Chapter 55
KLAUS
Ismiled as Rosalie’s name came onto my phone screen. I immediately answered it as I sat in my home office.
“Hey, hummingbird. I was just thinking about you,” I said as I answered her video call. Immediately, I bristled. She was in tears.
“What happened?” I demanded, instantly wanting to bust some fucking heads.
“N-Nothing. Just miss you,” she blubbered softly.
“Don’t lie, baby,” I said gently, knowing she was full of shit. I knew her better than she knew herself. “Talk to me. Where’s Anson?”
She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. She was in a bubble bath, so that meant whatever was going on wasn’t complete chaos.
“He’s downstairs with Cole and Enzo. I just needed a break.”
I nodded. “OK, but why? Talk to me.”
She sniffled again. I got up and went down to Evan’s room to find him working on his next book. He looked at me, and his eyes lit up when he realized Rosalie was on the call. I sat on his bed, and he joined me.
“Hey, Ro,” he greeted her, frowning when he saw she was in tears. “What’s wrong?”
“Um, nothing. It’s really just a me thing, I guess,” she said, wiping at her eyes again.
I didn’t like to see her cry. It pissed me off to know someone had brought her to that point. Rosalie Bishop was sunlight. Starlight. She was everything good and pure in this fucking world, and I wanted to shoot anyone in the head who said differently.
“Liar,” Evan said gently. “Baby, talk to us. What happened?”
She wiped at her eyes again. “Enzo.”
I sighed. I knew it.
“Honey, he’s a cocksucker,” I said. “We all know this. We’ve lived through it, remember?”
“I know.” She wiped at her eyes again.
“What did he say?” Evan asked.
She drew in a breath and launched into what he’d said to her.
If I thought I was pissed before, it was mild in comparison to now. The shit that idiot said… fucking prick.
“That’s fine,” Evan said. “If he says he fell out of love with you, then he did. That’s a reflection of him, not you.
His issue. Not yours. Nothing he does matters, Rosalie.
Nothing, OK? We aren’t going to walk out on you.
We’re here for the long run. Marriage. Babies.
A life, Ro. Together. Believe that, OK?”
She nodded, sniffling. “I believe you.”
“Get this stuff with Cole sorted,” I said. “If the guy wants in, he needs to cut ties with the life he has now. Bring him in. Just make a decision so we can get you out of there, OK?”
“I will. I’m sorry—”
“Don’t you dare apologize for feeling how you feel,” I said, stopping her words. “Do you want me to come out there? I’ll fly in tomorrow, baby. I’ll beat the fuck out of Lorenzo if you need me to. I’ll kill the bastard. Just say the words.”
“It’s OK.” She smiled sadly. “I’ll talk to Cole. Thank you, guys, for listening.”
“Of course, Ro. We love you. We’re here always,” Evan said.
“You’re everything, Rosalie,” I added. “Tell me.”
“I’m everything,” she murmured.
“That’s our girl. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel less than that,” I continued. “Don’t give them that permission. They don’t fucking matter enough to hold that power.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
“Fuck, I love you,” I answered back, my heart swelling. It had been a long, hard battle to get here, but I was here to stay. Fuck anyone who hated it. They could go fuck a bag of broken glass.
“Have Anson take care of you,” Evan said. He paused for a moment. “Maybe invite Cole.”
I breathed out. I’d spent a lot of time thinking this over, and I was genuinely OK with it.
If someone had asked me ten years ago, I’d have laughed in their face, but now? Anything for Rosalie. Everything for her. She was my new world. I would drag my soul through hell just to see her smile.
The woman had a hold on me that I didn’t want to escape.
“Really?” Rosalie winced.
“Ro, babe, if it feels right, you have to make the jump. Are you going to jump or stand on the edge?” Evan asked.
She nodded. “I need to jump.”
“Jump, hummingbird.”
“OK,” she whispered. “I’m scared. I don’t want to get hurt again.”
“I will personally bust his ass if he hurts you,” I said fiercely. “I won’t permit it. You will be safe. I swear it. I will guard your heart.”
“Klaus, you’re such a smooth talker,” she said, sniffling and wiping at her eyes.
“He’s taking my spotlight,” Evan joked, winking at me.
“Need to up your game, Evan.” I grinned at him.
“Whatever.” He chuckled. “Ro, baby, finish your bath. Relax. And then… jump if you’re sure. If not, step back and come home, OK?”
“I will. Thank you, guys.”
“Always, my love,” I murmured.
“Of course. We love you, Ro. Let us know how it goes, OK?” Evan added.
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too,” we said before she disconnected the call, looking more determined than before.
“You’re still good with this?” Evan asked.
I nodded. “I’m good, but I will fuck his world up if he hurts her. If any of them do.”
“You and me both, brother,” he muttered.
I knew that wasn’t a fucking lie.