“The tour is almost over. I can get through this,” I mumbled, not knowing if I could. I liked the idea of just going home and cuddling with Ellis and watching her ballet recitals. Eating popcorn with Ani while we watched a movie. Bubble baths with Evan. Late night talks with Klaus.
“Fuck the tour,” Dante said. “Let’s just get you home?—”
“I don’t run out on my responsibilities,” I said. “I know you’re worried about me, but it’ll be OK. We have to get through this. If I quit, whoever it is wins.”
His green eyes raked over my face. “You’re stubborn.”
“So are you.”
He smirked at me. “Birds of a feather.”
“But I am scared,” I admitted softly.
He nodded. “I know. It’s why I just want you to take some time off. Come to the underground?—”
I widened my eyes at him and shook my head. “Um, no. I-I don’t think so.”
He rolled his eyes. “I won’t keep you locked down there unless I have to.”
I shivered at his words. I knew what sort of madness happened in his lair. Dante Church, my brother, tortured people and did other things in the underground. He swore it was only the evil, wicked humans of the world who met the wrath of him and the watchers, but after Evan and Ethan were down there, I couldn’t bring myself to even visit Dante, whose home sat over the underground. How he and the others could sleep knowing that there were nine stories of hell beneath them, where some of the worst atrocities in our world had taken place, made my stomach sick.
But Dante wasn’t normal.
“I can’t. Evan…” my voice trailed off as he came back into the room, a sleepy Ellis in his arms.
He came to me and placed Ellis in my lap.
“She’s hungry. I’ll get some food for you guys.” Evan kissed my forehead before tweaking Ellis’s nose, which only made her giggle softly as she clung to Mr. Rufus.
“You picked a good man,” Dante murmured, watching as Evan went into the kitchen area and instructed Trent on making my hot chocolate. By the looks of it, Trent had made a mess.
I smiled, knowing it was true.
“Unkie Dunkie?” Ellis called out.
“Yes, peanut butter?”
“Can we go to the park and play?”
“We can’t go to the park today.” He held his arms out to her, and she went to him with ease. “We have a very big day today. Mommy has her show.”
“I get to see Mommy sing today?” Ellis’s eyes lit up.
“We sure do. But to fill the hours until then, we can play with your dolls, or you can teach me some of your sweet ballet moves.”
“We can give Mommy and my daddies a show!” She clapped her hands excitedly, making me laugh softly.
God, Cole was missing out.
But damn me for making it happen.
He’d have loved her.
Sadness swept over me as I watched Dante follow Ellis to the small bag of toys Evan had brought with them. Dante sat next to her while she dictated which doll he could play with. He seemed to be putting up a fight as she handed him a doll in a fluffy pink dress. He tried to reach for the boy doll, but she tugged it away.
“It’s weird to see him like that,” Trent commented as he handed me the hot chocolate, which was really just cold chocolate. I took it and sipped it, wincing at how awful it was.
“Yeah,” I murmured, watching as Dante made his doll dance at the dance party Ellis was throwing.
