77. Rosalie
SEVENTY-SEVEN
ROSALIE
I woke with a headache. Groaning, I rolled over and reached for my phone on the bedside table, but came up empty-handed. I forced my eyes open and looked around the unfamiliar bedroom.
Where the hell am I?
It definitely wasn’t my bedroom. This room was beautiful, with ornate wall sconces and a fluffy bed, I almost didn’t care where I was.
I sat up and took in the rest of the place.
A balcony with French doors. An attached bathroom where I could make out a massive jetted tub and a huge glass shower.
Marble flooring. Overstuffed furniture in a sitting area.
A small table where one could take a morning tea if they were into that sort of thing.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to remember what I’d done last night.
I was mad at Cole and Anson for fighting. I’d turned down the recording contract. The guys fought. I left.
The club.
The drinks.
Klaus Seeley.
I widened my eyes as the blurry memories of dancing and being in his car flooded my mind. Klaus had carried me into Matteo’s mansion. Matteo’s eyes had raked over my face as I sat on his leather couch.
Shit.
I was definitely at Matteo’s estate, and Ani wasn’t here to protect me.
I had no idea how the hell I was going to get out of here undetected. I promised Enzo I wouldn’t see Matteo again, yet here I was, having a damn sleepover at his mansion. While I didn’t hate Matteo, he was still a powerful, terrifying man. He’d not hurt me yet, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t.
My breath came quickly. The room spun.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t breathe.
I stumbled out of bed, my head spinning and my chest aching as I tried to get myself together.
It was a losing battle.
My lips and fingertips tingled.
I wish Ani were here. He’d give me the sour candies like he did for Ethan. I wish Fox were here. Enzo. Cole. Ethan.
Help. God, please help.
I was going to pass out. I didn’t even hear the door open or the footsteps approach me. Instead, I stumbled forward, knowing I’d wake up in a few minutes once my body calmed down.
Warm hands pulled me from completely faceplanting on the marble floors.
“Easy, little hummingbird,” Klaus’s deep voice greeted me.
I whimpered as he lifted me quickly back onto my bed and kneeled in front of me as I swayed.
“Home. S-Scared,” I managed to choke out.
“Matteo’s. Fine,” he answered, pushing a curl away from my face.
I crinkled my brows as I stared at him, still breathing too fast. I hadn’t had a panic attack in what seemed like forever. I needed my guys to talk me down. This wasn’t going to work for me.
“I-I don’t understand,” I managed to choke out.
“Nor I,” he replied. “I thought perhaps we were playing a game.”
“W-What?” The man was strange.
He shook his head at me. “You’re clearly upset.
To ease your mind, you are safe here. No one is going to harm you.
Matteo has sent for you. Get yourself together so you can speak to him.
” He reached out and wiped one of my tears off my cheek.
“You must learn to control your emotions and fear. Your tears would not have saved you if I meant you harm.” He wiped at another rush of tears and sighed.
“I only had sons. I have no idea how to treat a female in tears. If you were my son, I’d beat you until the tears had a reason. ”
I swallowed hard and stared at him. He was a handsome man, but he was utterly terrifying. I didn’t know Levin or Stefan well, but I could see why Stefan decided to fake his death and go into hiding and why Levin avoided Klaus like the plague.
“You’re grateful you’re not my boys,” Klaus said gruffly as my breathing slowed. “I can see it in your pretty eyes.”
“I hope-hope you don’t beat your sons,” I whispered.
He reached out and tilted my chin up, his blue eyes studying me.
“One is dead. One is unruly. I hardly get the chance to beat him these days.”
I swallowed. He didn’t know Stefan was alive.
“Take a deep breath for me,” Klaus instructed.
I did as he asked.
“Again.”
I did it again and again at his request. Before long, I breathed normally, even if I was still shaky.
“Can I go home?” I asked softly.
“No.” Klaus offered me his hand. “Matteo wants to see you before any of that.”
I slid my palm against Klaus’s and let him help me to stand. The sooner I met with Matteo, the sooner I could go home. I could do this. At least, that’s what I kept repeating to myself.
“But I’ll get to go home, right? You’re not here to kill me?” I looked up at the massive man in front of me.
He let out a soft laugh that seemed uncharacteristic for the giant brute.
“You mean take you out to sleep with the caterpillars in the desert or drown you in Lake Michigan?”
“Why would there be caterpillars in the desert?” I frowned at his words.
He tugged me toward the door.
“I don’t know, little hummingbird. Why is there a desert in Chicago?”
I had no idea what he was talking about, but he wasn’t killing me, so I’d count my blessings.
Matteo stepped into the room long after Klaus left me alone. I’d busied myself with focusing on my breathing and not touching a damn thing. I was sure the walls had eyes and ears here, and the last thing I wanted to do was piss any of it off.
“You sit very well,” Matteo said, walking past me.
I swallowed and stared at his back as he went to the bar in the room. Alessio moved to sit on a stool next to Klaus since they both entered with him. They didn’t seem to make many moves without one another.
“It would be rude to do otherwise,” I said, my voice wavering.
“Don’t let her fool you,” Klaus said, taking the bottle of water Matteo handed him. “She’s quite the antsy little thing. Like a small squirrel.”
I shot a sour look at Klaus, who winked at me, no sign of malice on his face.
“He teases, little rose. A jest. He thinks himself funny,” Alessio called out.
I glanced at him and gave him a small smile I hoped didn’t display my nervousness. Klaus chuckled in response before going back to his water.
Matteo moved toward me, handed me a small water bottle, and sat in the chair across from me. I’d been in this office before. He wasn’t as formal as he had been when Fox had come to get me. Today, we sat in the small living room area near the fireplace.
“It’s important to hydrate after drinking all night.” Matteo nodded to the water in my hands.
Quickly, I uncapped it and took a hearty drink before wiping my lips. Matteo watched me wordlessly.
“Tell me what happened,” he finally said after I swallowed.
I shook my head. “I just needed a night away.”
“A dangerous endeavor, all things considered,” he commented with raised eyebrows. “Tell me why. Surely, there’s a reason.”
I sighed. I knew he’d not let me leave without the truth, so I launched into it and told him about how I was offered the record deal, Ethan’s request, and how I’d turned down everything Alex offered. How Anson and Cole fought, and how I was just upset and had left.
He said nothing the entire time, drinking in my words silently.
I breathed out softly and smoothed my hands down my bare thighs. Last night, I wore a shorter skirt out.
“No one knows where you are?” Matteo asked.
I winced. “No.”
“Interesting situation you have yourself in,” Matteo murmured, sitting forward. “Now, what to do with you?”
“Might I make a suggestion?”
“Of course.”
“You could let me go home, “ I said hopefully. He stared back at me for a moment with an impassive expression until his lips slowly curled upward.
“You’re a funny girl. I like that,” Matteo said. “I like your suggestion. However, my answer is no.”
“What?” I let out a whimper and looked at Alessio and Klaus. Both had gotten to their feet and approached me.
“Kill her,” Matteo said softly, his voice laced with danger. That was the last thing I thought I’d hear come from him. My pulse roared in my ears as so many terrifying thoughts flashed through my head.
Foxy. Ethan. Enzo. Cole. Ani. Cotton. My parents. Please, god, no!
Alessio’s hand clamped down on my shoulder, and Klaus pressed a gun to my temple before I could move an inch off my chair.
I didn’t know what else to do, so I did the only thing I could do.
I screamed.