Page 74 of Savage Devotion
And I knew I’d agreed and even wanted this for Rosalie and Ellis, but I really thought the little shit would run away from the responsibility. Evan told me I was playing a dangerous game when it came to Cole.
That was my fault for not believing Cole was so… passionate.
I’d get used to it.
That’s what Klaus said when we talked last night. He said she’s new to him again, and eventually, it would turn from this overwhelming obsession to comfort because he’d felt the same way when he got to be with Rosalie.
I was willing to wait.
Hopefully.
“Daddy, will you come to ballet with me tomorrow?” Ellis asked as she ate her dinner.
“I wish I could, Ellie-gator, but I have to go to work,” he said, sounding pained at the prospect of leaving her. She’d been begging him since he got here to go to ballet with her. Unfortunately, her next lesson wasn’t until the afternoon when he had to leave.
Her little shoulders hunched forward, and her bottom lip jutted out.
“Oh, princess, don’t be sad,” Cole said, turning to her, his voice strained. “I’ll come right back as soon as I have more time off. I promise. Or maybe you and Mommy can fly out to see me?—”
“No,” I said immediately.
The table went silent.
“I beg your finest fuck?” Cole said, his voice tense. “You don’t get to tell me if I can see my daughter and my girl.”
“I was under the impression that hadn’t been decided yet,” I said.
“I’m deciding it now. I’m in,” Cole shot back.
“Ellis, honey, why don’t we go outside and wait for Trix to get back?” Klaus called out. “She should be here any minute with Cas.”
“Cas is coming?” Ellis’s eyes lit up.
“Yes. Let’s go.” Klaus stood and offered her his hand. She laughed excitedly as she took Klaus’s hand, and he helped her off her chair. She darted off, excited to see them.
“Sort this shit,” Klaus bit out. “I don’t want fighting in front of Ellis. If you don’t have it sorted by the time I get back, I’ll do it for you. Got it?”
He stormed off, leaving the rest of us at the table.
“As I was saying,” Cole continued. “Rosalie and Ellis can come stay with me.”
“As I was saying, not fucking happening,” I snapped back.
“Listen, motherfucker, you don’t get to tell me what I can do with my family?—”
“They’re my family too!” I shouted back at him. “I’ve been here longer than you have! Ellis is my daughter, too! Rosalie is my fiancée. I damn well get a say in what happens! You fucking drugged and kidnapped her! How do I even know we’ll get them back if they leave with you? Huh? You’re in a life we told you that you had to fucking leave. Are you leaving it, Cole? Are you? Because it sounds a fuck of a lot like you’re going to keep it.”
“I… I…,” Cole stammered.
“Cole, it was a stipulation,” Evan said gently.
Ryder remained quiet as he sat at my side.
“Why the fuck is he here?” Cole demanded, pointing a finger at Ryder. “Get lost, bottom feeder.”
“Hey, fuck you, man,” Ryder said, shooting to his feet.
“No, fuck you. You’re not part of this!” Cole shouted, on his feet now, so I got to mine.
