15. Anson
ANSON
“The last thing we want is to put a rift between you and the horsemen,” I said. “You have an alliance, and we’re the outsiders. It’s one of the reasons why we’re going to leave. We don’t live this life anymore, and none of us wants to be dragged back into it.”
“But I certainly will and will bring hell,” Klaus added. “I would go right back into it if it came down to it.”
Dom sighed. “We are neutral. I told Enzo that we are. We are not interested in choosing a side. I get their anger, but I get why you did what you did.” Dom looked at Evan. “I considered it once myself, especially before the twins were born, so I understand. There’s a thing, though.”
“What’s the thing?” I asked, sitting forward.
“Enzo is big. I don’t know if you guys know how big. I have my portion of the city, and that’s all well and good, but Enzo controls more than most of Chicago. He has his hands in Detroit. New York. Phillie. And even…”
“L.A,” I muttered.
“Even L.A.,” Dom said. “If he chooses to follow through on his words, you won’t be able to hide. He’s international. He has things set up in Rome. Sicily. Prague. London. Madrid. He is literally the wind. There isn’t a place in this world he can’t touch.”
I breathed out. I knew he’d grown, but I had no idea just how much.
“You’re big too,” Klaus said.
“I am, but I don’t have an ax to grind,” Dom said grimly.
“So just say it,” I said. “Tell us the bad news.”
Dom and Levin looked at one another.
“Enzo is threatening a hit. To put Evan into the ground where he said he’s supposed to be.” Dom’s words were soft. “We advised against it.”
“What?” Rosalie snarled, sitting forward. “What the hell is the matter with him?”
The news didn’t come as a surprise to me. Clearly not to Klaus either, who simply nodded. Evan didn’t even flinch. Rosalie seemed to have more faith in Enzo than any of us did.
“He’s angry,” Dom said gently. “We are hoping it passes, but perhaps you deciding to leave the city comes at a good time.”
“They leave tomorrow. Perhaps I should meet with the horsemen,” I said grimly. “Once my family is out of the city.”
“No,” Rosalie snapped. “Not fucking happening. If anyone meets with them, it’ll be me.”
“I think the fuck not,” Klaus said immediately, gripping her to keep her in his lap, but she wasn’t having any of it. She tore free from him and stormed into the bedroom.
“She’s passionate when she’s pissed,” I muttered.
“I’ll talk to her.” Evan got to his feet and went to the bedroom.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’ll be a bad thing for her to speak to them,” Levin said. “I think Cole is her way in.”
“I’m not letting her go to them.” Klaus shook his head. “And if I go, I’ll do damage. We leave tomorrow. Things need to die down. Anson, I think it’s best you stay away as well. Handle Ryder and come home to us. Our family needs one another right now.”
I was about to say I agreed when Rosalie stormed out of the bedroom in her short black pleated skirt and a black top, her boots on and her hair wild.
Immediately, I was on my feet because Evan looked lost for words.
She was a storm.
“Ro, no,” Evan said, following her and trying to grab her arm. She pulled away from him and went to the door. Klaus was faster than I was and got to it before she could reach it, barring the way.
“Hummingbird, what did we talk about when it comes to being angry?” Klaus asked softly.
“Shoot first, no questions,” she replied, deadpan.
He blinked rapidly. “Uh, no, my love. We decided that wasn’t a good idea. We breathe. We rationalize.”
“No, you breathe. You rationalize. I’m going to go shoot Enzo in his dick.” She tried to move past Klaus again, but he placed his hands on her waist.
“Relax, baby. We can shoot dicks later. Right now, we need to be together—”
“Klaus, get out of my way, or I swear I’ll take you to the floor,” Rosalie said, her voice strong.
He stared down at her for a moment. “Rosalie, I want you to be safe—”
“And I want my family to be safe!” she said fiercely. “I left this life to have safety. To have my dreams. To raise my daughter in a world where she won’t be hurt. If fucking Enzo thinks he’s going to pull some shit like this, then he’s about to have a come-to-Rosalie moment. Enough is enough.”
“Baby, we’ll be safe,” Evan said gently. “I promise.”
“I’m not going to lie awake at night, scared you’ll be taken from me again,” she whispered, tears in her eyes, as she turned to Evan. “I’m not going to do it. I lived that nightmare once. I refuse to do it again. It ends now.”
“LeeLee,” I said, seeing that we were about to have a hell of a problem on our hands. “Let’s just get you home. We can give everyone time to cool off—”
Rosalie let out a snarl and turned back to Klaus. In a move so fast I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it, she put Klaus to his knees and disarmed him, taking his gun off his side.
He let out a soft huff of pain as he hit the floor, and she stepped over him, pulling the door open as she went.
“I love you. I’m sorry,” she called out as Klaus groaned on the floor, holding his nuts.
“What the fuck?” Dom said, coming to us.
“I’ll get her,” Evan said grimly, making to go past Klaus.
“Let me. I’ll take her,” Levin said. “Dom can hang back here. It’ll make sense since she’s with my dad. Like, I was just helping, and it keeps Dom out of it. I’ll go with her and make sure she’s OK.”
I sighed and nodded, letting Levin walk past Klaus.
“You’re getting old,” Levin muttered. “Your woman disarmed you, pops.”
Klaus gave him the finger as I knelt with Evan, trying to help Klaus up.
Levin left, leaving Dom with us.
“And I thought Bianca was bad,” Dom muttered, staring down at us.
“How did she…?” Evan asked as we got Klaus sitting up.
“I taught her a nut check,” he said, his face still pale. “I wasn’t sure she got it, but apparently, she understood too well.”
“And she disarmed you,” Dom mused. “That’s impressive. You have a hell of a reputation, Klaus. I can’t wait to tell the kings about this.”
Klaus gave him the finger again and winced.
“This is a fucking mess,” I muttered, my heart in my throat.
“She’ll be OK,” Evan said. “She’s always known how to handle the guys.”
“This is different,” I argued. “They’re not hers.”
“Cole will always be hers,” Evan said softly. “I know he won’t let Enzo hurt her. We… We have to have faith.”
I sighed. I knew Cole loved Rosalie endlessly, but I still prayed for that love to remain because this entire thing was fucked. I didn’t trust Lorenzo De Luca as far as I could throw him.
I’d learned not to a long fucking time ago.