Chapter 32 Evan
EVAN
Icouldn’t breathe, but I forced the air into my lungs as the cops questioned me. I’d flown into Chicago only hours ago after Anson called me, frantic, barely able to speak.
Someone had gotten past security. They’d hurt Ryder. Rosalie was taken.
Klaus and I rushed to Chicago after getting the phone call. He looked like how I felt. Sick. So fucking sick.
And the blood.
Her blood was all over the damn bathroom. We’d been moved from that room to another a floor below, but I’d already seen the mess the other room was in.
I feared I’d never unsee it either. My Ro’s blood on everything. My baby had tried. And I wasn’t there to protect her. I’d vowed I’d always protect her and failed her.
The cops said she’d fought hard. Anson confirmed she did as he sat on the couch, his head in his hands.
“Have you received any suspicious packages or had any strange phone calls to your home, Mr. Beyers?” Detective Henderson asked as he stared me down.
“Nothing,” I said.
“Your wife, Rosalie, has she received anything new recently? We’re aware of the packages and note she previously received,” he continued. “Anything else?”
I shook my head. “Not that I’m aware of. Security has been tightened, and nothing new has come through.”
The detective made note of it as Klaus paced the room. I knew he was ready to tear this city apart. His company’s image was at stake, which only added fuel to the fire.
I’d join him as soon as this interview was over. Anson wasn’t himself. I knew him as a strong, take-charge man, but he was broken.
Ryder had been taken to the hospital. He had a nasty concussion, and they wanted to keep him for observation as they ran more scans on him. He’d needed a lot of stitches. Anson said he’d barely been conscious when taken out of the hotel.
“And how long have you been married to Rosalie?” Henderson asked.
“Almost five years,” I replied, glancing at Anson again.
Henderson frowned. “So you’re the husband, and this Mr. Beyers is just her manager?” He nodded to Anson.
“I’m her husband,” I confirmed, “but I hardly think our relationship status is relevant. Anson is my brother. We’re a family.”
Henderson raised his brows at that. I didn’t like this guy. He was probably in his mid-thirties, but he had a judgmental attitude that wasn’t sitting well with me.
“Anson, right?”
“Yeah.” Anson inhaled deeply and wiped his eyes.
“How long have you been sleeping with Rosalie?”
“What the fuck kind of question is that?” Klaus snarled, stepping into the conversation.
“I’m only trying to figure out a dynamic here so I know what’s going on. We can’t rule anyone out yet—”
“You think I fucking took her? Cut her to fuck? Hauled her body out and then made a fucking police report?” Anson glared at Detective Henderson.
“You stupid motherfucker. I was on the phone with her the entire time she was being attacked! I showed you incompetent pricks my phone records!” He got to his feet, morphing into the monster I knew he could be.
“I was out at a meeting until she called me! If you’d check into that information, then you’d know I’m telling the truth! ”
“Mr. Beyers, I’m going to ask that you lower your voice and sit down,” Henderson said, eyeing him wearily. “I’m conducting an investigation here.”
“You’re being a nosy little asshole,” Anson snapped. “Our dynamic doesn’t fucking matter. Get your ass to work and find my girl!”
Henderson nodded tightly before looking at me. “Can we talk alone, Mr. Beyers?”
I glanced at Anson to see his chest heaving. He was going to lose it. I couldn’t have that happening and him landing himself in jail.
“Sure,” I said, getting to my feet.
“No. You don’t talk to him without me,” Anson shouted. “You’re not going to fucking question him about me! I didn’t fucking do shit but try to protect her.” Anson shoved Henderson hard in the chest. Two of the other cops in the room came rushing over and grabbed Anson before I could get to him.
Klaus swore in German as cuffs were placed on Anson’s wrists.
Son of a bitch.
“Why is he being arrested?” I demanded. “He didn’t do anything!”
“Take him downtown,” Henderson said. “He can’t be assaulting people.”
I shook my head in disbelief at the pure fucking nonsense of this entire situation.
“You’re fucking lucky I’m in cuffs, you piece of shit,” Anson snarled. “Useless! All of you pricks!”
The cops hauled Anson from the room. This was a shit show. The press had been camped outside this hotel for hours now, and they’d haul Anson right through the center of it. The stories would take off.
Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.
“Mr. Beyers,” Henderson continued, clearing his throat. “Can you please elaborate on your relationship with Bishop and with your… brother?”
“She is my wife. He is my brother. He takes my place in the spotlight because I don’t like to be front and center,” I snapped at him. “Is that enough elaboration for you?”
Henderson eyed me for a moment. “For now.”
I shook my head, irritated out of my mind. “You need to be looking for her, not questioning my family and me. She’s been stalked for weeks now. I’m sure you’ve seen it all in the news.”
“I have, but I like to be thorough.”
“You can be thorough and not be a cunt,” Klaus said matter-of-factly. “Let Anson go. He’s not the one you need to be arresting.”
Henderson stuck his notebook back into his jacket.
“Mr. Seeley, I know your history. I know the sorts of things you’ve been involved in with this city.”
Klaus straightened to his full height, and Henderson took a step back.
“Prove it,” Klaus said in a dangerous growl.
“You don’t come in here and start throwing around accusations.
I’ll have your job before you can get back to your shitty cruiser.
Is that what you want, David?” A soft laugh came out of Klaus.
“I bet I know more about you than you know about you. Tell me, how is your mother? Loretta. She still fucking Sam?”
Henderson visibly swallowed.
“Crooked. Your entire family,” Klaus continued, moving closer. “Crooked in this city gets punished.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m promising you that you are fucking with forces beyond your control. Rosalie Bishop’s brother is Dante Church. Does that name ring a bell? Or how about Lorenzo De Luca? Dominic De Santis? The Carpenter? Are any of those names familiar?”
Henderson opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words came out.
“Get the fuck out on those streets and find Rosalie. If she isn’t found alive and well in the next twenty-four hours, I promise you that I will unleash hell on you as you’ve never seen before.
If you believe the rumors you’ve heard about me, then you already know half of my capabilities.
Release Anson. You press any kind of charges on him, and there will be hell to pay. ”
“I’ll be in touch.” Henderson moved past Klaus, but Klaus reached out and grabbed his arm.
“Release Anson, or I’ll go to your wife and tell her about Fern. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
I had no idea who the hell Fern was, but it seemed to do the trick because Henderson babbled something quickly before Klaus released him. He scurried out of the room like his ass was on fire.
“Now what?” I asked.
“We do what we do best. We start taking down assholes. I hope you didn’t leave the mafia life too far behind, brother.”
I picked up my bat where I’d placed it on the coffee table and ran my hand down it.
“No,” I said softly. “I didn’t leave shit behind.”
“Good. Let’s go.” Klaus gestured for me to follow him, and I did, knowing only one thing.
Whoever had our girl was going to fucking pay dearly.