Page 246 of When We Fall: Part One

He reached out and tilted my chin up, his blue eyes studying me.

“One is dead. One is unruly. I hardly get the chance to beat him these days.”

I swallowed. He didn’t know Stefan was alive.

“Take a deep breath for me,” Klaus instructed.

I did as he asked.

“Again.”

I did it again and again at his request. Before long, I breathed normally, even if I was still shaky.

“Can I go home?” I asked softly.

“No.” Klaus offered me his hand. “Matteo wants to see you before any of that.”

I slid my palm against Klaus’s and let him help me to stand. The sooner I met with Matteo, the sooner I could go home. I could do this. At least, that’s what I kept repeating to myself.

“But I’ll get to go home, right? You’re not here to kill me?” I looked up at the massive man in front of me.

He let out a soft laugh that seemed uncharacteristic for the giant brute.

“You mean take you out to sleep with the caterpillars in the desert or drown you in Lake Michigan?”

“Why would there be caterpillars in the desert?” I frowned at his words.

He tugged me toward the door.

“I don’t know, little hummingbird. Why is there a desert in Chicago?”

I had no idea what he was talking about, but he wasn’t killing me, so I’d count my blessings.

Matteo steppedinto the room long after Klaus left me alone. I’d busied myself with focusing on my breathing and not touching a damn thing. I was sure the walls had eyes and ears here, and the last thing I wanted to do was piss any of it off.

“You sit very well,” Matteo said, walking past me.

I swallowed and stared at his back as he went to the bar in the room. Alessio moved to sit on a stool next to Klaus since they both entered with him. They didn’t seem to make many moves without one another.

“It would be rude to do otherwise,” I said, my voice wavering.

“Don’t let her fool you,” Klaus said, taking the bottle of water Matteo handed him. “She’s quite the antsy little thing. Like a small squirrel.”

I shot a sour look at Klaus, who winked at me, no sign of malice on his face.

“He teases, little rose. A jest. He thinks himself funny,” Alessio called out.

I glanced at him and gave him a small smile I hoped didn’t display my nervousness. Klaus chuckled in response before going back to his water.

Matteo moved toward me, handed me a small water bottle, and sat in the chair across from me. I’d been in this office before. He wasn’t as formal as he had been when Fox had come to get me. Today, we sat in the small living room area near the fireplace.

“It’s important to hydrate after drinking all night.” Matteo nodded to the water in my hands.

Quickly, I uncapped it and took a hearty drink before wiping my lips. Matteo watched me wordlessly.

“Tell me what happened,” he finally said after I swallowed.

I shook my head. “I just needed a night away.”