Chapter 35 Matteo #2
He wasn’t wrong there. If Santino’s plan worked, with my help, we could really, maybe leave this life behind and live in peace knowing Francesca and Carmine were dead.
I’d let Dante Church and his watchers handle anything Everett-related.
I had no doubt his days were numbered. And if Dante Church didn’t get him, I knew the horsemen would.
Alessio and I chatted for a bit before he wandered off to find coffee and snacks. He seemed happy. I wanted to ask about his relationship with Indigo, but figured I’d hold off on it.
I went downstairs to the gift shop and purchased some things for Bianca and the babies before putting the bag on my chair in the waiting room. I’d forgotten a card, so I quickly returned to the gift shop and got one before stepping off the elevator on Bianca’s floor.
Alessandro came out of Bianca’s room, and I strode toward him
“Father,” he greeted me tensely.
“Alessandro.” I glanced at Bianca’s closed door, knowing damn well he’d caved and given her the phone to speak to Dominic and the kings. I wasn’t upset, but I didn’t like him hiding it from me, but I supposed he still feared I was the monster everyone said I was.
I smoothed my tie as Alessandro looked past me to Alessio, who was muttering in Italian at the vending machine. It had eaten his money.
“How is she?” I asked, concern threaded through me.
“Uh, she’s OK. I needed a break. They’re taking her for a C-section. They should be here any minute.”
“Plans for the children?” I asked, wondering what he truly had up his sleeve.
“Take them home, and I’ll raise them with her.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Get rid of them.”
“I’m sorry. What?” Alessandro tensed, glaring at me.
“It is not safe. I don’t care what you do with them, but they cannot exist.”
“You want me to kill them?” he snarled.
“Listen to me. I have put off Carmine as long as I can. He will come. He will bring Francesca. It is imperative that those babies be nowhere near. You do not want those children marred by those monsters. They love newborns. Do you understand?” He needed to understand that these people were a different kind of monster.
A look of comprehension washed over his face.
“OK,” he replied. “I’ll do it. I’ll see to it that they don’t exist.”
I gave him a nod, knowing he’d handle this and keep the babies safe. Nothing within me told me those babies wouldn’t be returning home to Dominic and the kings.
“Anything on Rosalie? You said Klaus had a lead.” Alessandro gave me a hopeful look.
I sighed, hating that I had to give him bad news. “Turned up a dead end.”
“Fuck. If Everett has her—”
“He will die.” I paused. “Alessandro, we do need to speak.”
“About what?” He rubbed his eyes. He was exhausted. I could see it on his face and the way his shoulders slumped. He’d been out just as much as Klaus. It was taking its toll on him.
“The Rosalie situation. Klaus cares for her. I have never seen him so… desperate.”
“He loves her,” he mumbled.
“It is what I fear,” I replied. “She needs to leave. You need to ensure her safety. Klaus has other things he needs to do before he can even consider love. He is not ready.”
“Where is this all going?” Alessandro asked, glancing back at Bianca’s room. “Just… give me a minute, OK? I need to check on her.”
“Of course. I will wait here.”
He opened the door, leaving me. I cast a look back at Alessio, who seemed to have gotten himself a package of crackers out of the machine and was now relaxing in a chair in the waiting room, his nose wrinkled. He hated cheese crackers, and it looked like what the vending machine gave him.
I wandered over to him, and he got up.
“Want some of these shitty styrofoam crackers with the fake cheese?” He held out the package.
“I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline.”
He grunted and tossed the crackers in the trash. “What’s the word?”
“C-section, it sounds like. Alessandro is beside himself with worry.” We began to wander back to the room.
“Should I call…?”
I chuckled. “Drake. Get him here.”
Alessio pulled his phone out and hit Drake’s name. He put him on speakerphone.
“Yeah?” Drake answered. I knew he was out following up on a few leads we had on Rosalie.
“Come to the hospital. Bianca is in labor,” Alessio said.
“What?”
“Come to the hospital,” Alessio repeated. “We may need you.”
“I’m on the way. Tell her… fuck. I’m coming, OK?”
“Be safe.” Alessio disconnected the call and looked at me.
“He thinks he’s so smart,” I chuckled. “He is so in love with her. He has his work cut out for him.”
Alessio laughed. “The kings are still pissed at him. At least that’s what Vincenzo said.”
I nodded. “As they should be.”
Alessandro came out of the room, his blue eyes wild.
“I have to go,” he said.
“Where?” I asked, confused and frowning.
“Rosalie. I-I’m going to get her. Bianca… Please…”
I blinked at him for a moment.
“Go,” I said firmly. If he could get Rosalie, I would stay with Bianca. “I will handle Bianca.”
“Father. She’s scared. Please don’t hurt her or the babies—” Alessandro pleaded with me, his face filled with worry.
“How little you know me,” I murmured, sadness sweeping over me before I stepped away from him. “Alessio, let Klaus know I’ll be with Bianca. Keep watch. You know the drill.”
Alessio inclined his head, and I looked back at Alessandro.
“You love Rosalie. Do not be a fool, Alessandro. Go get your woman.” I opened the door without waiting for him to answer. I’d text Klaus and let him know.
We may be able to rest soon enough.