Chapter 28
KLAUS
My phone rang at eight AM, and I sat up with a jolt. The last few days had been a nightmare with Evan. He was tearing his hair out as he went over and over with Ryder what Rosalie’s coded message meant. We’d even gone as far as going to their old house last night, which stood dark and empty.
Evan stared at it for a long time before shaking his head and getting back into the car.
Now we were home, waiting.
For what, I had no idea, but I knew it was coming.
“Hello?”
“Klaus. It’s E. I’m trying to reach Anson.”
“He’s in the shower,” I said, listening as the water ran. Evan was likely already working out and drinking his protein shake. We’d all slept together again last night, and the bed was empty.
“OK. I-I don’t have Fox’s number—”
“Evan,” I corrected. “He doesn’t go by Fox anymore. That man is buried.”
“Right.” E paused. “I don’t have his number. I’m not sure which of you leads, so I thought I’d just try you.”
“We are equal for the most part, but Evan has final say in all things regarding Rosalie.”
“I figured that,” he said. “Uh, we’d like to meet you guys this morning at our place. No weapons. You can bring guards if you’d like—”
I chuckled at that. “We are the guards.”
“Right. I figured. How does eleven this morning sound?”
“What are we meeting for?”
“One second.” There was rustling for a moment before Rosalie’s sweet voice came on the line.
I nearly fell to my knees.
“Klaus?”
“Oh, my sweet hummingbird,” I choked out, losing my cool. “Baby. Are you OK?”
“I’m OK,” she said into the phone.
“Oh fuck. How long have you been there?” I got up and pounded on the bathroom door for Anson to move his ass before I went to the living room to find Evan shirtless and covered in a sheen of sweat, drinking a cup of coffee as he stared out at the city.
I put the phone on speaker and went to him.
He looked over at me, his sunglasses on.
“I just got here,” Rosalie said.
Evan grabbed the phone from me.
“Ro? Where are you? Are you OK?”
“I’m fine,” she replied.
“They want to meet with us,” I said to Evan as Anson came into the room. Ryder wandered in from his room behind him.
“What’s going on?” Anson demanded, coming over to us.
“Can you come get me at eleven?” Rosalie asked. “They want to have a meeting.”
“Who are they?” Evan demanded.
“The horsemen.”
Evan’s hand tightened on the phone. “Enzo had you this whole time?”
“No,” she said softly. “He didn’t have anything to do with this. He found out yesterday and came to get me. He let me rest, and now he’s saying I can go, but he wants to talk to you. He’s asking for a meeting at eleven this morning.”
“We’ll be there,” Evan said.
“Please… bring Ellis,” Rosalie whispered.
I cast a look at Anson, who wore a disapproving look on his face, then at Evan, who appeared murderous.
I wasn’t so sure it was a good idea to involve our daughter, but I knew Rosalie had plans, and I always trusted her.
“No, Rosalie,” Evan said.
“I am not asking. Bring her,” Rosalie said. “I am done playing games. I want this all out in the open.”
My fierce little bird. I smiled at her no-nonsense attitude, the relief blanketing me at knowing she was OK. The last few weeks had been absolute hell.
“Who took you?” Evan demanded.
“We will talk when you get here. No violence, Evan. I mean it. I want to mend fences, not tear them down.”
Evan’s chest heaved, but he nodded. “Fine. Eleven.”
“I love you,” she said, her voice shaking. “Evan. Ani. Klaus. Thank you for trying to find me—”
“LeeLee, we’d never not look,” Anson said. “I hope you knew that.”
“I did. I just… please bring Ellis. Klaus?”
“Yes, my love?”
“I… can you please be good?”
I chuckled softly at that. “I am whatever you need me to be.”
“OK.” Relief flooded her voice. “Keep Ani and Evan in line.”
Evan scoffed, and Anson grunted at her words.
“Of course,” I said, feeling elated that she was safe. I couldn’t wait to hold her in my arms.
“I have to go. E is waiting outside my room for his phone. I love you all. Please. Be safe. I’ll see you soon.” She disconnected the call, and I looked around at everyone.
“She’s OK,” I said thickly.
Anson blew out a breath and nodded, relief evident on his face. Ryder clapped him on the back, and I caught his eye.
He needed to come clean on his feelings, but he gave a slight shake of his head before saying he’d give us all a minute.
“Evan?” I called out. “Are you OK?”
“Yeah.” His throat bobbed as he swallowed. I watched him walk over to his bat and pick it up. He stared down at it.
Anson and I exchanged looks.
“She asked for no violence,” I said.
“I will kill them for this. The pain. The fear.” Evan shook his head.
“Doing so would kill her,” I said. “Honor her wishes. We can fight later. Let’s just get her home. We can hash out details at a later time.”
“Klaus is right. Rosalie is a priority right now. We can sort through our feelings later.” Anson pulled his phone out. “I need to call Dante and let him know we’re coming to get Ellis and that Rosalie is safe.”
I nodded and gestured for him to leave the room so I could talk to Evan.
“Hey,” I said, going to Evan. I reached out, gently took the bat from his hands, and placed it on the couch. “Look at me, Constantino.”
He faced me, his lips turned down.
I cradled his face with my hands. “Your wife is coming home. She missed you. She is asking for your patience and mercy. Give her that. Can you do it?”
He nodded. “I-I can.”
“Good. You may grow angry while we’re there. I ask that you walk away if it gets to be too much.”
“I will,” he said.
“You don’t even need to go in. We can handle it—”
“I want to be there,” he said softly. “I will behave myself. Promise.”
“OK.” I released him and backed away. “Hold my hand if you need to ground yourself. Promise?”
“Promise.”
I eyed him for a moment before Anson came back into the room.
“We’re good. Dante said he will have Ellis ready to go. She’s playing with Jameson right now, and the pair has Malachi dressed in a ballet skirt with a sword. Jameson is currently holding Malachi at swordpoint, demanding candy. He said his house is a disaster.”
“Real sword?” I asked.
“It’s a fucking underground kid. Do you think they’d let him play with fake swords?” Anson asked. “And it’s my brother for a dad. Of course it’s a real sword.”
“Fair point,” I muttered. “Ellis doesn’t have a sword, does she?”
“Uh, no. She has the bucket of glitter. Dante said to hurry.”
Evan chuckled at that.
“Come on, brothers. Let’s go save Dante Church from our ballerina,” I said with a laugh.
I was getting both my girls to come home.
Happy didn’t even begin to describe my feelings.