18. Anson
EIGHTEEN
ANSON
“ A lessandro.” Matteo greeted me by getting to his feet and giving me a hug. I hugged him back, noting Alessio and Klaus watching. I wondered if they ever thought about their own sons and the lack of relationships they had with them.
“Father,” I said, pulling away.
He smiled at me and gestured to sit. I took a seat in the large leather booth and watched Klaus eye me from his seat.
I hadn’t forgotten my run-in with him from the last time I’d gone to see my father.
I liked that he was so loyal, but I also hated it because it was apparent he was willing to die for him.
If I killed him, I knew my father would never forgive me.
It was why I was trying hard not to create bad blood between me and the German prick.
I cleared my throat, hoping Fox was faring well in the lower level.
“I was curious how things were going,” Matteo started. “Was the information you gained useful?”
“I suppose it would have been had someone not gotten there before me.”
Matteo raised his brows at me. “That’s unfortunate. So I’m guessing you were unable to attain the woman you love?”
“Yep. She’s not mine,” I said, lifting the glass of scotch he poured for me to my lips and slamming it back. My heart was a mess over everything.
“I’m guessing a little dragon got in the way then.”
I blinked in confusion at him. “What?”
Matteo sat back in his seat and studied me for a moment. I had no idea what he was talking about. It didn’t take long to find out because Drake appeared at the table dressed in all black.
“What the hell…?” I looked from him to my father. “What’s going on?”
“Drake here is helping me with a few things. That’s nice of him, yes?”
I frowned. “I guess…?”
Matteo sat forward. “He told me he brought Bianca back. That means…”
“I didn’t get to because he was that someone who got there first,” I said sourly.
“I’m sorry,” Drake said simply. “It’s probably for the best anyway. The horsemen are nuts. Enzo is way too controlling to have ever let you in. You’d be stupid to think otherwise.”
I got to my feet and glared at him. “You’re one to talk. From what I’ve heard, you’ve been trying to bed Bianca. You think Dominic will let you in?”
Drake shrugged like he didn’t give a shit. “I’m not there for Bianca. I’m there to gain information. Sometimes, we need to fall in line and do things we wouldn’t normally do to get ahead. I’m only working. Doing my fucking job. Something you should focus more on doing.”
I shoved him, sending him back a step. He made to come back at me, but Alessio intervened, his hand on each of our chests.
“Not here,” Alessio snarled.
I shook my head and looked to my father, irritated out of my mind.
“Did you do this?” I demanded. “Did you send Drake in and ruin this for me?” Anger coursed through me, but something bigger was afoot. Betrayal. It made my chest ache.
Matteo stood and smoothed his tie down before coming toward me.
“Let’s walk,” he said.
I cast one more look at Drake and shook my head. He took a seat at the booth and poured himself a drink. I wondered if the horsemen and kings knew what the sneaky prick was up to.
We stopped at the balcony overlooking the club and stared out at the sea of writhing bodies.
“I did not send Drake to disrupt your plans,” Matteo finally said. “I would never do that to you.”
“Then what the fuck?”
“I understand you’re upset, Alessandro, but Drake is correct. Lorenzo would have never let you join them. He is a sly man, more so than his own father is. He was using you in the hopes of gaining information. At some point, he’d have rejected you. You do know that, right?”
I swallowed hard and gave him a stiff nod. The idea hadn’t been lost on me. I knew Enzo well enough to know he’d look for a loophole in our deal. I’d only hoped Rosalie would have protested and saved me from getting kicked out.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry you didn’t get your girl.
” He grew quiet as he stared out at the sea of bodies.
I noticed Fox sitting at the bar, drinking while a woman tried to engage him in conversation.
His body language said it all. He wasn’t interested.
He was hopelessly devoted to Rosalie. I was the same, and it was killing me. I wanted her and could never have her.
“I made a deal with Fox. If something ever happened to him, I’d take Rosalie and run with her. Keep her safe. It’s how I’d get her.” The words were ugly on my tongue because I didn’t want Fox to die. It would break Rosalie. He’d become my friend, too, and I’d miss his ass.
“I see,” Matteo said softly.
We were quiet for a moment, my attention on Fox at the bar.
“So what will you do now?” Matteo asked.
“I don’t know,” I said softly. “What’s left to do but let go?”
“Well, it is my advice to let go just enough so you can still hold on when the time is right.”
“What does that mean?” I looked over at him to see a peculiar look on his face.
“You’re not alone,” he murmured.
I looked from him to where he was staring.
Fox.
Fuck.
“How close you’ve come,” he mused softly before stepping back from the balcony.
My pulse raced.
“Where are you going?” I called out.
He gave me an easy smile. “I thought I might greet my nephew.”
And with those words, he turned and nodded for Klaus and Alessio to follow him, leaving Drake behind to drink.
Knowing I needed to intervene, I swept down the stairs after my father, sending up a silent prayer that this wouldn’t be the night Fox would die and I’d get blamed for it all.
Klaus and Alessio were fast, flanking Matteo as he made his way through the club. I pushed my way through the patrons and made it to Fox just a moment before they did.
“We need to go,” I started, but it was too late.
Klaus reached out, placed his hand on Fox’s shoulder, and pushed him back onto his barstool.
“Hello,” Matteo greeted Fox, that smile on his face.
Fox’s gaze darted around to Alessio and Klaus before he spoke.
“Hello.”
“I thought we might chat,” Matteo continued. “If you don’t mind.”
“Father—”
He held his hand up to silence me before he stepped aside.
“If you would,” he said to Fox.
Fox hesitated for a moment before giving him a slight nod and getting to his feet. Knowing there wasn’t a way in hell I’d abandon him, I fell in step behind him and allowed my father and his men to lead us through the crowded club to a back room.
I’d been to places like this before. It never ended well.
Matteo pushed the door open, and we stepped into an office. It was cozy enough, but I glanced to a side door, knowing damn well it was a killing room.
Matteo went to the bar in the room and poured two glasses of bourbon before bringing them to us.
I took mine and slammed it back while Fox held his.
Matteo returned to the bar, grabbed another glass and the bottle of booze, and brought it back to the desk.
He sank into the leather chair as Fox and I sat in the chairs in front of the desk.
Alessio moved to Matteo’s side while Klaus prowled the edge of the room.
These men knew how to protect their leader, that was for sure. I had to admire it.
“ Constantino Fox De Santis, ” Matteo said, eyeing Fox before sipping his drink. “My long-lost brother’s son. The football hero. The man who loves my son’s girl. And the reason we’re all in this fucking mess.”
“I’m not the reason for anything,” Fox said, his voice firm and even. “I didn’t even know who I was until recently. My father kept it from me.”
“Understandable and very much like the traitor to do.” Matteo settled back in his seat.
“Father, why are we here? Fox has done nothing wrong. I came like you asked. Fox was already with me. We planned on talking tonight,” I cut in.
“You worry too much, my son.” Matteo gave me a smile that actually looked genuine. “But since you’re so concerned, I’ll get to the point.” He looked back to Fox. “I only wanted to meet you.”
“Oh yeah?” Fox shook his head. “You’re not planning on dragging my ass into that room and beating the Evans out of me?”
Matteo chuckled. “No. Not tonight.”
“Well, then I’d say we’ve met, and I should go,” Fox said, making to stand.
Matteo held his hand up. “Not so fast. I want to talk.”
Fox settled down in his seat again. “OK. Talk.”
“You’re so very much like your father. Santino.” The name fell from his lips like poison. “Even look like him. Except for your eyes. You have your mother’s eyes.”
I glanced quickly at Fox to see him tighten his hands into fists.
I sent up another silent prayer that we’d get out of here. Based on our interactions, I’d never feared my father before, but I could see how he could trick people, how he could lure them in like a spider before ripping the life from them.
There was only one way out of that room: through him and his men.
I’d take it if I had to. Fox needed to survive.