I chuckled at that. “You’ve gone dark, brother.”
“Fatherly,” he corrected. “Laz is everything to me.”
“I know,” I murmured. “He’s a good boy.”
E nodded tightly and got up. “I’ll head out. I’m staying at the Congress. If you need anything, you know how to reach me.”
“Will do,” I said, getting up to follow him to the door. He already had his bags packed. I guess he was optimistic Rosalie would stay.
He stopped and turned to me. “Enzo, listen. I know you’re in this headspace to ignore her existence and move forward. And yeah, she does have a whole new life, a husband, and all the things, but deep down she still cares. Try, OK?”
“What am I trying for?” I asked, my throat tight.
“Peace, man. It’s the best we can hope for.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “I’ll let you know if I find Cole.”
“Be well. Keep our boy safe.”
“You know I will.” He left, leaving me in our big apartment all alone. I drew in a deep breath before going upstairs and lookingaround the spare bedroom. Sometimes Colten would crash here when he visited, but we rarely had company otherwise.
The place was very plain. A little girl would likely be bored in there if she were anything like Riot. I’d make sure to see what she’d like and get it for her.
I put in a quick grocery order and told Memphis to grab it for me, along with a few pink items. I told him I didn’t care what they were, but a little girl was coming and needed to feel at home and to decorate the spare room as fast as possible. He was quick to respond and said he and Christian were on it. I trusted they’d get it sorted and went back downstairs, where Dmitri and Elijah would meet me with the Escalade after I sent them a message explaining the situation.
I breathed out and left, meeting them on the sidewalk.
“Getting the girl finally, boss?” Dmitri asked as he opened the back door for me.
“Very unlikely,” I muttered. “I have no interest.”
“Sure you don’t.” Dmitri winked at me as I settled in the back. He closed me in and got into the front seat next to Elijah, who was driving.
“I sent the address. Take me there,” I said.
“On it,” Elijah said, pulling into traffic after a moment.
I sat silently as we drove through the city. I had no idea what I was even going to do or say when Rosalie got into the vehicle. Based on our last interaction, we weren’t meshing well.
Mostly an issue with me, though.
Traffic was shit, so it took forever to get there, but I was still five minutes early anyway. I breathed out and stared up at the building. Klaus had a premier building. I didn’t know he owned it, but it had been on my list of places to acquire. I assumed I’d have to scratch it off my list because he’d be stupid to sell it.
Dmitri opened the door, and I got out after Elijah wished me luck.
“Have fun,” Dmitri called out.
I grunted in response and went inside.
Top floor.
Of course.
I got into the elevator and made my way up. I never got nervous, but I was feeling it right then. The elevator dinged, and I stepped out. It was a similar setup to my place. The top floor was the best, and Klaus lived in the entire thing in his building, as I did with mine.
I pushed the doorbell, and a moment later, Ryder opened the door. He stepped aside so I could enter.
The place was immaculate. I glanced around quickly and saw Rosalie sitting on her husband’s lap, her ankle resting in Anson’s while Klaus held Ellis in his lap.
I’d never felt like such an outsider before in my life, but I felt it now.
