42. Anson
ANSON
Iyawned and walked out of Ellis’s bedroom after helping put her to bed. Tonight, Rosalie and Ryder had read her a story Ryder had written.
I had no idea he’d written a story for her, but he had. It was about a little ballerina who developed superpowers. It was actually impressive, and even Evan sat forward as Ryder and Rosalie read it to her.
Of course, Ellis loved it.
But I hadn’t been watching Ellis. I was watching Ryder. Whenever Rosalie took over reading his words, all his attention was on her. Tiny smiles. The way his eyes stayed trained on her.
He had it bad for my wife.
And yet, I still didn’t hate it.
Six years ago, I may have beaten his ass for looking at my girl, but a lot of things had changed in my life. Now, all I wanted was to share my love with my best friends. I was fortunate to do that with Klaus and Evan, but adding Ryder would be the best damn thing in the world.
I was rooting hard for him to make a move.
But the asshole kept pushing his feelings away.
“Sleeping in here tonight?” I asked as I went back to Rosalie’s room in our home.
“You know it,” Evan said as he closed his laptop from his spot in her bed.
Klaus walked out of the bathroom and chuckled. “Looks like we’re having another sleepover.”
“I don’t mind,” I said, climbing into bed. Klaus took the outside, and we lay in silence for a long beat before Evan spoke.
“Is the plan still the plan?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied. “I don’t really mind one bit if we move to Chicago. We can keep our place here and split the time if we need to. Chicago right now is the best idea.”
“I’ll send you guys more listings once I’m back at the office in the morning,” Klaus said. “I’ve found several options, but honestly, Rosalie seemed like she really loved the apartment I got her.”
“It only has three bedrooms,” I pointed out.
Klaus scoffed. “We have twelve in this place, and yet we’re all in the same bed. I’d say bedrooms aren’t an issue.”
Evan chuckled at that. “Point taken.” He paused for a moment. “You guys think Ryder is going to tell Ro his feelings?”
I sighed. “I think them staying alone together will cause him to lose it and just say it to her. He won’t be able to handle being alone with her that long without saying something. That’s my hope.”
“If he hasn’t said anything by the time we head there in a few days, I’m just going to fuck her in front of him and ask him to join. I’m tired of watching him mope around,” Klaus said.
I laughed at that. “God. Imagine. I don’t know what he’d do. Probably run from the room. He left the day Cole was at the house, and I said I was going to fuck her on the table and anyone who didn’t want to be part of it should leave. He left.”
“He hesitated,” Evan said. “I watched him war it out with himself for a few moments before he forced himself to get up and leave.”
“Like I said, I’ll step in,” Klaus muttered. “Poor bastard.”
“You remember what it was like when you realized you wanted her,” I mused. “For me, it was complete agony. She was with the guys, and so fucking loyal it was painful to see.”
Evan snorted. “She still is loyal. And I love that about her.”
“Me too.” I smiled.
“She was single when I was with her,” Klaus said. “I mean, there was Anson here, but he was just like Ryder. Not making a move.”
“Fuck off,” I said with a laugh. “I was trying to save Bianca’s ass. I was going to get LeeLee the moment things settled, but your big dick stepped in.”
“Damn right it did,” Klaus said proudly. “And I’d do it again if it came down to it. Although I did feel bad, brother. I honestly thought you weren’t going to make your move. I do regret the pain it caused you.”
I waved him off. “Doesn’t matter. Look at us now. Married to her. Having babies. Careers. It worked out the best possible way, and I’d die to keep her.”
“Me too,” Klaus said.
“Well, brothers, I’m ahead of you all. I did.” Evan nudged me with his elbow.
I let out a laugh at the same time Klaus huffed.
“You win this round, Beyers,” I muttered.
Evan rolled over, still laughing.
I loved that fucker for sure, and I really would die to protect my family.
My phone rang the following morning as I was getting ready for a meeting with a new band I was looking at. Running my own recording house and getting bands signed was turning into more than a full-time job. Plus, managing Fatal Promise and Bishop.
My plate was full, to say the least.
I picked my phone up to see Cole’s name on the screen.
I frowned, my heart pumping hard. I hadn’t spoken to Rosalie this morning, but I planned on calling her on my way to work to tell her I loved her and that I wanted her to have an amazing day.
I had purchased a new guitar for her, and it was being delivered in Ryder’s name to where she was staying today.
She’d had her eye on this guitar, and I was more than willing to surprise her with it.
She said she was still having morning sickness, but it had been getting better, for which I was grateful. When she was pregnant with Ellis, she’d had it rough for the first few weeks, but this pregnancy seemed like it was off to a better start.
I prayed it continued that way.
“Scott. What’s wrong?” I demanded, answering his call.
“Good morning to you too,” he muttered.
I blew out a breath. If he was being this way, then it meant this wasn’t an emergency with Rosalie.
“I assume Rosalie is fine?” I pressed.
“I wouldn’t know, dick. I don’t know where she lives. I’m calling to get her address so I can take her breakfast in bed.”
I closed my eyes. “We thought it best you guys didn’t have the address—”
“Fuck you!” he snarled. “What the fuck, man? She’s my girl too!”
“Is she?” I challenged. “You’re still in the mob life, Cole.”
“You know I love her. Don’t fucking do this shit to me. She belongs to me too. We’re having a baby—”
I laughed. “I’m having a baby with her. Not you.”
“Fuck you, Ass Hat. We both know she’s carrying my kid. Give me her fucking address.”
There was shuffling and a female voice in the background.
“Hold on,” Cole muttered into the phone. “Hey, what the fuck are you doing here?”
“I’m Enzo’s assistant,” the female called out. “I’m here to assist.”
“I told your ass to get fucking lost. Wasn’t the broken arm enough? Need me to break the other fucking one?”
“Cole. I don’t know what you’re doing, but I have shit to do. We’ll talk later.” I pulled the phone away from my ear to hang up.
“Wait, dick! Hey!” Cole shouted. “Please. Give me the address.”
“How badly do you want it?” I asked.
“What the fuck do you mean? You know how much I want it.”
“Tell me,” I said. “Beg me, Scott.”
He sighed. “Fuck, I hate you. Can you give me Rosalie’s address?”
“Use your manners,” I said.
“Give me my girl’s address, and I won’t break my foot off in your ass,” he snapped.
I chuckled. “You’re awful. Try harder. Please goes a long way.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Anson, please give me Rosalie’s address. I want to take… our girl breakfast. Please.”
“What are you taking her?” I asked.
“Fuck, man. Come on!”
“Ah, ah, ah,” I tsked at him. “Be nice. We really need to work on your manners.”
“I’m taking her something I made,” he mumbled.
That intrigued me. I didn’t know he cooked.
“What is it?”
“It’s just standard stuff. I made her heart-shaped pancakes with blueberries since they’re her favorite,” he said, his voice soft.
“I made these scrambled eggs she likes. At least she used to. And toast with her favorite grape jam. I even squeezed fucking oranges for an hour to make her a glass of juice.” He went quiet for a moment.
“So can I please have her address? I want the baby to eat. I want her to eat. Please, Anson.”
“I’ll text it to you,” I said, all teasing gone. “She’ll like her breakfast. Thank you for doing it for her.”
“I love her,” he replied. “You know I do. I’m trying, man.
I am. I have a lot of wrongs to fix. You don’t have any idea how hard it was for me to give her up all those years ago.
I didn’t want to. I just… I’m not good at apologies.
I buy her pretty things to say I’m sorry because I’m not a fucking poet with words.
I do things for her to make her smile. And I fuck.
It’s all I’m good at. So fucking let me use what god gave me.
I’m not working with much here, Ass Hat. ”
“You’re working with more than you give yourself credit for,” I said, putting him on speakerphone. I sent him the text of her address. “I sent the address.”
“Thank you,” he said, relief flooding his voice.
“What’s the situation with Enzo and E? They joining?”
“I really hope so, man. I’m trying. Enzo is… Enzo. Withdrawn. E is so focused on Riot. I think he’s worried Riot’s parentage will hurt Rosalie too much. He’s just in his head a lot. We’re working on it.”
“Work harder,” I said firmly. “We’re coming back into the life, and I really hope it’s not a permanent thing because if we come back, I’ll be in charge.”
Cole scoffed. “Like hell—”
“That city has my name all over it, Scott. I’m the De Santis heir.”
“Foxy technically is,” Cole shot back.
I chuckled at that. “Bad news, then. Evan and I are on the same team. Imagine a very hostile fucking takeover.”
Cole was quiet for a long time before he spoke. “I’ll talk to the guys. We don’t want a war. You know that.”
“Then move faster. Take our girl breakfast. Try not to fuck shit up today.”
“Dick,” he muttered.
“Right back at you, fuck lips.” I disconnected the call and closed my eyes.
We really did need to all get on the same page here, or it really would be a hostile takeover. We already had set plans in motion.