64. Cole
COLE
Iawoke feeling like I’d won the world. Rosalie was snuggled in my arms, and Anson was holding her tightly from behind.
I grinned before untangling myself from them and dressing quickly.
As fast as I could, I went downstairs and attempted to make breakfast. Cooking wasn’t exactly something I excelled at, but I wanted to make my family food, so I gave it my best.
Burned toast aside, it didn’t turn out too bad.
“Hey,” I greeted Enzo. Shit had still been weird with him, but I knew he was under a lot of stress. We’d been meeting with our men a lot and doubling our patrols, and he had people out getting intel for him.
Hearing Dom’s words seemed to turn him somber, and he was laser-focused on getting shit done. It likely didn’t help that Anson was in our place, but I was hopeful that they’d work through shit.
“Hey,” he muttered, getting a cup of coffee. He sat at the island in his suit, looking exhausted.
“Did you sleep last night?” I asked.
“Not really.”
“Plans for today?” I pressed.
“Work. Meetings. Killing people.” He paused. “Good luck today with the baby stuff. I’ll be thinking of you.”
“Thanks, man.” I slid some partially burned pancakes in front of him.
He raised a brow at me, and I shrugged.
“I’m getting better at it,” I muttered, taking a seat beside him and eating my food. It wasn’t terrible. I could survive off it.
We ate, and I kept looking at the stairs to see if Rosalie and Ellis were coming down. I didn’t want to wake them, but I certainly would.
“Are you happy?” Enzo asked.
“Yes. Almost bliss. All that’s missing is peace in the world.”
He smiled at me. “So you and Rosalie are good?”
“We are.”
“Even with Anson, Ryder, and Klaus?”
“Even with them. I mean, I’m new to it all with them, and Ryder and Anson irritate the fuck out of me, but I don’t know. I don’t hate it. It’s actually fun fucking with the pair.”
Enzo said nothing as he stared at a wall.
“How about you?” I ventured. “Are you happy?”
“You know the answer to that,” he mumbled.
“We make our own heaven,” I murmured.
He chuckled sadly. “Or hell.”
“Or hell,” I agreed. I wanted to say more to him, but E came into the room and eyed us.
“What?” I asked.
He said nothing. He’d been pissed off lately. It wasn’t like him to behave this way.
“Good to see you both getting along,” he said.
“Why wouldn’t we be getting along?” I asked, eyeing E as he poured some coffee. “Life is good, brother.”
E scoffed.
I put my fork down and stared at him.
“Hey, man, what’s up with you? You’ve been so bitchy lately,” I said, frowning at him.
He looked at Enzo. Enzo gave a slight shake of his head.
“What are you two dicks up to?” I narrowed my eyes at them. Before either could answer, Rosalie came down with Anson, with Riot clinging to Ellis’s hand.
“Hey, I made breakfast,” I said brightly, getting out of my seat. I offered it to Rosalie, who kissed me before taking it, Ellis climbing up beside her and Riot taking the spot next to Ellis. Anson grabbed the next seat, and I grumbled, but got them all plates so they could eat.
Enzo shot Rosalie a cursory glance and a soft grunt, but that was it.
“Today is the day, Rosebud,” I said.
She smiled at me. “Are you excited?”
I nodded. “Yes. We’ll have the results within two days. I pulled some strings.”
“Another thing you’re good at pulling,” Anson said. “I’m impressed.”
I snorted at him before I caught E’s eye. He didn’t look pleased, but we’d talk soon. I was concerned with whatever was going on with him and Enzo. They clearly had plans that I wasn’t privy to.
I’d get it out of them.
I always did.
I was desperate to hold Rosalie’s hand on the way out of the doctor’s office that afternoon, but maintained the image of a faithful bodyguard, walking in front of her and Anson while Ryder walked behind them.
Luckily, there was no press, so Anson did a good job organizing it all. I liked to think I’d helped.
Klaus and Evan had picked Ellis and her nanny up earlier that morning, and Rosalie said they’d arrived back at their apartment with no issues, so at least I could have relief at that.
Apparently, the guys had gotten their nanny a nice apartment in the same building as them so she could have her own space.
I loved that she was nearby, like Ann and Harold were.
“Hungry, LeeLee?” Anson asked as we got into the SUV. Ryder was driving, so I got into the back with Rosalie and Anson.
Rosalie rubbed her stomach and gave him a sheepish look.
“I am,” she said.
“Dynamo’s,” I said immediately. “Burger baskets. Fries. Milkshakes. How does that sound, Rosebud?”
“It’s a bar,” Ryder called out.
“Shut up, peanut gallery,” I said without looking at him. He snorted but didn’t reply.
“A bar is fine. I’m not drinking,” Rosalie said. “It would be nice to go out and have something to eat.”
“Take us there,” Anson called out.
I grinned, excited to be able to somewhat take her out on a date. She looked so pretty today, too, in her white dress with pink rosebuds, her wild red curls cascading to her waist.
She took my breath away.
We rode to Dynamo’s, which wasn’t far at all, and got out. I scoped it out and didn’t see anything suspicious, so I held my hand out for Rosalie, but it was Anson who took it.
“Dick,” I muttered as I helped him out.
He grinned at me before taking Rosalie’s hand and helping her.
We went inside and grabbed a table near the back.
“It’s really nice in here,” Rosalie said, looking around. “I’ve never been here before.”
“It opened about four years ago. Some of the best burgers in town, in my opinion.” I looked around again. It was pretty busy, but then again, it was after five now, so people were trickling in for after-work drinks.
We looked over the menu for a few minutes.
“What can I get you?” The waitress stopped at our table.
“Double cheeseburger with bacon basket,” Ryder said. “Fries. Water to drink. Lemon on the side.”
“Same, but no lemon.” I put my menu back.
“Baby, what are you getting?” Anson asked softly.
The waitress widened her eyes. “Oh my god. You’re Bishop! Oh my god!”
“Please,” Anson said as the waitress jumped up and down. “We’re trying to have a nice meal. I would appreciate so much, darlin’, if you’d keep quiet while she’s here. She gets so few outings these days.”
The waitress immediately acted like she was zipping her lips.
“Absolutely. I won’t say a word. Ah! I can’t believe you’re here. I’m a huge fan. Like majorly huge. I seriously lost my virginity to your song Deep.”
“Oh. Wow.” Rosalie laughed softly. “I’m so glad I could help.”
The waitress grinned. “It’s my favorite song.”
“It’s one of mine too,” Rosalie agreed.
“You should totally play it live more. I saw you here at your concert. You were so awesome!”
“Thank you so much,” Rosalie said.
“I know you probably get this all the time, but can I please get a picture with you and will you sign my paper?” She held out her waitress pad.
“Oh, sure!” Rosalie stood, and I watched in awe as Ryder and Anson snapped into work mode. Well-oiled machine. Anson took the waitress’s phone, and Ryder stood off to the side, keeping watch.
Rosalie posed with the waitress, both grinning widely, before she signed the pad with a pen Ryder handed her.
It was efficient and professional.
I was impressed.
“I heard you’re pregnant,” the waitress continued. “When I tell you I squealed when I read the headlines! Ah! Are you totally excited?”
“I am,” Rosalie said, smiling. “We’re very excited to welcome our baby.”
“Oh god, I’m so sorry. It’s been such a long day. My name is Carrie. I usually tell everyone my name, but I’m so tired.”
“Carrie, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Rosalie said.
“OK. You’re hungry.” Carrie laughed. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll have what the guys are having,” Anson said.
Carrie put it on her paper and looked at Rosalie.
“I’ll have…Mm, chicken tenders. Fries. Can I get mozzarella sticks too?”
“Absolutely. I’ll put this right in for you.” Carrie scribbled on her pad and hesitated for a moment. “You don’t have to answer this, but are you the guy I saw in the papers with Lorenzo De Luca?” She was looking at me this time.
I blinked at her.
“You’re Cole Scott,” she continued. “You dated Bishop.”
“Uh,” I said, looking at Anson for help. I wasn’t sure what the fuck I was supposed to say. I wasn’t exactly media-trained.
“Cole is an old friend. He’s working some security for us right now while we’re visiting,” Anson said with ease. “It’s good to catch up with old friends.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Oh good. Because you and Lorenzo De Luca…” She shook her head. “He’s beautiful, but he’s so scary, girl. You got a good one with Anson.”
“I appreciate your kind words,” Anson said. “Thank you, Carrie.”
She grinned. “I’ll be back with your order.”
And that was it. She rushed off, leaving us alone.
“Is it always like this?” I asked.
“Worse,” Ryder muttered. Anson nodded, and Rosalie shot me a sweet look.
“Baby, I am seriously mesmerized by you,” I said softly. “You are really something. I’m proud of you.”
Her cheeks reddened, and her foot met mine beneath the table, making me grin.
I couldn’t hold her hand in public just yet, but I could play footsie.
I’d take it.
We ate our dinner, and Anson got up and went to the bar for a drink, me following and leaving Rosalie with Ryder. They were talking about a book I hadn’t read, and both were really into the conversation, so I left them to it.
“Are you sure you want to get a beer?” I asked.
“Why not?”
“You’re famous,” I said. “You’re trying to lie low with Rosebud.”
“It’s fine. If it gets too bad, we’ll leave. Ryder knows the drill.”
I grunted. I’d accept it because seeing Rosalie smile at being out of the apartment was what mattered to me.
“Hey there,” some girl said, sidling up next to Anson. Her tits were pushed up to her chin, and her ass was practically hanging out of her too-short dress. Her perfume offended my nose immediately, and I took a step away.
Anson stared back at her as he took the beer he ordered and tilted it to his lips. He didn’t even look mildly interested, but she was clearly a dumb ass and wasn’t good at subtle hints.
“My friend and I have a bet. She said you’re famous. I said you’re good in bed. Which one is more right?” She let out a little giggle as Anson raised a brow at her.
“If I win, I’ll let you do whatever you want to me,” she continued.
Anson opened his mouth to speak, but it was me who got between him and her.
“Listen, bitch bag. He’s not interested. If he is famous, what do you think you have that he’d want? He could fuck any bitch he wanted who looks ten times better than you. Besides,” I looked her up and down as she sneered at me. “He’s mine.”
“Yours?” she snorted.
“Yeah, he’s mine. Fuck off,” I said.
“Get real. This is a conversation between him and me—”
I grabbed Anson’s beer bottle out of his hand and smacked it against the bar. It busted, leaving me with a nice weapon and a hand that smelled like his drink. I’d made a mess on the floor, but I didn’t give a damn.
“I will cut you, bitch,” I snarled. “I said get fucking lost.”
She stumbled away from me, calling me a lunatic as I glared after her. A few people watched with mild interest but returned to their drinks a moment later.
“We really need to work on your social skills,” Anson muttered, sighing.
“I think I did a great job. She’s gone, right?”
He shook his head. “You owe me seven bucks for that beer, Scott.”
“And you owe me some damn gratitude, you pretty fucker. You want your beer so bad, suck it off my fingers.”
He snorted. “Social skills, Scott. No one wants to suck your fingers.”
“Then suck my dick,” I said, following him as he walked back to our table.
“You wish,” he replied, laughing. “Suck your own dick, you fucking dweeb.”
I grinned. He called me a fucking dweeb.
I couldn’t be sure, but Ass Hat might be becoming my friend. At the very least, he made me laugh.
That meant something to me.