Chapter 14 Rosalie
ROSALIE
After Dante and Klaus left, Ryder and Trent arrived. Anson had already called the police, and now that it had all cleared and we moved hotels once more, I lay in bed feeling completely overwhelmed.
Trix was spending the night with the band in their room, and Ellis had fallen asleep on Dante’s lap earlier. I’d watched him take her to bed, my heart full. While a monster, he wasn’t one to us. I was grateful to have him in my life.
Klaus was still out, and he wasn’t answering my texts. After Ani and Evan fell asleep, I tried to message him again, but once more, nothing.
Carefully, I climbed over Ani and wandered out to Ellis’s room to check on her. She was sleeping soundly with Mr. Rufus at her side. I tucked her back in before I went to the kitchen in our suite. Evan had sent one of the guys out to get me hot chocolate, so I quickly made some.
The way he knew me…
I smiled as I stirred the little marshmallows into my cup and settled on the couch in the dark.
I waited for another hour on the couch, my eyes growing heavier by the minute, before I succumbed to the exhaustion, my hot chocolate gone.
I woke to being lifted.
“Klaus?” I mumbled.
“My love,” he murmured softly as he carried me in his arms. I was certain he was taking me to the extra room the suite had. I was right as he lay me in the empty bed.
“Where were you? I was worried—”
“Shh.” He pressed his finger to my lips before removing his clothes and sliding into bed next to me.
“Klaus—”
“I love you,” he said softly, cradling my face as I stared at him through the sliver of moonlight shining through the window.
“I love you, too,” I whispered.
He breathed out. “I’m sorry if I react poorly.
It is something I have been working on. I know I can let my anger speak before my logic, but you are everything to me, my little hummingbird.
Knowing someone is out there, doing these things…
” He shook his head, a muscle thrumming along his jaw. “I am struggling.”
He brushed his lips against mine. “There is more.”
“Tell me,” I said, worry encasing me as I stared at him.
“I didn’t find much tonight regarding anything. I received Anson and Evan’s messages about the police’s involvement. I-I realized something in all of it.”
“What?” I held my breath, waiting for him to speak.
“That you’re it for me. That I want you forever a-and, uh, I-I want to marry you, too.”
I blinked rapidly at him.
“What? You do?”
“Yes.” He brushed his lips against mine. “Dante told me how I can do it. Anson too. We could all be a family forever. You’d be my wife.” His voice shook.
“Klaus, I know marriage scares you—”
“You fucking terrify me,” he rasped. “But only because I love you so damn much and fear what my life would become without you. So know that I want this. Forever. I just want to do it right. When the time comes, I will ask you properly. OK?”
I nodded. “OK.”
He gave me a relieved smile. “Sleep, my sweet girl. It’s late. You have a lot to do tomorrow.”
I snuggled against him, breathing in his rich cologne as he held me tightly.
I closed my eyes, letting the sleep take me, my mind on getting Anson and Klaus as my husbands. I knew it was possible, and I wanted it badly. I loved them so damn much. They were my world with Evan and Ellis.
But like it always did, my horsemen crept into my mind, dragging me away from the bliss I wanted.
This was just how my life was these days.
“It’s in the fucking news!” Evan snarled, storming through our room. “How the fuck is it in the news?”
Anson rubbed his eyes and sat forward on the couch as I stared down at the stack of gossip magazines littered with images of me taken at different times in my career, but they all had similar headings.
Bishop Attacked…Again!
Not All Hearts Are Wanted… Ask Bishop.
Bishop Gifted a Real Heart by Stalker.
And they went on and on. The internet was worse. It wasn’t what I wanted to wake up to, but here we were.
“I need to make some calls,” Anson muttered, pulling his phone out.
“Are you OK?” Dante asked as I closed my eyes.
“Not really,” I answered weakly.
Dante snapped his fingers at Trent. “Get her something to drink. Now.”
“Man, you could ask nicely,” Trent muttered, getting to his feet. I hadn’t had a chance to properly greet Trent. It had seemingly been a madhouse yesterday, and the guys spent most of the time planning for my safety.
“You want some food, red?” Ryder called out. “I can order something.”
I shook my head, despite my stomach growling. “No.”
“I’m going to make some calls,” Klaus said, getting to his feet. I watched him go into the room we slept in last night and close the door behind him.
Anson had moved to another part of the suite and was talking to someone, his voice low.
“Evan?” I called out.
“Ro.” He was at my side in a moment. “What do you need, baby?”
I hated the worry in his voice. On his face.
“Can you check on Ellis?” I asked.
He squeezed my hands and left me to go to her room.
“Maybe you need some time off,” Dante said.
“The tour is almost over. I can get through this,” I mumbled, not knowing if I could. I liked the idea of just going home and cuddling with Ellis and watching her ballet recitals. Eating popcorn with Ani while we watched a movie. Bubble baths with Evan. Late night talks with Klaus.
“Fuck the tour,” Dante said. “Let’s just get you home—”
“I don’t run out on my responsibilities,” I said. “I know you’re worried about me, but it’ll be OK. We have to get through this. If I quit, whoever it is wins.”
His green eyes raked over my face. “You’re stubborn.”
“So are you.”
He smirked at me. “Birds of a feather.”
“But I am scared,” I admitted softly.
He nodded. “I know. It’s why I just want you to take some time off. Come to the underground—”
I widened my eyes at him and shook my head. “Um, no. I-I don’t think so.”
He rolled his eyes. “I won’t keep you locked down there unless I have to.”
I shivered at his words. I knew what sort of madness happened in his lair.
Dante Church, my brother, tortured people and did other things in the underground.
He swore it was only the evil, wicked humans of the world who met the wrath of him and the watchers, but after Evan and Ethan were down there, I couldn’t bring myself to even visit Dante, whose home sat over the underground.
How he and the others could sleep knowing that there were nine stories of hell beneath them, where some of the worst atrocities in our world had taken place, made my stomach sick.
But Dante wasn’t normal.
“I can’t. Evan…” my voice trailed off as he came back into the room, a sleepy Ellis in his arms.
He came to me and placed Ellis in my lap.
“She’s hungry. I’ll get some food for you guys.” Evan kissed my forehead before tweaking Ellis’s nose, which only made her giggle softly as she clung to Mr. Rufus.
“You picked a good man,” Dante murmured, watching as Evan went into the kitchen area and instructed Trent on making my hot chocolate. By the looks of it, Trent had made a mess.
I smiled, knowing it was true.
“Unkie Dunkie?” Ellis called out.
“Yes, peanut butter?”
“Can we go to the park and play?”
“We can’t go to the park today.” He held his arms out to her, and she went to him with ease. “We have a very big day today. Mommy has her show.”
“I get to see Mommy sing today?” Ellis’s eyes lit up.
“We sure do. But to fill the hours until then, we can play with your dolls, or you can teach me some of your sweet ballet moves.”
“We can give Mommy and my daddies a show!” She clapped her hands excitedly, making me laugh softly.
God, Cole was missing out.
But damn me for making it happen.
He’d have loved her.
Sadness swept over me as I watched Dante follow Ellis to the small bag of toys Evan had brought with them.
Dante sat next to her while she dictated which doll he could play with.
He seemed to be putting up a fight as she handed him a doll in a fluffy pink dress.
He tried to reach for the boy doll, but she tugged it away.
“It’s weird to see him like that,” Trent commented as he handed me the hot chocolate, which was really just cold chocolate. I took it and sipped it, wincing at how awful it was.
“Yeah,” I murmured, watching as Dante made his doll dance at the dance party Ellis was throwing.
“They’ve been trying for a baby,” Trent continued softly.
I snapped my attention to him. Dante hadn’t told me he and Sirena were trying for a baby.
“Really?”
Trent nodded. “Yeah. Sirena told Cady. I think it’s why he’s here.
He’s been frustrated because for the last few months, he’s been trying with Sirena.
It’s been putting a lot of pressure on the relationship with him, her, and the guys.
He tracks her cycles and won’t let the guys near her.
Stitches told him to go before they locked him in the underground.
So here he is.” Trent paused. “Of course, it’s also you, and I think he loves you more than anyone else in this world, aside from little princess over there and Sirena. You two are a pair, so you won.”
I swallowed at his words. “Trent?”
“Yeah?”
“This hot chocolate is awful.”
He chuckled. “I’m really not good at the domestic things. I’m grateful for Cady. I’d live on fast food if it weren’t for her.”
“I’m glad you have her,” I said.
“Me too.” The affection in his voice was all I needed to hear.
“OK, listen up,” Anson called out.
Everyone’s attention went to him. Evan came back to me with two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pulled me onto his lap.
“Here’s the plan. The livestream continues as planned.
We have sound and video already at the venue, doing their thing.
Security has been tightened for the event.
We leave here for the sound check at three.
Evan, you, Trix, and Ellis will join us at six.
Klaus will stay behind with you guys and ride with.
I’ll have Trent, Ryder, Dante, and some other security with us.
The remaining security will go with you guys.
We will put on this show and move to the next venue.
Once this nightmare of a tour is over, we’re going home. ” Anson swallowed hard. “For a bit.”
“A bit?” I raised my brows at him as he came toward me. He and Evan shot quick looks to one another as Klaus came into the room and took a seat next to me and Evan.
“LeeLee, I wanted to do this in Italy, but I can’t help myself.” He went to his knee in front of me and took my hand.
“I have loved you since the moment I saw you. Nothing in my life felt real until I met you. I was lost, searching my darkness for something to make it seem worthwhile. Then, you came into my life. I wasn’t expecting you, but I am so glad I went to Black Falls that day to see you and Evan on stage.
” He breathed out and kissed my knuckles.
“I usually have all the right words, but I don’t this time.
All I have is my heart that I’m laying out before you in the hopes you’ll keep it safe for me. ”
He paused and pulled a velvet box from his pocket.
“Would you do me the absolute honor and marry me, too?”
Evan gave my waist a gentle squeeze, and Klaus shifted next to me.
“Y-Yes,” I managed to say before he was slipping his ring onto my finger next to Evan’s. A simple diamond band that matched Evan’s ring perfectly.
Anson’s lips met mine in a sweet, deep kiss before we broke apart, his forehead resting against mine.
“I love you, songbird.”
“Oh, Ani. I love you too,” I whispered before I threw my arms around Anson’s neck and sobbed softly. I knew there were places that allowed us to marry. We’d spoken about it randomly over the years, but now it was going to be a reality.
And Klaus.
I looked over at him as I pulled away from Ani.
He smiled and took my hand.
“Congratulations, hummingbird,” he murmured, kissing my knuckles before releasing me to Evan, who wasted no time claiming my lips.
“Our family is growing, baby,” he whispered, pressing his hand to my stomach. I knew he was ready for all the next steps, and I was too. “I am so happy.”
I kissed him again before breaking away and dragging Ani to us so I could kiss him.
“Nice,” Trent catcalled.
“Finally, some good news,” Ryder said. “I’ve had to listen to him mope for years. It’ll be a nice change of pace.”
Klaus laughed and joined in, kissing me too. Ellis ran over, climbed into my lap, and we all group-hugged, her squirming and giggling between us.
I cast a look at Dante, who smiled back at me. He was happy. That mattered.
“Will I get to wear a pretty dress?” Ellis asked.
“The prettiest,” Anson said. “Any color you want.”
She kicked her little feet in excitement, and I only held her tighter, grateful for all I had.
Despite the bad things going on, this….this was good. It overshadowed all the bullshit.
I could live with that.