Chapter 85 Rosale
EIGHTY-FIVE
ROSALE
Iwaited around for Klaus to return, but he didn’t come back all night. In fact, he didn’t return for two nights and wasn’t answering my messages.
Feeling like I messed up and probably came off as an asshole for knowing about Stefan and keeping it from him, I decided I needed to get out of the apartment.
I put on one of the dresses I had, a short purple number, and my high-heels that I had to lace up my calves, and made my way out on the town. Klaus had told me before which clubs weren’t owned by mobsters, so I picked one off the list and went to it.
It had a line, but I was escorted in with a few other pretty girls, thankfully.
The inside was spectacular and could rival any of Matteo’s clubs. Lush furniture, a big dance floor, a DJ, several bars, and cages with people dancing in them.
It did have an upstairs, which I was sensing was a theme for VIP customers. Since I wasn’t one, I didn’t really care. I went to the bar, ordered my favorite drink, and sat on the stool to sip it.
An hour and a half and four drinks later, since I was trying to take my mind off all the shit in my life and feeling pretty down in the dumps, I went to the dance floor and danced with the crowd.
I knew I’d have to look for a place of my own for sure now. It wasn’t like I’d stopped entirely, but I had to admit I liked staying with Klaus.
But he didn’t want me in the long run. Hell, no one seemed to. I needed to get my shit together and figure out what I was going to do with my life. It was nice to be free, but at the same time, I missed Fox so much, and everything seemed like a band-aid in comparison to it.
I missed my guys. I missed Anson.
Hell, I missed my life.
I could sign the damn contract. It would certainly take me out of this life. It might even distract me. I wasn’t sure. Everything was so damn confusing, and I was scared of what signing it would mean. I really would leave this life behind.
I went back to the bar after dancing through multiple songs, feeling a little glum, ordered another drink, and downed it before asking for a shot of whiskey.
“Uh, hi,” a deep voice said from beside me. I looked over at the owner and took in a tall, muscular, handsome man with loads of tattoos peeking out from his shirt on his chest and neck. Even his face had tattoos. Dark, messy hair. Dark eyes. Leather jacket.
He screamed red flag.
“Hi.”
He smiled. “Whiskey your drink of choice?”
“No.” I shook my head. “It reminds me of someone.”
“Ah, drinking to remember,” he said, gesturing for the bartender to bring him something.
“Not really.”
“Then drinking to forget. I’ve been there.”
I eyed him. He caught me looking and smiled.
“My name is Malachi.” He offered me a tatted hand.
I cleared my throat and slid my palm against his. “Rosalie.”
“Pretty name. They call you Rose for short?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Not usually.”
“Too bad. Missed opportunity. I’m sure someone will someday, though.”
I shrugged and swallowed down the whiskey. “Maybe.”
“Are you here with anyone?” he asked. He nodded to the bartender again, and this time, he brought me a drink that the guy had ordered.
I hesitated.
“Either you are or you’re not, dollface. If I sit here long enough, I’m sure to find out.”
“I-I’m not. I’m meeting someone later, though. Here. He’s going to meet me, uh, here.” I was babbling.
He inclined his head and took a drink of his beer. “Good to know. I won’t bother you. Have a nice night. Enjoy your drink. Stay away from the dark corners. Shit gets creepy in these parts.”
“Good to know,” I said. I watched him saunter through the crowd only to disappear into a dark corner.
I turned back to the bar, wondering if every guy was that weird here. Didn’t matter. I’d head back to Klaus’s. I’d decided that if he didn’t show up tonight, I’d pack up in the morning and head to the hotel. I didn’t want to cause any awkwardness or inconvenience to anyone.
I sat for quite some time at the bar, nursing the drink Malachi ordered me, my head fuzzy and my body buzzing.
Warm hands rested on my waist, and I turned to see who was touching me.
“Klaus?” I couldn’t believe he was here.
“Hello, hummingbird.”
“H-How did you know where I was?”
“It wasn’t hard. This is the best place in town that we don’t own. It’s where I’d go.”
I got up and threw my arms around his neck, not caring that the crowd was jostling us.
He hugged me back, his big body dwarfing my small one.
“I was worried about you,” I said, clinging to him. “I thought you were mad at me. I-I was already nicknaming you my Klaus cloud. Like a storm cloud.” More babbling.
“I could never be mad,” he said, kissing the top of my head with a soft chuckle. “Come, silly girl, with your goofy names.”
He led us through the crowd, and I tripped, the lace from my shoe coming undone.
Klaus was quick to right me before he brought me over to a booth near the back.
He snapped his fingers, and a shot girl rushed over.
Quickly, he rattled off to her what he wanted, and she swept away like her heels were on fire.
I tried to sit beside him, but he lifted me and placed me on the table in front of him.
“What are we doing?” I asked.
“Let me fix your shoe. It has come undone.”
I smiled at how sweet he was before I lifted my foot and pressed my high heel to his chest. He began rewinding the soft material around my leg before leaning forward. I pushed him back in his seat with my heel, making him blink at me before a smile graced his handsome face.
“Is my lady upset with my actions?” he asked, cradling my ankle.
“I was worried.”
He leaned down and kissed the top of my foot. “And for that, my apologies.”
He released my foot, and I stared at him.
“Is everything OK?” I asked.
“It will be,” he replied. “Someday, perhaps.”
I leaned in and kissed him gently. He rested his hands on my hips before dragging me closer so he was situated neatly between my legs.
I raked my fingers through his hair, earning a soft growl from him that I could practically feel vibrate between my legs.
“What does my sweet girl want?” he asked, his hands moving beneath my skirt.
It was dark in the club, but the lights were flashing, and if one were to look our direction, there would be no doubt how close we were.
“I don’t know, and I think that scares me,” I replied.
“I feel this same fear,” he admitted.
I watched as he moved and placed a kiss on my thigh. Higher. Higher. He pushed my skirt up just a little to reach more skin.
“K-Klaus?”
“Yes?”
“I-I’ve never… in public…”
He chuckled softly. “You think I’m going to lay you out on this table and eat your pussy so everyone here can see it? Oh, sweet girl, I would never. Your soft moans are only for my ears.”
Goosebumps rushed along my skin at his words. We needed to talk. I wanted to know where he’d gone. What happened.
But the way he was looking at me…
“We should talk,” I finally said.
“I agree. When you’re sober, though. I want you to remember my words. I don’t like repeating myself.”
“I’d like to think you’d make an exception for me,” I said, leaning in again and kissing him.
“Wicked little thing.” He nipped my bottom lip, making me hiss. “I want you.”
“You said you weren’t going to take me on this table—”
“I want you,” he said, cradling my face, his lips brushing against mine again. “To keep.”
“To keep?”
“I-I want to talk to you about it. When you’re sober, of course.”
My heart beat hard at his words. I nodded, knowing we had to talk too. I couldn’t think about it right now, though. I was far too drunk, and I wanted to be clear-headed when we discussed it.
I kissed him again. “I have to use the bathroom.”
“Go. I want to take you home when you’re done.”
I nodded. “I want you to take me home too.”
He smiled against my lips before helping me off the table. I cast him a nervous smile before heading in the direction of the bathroom.
I went inside and did my business, letting my head rest against the stall wall as I sat. Maybe I passed out or fell asleep, but when I opened my eyes, it was unusually quiet inside.
I blinked and stood before opening the door to the stall.
My heart fell into my guts as Cole leaned against the sinks, dressed in all black, his blue eyes fixed on me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, moving around him to wash my hands.
He was quiet the entire time. It wasn’t until I was throwing the paper towel away that he finally spoke.
“Watching you fuck around on me,” he said, his voice an angry snarl.
My heart did jumping jacks in my chest, but I tried to focus on the situation. A situation that was definitely not good. I wasn’t sober enough for this.
“Cole, we’re not together anymore. I can do—”
He pushed me against the wall, his nose nearly touching mine. “You can do whoever you want?” He let out a sour laugh. “Is that what you were going to say to me?”
I stared up at him, knowing how he could be when he was angry.
“I am not your girl anymore—”
He reached out and gripped my face tightly. “You will always be mine, Rosalie. I made that vow to you. You fucking made promises to me, too. I want them fulfilled.”
A tear squeezed out of my eye. “You’re hurting me.”
“Then scream.” He leaned in and whispered in my ear. “But I made sure we’re alone so no one will hear you.”
I tried to shove him away, but he came back at me, a terrifying look in his blue eyes.
“Don’t. Cole, stop. You have a girlfriend. Enzo… his wife. Please. Don’t. Dont!” He turned me around so my back was to his front and wrapped his hand around my throat as he pressed me against the wall. I could smell alcohol on his breath.
The sound of his zipper coming down echoed in the room as I tried to shove him away, but he was too strong.