74. Rosalie #2
He shrugged. “I do not discriminate when it comes to good products. The Sugar Daddy knows what he’s doing, and I appreciate that.
Non-addicting. Smooth. Mostly inexpensive.
A lasting high. There’s no downside to it.
” He handed me one of the sticks I knew Ethan had touched probably only days before sending it off to be sold.
“And you just buy it off the street?”
“Yes. You have to know the right people. We do.”
I stared down at the stick in my hand.
Klaus lit his lighter and held it out to me. “Unless the hummingbird is afraid.”
“I’m not afraid,” I said fiercely, my pulse thundering in my ears.
“Good. I admire bravery.” He lit the stick for me, and I inhaled deeply, knowing I was going against everything I believed in, but I was pissed off and sick of everything. I needed a night away.
The high hit me immediately.
“Oh my god,” I choked out.
Klaus sat back again, his keen eyes surveying me as I stared in wonder around me. This was wild. I took another drag and coughed some more before slurping down my drink.
Yeah, I was wasted.
“Where are you going?” Klaus called out to me as I stumbled to my feet moments later.
“I-I’m going to dance.”
He didn’t try to stop me. Instead, he followed me down to the dance floor, where I wasted no time swaying to the music, letting the sugar take me away. Several songs later, after two more drinks and a finished sugar stick, those warm hands stopped my fall. I turned and saw Klaus staring down at me.
“You are quite unwell,” he said, his lips brushing against my ear. “We should go.”
“Mm, take me away, you old grouch,” I said, laughing loudly and throwing my arms around his neck.
He grunted but kept his arm around my waist, leading me to the warm night air. I couldn’t even see straight, but I felt good. Way too good.
“Give me your keys.”
I handed them to him wordlessly, and he stuffed them into his pocket before he opened the door to a blacked-out luxury car and helped me into the passenger seat before getting behind the wheel.
“You smell nice. Not at all like blood and guts like I thought you would,” I mumbled as he leaned over and latched my seatbelt.
He let out a soft huff of laughter before pulling out of the parking lot.
“Are you taking me home? I don’t want to go home,” I mumbled, staring at the passing city.
“No, I’m not taking you home.”
“Are you taking me out to the desert to kill me? Bury me in a hole so the caterpillars eat me?”
He chuckled again. “We’re in Chicago, little hummingbird. There are no deserts here.”
“Then Lake Michigan to make me sleep with the fishes.” I tutted. “You’re going to piss off my boyfriends, but you’d be doing me a favor if you just killed me now.”
“You’re the worst hostage,” he said, turning left. “You don’t even try to fight to get away.”
“What’s the point, Mr. Seeley? You’d find me some other day and whack me.”
He let out another huff of laughter. Either I was funny, or Klaus Seeley wasn’t such a grouch.
“Call me Klaus.”
“OK, Santa boy. Santa Klaus . I heard you’re an asshole.”
He let out a loud laugh. “Did you now? I suppose you heard that from my son?”
“Yep.” I laughed. “And others.”
“I will admit I am not a good father. I have no excuse in that, but I suppose if I did have to have one, I’d say life hasn’t always been kind.”
“So you’re a jerk to make things better for your kid? You sound like my dad.”
He sighed and made another turn. “Levin is strong-willed. Stefan was easier to raise.”
“Do you hate Levin?”
“No.”
“Then why are you so mean to him?”
“To make him stronger.”
“Yuck. I hope that’s not my dad’s excuse.” I looked over at him to see his hands tight on the wheel.
“Your father sees potential in you, little hummingbird, as I see in my son. You’ve aligned yourself with men who could get you killed. How do you want him to treat you? Perhaps being cruel is his way of making it hurt less. A way to prepare himself in the event he loses you.”
I was quiet and way too drunk and high to think correctly.
“Do you think people are cruel for that reason?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I frowned. “I turned down my record deal today. To stay with my guys.”
He shook his head and didn’t say anything.
“Then Ani came to my house and fought with the guys because Alex must have told him. He believes in me,” I whispered. “He’s mad that I’ve done this.”
“He cares for you. You cannot fault a man for reacting in such a way.”
“He shouldn’t care for me. I’m a lost cause. He deserves to be in love. He’d be the best boyfriend.”
“You should tell him that.”
“I have. Mostly. He says he’ll wait for me. I don’t want him to waste his life waiting. It’s not fair to him, and it hurts, honestly.”
“Then maybe you should just take what you want. That’s what the men in your life seem to do.”
I frowned again. “That’s selfish.”
He glanced at me. “That’s life, little hummingbird. You either take what you want or get crushed beneath those who don’t mind doing it in your stead.”
I swallowed hard at his words. We turned into Matteo’s estate and came to a stop.
“Enzo is going to kill me,” I murmured, staring at the massive mansion which could easily double as a castle.
“Not behind these walls, he won’t. Come. Let’s see Matteo. He’s waiting.”
Klaus got out and came around to my side and helped me out. I stumbled and swayed. He must have gotten tired of it because he scooped me up, put me over his shoulder like a feather, and carried me inside.
I let him because it was nice to be carried.
Once inside, a door opened, and I was placed on a couch. I blinked, the room coming into focus. Matteo kneeled in front of me and tilted my chin up.
“Well, well, well. Bel fiore. I’m so glad you could come.”
“Are you going to kill me too?” I mumbled, peering drunkenly at him.
He chuckled, a smile on his lips. “Why would I ever kill what I deem so very important?”
I didn’t answer him. Instead, the room swirled dark, and I was gone.