Chapter 7

0530

Fuck. Well at least I got a few hours of sleep. Getting out of bed I do a few yoga stretches to loosen up. I go hop in the shower to wash off Christian's scent. I feel dirty. I don't regret what happened last night but I also don't feel comfortable. I reason with myself that it was fun, but I'm not ready.

Drying off I put my hair up into a tight bun at the back of my head. I finish getting ready and wrap my towel around me. Slipping off into my bedroom, I pull some fatigues out of my closet. Putting on my pants, boots and t shirt, I leave my jacket and dog tags on the bed. The boys think we're going to play, I'm going to win.

Going into the kitchen I can see the boys still sleeping. Nope. It is now 0600. Turning on my bluetooth speaker, I find the perfect wake up call.

Reveille plays loudly through the apartment and the boys jump up and are at attention. It only takes them a moment to realize where they are.

"For fuck's sake Steele!"

"What the fuck you trying to do?!"

Laughing, I turn off the still blaring trumpet.

"It is now 0600. I expect us to be on the road by 0630. We will stop and get breakfast and coffee on the way. What are you staring at me for? Hut, hut!"

Waylon takes his bag and heads towards the bathroom, while Lucas begins to pick up their blankets and pillows. I turn to go grab the rest of my stuff and am met with a very angry Kate.

"Oh, shit! I'm so sorry Kate, I thought you weren't home! We're going to see Ray in Montesano. You wanna come along? We're leaving in a half hour," I say as I try to look as sincere as I can. I knew damn good and well she was home with flavor of the night. I just like to fuck with her a bit from time to time.

"No. I do not want to go to Montesano to watch you guys play in the woods and shoot each other. I want to be asleep so I can wake up to his 8 inch dick fucking my brains out again. So if you don't mind," she's seething as she turns and stomps off to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

I make eye contact with Lucas as we try not to burst out laughing.

"So easy," he whispers.

"Every time," I whisper back.

I sit down at the breakfast bar and look at the notifications on my phone. 8 text messages. 4 missed calls and 2 voicemails. All from Christian Grey.

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph," I mutter to myself as I decide to read the messages first.

C: Where did you go?

C: Anastasia, where are you?

C: Answer your phone.

C: Gibbons informs me you left at 1:30.

C: ANASTASIA.

C: Katherine just informed me that you didn't come home. I hope your safe.

C: Anastasia, I want to apologize if I did something to upset you. Just let me know you're safe.

C: Anastasia?

The texts came in from 2 am til 430 am. I bet he had every security guy out scouring the streets for me. Ridiculous. No way, Mr. Grey. You're gonna learn, you can't control those that don't want to be controlled.

I don't bother listening to the voicemails and just delete them. I decide I can't be cruel because he was a good lay and I wouldn't mind riding it again.

A: Sorry about that. I don't do sleepovers. I'm going off the grid for the day.

I grab my duffle bag with the guns in it and my wallet and keys. Both guys are ready to go and Waylon grabs the bag. We load up in the car and head towards Montesano. After we stop for breakfast at a drive through, I call Ray and give him a heads up.

"Good morning, Baby Girl, what's got you up so early?"

"Hi, Daddy. I got the boys with me. We're about 45 minutes from your house. We thought we'd unwind and do some target practice. Maybe play in the woods for awhile."

"Well come on then ya'll. I'll go get the targets up. Don't worry about ammo or paint balls. I restocked after you were here last time Annie," Ray chuckled on the other end of the line.

"Alright Dad, see you soon."

"See you soon. Be safe."

"Always."

"So, guys," I start hesitating not knowing what their reaction will be.

"Yes," Lucas questions.

"I have a 7:30 appointment tonight in Montesano. I've finally decided. It's ink time."

"Yes," exclaims Waylon. "Is it Dave, please tell me its Dave. I have to get him to get me in too."

Laughing I tell them that yes its Dave.

"I decided to go with, 'She Conquered Her Demons, and Wore Her Scars Like Wings.' What do you guys think? Too cliché?"

"No. It's perfect for you. Between fucking number three and that motherfucker, you still walk with your head high. You're still an amazing woman and one hell of a sniper. You've overcome more than any one person should ever have in five lifetimes. I'm so insanely proud of you. We all are," Lucas ends in a whisper. All three of us got a little choked up and rode the rest of the way in silence.

Pulling into Ray's driveway gives me a sense of peace. I see him step out onto the porch as I park.

"Daddy!"

I grab him and give him a big hug.

"I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, baby girl. Come on ya'll, I got everything set up out back. Who wants to make a wager!?"

We laugh and walk around the house to the back yard. Ray has targets set up and the obstacle course is ready to go.

"What do you guys want to do first? Obstacles or hide and seek or target practice?"

"Let's do targets," Ray says leading us that way.

"Like usual? Shoot, then step back 10 feet for each bullseye? Winner goes first for hide and seek," I ask with a smirk.

All three of the men groan.

"That isn't fair, you always win."

I throw my head back and laugh.

"Then get better."

We start our game and soon I'm the winner standing back about 300 feet from my target.

We go into the house and change out of our fatigues. We all keep camouflage clothes here to play hide and seek with. I can usually get the paint out but I don't want to risk it with our actual uniform.

"Let's go."

I leave my gun unloaded on the table and grab the paintball gun loaded with lime green paint.

I run into the woods and look for a vantage point. I always try to use different ones when we play so they don't know where I'm at. I finally see a good, solid oak tree. I sling my gun on my back and climb up. I'm about three quarters of the way up the tree and find the perfect branch to lay flat on my stomach on. The leaves are covering me nicely as I sit and wait.

"Anastasia! Oh, Annie! Come out, come out wherever you are!"

I hear him calling me but I remain quiet. We've been playing hide and seek for about two hours. I've already taken out the other three from my vantage point. One good thing about being a highly trained sniper, I can go up to 14 hours without moving a muscle. I know, I timed myself.

I hear a branch snap in the direction his voice came from. I see a flash of dirty blonde hair and line up my shot.

3. . . . . 2 . . . . . 1

The moment he appeared, he got a purple paintball to the chest. I laugh as I crawl down the tree.

"I win again."

"That you do Miss Steele," he says pulling in for a hug and a kiss.

"I love you."

"I love you more."

I'm snapped out my memory by the quiet footsteps of my father. Dad was in the Marines and he still loves to play with us. Taking his age into consideration, I line up my shot for his foot.

'And here we . . . Go.'

"Damnit, Annie. Can't even give your old man a chance, can you."

Laughing, I kiss him on the cheek.

"Can't have you going soft on me old man."

Hugging me and kissing me on top of the head he puts his gun above his head, one hand on the butt on the barrel as a show of surrender. He heads out of the woods and I dash over into a shrub making sure I stay hidden. Usually I do the hiding, but today I feel like stalking my prey.

About an hour later, I've 'captured' both Lucas and Waylon. Walking out arm in arm with Lucas, we're all filthy and cover in paint. Lucas thought he would be cute and get in a last shot as he went down. I'm gonna have a bruise on my stomach but he's gonna have about 3 on his torso.

We come out to see Waylon scrubbing his clothes out in a wash tub with his fatigues back on. I strip out of my shirt and pants leaving me in a sports bra and a pair of short running shorts and throw my clothes in the wash bin to let them soak for a minute.

We sit about for about an hour and laugh and talk and just catch up with Ray on everything. Soon its lunch time and we put on jeans and t-shirts.

We head to a local diner and I can feel someone watching me.

I look around and don't see anyone.

"I love this funky little diner," I say and suddenly the three guys are on alert.

It's our code phrase. This way we can all be on the lookout without raising suspicion.

That's when I see him. Christian is leaning on his Audi SUV looking at me through the window. I have to admit, he looks good in his dark wash Jean's and long sleeve gray shirt with his aviators on.

"Christian," is all I say and the guys follow my gaze.

"Stalker much? Want me to take care of him," Waylon asks as he goes to get out of the booth.

"Stay. I want to have a few words with Mr. Grey."

I get out of the booth and head outside.

"What the actual fuck, Grey? Stalker much?! Give me one good reason not to beat your pretty boy ass right now," I end my rant in a low growl and get right in his face.

To my dismay he laughs.

"Oh, Miss Steele, what a temper. I thought you'd be glad to see me," he tells me with a cocky smirk.

"Not particularly. Kate tell you where I was?"

"Yes. I showed up at your apartment thinking you'd want to have breakfast with me and you were already gone. I saw your car when I was driving in."

"I'm not going back to Seattle until late tonight. I'm spending time with my brothers and I have an appointment tonight."

"Mind if I join? I mean I did drive all the way here."

"You mean Taylor drove you all the way here," I say as I peer in the car.

"Alright, y'all hungry we just ordered," I turn on my heel and March back into the diner.

I put down my pistol, and look over at Christian. He looks nervous. I like that.

We, Waylon, Lucas, Taylor and I, just completed the obstacle course Ray designed. It tests your speed, agility, and marksmanship.

Ray is tallying up our scores.

"Lucas won speed but Annie won marksman. I'm proud of you babygirl, you're getting closer your old time."

"Thanks Dad. I don't know about you but I say let's fire up grill. I'm ready for some steak."

We go shower and sit around while Dad and Taylor tend to the grill. I put the premade sides we bought out on the table with utensils in them.

It's not as awkward with Christian as I thought it would be. I can tell he has questions but I keep deflecting them. I'm not ready to open up to anyone just yet.

"Foods done! Let's all bow our heads and I'll say grace," Dad calls from the grill as he makes his way over.

"Heavenly Father, we thank you for another day. We thank you for the food before us and the family beside us. We pray for you, Father, to protect our brothers and sisters overseas and those still fighting battles at home. I especially thank you Lord for my daughter being alive and healthy. Amen."

"Amen."

I lift my head seeing Christian staring a hole in my head.

"Later," I whisper.

Dinner is great. Lots of stories, love and laughter. Christian has surprised me by being so, not Christian. Gone is the CEO persona. I'm starting to feel weary of it. Husband 3 was Jekyll and Hyde.

Looking at the time I tell the guys to get ready. I plan leaving for home after we go to the tattoo shop.

After some negotiations, I drive my car with Christian while the boys ride with Taylor, following us.

"What did your Dad mean when he said, Alive?"

Deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out. What's past is past.

"Remember when I told you I was attacked? Well. . . . I almost died. I was chained to a ceiling and tortured. He took a steel pipe to my hips so I could get away."

We sit there in silence for a moment. I didn't look at him the whole time I was talking.

Eyes on the road.

"Who?"

"Doesn't matter. He's been dealt with. I was rescued by my team. I came home. I healed. I learned to walk again. That's all that matters."

I steal a quick glance at him and he's looking out the window, deep in thought.

We pull up at the shop and I park. I take his hand in mine.

"Christian? If things work out between us, I'll tell you my whole story. But please don't push me or I'll leave. I have to go at my pace."

"Deal."

I hop out and hurry into the shop just as the SUV pulls up.

"Steele!"

I run and hug Dave and he picks me and spins me around.

"Let's do this. For real," I tell him because I have chickened out before.

He leads me to the back where everything is set up. I text him my final idea earlier and he's ready.

"What the fuck, Anastasia!? You know that shits permanent!?"

"Christian. It's my body, it's my choice. If you don't like, leave. I'm doing this for me."

I turn away from him and look at Dave and nod.

I tuck my shirt up into the side of my bra and undo my Jean's and pull them down on one side.

3 hours later, I am the proud new owner of new ink. On my rib cage in bold print it says 'She defeated her demons and wore her scars like" and then in a pretty script it had the word 'Wings' with angel wings surrounding the script.

It was already 2230 so we decided to call it a night and head back to my apartment. The boys and Christian all rode home with me and we talked and laughed and sang to the radio. I could see the burning questions in his eyes whenever I looked at him. When we arrived home, I asked him if he wanted to stay. He agreed and sent Taylor back to the hotel.

Hey y'all! Sorry for the late update but I just needed to get filler chapter in. I have a question though:

What career choice for Ana? Federal Agent or SWAT? I have an idea for both but can't decide.