Chapter 32
ENZO
She was the prettiest little girl I’d ever seen. She looked so much like Rosalie but…
I swallowed hard.
“Hi,” she said in her sweet little voice.
“Hi,” I whispered back.
She reached out and took my hand. “You have drawings on your hand like my daddies do.”
“Yeah. I do.” I stared at her in wonder. Of all the things I had considered happening today, I didn’t think it would be this. Rosalie… my sweet sunshine, was a mother. She had a daughter.
She had a husband. New guys. A career.
She had happiness.
I’d been acting like an asshole to her to keep her away, but fuck, it was killing me inside.
I swallowed as Ellis took my hand in hers and swung it.
“You’re not first daddy,” she said.
I frowned, my guts clenching. I wanted to believe she was Rosalie and Klaus’s little girl, but I knew exactly who she belonged to. She was Riot’s age. And Cole…
Fucking Cole.
He was going to lose it.
“E, call Cole,” I choked out. “Tell him to get here.”
E moved quickly, pulling out his phone.
“This is Mr. Rufus,” Ellisandra said. “Mommy said first daddy got him for me.”
“He did,” I whispered, remembering that bear Cole had given to Rosalie. We’d given him shit over being a softie when he’d done it.
“You know first daddy?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Her blue eyes sparkled.
Fuck, she was Cole’s twin. She was the perfect mix of her parents.
“Rosalie,” I whispered thickly, looking from Ellisandra to Rosalie, who had tears in her eyes as her new guys stood around her. E was off to the side, a sad look on his face.
“S-She’s Cole’s?”
Rosalie nodded.
I looked over to E, who shook his head. Cole wasn’t answering. He didn’t know. He didn’t fucking know everything he’d always wanted was holding my hand, showing me her teddy bear.
“We’re going back to L.A.,” Klaus said. “We have our plane booked for tomorrow morning. We have a lot of damage control to do in regard to our girl.”
I nodded, not knowing what to say as Ellisandra placed her bear on my lap. I held it as she tried to retie the bow on his neck.
“This is ultimately Rosalie’s call,” Anson said. “But we do need to return home. Since Cole is seemingly unavailable, we are open to seeing him another time.” Anson looked at Rosalie for confirmation. She nodded, and he squeezed her hand.
“We aren’t looking to have issues,” Anson continued, “but we will find out what exactly happened with Rosalie, and it will be dealt with.”
“It was a misunderstanding,” Rosalie said. “Enzo and Ethan had nothing to do with it. They didn’t even know.”
“I want to speak to Cole,” Evan said, his voice a gravelly growl.
“I will handle Cole,” I said, eyeing the monster in front of me in all black with his gaiter and sunglasses on. I could make out the smallest hint of a nasty scar peeking out on the side of his face. I assumed that was why he kept his face covered.
The last thing I wanted to do was mess with that man. I would, of course, but I couldn’t kill him because he was now Rosalie’s husband.
The fact that she’d married the guy baffled me. He was definitely not the type I’d ever think she’d be with.
One thing was certain: he could definitely protect her, and in that respect, I approved.
“That does not change that I want to talk to him,” Evan continued. “Ellis is my daughter, too. I have been with her and Ro every step of the way. Anson and Klaus have too. It was me in the delivery room, not Cole. So I will speak with him before this goes any further.”
“I understand where you’re coming from, but you’ve only shown me your angry side. I cannot allow Cole and you to be alone together to talk, given the circumstances with Rosalie and him having her. He is my brother. My family. And… Ellisandra’s father. I will not allow it.”
“Then no deal.” Evan moved to lift Rosalie into his arms, but E called out, stopping him.
“Wait,” he shouted, stepping forward. “Wait. Enzo.” He looked at me. “It’s OK. I promise. Let them meet. Evan will be… good. Right?”
Evan seemed to stare back at E for a moment before he nodded.
“See?” E looked at me. “Let this happen. It needs to happen. She’s Cole’s daughter. You know what this would mean to him.”
He was right. I knew he was. This wasn’t something we could keep from Cole. I just wish he’d answer his damn phone.
“Fine,” I said. “I will let Cole decide what he wants to do. I don’t know where his head is at right now. We will reach out once we speak to him. I can contact Anson.” I looked to him for confirmation.
“Yes. We’re good with that, right?” He looked to Rosalie, who nodded, her sadness all over her face.
Fuck, I just wanted to hug her and tell her I was sorry, but this changed a hell of a lot of things. Seeing these men dote on her. Seeing her daughter.
There was no room for more.
She didn’t seem too keen on me anyway. I knew she was trying to make small talk before everyone arrived, but it hurt too fucking much to be in the same room with her after the shit I’d done. Seeing her married to a man who wasn’t me fucking tore me up inside.
“Come on, nugget,” Evan said in his raspy voice, holding a tatted hand out to her.
She hesitated for a moment and looked at me. “Mr. Enzo?”
“Yeah?” I replied softly as she took my hand in her small one. She was so beautiful. Her pink dress was adorable with little white bunnies on it. Cole would have loved it. He’d spoil the hell out of her.
“Will you tell first daddy I was here?” She stared up at me with big blue eyes.
Fuck.
“Yes. I will tell him.”
“Will you tell him to call my mommy and daddies so I can see him?”
“I will,” I promised softly.
That seemed to work for her because she went to Evan. He murmured something to her, and she ran off to Klaus, who didn’t waste any time scooping her into his arms as Evan lifted Rosalie into his so she wouldn’t have to walk on her bad ankle.
“Bye, Mr. Ethan! Bye, Mr. Enzo!” Ellis called out, waving to us, her bear in her arms.
My heart caught in my throat.
We could have fucking had it all. Ellis would be calling me daddy, too. Cole would have tea parties, buy dresses, and go to little dances. She and Riot would be raising hell and making a mess. Fox would be teaching Riot to throw a football.
In another life, we had it all.
In this life, I choked on my pain and watched as Rosalie was carried away without another word, Ellis going with her.
“Call Cole again,” I said to E as they left my office. “Now.”
He did as I asked, and I brought my phone out as the front door closed and tapped Church’s name.
We needed to amend the contract.
Now.