Chapter 21 Evan
EVAN
“No leads. Nothing,” Anson said as we videochatted. “I have been up these cops’ asses, and no one knows shit.”
“We’ve been searching too,” I said, sighing as I scratched Cotton’s head. He purred and settled on my lap.
Klaus settled in next to me on the bed.
“Where is our woman?” he asked.
“Shower,” Anson said, sitting in a chair in the new hotel room they were in. Rosalie had a show, and everything went fine. It was just one more show down until she was done and back in my arms. I was counting down the days.
“She talked to E last night,” Anson said. “He reached out to her.”
“I know. She told us,” I said.
“I do not like it,” Klaus said immediately. “I do understand the reasoning for such things, and I support her decisions, even if I do not agree with them.”
“I don’t know that it helped anything,” Anson said. “She told me she was supposed to talk to him again today, but hasn’t reached out to him yet. He hasn’t reached out to her either.”
“E is a good guy,” I said. “I honestly wouldn’t be upset at all if she brought him in with us.
” I knew those were words I shouldn’t say, but I wanted them out there so everyone was aware of where I stood on the subject.
Enzo and Cole could go fuck one another.
Yeah, I cared about them, but knowing they’d hurt Rosalie still pissed me off.
“He is a good guy,” Anson agreed.
“I do not know him well enough to pass an opinion. I only know what I’ve heard. All things have been positive from my boys.” Klaus rubbed his eyes. “I trust them, and if you two say he is good, then I believe you.”
“She said he sounded happy. That he’s not dating. He’s working. That he’s not using like he once did. Overall, she said he sounded great. I’m really hoping he was being honest. I’ve only ever wanted him to find himself and be comfortable in his skin and show himself some grace,” I said.
“They have a kid. The horsemen,” Anson said. “I can’t imagine E leaving a kid, just like I can’t see any of us backing out on Ellis. I get why you say you’d be OK with Rosalie bringing him in, but I really don’t think it’s an option.”
“Never,” Klaus said fiercely. “Ellis is my little ballerina. Mein Ballerina.”
I smiled at his words. He’d read a bedtime story to her tonight and had taken her to her ballet class. Imagining Klaus sitting through ballet was funny to me, and he’d smirked and shaken his head when I mentioned it earlier, but they’d gone for ice cream after, and he’d bought her a new doll.
“I’m in it for the long haul. You guys know that. In fact, I’m thinking I’m going to be the one to have the next baby.” I grinned at the camera.
“I think not,” Anson said, laughing. “I’m going to fuck her tonight. I’d be doing it right now if I weren’t on the phone with you guys. I’d already be on round three.”
“Because you can’t last,” Klaus chimed in.
“You’re lucky you’re not here,” Anson said, taking the ribbing well. “I’d slap you with my dick. Although it’s big enough, I could probably reach you from here.”
Klaus laughed loudly, and I cracked a smile.
“Listen, go take care of her. Tell her we love her. I’d stay and watch you make her moan, but I have to get this book done.
The publisher is riding my ass.” I rubbed my eyes tiredly.
I told myself I’d put in another hour before calling it a night.
I wanted to fly back out to her and Anson after the head incident, but she insisted we don’t uproot Ellis and ruin her recital next week.
So I relented, but vowed I’d come if I had to.
Klaus actually got a ticket, but Rosalie freaked out on him and told him to stay put. He begrudgingly agreed, but Anson woke to ten more guards for her that following morning.
“I’ll see you guys. Keep your eyes open. There’s no telling who this little prick is,” Anson said. “I love you.”
“Love you, too,” I said.
“Love,” Klaus said, yawning.
We disconnected the call, and I looked over at Klaus.
“I really do want to go to her.”
“I know. I do as well,” he said. “But I thought she was going to come through the phone and kick my ass when I said I got a ticket.”
“It’s because she’s worried about all the paparazzi hanging out, trying to get more information on her and Anson. She doesn’t want us found out. At this point, I don’t even give a shit, but I get it. She’s trying to protect Ellis.”
Klaus sighed. “I understand. I just don’t like being away from her so much.”
“We share the same sentiment,” I murmured.
He clapped me on the back and got to his feet. “I need to get to sleep. I have far too much work and too many meetings tomorrow.”
“You could retire,” I called out to him as he walked away.
“I would go crazy sitting here without my hummingbird. It is best to continue to work. Sleep well, brother.”
And with those words, he left me alone. I smiled. Klaus was a good guy. I loved the man as if he were my brother. His love for Rosalie was real and true, and that mattered. Had he been here just for a good time, I’d have kicked his ass to the curb long ago, but he proved his devotion to her.
I went to my bedroom after checking in on Ellis. Trix had gone home hours ago. She seemed distracted and kept getting messages. When I asked her if everything was OK, she grumbled that Hex was pissing her off.
That definitely seemed likely, so I didn’t pursue it. She knew she could talk to me if she needed to.
I settled at my desk and stared at my screen for a moment. Instead of going to my manuscript, I navigated to E’s social media and took a look around. He still hadn’t updated much. Just his photography, but there was a newer image of him.
I clicked on it and stared at him.
He looked good. Really good. He was more filled out. His hair was longer and a little messy. His green eyes seemed alive.
E must have been being honest with Rosalie because he definitely didn’t look like someone who was using and was depressed, not that those things were easy to tell all the time, but I remembered addict E, and this definitely wasn’t him.
I closed out of E’s social media before checking out Cole’s. Not much greeted me. He had a few pictures of himself at the gym. He’d definitely been working out too. Pictures of him in his white doctor jacket. I smiled at that.
“Good for you, man,” I murmured, noting he was a resident at one of the big hospitals in the city. He must have blown his way through courses at Mayfair to get that far ahead so quickly, but I knew Cole. He was always so damn smart.
I didn’t look at Enzo’s stuff. I didn’t have the heart to, so I exited completely and then decided to just go to bed.
I picked up my phone and lay down. I thumbed out a message to Rosalie.
Evan: I love you, Ro. Meet you in our dreams, baby. I’ll be wearing nothing.
Her answer came quickly.
Rosalie: I can’t wait. I love you so much.
She attached an image of her naked, and I immediately saved it to my phone.
I would definitely be seeing her in my dreams.