Chapter 20 Klaus
KLAUS
Idid not stay at Matteo’s. Instead, I got a hotel room and lay in bed the next night, thinking about Rosalie and my son. Matteo was going to reach out to Nico for me, so I just had to wait and see.
I could have gone home, but I couldn’t face Rosalie after I’d walked out on her. My feelings were far too confusing, and nothing I did now would be right. I needed the space. The distance.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down at the screen to see a message from Rosalie.
Rosalie: I’m worried about you.
I breathed out and stared down at the message, wanting to answer her, but knowing I wasn’t in the right headspace yet to do it, so I darkened the screen and let the phone fall onto the mattress next to me.
My phone buzzed once more, and I swore to myself that if it was her, I’d go to her.
I lifted the phone to see a call from a number I didn’t recognize, but it did say California, which was where Nico was.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Klaus,” Nico’s Russian accent met my ears. “How are you, my old friend?”
“You know how I am,” I snarled, sitting up. “Where is my son?”
“Dead.”
“Don’t lie to me. I know he’s alive. I just…”
He sighed. “I understand your pain. Did you know that some years ago, my daughter Asha tried to take her life?”
“I had not heard. I am sorry,” I mumbled, trying to contain my frustration.
“A world without our children is no world at all,” he continued. “But I have gotten my daughter back, along with a wonderful son-in-law. I’m sure you’ve heard of him.”
“Skin and Bones,” I muttered, knowing the monster’s name. People spoke in hushed whispers about him. It was almost like Santino De Santis was back because people feared The Carpenter in much the same way. Of course, he was also back on the streets, raising hell in the name of his dead son.
I could sympathize.
“But your boy. He was really something.”
“He was,” I said thickly.
“Let’s meet tomorrow. Five PM. Meet at O’Brien’s off the highway.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Perfect. Have a good night, old friend.” He disconnected the call, leaving me to stare at my ceiling again.
It was just as well.
It’s not like I had anything better to do in the state I was in.
I sat waiting for Nico at O’Brien’s the following evening. It was an old, dingy bar outside of town. When we were younger, we’d all go there and get beers, get high, fuck women who thought we were older than our college age.
I hadn’t set foot in there in years. When we were younger, we’d fantasize about buying it and turning it into something really special.
Those dreams went out the window a long time ago now. I found it funny that Nico wanted to meet here.
I stared down at my drink in front of me. The jukebox played off in the distance some old rock tune I hadn’t heard in what felt like forever. Only a few people were in the joint. Just old men who probably went there to escape their lives.
I took another drink as someone slid onto the barstool next to me.
I glanced over and did a double-take.
“S-Stef?” I choked out as my dead son sat staring back at me.
“Hey, Dad,” he murmured.
I blinked rapidly, not sure if I’d been poisoned and was finally dying.
“I-Is it you? Stef?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” He gave me a small, nervous smile. “It’s been a long time.”
“H-How? I-I buried you. You were shot in the head. I-I don’t understand…”
“We should talk,” he said. “If you have the time.”
“I do. I have the time,” I rasped.
He smiled and gestured for me to follow him to a dark corner of the bar. I did and sat in the booth with him, away from prying eyes.
“How?” I repeated as I peered through the dim light at him. He looked older. Bigger. Stronger. Tired.
But he was still my son.
“I had to get away,” he said softly. “I-you were too much. I didn’t want this life, but it seems to have found me anyway.”
“I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I-I don’t have an excuse for any of it. I’m just a bad father. I would apologize a million times over if I thought I could make a difference in your life or your brother’s life. I am so sorry if I made you do this to escape.”
“It’s more than that,” he said. “I… I love Natalia. I knew that I’d either have to die or join the Bratva. I could do neither. I would never betray my roots, but I was left with no choice. Then Matteo took Nattie from me anyway.”
“He kept her safe,” I whispered.
“He forced her to suck off Dominic,” he said sourly.
I breathed out. He wasn’t wrong.
“He did,” I agreed. “He was lost for a long time, but he has gotten better. I promise he is not the same man he was before. He’s changed. Or is changing.”
“I don’t forgive him for what he did,” he said firmly. “And you by default.”
I nodded, my throat tight. “I understand. Just know that I love you, and I truly am sorry for not being the best father. For forcing the trauma on you because I was trying to escape it myself. I-I don’t know how else to show my remorse.”
“I believe you.” He reached out and rested his hand over mine. “I do. I know it’s been hard on you, but this is your chance to be better. I mean, if you decide to take it.”
“I want to take it,” I said. “I want to make things right.”
“You know it’s hard for Levin and me, right? What with you helping Matteo, taking Bianca, the countless other shit, killing Mom, and all—”
“I didn’t kill your mother,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I-I didn’t do it.”
“What? Levin saw you—”
I breathed out. It was now or never.
“She killed herself. I found her. I picked up the knife as Levin came in. I knew what it looked like, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you boys that your mother…”
“Never wanted this life? Didn’t love us enough to stay?” He finished sadly.
“Yes.” I wiped away the few rogue tears that had fallen. “Levin was young. I didn’t want him to know.”
“But you became cold to him after. Even to me.”
“I know. I was fighting my own demons. It’s not an excuse. I just know I messed up. I’m a monster.” I said to him, explaining to him everything I’d told Rosalie about how I hardened to keep them away from me. To make them stronger so they wouldn’t hurt too.
“I understand if you do not want to have a relationship with me. I accept this, but please, take care of Levin. He needs you. He always looked up to you.”
“He loves you, too. You know that, right? He’s harder than I am, but that’s because he’s more like you than like Mom. I sort of take after her in that respect. Little soft and wear my emotions on my sleeve.”
I nodded, my throat tight again.
“Call Levin. Talk to him. He’s rough around the edges. Believe me, he let me have it when he found out I was alive.” He shook his head. “But I’m like you in a way, too, I guess, because I did what I did to keep people safe. Of course, my way was probably a little better.”
“Dying is never better,” I muttered. “We were in hell without you. Levin was in hell, and I believe he still lives there because of things I’ve done.”
“He’s doing OK. I promise he is. He has a family he loves, and a girl he’s head over heels for.”
“Which we have,” I said with a sigh, rubbing my eyes.
“Which you’ll give back because it’s the right thing to do. Bianca is a good girl. She’s sweet and has a family who adores her. She deserves to be happy and with them.”
“I know she does,” I said. “It’s Matteo. He listens to Sylar and won’t relent on it. Believes everything he’s told.”
I paused for a moment as Stefan studied me.
“I listen too, I suppose.”
“Do you?” He raised his brows at me, and I nodded.
“I met a-a woman.”
He said nothing as I swallowed. “I-I don’t know what to do.”
“Are you asking me for dating advice, Dad?” He chuckled softly.
“Maybe.” The corners of my lips twitched.
“Tell her how you feel. Always say how you feel. If you don’t, you’ll end up sitting in this same exact spot, across from her years later. You don’t want to miss out on all that time, do you?”
“I don’t,” I whispered.
“What’s her name?”
I laughed softly. “I cannot say.”
“Figured. Do you think we’d like her?”
“I think you’d love her too. She’s perfect and everything I’ve always wanted.
She makes me feel alive again. She makes me smile.
She cooks, and it’s incredible. She loves to wear pretty dresses, and she sings when she cooks.
My home feels like it’s breathing for the first time in forever.
I feel like I am. I-I have never felt this way before.
I do not understand how to navigate these feelings inside of me. ”
“You don’t need to know how to do it,” he said. “Believe me. I felt the same way with Nattie. She was an enemy, you know?” He shook his head. “Now look at us.”
I nodded, smiling. “She was a sweet girl. I would very much like to speak to her soon and apologize for any turmoil I may have caused her.”
“In time,” he said gently. “I think time is your friend right now. With all of us.”
I nodded, knowing that. I didn’t expect him to welcome me with open arms. In fact, I didn’t expect to see him at all tonight, considering he was supposed to be dead and I was meant to meet with Nico, who I assumed was in town, not off in L.A.
“How did you end up with Nico?” I asked.
“We want the same things.” He shrugged.
“What’s that?”
“People dead.” He eyed me without blinking as my stomach tightened.
“Matteo?”
He shrugged. “Not necessarily, but we take victories where we can get them these days.”
“I will only ask this of you once,” I said. “Please don’t take my brother from me.”
He stared me down, no emotion on his face. Perhaps I’d taught him too well. It was like looking at myself.
“We’re after Everett Church. The Ivanovs. And yeah, Matteo, too if he gets in the way. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Nico does care for Matteo.”
I nodded. “I understand. I will do what I can on my end to ensure all is well. Matteo hurts as I do. He deserves his happiness.”
“I get it, but make sure he stays away from my work. I didn’t want this life, but I’m here now, so I do ask that you let me do what I have to do.”
“I respect that,” I murmured. “I ask that you please be safe and come to me if you need help. I want to help you.”
“I will.” He reached for my hand again. “I do love you, Dad. I just wish shit was different. I know it can be someday. Time, you know?”
“Time,” I repeated. “I will give you that if you promise not to disappear on me again.”
“I promise.” He squeezed my hand. “I’ll talk to Levin. Let me lay that groundwork first. I’ll try to warm him up to you.”
I gave him a sad smile. “OK.”
He released my hand and looked down at his watch. “I need to go. We’ll talk soon, OK?” He got to his feet, and I followed.
“You’ll call?”
“I’ll call.” He reached out for me, and I had a flashback of when he was a small boy, and he’d reach for me whenever he’d fall or get hurt. I’d hold him tightly and tell him to be strong.
“Be strong, Dad,” he whispered in my ear.
I laughed softly at his words.
“And tell that girl how you really feel.” He pulled away. “I have your number. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Be safe.”
“Always.”
He gave me one last smile before leaving for the door. I watched him go, everything within me relaxing for a moment.
He was alive.
My son was alive.