Chapter 26

Caroline hadn't been able to get a wink of sleep that night, choosing instead to pace the length of her small apartment.

She couldn't stop her worry. But she was also angry.

The whole night of thinking had at least made her feel that she'd completely made the right choice in resigning as an informant. How could Inspector Coleman order a raid on the Mystic ? She'd seen the chaos it caused, people had to have gotten hurt.

She felt she didn't know the man well anymore. Did he not care who got hurt in the crossfire if he got the Mikaelsons, Klaus in the end ?

Caroline sighed. A headache was building in the back of her head.

She was making tea and toast when Klaus came back in the early morning. She took one look at his somber expression and knew something was wrong.

He closed the distance to her, but didn't touch or reached for her, just stood there, looking at her.

"Gloria's dead." He finally ground the words out.

"What ?" She felt her mind go blank as the image of the older woman, smiling knowingly at her, appeared in it. She felt sick and her body, already exhausted from the sleepless night, swayed. A hand quickly coming to steady her. Klaus was looking at her with concern.

"How ?" Was all she managed to say.

"In the panic last night, it seems she hit her head and fell unconscious, a fire started during the mess and by the time it was put out, she'd died from the smoke." He repeated what the police informant had told him earlier. He'd been livid from rage already from the raid and the fire. But this... ? It made things so much worse. Gloria wasn't just a family friend, she was the soul of the Mystic, a staple of the community around, and she was Marcel's aunt.

Caroline's hand covered her mouth as horror came over her. Her eyes began to fill with tears and her throat was itching.

Klaus pulled her into his arms and tightened them around her. He would find the ones responsible for last night and he'd make them pay. His eyes filled with fire and his jaw tightened.

-O-

"I never sanctioned this raid !" The police chief screamed at Coleman.

"With all due respect Sir, it was authorized by the higher-ups."

"But not like that ! A fire ! Chaos ! And a dead !"

"It was an unfortunate accident and I will definitely be looking into it." Coleman stated calmly.

The commissioner snorted.

"When you came here I thought you'd get results soon and that you were the right man for the job. But maybe I was wrong. Using such methods, it makes it looks like us the police aren't any better than the criminals were tasked from arresting."

"Sometimes fighting fire with fire is the only solution Sir."

The commissioner expression darkened.

"But sometimes the end doesn't justify the means. Be careful Coleman, don't go too far, lest you get lost."

Steven Coleman only knew that if it got men like Klaus Mikaelson out from the streets, it was worth it.

-O-

Giuseppe Salvatore was smiling.

That was all the hint necessary for Damon to be on his guard when he entered the older man's study. His brother was of the same mind as well, obviously, considering his tense posture.

"What's with the good mood this morning ? Is this about the raid in the Mikaelsons territory ?" Damon finally spoke.

"That's right, it went even better than I thought."

"Did you have something to do with it ?" Stefan caught the insinuation.

"Wait, there's no way, you're not powerful enough to order a police raid." Damon doubted.

A flash of annoyance passed in the eyes of Giuseppe at his eldest son comment.

"I might not be, but I'm not the only one who thinks of the Mikaelsons as a hindrance. But I told you when Silas was killed by that bastard. I'd take something from him too. I only intended to have that bar burned down while taking advantage of the raid, but it seems both the bar and it's owner went down in smoke together. Even better." He crossed his fingers over his desk satisfied.

"That's not good." Stefan realized the situation.

"As far as I'm concerned, we're now even with the Mikaelsons. And the two of you better shape up, soon we'll win over them completely." He glared at his sons.

Damon and Stefan shared a look, they didn't share their father overconfidence. Klaus wasn't an easy prey, not to mention the rest of the Mikaelsons.

-O-

"Salvatore." Growled Klaus.

He was in his office with Elijah, Kol and Enzo, who looked a bit banged up but alright for his troubles.

"Are you certain ?" Elijah somber expression had not left him since last night.

"Yes. I definitely recognized that officer, he was a man of Salvotore a dozen years ago or so. And I don't know about you, but seeing him fleeing from where the fire started last night, it definitely smells suspicious." Enzo crossed his arms.

Kol cursed.

Klaus agreed entirely with the sentiment.

"Well, we were prepared for a war already. It might be time to take the Italians down a peg." He said darkly. Then he turned to Elijah.

"You and Freya takes care of Gloria's funeral. And give her staff and those who were wounded in the raid and fire some compensation."

Elijah nodded, frown becoming more pronounced on his face.

"And speed up Marcel release."

-O-

Davina was reading in the sitting room when Freya joined her on the couch, taking out her sewing.

"How are you holding up ?"

"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt at all yesterday. It gave me a scare but I guess I should get used to that kind of stuff." Davina shrugged.

"Believe it or not, that's not a common situation." Mirthlessly smiled Freya. "Waiting for the boys to come home after a fight and hoping they're okay and just some patching up will be needed, that you should get used to. Raids ? Not so much."

Davina stayed silent, she wasn't sure what to say to that.

"I'm glad you and Kol managed to make up. At least something good came from this whole night."

Davina blushed a little. Her sister-in-law, knowing about her fight with Kol was a bit embarrassing.

"I was starting to worry after seeing him sleep on this couch for a few days. Any longer and the others would have noticed and Rebekah and Klaus would definitely have teased him about it, and then we could say goodbye to peace." Casually continued Freya.

"Kol was sleeping here ? On the couch ?" Davina looked at Freya.

"Where else would he sleep if not with you ?" Freya raised an eyebrow at her, and the younger girl felt like Kol's sister had seen right through her and her worry.

Davina turned back to her book feeling sweetness fill her chest. Kol hadn't sought out another warm bed. She suddenly felt more confident about trusting his words, maybe they could truly forge a real relationship and... Fall in love.