Chapter 59
ROSALIE
Frank picked us up from Enzo’s, and we rode to Dante’s mansion. Ellis sat next to me as I stared out the window. I was still reeling from my moment with Ethan and the heartache I felt.
Anson asked me what happened, but I knew he already knew. He didn’t seem mad about it, but he’d told me before that it was OK to bring Ethan back in.
Enzo and Ethan were driving separately with Enzo’s men.
And Cole.
He wouldn’t leave Ellis and my side.
Was I afraid?
Yes. My brother could be a nightmare, but I had faith he’d not do anything to hurt Ellis and me. I hadn’t been talking to him as much lately, mostly because I knew he’d bitch me out for chasing the past. So while he kept messaging, I kept avoiding.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down at it to see Evan’s name on the screen.
“Hey,” I said softly as I answered it.
“Ro, baby. Anson told me you’re going to see Dante. Are you OK?”
“No,” I whispered, my voice choked.
“Talk to me,” he said softly. “Let me help. Are you afraid?”
“Yes,” I answered, my voice low and trembling.
“Dante is a monster, but he loves you. He won’t do anything to harm those you love. And if he does, he knows he’ll have to deal with me.”
I sniffled, and Anson reached out to grip my hand. Cole stared at me, worry on his face. He’d been exceptionally quiet since he’d come out of Ethan’s room. I knew he was pissed, too, and that we needed to talk.
“Be strong. I know you know how. Don’t take his shit, OK?”
I smiled as best I could. “OK.”
“I love you.”
“I love you,” I replied.
“I’m going to have a break here soon. Klaus and I were talking about coming to visit.”
“I would love that,” I murmured. “We miss you.”
“Mm, baby, we miss you too. Klaus was booked with meetings today, but he said he’d call later, OK?”
I nodded. “OK.”
“Be a good girl and give Dante hell.”
I sniffled. “I will.”
“And don’t worry about E, baby,” he said softly.
I was quiet for a moment before I spoke. “You… know?”
“Anson called me the moment you went upstairs with him. We assumed. He kissed you?”
“Yes.”
“And he wanted more?”
“In the moment,” I murmured.
Evan sighed. “OK. It’s OK. I’ll kick his ass another time.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. He’s just… I don’t know.”
“I know, Ro. I know. Call me when you’re done with Dante, OK?”
“I will.”
“OK, baby. I love you so much. Give nugget a hug for me.”
“Love you too, and I will.”
We disconnected the call.
“Evan?” Cole called out.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Cole grunted but didn’t say anything else as I leaned on Anson. He held me tightly.
“It’s just Dante, baby. You can handle him, and if you can’t, I will,” Anson murmured.
I smiled at that.
I knew my guys would, but I didn’t want it to come to that.
We arrived at Dante’s before Enzo and Ethan, so we walked inside after Malachi answered the door.
“Ah, there she is,” he greeted me, sweeping me into his arms in a big hug. “Hey, sis. How’s it going? Looking good.”
“I’m good,” I replied, smiling at him as he set me on my feet. It hadn’t slipped past me that Cole had stepped forward the moment Malachi grabbed me, but Anson had gripped his arm.
“Unkie Kai!” Ellis called out.
“Hey, monster.” Malachi picked her up. “How’s my favorite ballerina?”
“Good.” She giggled. “My daddy is here!”
The smile on Malachi’s face tightened as he looked over at Cole, Ellis on his hip.
“Cole,” he greeted him. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Fancy indeed.” Cole stepped forward and held his arms out. Ellis immediately reached for him, and Malachi let her go, a smirk on his lips. He knew as well as I did that Cole was nervous with him holding her.
“Where’s Dante?” Anson asked.
“Office with Shadow and Ashes.” Malachi eyed me. “You OK?”
My lips twitched. “I’m just upset that we’re here.”
“Ah, you know Dante. He cares about you, sis. Just go in there and put him in his place.”
I nodded. It’s what I planned to do.
“Well, look who it is,” Asylum said, sweeping into the room wearing a pink tutu over his black pants. A sparkling tiara sat atop his black hair. “It’s my perfect little dance partner. Hey, tippy toes. I got something for you.” Asylum paused as he eyed me. “Hey, lover.” He winked.
I groaned. He still liked to call me that.
“What is it?” Ellis asked, her blue eyes bright.
Asylum pulled his hand out from behind his back and showed her a pretty tiara sized just for her.
She let out a squeal and wiggled in Cole’s arms. He grunted, trying to hold her, but eventually gave up the fight and set her on her feet. She rushed to Asylum and let him put the tiara on her head.
“Thank you! So much!” She danced around him. “Can I show Aunt Weena?”
“Come on. I’ll race you. Dance moves only.” Asylum twirled away, and Ellis followed, giggling as she twirled with him.
“You good?” Anson asked Cole, who stared at Ellis and Asylum as they twirled out of the room.
“I… Is she OK? With him? Here?” Cole asked. “I don’t like this shit.”
“Relax, pretty boy. We won’t eat her.” Malachi chuckled.
Cole shot a look at me that said he was definitely not happy about any of this. I reached out and squeezed his hand.
“She’s fine. She loves it here. And they love her. I promise.”
He gave me a stiff nod, but I knew he was on his guard.
“Dante is ready for you,” Sin said, coming into the room.
Anson made to step forward with Cole at my side, but Sin shook his head.
“No. Rosalie only.”
“She’s not fucking going in there alone—” Cole started.
“Shh.” I brushed my lips against his. “It’s OK.”
“No, Rosebud,” he whispered to me, his voice trembling. “He’s a fucking murdering monster—”
“So are you,” I pointed out.
He blinked at me quickly. “Yeah, but I love you.”
“So does he.” I kissed him gently again. “Stay with Ani. I’ll be back. And please be good.” I pulled away from him, taking in the worry on his face.
“Come on,” Sin grunted, nodding for me to follow him to Dante’s office. I did so, leaving Anson and Cole with Malachi.
“How is he today?” I asked as we walked down a long hallway. Dante’s mansion was pristine. Gothic. A little scary.
“You know Church. Always pissed off. You ignoring his calls hasn’t helped,” he said, stopping outside Dante’s office door.
“He’s such a grump,” I muttered.
“Well, he’s an extra grump today, so be good. We have to deal with his ass when you leave.”
“I’ll do what I can,” I said with a sigh.
Sin pushed open the massive doors to Dante’s study, and I saw him sitting in his chair near the fireplace, Ashes and Shadow nearby. Their conversation ended as we stepped into the room.
“Well, look who it is. My long-lost sister. I thought I was going to have to send a search party to find you,” Dante said, sweeping toward me in all black. He stopped in front of me and gripped my jaw as his guys filtered out of the room.
“Why have you been ignoring my calls?” he asked softly.
“Because I know how you’ll be,” I replied, trying to avert my eyes from his.
He gave my jaw a gentle shake. “Look at me.”
I did, noticing there wasn’t the usual anger or irritation in his green eyes. He looked… sad.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, crinkling my brows as I stared back at him.
“I missed you,” he said. “I did not like not being able to speak to you. I was fearful while you were gone. Terrified something had happened to you. Of course, it did in the form of Cole Scott.” He released my face before he opened his arms for me. Immediately, I hugged him.
“Don’t hurt Cole,” I choked out. “Please. H-He’s probably going to join us so Ellis can have him in her life.”
“Sweet sister,” Dante murmured. “He signed a blood contract. He stole you. He will be punished.”
I pulled away. “Dante—”
“Did he hurt you while he had you?”
I hesitated. “Not really. I tried to escape because I was so angry and fell. I sprained my ankle. He took care of me.”
“And all the blood in the hotel room?” He raised a brow.
I bit my bottom lip.
“Show me,” he commanded softly.
I breathed out, knowing he’d want to see. I turned and moved my hair so he could see my back.
Goosebumps rushed over my skin as he gently pushed the straps of my dress down to examine what was left of the wounds. They’d healed nicely. Cole had done a good job with them.
“Stitches,” Dante murmured. “He had to give you stitches because of his idiocy.” His fingers traced over the fading cuts.
“They were because I fought him and we fell together. I-I was going to kill him when I choked him with the cord from the hair dryer.”
Dante let out a soft chuckle at that. “Too bad you didn’t. It would have saved me the trouble.”
I turned to face him. “Dante, no.”
“No?” He studied me. “No, what?”
“No. Just no. Don’t do this. This is my life. I get to choose, and I want Cole. I want Ethan. I want…”
“Enzo?” He scoffed. “Again, no, but from me.”
“You don’t get to police me,” I snapped at him.
He immediately put me against the wall as he gripped my face tightly.
“I am saving you, Rosalie. Understand this.”
“No,” I repeated. “I don’t want to be saved. I want my life back.”
“You want to be manipulated and cheated on? What about the son? Huh?”
My jaw quivered. “I wouldn’t care.”
He let out a soft, dark laugh. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. The horsemen have been lying to you. They continue to do so. Tell me. What would you have me do, sister? Huh? What do you want from me?”
“I-I want the freedom to choose, and if they choose to be with me, we can be. My guys said that if the horsemen leave the mafia life, then they will welcome them in with us.”
He nodded, releasing my face. “OK. I’ll tell you what. How about we lay it out for them? I will make them come clean to you. If you’re OK with their lies, then I will grant you an open contract. If not, then I will punish them. Is that fair?”
I swallowed hard. “If I’m OK hearing whatever truth you say there is, then you’ll destroy any contracts you have with them?”
“Yes.” He took a step back and held his hand out. “Do we have a deal?”
“Yes,” I whispered, my heart thrumming hard.
“Perfect.”
I slipped my hand in his. He led me to his desk and pushed me down to sit on it before pulling out his knife.
“You remember how we do this, right?”
“Yes,” I whispered again, letting him turn my palm upward. That dark gleam hit his green eyes, making my stomach twist, as he brought the knife down to cut me.
I winced at the bite of steel, watching the blood trickle out. Then he did it to himself before offering me his hand.
“Taste,” he whispered, taking my injured hand in his.
Had I been anyone else, I knew I’d have to put my blood on a contract, but I was his sister. He preferred to taste my pain.
I parted my lips, and he pressed his bleeding palm to my mouth. The acrid taste hit my tongue.
“More,” he said, his voice thick. “Suck.”
I did as he commanded, wanting this to be over with sooner rather than later. I watched as he did the same to my palm, wincing at the suction he had on me.
When he was done, he pulled his hand away from my face, and mine from his, before he hit a button on his desk.
He didn’t move as he stared at me.
“When this is over, I have news I want to talk to you about.” He paused. “I hope you can handle what’s about to come, sister,” he murmured right before the doors to his office swung open, his men leading in Cole, Enzo, and Ethan.