Chapter 35
ENZO
“Do you have an answer for me?” I asked Anson. I had to try to reach out to Cole again. Anson said the plane was leaving soon, and I still hadn’t reached Cole. He’d turned his phone off and was doing god knew what in god knew where.
E sat on the couch, watching as I sat forward.
Offering our home was a last-ditch effort to get Cole his dreams. He had a daughter.
A fucking daughter.
He was either going to run further, kill someone, or try to convince Rosalie to divorce the beast of a husband she had and run off with him. I really expected all three.
I was pissed Rosalie kept this from him. She knew what a family meant to Cole. He’d missed out on almost five years of his daughter’s life.
I wanted to make this right, but I didn’t even know if keeping her here was the best idea. I almost figured her leaving and us never speaking of it again would be best for him.
But that would make me just as bad as her.
Not that I was one to talk, but potato, po-tah-to.
I didn’t think this answer would be yes, but I had to fucking try.
“Yes,” Anson said. “Uh, she has agreed to stay behind for a few days with Ellis, and she will take your offer to stay with you.”
I blinked rapidly at this. I didn’t expect this answer.
“Fantastic,” I said, gathering myself. “I will pick her and Ellis up shortly.”
“Ryder is staying behind with her. She needs crutches and a doctor—”
“Cole is a doctor,” I said.
“Yeah, well, the good old doc ran out on her and didn’t give her crutches. So she will need to see another doctor who knows that people with hurt ankles need crutches. Unless you plan on carrying her around your place.”
“I do not,” I said. “I will ensure she is taken care of. I’ll make some calls once we get off the phone.”
“I appreciate that,” Anson said tightly. “Listen, De Luca, Rosalie is my girl.”
I fucking hated that he won.
Fuck, what a slap in the face.
“She has a family. Men who love and support her.”
I ground my teeth at those words. I had once loved and supported her, too.
“And a daughter who needs her. If anything happens to her—”
“Nothing will happen to her,” I cut in. “I will have security standing in my building all day and night. She and Ellis will want for nothing under my care.”
“Good. She does need to do a photoshoot for her upcoming cosmetics line. I can arrange for that to happen here in Chicago if her stay ends up extended for whatever reason. Ryder will handle all of her business while we’re apart.”
“Of course,” I said, hating that prick too. I’d never forget seeing him kissing her. It made me feel like I was fucking dying inside.
“I want to remind you of who I am. Who Klaus is. Who Evan is. You’ve seen the hell he can rain down on you in the blink of an eye. I would hate to have a repeat.”
I chuckled softly at that. “If you can get through my security this time, then I deserve to have my ass handed to me. I am not concerned.”
“She is our world—”
“I understand the sentiment,” I said. “She was once my world.”
“Once.” He laughed softly. “And you want me to feel comfortable leaving her and my daughter with you. If you don’t care about her now, then perhaps this is a bad idea.”
“You know she’ll be safe with me,” I snapped at him. “She will have the entire house to herself most days with security just a button away. I work long hours, E will be taking Lazarus with him, and if Cole returns, he has to work long hours at the hospital on top of working for me.”
“Then maybe give him a fucking vacation and not make my fiancée’s stay in vain.”
I breathed out. He was marrying her. He was in the same position I had been in at one time.
Fucking asshole.
“Don’t worry about it. I will handle it,” I said, feeling on edge.
Anson scoffed. “You’re too confident, De Luca.
Understand this. Rosalie is famous now. You were just in the headlines with a sex tape that had you two in it.
If she’s seen with you, it could fuck everything.
She doesn’t need the stress. This is me telling you not to fucking stress out my girl.
All she has to do is cry one fucking time, and I will come for you.
I don’t give a fuck what sort of empire you put together.
I’ll burn it down and piss on the ashes. ”
“I don’t doubt you, so I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t doubt me.”
He was quiet for a moment, so I took the opportunity to speak.
“I know what it’s like to be in love with someone and have her staying with someone you don’t trust. I get those feelings, but I will treat her right.
She will be safe here. So will her daughter.
She won’t have to worry about seeing me.
I will keep my distance. I do ask that Dante Church be made aware of the situation, so I’m not getting my house stormed by his men.
I assume that would be traumatizing for Ellis to see her dear uncle behaving in such a manner. ”
“It will be handled,” Anson said stiffly.
“Good. Then I don’t foresee any issues. Not even with the stalker nonsense. In fact, I would think it’s a good thing to get her away from all that. Whoever this person is, they won’t know she’s here, so that adds to her safety.”
“Except whoever that person is knew you had videos of her, so clearly they’re close.”
I rubbed my eyes. “And if they get close enough, I will kill them myself. I promise that to you.”
“Fine. If you fuck anything up—”
“I won’t,” I said firmly. “I promise. She and Ellisandra will be safe with me.” I let a bit of myself drip into my words. “Anson. Know that I will do everything to protect them. I promise you.”
“OK,” he said, sounding defeated, but I could still hear the worry in his voice.
“I will need an address to pick her up from.”
“Check your phone.”
I looked down at my texts to see an address from him.
“Perfect. I will be there within the hour.” I disconnected the call and looked to E.
“It’s happening, huh?” he asked.
I nodded. “Seems so. Cole isn’t answering. Can you swing over to our old place again and see if he’s there? If he is, tell him he needs to come home.”
“I will. I have to grab Laz from preschool anyway, so I’ll swing in after I get him.”
“How is he doing? He said some kid was making fun of how he talks,” I said.
E sighed. “He’s upset, but I’ll talk to him again today. He hasn’t been wanting to talk as much, so that’s an issue. Fucking kids, man. Not him,” he hurried. “Just these little prick bastards. Almost makes me want to make them orphans.”
I chuckled at that. “You’ve gone dark, brother.”
“Fatherly,” he corrected. “Laz is everything to me.”
“I know,” I murmured. “He’s a good boy.”
E nodded tightly and got up. “I’ll head out. I’m staying at the Congress. If you need anything, you know how to reach me.”
“Will do,” I said, getting up to follow him to the door. He already had his bags packed. I guess he was optimistic Rosalie would stay.
He stopped and turned to me. “Enzo, listen. I know you’re in this headspace to ignore her existence and move forward. And yeah, she does have a whole new life, a husband, and all the things, but deep down she still cares. Try, OK?”
“What am I trying for?” I asked, my throat tight.
“Peace, man. It’s the best we can hope for.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “I’ll let you know if I find Cole.”
“Be well. Keep our boy safe.”
“You know I will.” He left, leaving me in our big apartment all alone. I drew in a deep breath before going upstairs and looking around the spare bedroom. Sometimes Colten would crash here when he visited, but we rarely had company otherwise.
The place was very plain. A little girl would likely be bored in there if she were anything like Riot. I’d make sure to see what she’d like and get it for her.
I put in a quick grocery order and told Memphis to grab it for me, along with a few pink items. I told him I didn’t care what they were, but a little girl was coming and needed to feel at home and to decorate the spare room as fast as possible.
He was quick to respond and said he and Christian were on it.
I trusted they’d get it sorted and went back downstairs, where Dmitri and Elijah would meet me with the Escalade after I sent them a message explaining the situation.
I breathed out and left, meeting them on the sidewalk.
“Getting the girl finally, boss?” Dmitri asked as he opened the back door for me.
“Very unlikely,” I muttered. “I have no interest.”
“Sure you don’t.” Dmitri winked at me as I settled in the back. He closed me in and got into the front seat next to Elijah, who was driving.
“I sent the address. Take me there,” I said.
“On it,” Elijah said, pulling into traffic after a moment.
I sat silently as we drove through the city. I had no idea what I was even going to do or say when Rosalie got into the vehicle. Based on our last interaction, we weren’t meshing well.
Mostly an issue with me, though.
Traffic was shit, so it took forever to get there, but I was still five minutes early anyway.
I breathed out and stared up at the building.
Klaus had a premier building. I didn’t know he owned it, but it had been on my list of places to acquire.
I assumed I’d have to scratch it off my list because he’d be stupid to sell it.
Dmitri opened the door, and I got out after Elijah wished me luck.
“Have fun,” Dmitri called out.
I grunted in response and went inside.
Top floor.
Of course.
I got into the elevator and made my way up. I never got nervous, but I was feeling it right then. The elevator dinged, and I stepped out. It was a similar setup to my place. The top floor was the best, and Klaus lived in the entire thing in his building, as I did with mine.
I pushed the doorbell, and a moment later, Ryder opened the door. He stepped aside so I could enter.
The place was immaculate. I glanced around quickly and saw Rosalie sitting on her husband’s lap, her ankle resting in Anson’s while Klaus held Ellis in his lap.
I’d never felt like such an outsider before in my life, but I felt it now.
“Sit,” Klaus said, nodding to another empty seat. I took it and looked around.
It had been nearly five long years, but seeing Rosalie with other men was tearing me apart inside.
I eyed her husband as he stared back at me. At least I assumed he was looking at me. He had on aviators and a gaiter, so there was no easy way to know.
I’d experienced enough of him already, though.
“We will be leaving here in a few minutes,” Anson said. “Rosalie and Ellis’s things are by the door. We’ll get them down. Ryder will be here if they need anything, and I will only be a phone call away. I expect my fiancée and our daughter will be kept safe as well.”
I ground my teeth. I hated that he called Ellis his, but I got it. Riot wasn’t mine, but he called me dad.
“I told you. They will be safe,” I said.
Klaus grunted.
“Am I going to see first daddy?” Ellis asked, her big blue eyes wide.
“Maybe, mein balerina,” Klaus said to her, kissing the top of her head.
“I haven’t heard from him. E was going to check a few places to see what he’s doing. I know he’ll be back as soon as he gets himself relaxed. That’s just how Cole is.” I looked at Rosalie.
She quickly looked away from me.
“Well, everything is in order,” Anson said. “We need to get going. We will go down with you.”
I stood as everyone else did. Evan continued to hold Rosalie in his arms. He was going to carry her.
He walked away from us and left with her out the front door. Ryder moved along and grabbed two suitcases, and Klaus got the rest as Anson scooped Ellis into his arms.
I followed them out and into the elevator. We rode in silence down, and when we got back to my Escalade, Dmitri and Elijah hopped out to help load the suitcases.
“Ellis’s seat,” Ryder said, coming back out from the lobby with her booster seat. He quickly installed it as Klaus hugged her, making her giggle, before Anson took her back.
“Love you, princess,” Anson said. “We’ll see you and Mommy soon.”
“Will you and other daddies come visit?”
“Of course. We will call every night just like Mommy and I do when we’re away working. OK?”
Ellis nodded, and Anson kissed her forehead tenderly.
I looked over to see Evan had placed Rosalie in the back of the Escalade and was kissing her. If he cared about what I thought, he definitely didn’t make a show of it. Instead, they practically made out in front of me, her breaking away every few minutes to whisper something against his lips.
She really seemed to love the guy.
I still thought he was a prick, though.
He rested his forehead against hers for a moment before wiping away a rogue tear from her cheek and leaning in for another final kiss.
She let him go. He quickly pulled his gaiter back over his face before I could get a good look at him and went to Ellis to make sure she was secured in her seat.
Anson took his turn with Rosalie, kissing her and speaking in a low voice. She clung to him just as much as she had clung to Evan. It was seeing Klaus with her that really got me, though.
He overpowered her without trying.
I knew the man was dangerous. He was an enforcer and probably killed more people in a week of his life than I had in all of mine, and that was saying something.
Seeing him so delicate and tender with her made my guts twist. But like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away.
He kissed her deeply before breaking off and kissing her finger where her diamonds sparkled.
I narrowed my eyes.
Another ring had been added.
I swallowed hard at the implications. Clearly, he was going to marry her, too. I’d make it a point to ask her once I had her alone.
“Take care of my wife, Lorenzo, or the night I visited you will seem like a walk in the park,” Evan growled at me as he made to go past.
I said nothing and got into the back.
Dmitri closed us in and got behind the wheel as the guys stood on the sidewalk.
“Ready, boss?” Dmitri called out.
I looked to Rosalie, who was holding Ellis’s hand in hers. Both looked a little scared.
“Rosalie?” I asked softly. “Ready?”
She nodded and looked out the window at the guys, her eyes glassy.
It broke my fucking heart because I knew she’d never look at me like that again.
I’d walked away and given it all up to keep her safe. To fulfill a promise to Fox. To protect E.
Was it worth it?
It was yet to be determined.