fucking missed you, man. I-I thought I was going to have to die to see you again.” Tears flooded my cheeks.
I was surprised when he tightened his hold on me.
“I’ve missed you, too,” he replied, his voice shaking. He had such a hoarse rasp. I hated that. He had the most beautiful singing voice, and I wondered if he still could sing for our girl.
“I don’t want us to hate one another. I’m so fucking sorry for contributing to your pain. I-I never wanted that. I’m so sorry. What can I do?” I asked, clinging to him.
“I-I don’t know,” he answered. “I don’t know.”
I pulled away and stared at him. “I loved you then, and I love you now. Everything is fucked right now, but that love is a constant. I promise you that… brother.”
His jaw shook as he stared at me.
“You giant tatted fucker,” I said through a soft sob.
He chuckled at that. “I’m sorry for lying. For running. For… dying. For all the pain, Cole. I am, but it’s Rosalie, you know?”
“I know. She was always your girl first,” I said. “I get it. I do, man. I’m not questioning it. I’m just fucking jealous and hurt that I missed out on my daughter. On this life. On all of it. I don’t want to miss out anymore. Please. I want my chance.”
He nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I’m willing to give it to you.
The guys still are too. You can’t fucking go nuts, though.
No more kidnapping her. Drugging her. None of that shit.
I don’t care what sort of doctor prodigy your ass is.
No more. I’ll beat the fucking blue out of your eyes if you do that shit again. ”
“Cross my heart,” I said immediately. “I won’t do anything like that again.”
“Fine. I’ll believe you, but don’t fuck this up—”
“I won’t. I swear I won’t,” I said.
He nodded and gestured for me to follow him. I did, and was surprised when he gave me a full tour of the house, right down to the music studio, which had to cost a fucking assload of money.
“This is where the magic happens?” I asked, staring in wonder at the place.
“No, that’s upstairs in our bedroom,” he said.
“Dick.” I chuckled as he grinned at me.
“Yeah, this is where she does a lot of her recording. She spends hours down here. Days, even. That’s why there’s that couch. She’ll sleep on it, and one of us has to come down and carry her to bed.”
I smiled at that. Someday, maybe I’d get to be the one to carry her.
Evan’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out to look at it before looking at me.
“She’s home.”
I swallowed hard.
“I’m scared,” I said.
He chuckled. “You fucking should be. Everyone is here. They’re waiting upstairs.”
I breathed out. I didn’t care if I was scared. This was my damn chance. I was taking it.