Chapter 34 Ethan
ETHAN
Ifollowed the hostess to a private room at The Loon. It was neutral ground, and as long as no one shot anyone, we shouldn’t have a problem.
I only hoped Rosalie told Klaus that she and I had been speaking to one another, and he didn’t just find out about it. The last thing I needed was the big bastard to kill my ass before I found her.
The hostess led me into the room, and I saw Klaus sitting alone at a table.
He stood and shook my hand as I reached him. The hostess scurried away.
“Ethan,” he said in that deep voice of his.
“Klaus.” I shook his hand. The last time I’d seen him, I’d been a damn mess of a man. I was sure he hadn’t forgotten either.
He gestured for me to sit across from him, so I did.
“Tell me everything,” I said immediately.
He eyed me, his blue eyes taking me in. He had an unnerving way of looking at you, so you felt like he was checking out your damn soul.
“Everything I know I told you on the phone. What I want to know is what happened last night before you departed.”
I breathed out. So he did know.
“Nothing. I talked to Anson before he let Rosalie out of the car. We ordered some pizza at Giodi’s, then drove to the lake to eat it. We talked for a bit, then she said she was tired and wanted to go home.”
Klaus said nothing as he absorbed my words.
“Did you touch her?” he finally asked softly.
I swallowed. “I-I didn’t touch her. Not like… that.”
“Like what?” He raised his brows at me.
“I didn’t fuck her if that’s what you’re asking,” I said coolly. “I have more respect for Rosalie than a quick lay after nearly five years of being apart. She told me she was married. I respect that. I respect Anson… and you.”
He nodded and tapped his knuckles on the table.
“Did you kiss my woman, Masters?”
I said nothing as we stared at one another.
He let out a soft huff of laughter. “She told you she’s with me.”
“She did,” I said tightly.
“So did you kiss her?” he repeated.
“Yes.”
He laughed that dangerous laugh of his again. “Seems pretty fucking disrespectful if you ask me.”
“I know,” I replied. “I don’t regret it, though. She was mine before she was yours. The last time I saw her, I wasn’t well. I didn’t want her last memory of me to be that sniveling little bitch, sobbing and begging.”
He eyed me before sitting forward.
“We told her she could,” he said.
I blinked at that information. “What?”
“She loves you. Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change when it comes to that. I fear that love may get her killed.” His voice grew softer. “Or already has.”
“She’s strong,” I said fiercely. “She’s fighting. We will bring her home.”
He breathed out, and it’s when I saw the first dent in his armor. He was hurting. He was scared. He… loved her so fucking much.
I watched as he dug around in his suit pocket, pulled a velvet box out, and opened it.
Inside was a pretty diamond band. It had to have cost him a fortune.
“I was going to add my ring to Evan and Anson’s,” he said, the diamonds sparkling beneath the overhead light. “Tonight. I was going to ask her to be my wife, too.”
I swallowed hard at his words.
“I love her,” he continued softly. “More than I’ve ever loved any other woman in this world. She is everything to me. She has a family.”
“Ellisandra,” I whispered. “Her daughter.”
He nodded tightly. “Ellis, Rosalie, Evan, and Anson are my family. I love them with every ounce of me there is. I would die to protect them. I would kill to protect them. The detective, Henderson, working her case, is no longer employed. I do not like incompetence or disloyalty. I am only going to ask you this one time. Do you know where my girl is?”
“I don’t,” I replied honestly. “I wish I did. I-I want her back, too.”
“You still love her,” he murmured.
I nodded. There was no sense in denying it. “I do.”
“Then help me bring her home, and we can discuss things… further.”
I stared at him in shock.
“A-Are you asking me to join…?”
“No. I’m saying we can discuss things further. Rosalie ultimately decides, but I think you’re a decent man, Ethan. She obviously cared about you. I would accept you as family if it meant we could form an alliance and bring her home. So… are you in?”
“I’m in,” I whispered. “I… I just can’t join, but I can help to bring her home.”
Klaus studied me for a moment before accepting my answer with a nod.
Even if I couldn’t join, I wanted to bring her home because I loved her.
I loved her so fucking much.
I’d pushed her out of my head for way too long, and it was having an effect on me. If Enzo got Church to agree to the new contract terms, then she’d be out of my life for good.
But I loved my brother, and I knew he needed Rosalie. I knew I could survive without her. I had been surviving without her. I wasn’t so sure Cole could.
“Clear your schedule,” Klaus said, getting to his feet. “We have a busy day ahead of us.”
I stood, followed him out of the restaurant, to his fancy Aston Martin waiting with a valet, and got into the passenger seat.
“You have a gun?” he asked, starting the engine.
“Always.”
“Then let’s put it to work.” He revved the engine before pulling onto the street.
I would bring her home or die trying.