And maybe, find my son.
18
MATTEO
“What is it?” I asked as Klaus stormed into my office that night. It was far too late for him to request a meeting, but he’d called me on the way here, his voice hoarse, asking if we could talk.
I agreed immediately because this behavior was out of the norm for Klaus. He was strong. No emotion. Ever.
Alessio turned up not long ago, and we sat in my office, waiting for Klaus. Neither of us said what we were thinking, but I knew he was in the mindset that the woman Klaus was seeing was involved. Maybe they’d broken up. Maybe she’d cheated. The list of the maybes was endless.
I only hoped I wouldn’t have to kill her for hurting my brother.
Klaus paced, his hair a mess, and his eyes bloodshot. I cast a quick glance at Alessio, who appeared concerned about how Klaus was behaving.
I waited, deciding pushing him right now was a bad idea. Klaus stopped his pacing after a moment and let his head fall back before letting out a low exhale. Then, he went to the bar in the room and poured three drinks, downed them inquick succession before slamming the final empty glass on the counter.
“Brother,” I said gently. “Talk to us. What has happened?”
“I was with… my girl,” he said thickly, his voice wavering. “We were having a good time. The best time.” His jaw quivered, and I sat forward at the same time Alessio did.
I’d fucking kill her if she fucked up. I would. Without hesitation, she would die. No one fucked with my family.
I knew Alessio well enough to know he was on the same page with me. In fact, he might beat me to getting to whoever she was, so he could do it first.
“She…She… fuck.” He twisted his fingers in his hair and tugged. That explained why his hair was a mess. I was surprised he hadn’t pulled it all out already.
“What did she do?” I asked softly. “She will pay, brother?—”
“No.” He stared back at me with wild eyes. “She did nothing wrong. She-She…” He looked past us, and a tear snaked its way down his cheek.
Alessio and I were both immediately on our feet, going to him. Klaus didn’t cry. Not even when his wife died. I hadn’t seen him cry since Stefan died, and even then, he’d stood and walked away, more determination in a man than I’d ever seen before. We were built to endure. To continue. But this… This was big.
“Talk to us,” Alessio murmured as we moved to stand with Klaus. “Whatever it is. We can’t help if we do not know what we are helping with.”
“She knows Stefan,” Klaus whispered.
I cast a quick look at Alessio, who frowned.
“Brother, they are roughly the same age, yes?” I asked gently. “If he had a relationship with her before?—”
“He’s alive,” he choked out. “My son is alive. She spent time with him not long ago.”
I blinked rapidly at this information.
“Is she certain?” Alessio asked.
Klaus nodded. “She is sure. Levin even knows he’s alive.”
“She knows Levin, too?” I ventured.
He nodded and poured another drink. “I have not spoken to Levin. I-I don’t even know how to talk to him. He hates me, and that’s my fault. I made it so.”
I was quiet for a moment before I looked at Alessio.
“Please bring Bianca,” I said softly.
Alessio gave me a curt nod before leaving the room. Bianca would know these things if they were true.
