A/N: Once again as always thank you for your kind words. The only issue I need to make clear before today's Chapter is how Elena got into the Gala. While Elena is on Christian's Proscribed list and banned from his personal and GEH properties, Christian can't have his mother's best friend banned from property he doesn't own, especially not without telling Grace. But he is working up to that.
Same think a different day, I don't own the characters or Fifty Shades of Grey. I do like using them in my own little world though.
Laters Baby
Chapter 12
Sunday, April 23rd, 6am
Christian's POV
Last night was the most amazing night of my life. I could have done without all the confrontations, and without the crazy Greek with the knife, but my time with Ana was the greatest. When she asked me to tie her hands and fuck her mouth, well I'm not sure what I thought. I was happy, I loved seeing her that way. But then I needed to make love to her, slow and gentle love. I have never done that before, yet it was probably the greatest most exhilarating sexual experience of my life. I plan to call Flynn tomorrow because I'm pretty sure this is love I'm feeling. She just does something to me. When she fell asleep in my arms I just held her close. I remember bringing her wrist to my lips and kissing the red ring the tie had left. I'm going to need to dismantle the playroom. I didn't like seeing the pattern left behind on her skin. It was exciting in the moment, but the high it brought faded when I saw the mark left. I knew it would be gone by the morning, but I didn't like the way it made me feel seeing the marks. She and I will have to have an honest conversation after I talk with Flynn.
After a quick shower, I dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Taylor should be in his office. Last night was a clusterfuck and I want to know what the hell happened. Johnson is the youngest member of our team and has only been with us the last six months. Taylor hired him about three months after he left the service. Taylor said Johnson's older brother had served under him and he'd been told that Johnson was the only surviving member of his squad after a hostile firefight in Afghanistan. He didn't want to stay enlisted after that. He'd served nearly 8 years and was tired of it. I can see him making a mistake but the rest of my team has been with us in some capacity for at least 2 years. They have made more mistakes in the last week than they have in the last five years and that is worrisome.
I walk in with my coffee in hand and notice Taylor sitting at his desk. "Boss we've got an hour before the rest of the team will be here for a debriefing. I know Ana's got reports running and wish we had them already. Someone on my team is a rat and I want to know who it is. I've been through every BGC on each one since we got back. I can't find anything that stands out. Ana said she cleared Sawyer, she ran him the minute I told her he'd be her CPO. I added Ryan on Friday to her team, but I think I'm going to switch him out with Prescott. Let's run down everything this week and see what comes up as suspect."
"Let's start with Sawyer. He didn't realize Ana was being followed on Thursday and let Amara get to her. He's lucky she can handle her herself."
"Yeah Sawyer knows she can. He called her little on Thursday and Ana flipped him on his ass and pulled a Charlie's Angel on him with her gun and stilettos. I'll email you the video she sent me. Frankly I'm surprised she let him continue working with her after that. Then again I think she likes that she can dominate him. He's totally got a sub crush on her. I had to set him straight on a few things, mainly his literal ass watching he's been doing."
"Okay let's talk about the rest of the team. Start with Ryan, you said you were going to switch him out with Prescott?"
"Yeah. Ryan is one of the better guys we've got. He's been with us only two years, yet he's more on top of protocols and details then Reynolds, who's been with us 4 years. Ryan needs to be our back up. I need him here at the penthouse. He's not had one negative action since he's been with us. I'd say he's less likely to be the mole."
"Okay tell me about Reynolds. He's the one that let Elena into the penthouse Thursday."
"So we changed the elevator codes after her visit to the office. She was listed at GEH as needing an appointment to be allowed into the building. I didn't think to put her on the proscribed list till after she showed up in her seduction outfit. That blonde bitch managed to get the doorman to call up here while we were gone and Reynolds was on duty and let her up. He didn't give her the code, but we did change it again just in case. Reynolds was also my man at the entrance last night. Ryan was the man sitting with Amara while we were out. But Reynolds being here knew she was on the proscribed list. She should have never made it into the Gala. So he's number one on my list right now."
He leans back in his chair, swiveling side to side a bit when he continues. "Moving onto Prescott. The reason I'm adding her to Ana is simply because she's female. She can go into restroom and stick with her. She's tough, constantly working out with the guys. She's probably sparring with Bartlett in the gym right now. Speaking of Bartlett. I don't think it's him either. He's been with the team only six months less than me. He's a family man. He's with us strictly for events and travel. I don't think he'd do anything to jeopardize his wife and kids. Plus he likes the pay he receives, helps pay for his ailing mother's medical bills."
"Tell me about Johnson. He's been with us just six months. I know he's the youngest and you've told me about his background before."
"Johnson's job last night was to shadow Elena. He said he lost her in a sea of blondes and when he found her again she was three feet from you. He'd radioed me and I told him to stand back and intervene only if looked like it was going to get violent. But there is something else I need to bring up from last night."
"We noticed an unknown last night at the Gala. All the guy did was lurk and watch you and Ana. He never stepped toward you and never attempted contact. After your altercation with Amara, he made a quick getaway. I had Ryan follow him home. He got the plate number and address and Welch should be running that info now. Ryan said he followed him to a house in Newcastle. Very non-descript, almost looked like it wasn't really lived in. He took a few photos."
Taylor hands me a few photos of an older home in a grassy neighborhood. Not really a suburban street. Nothing stands out about this place. Wait, I'm squinting and looking in the corner of the photo. "Taylor what is that on the house. Looks like some kind of wire running the entire length and connects to a little box in this corner." I lay the photo down in front of him. Taylor gets his glasses out and puts them on. He looks at the photo a little bit more before swearing under his breathe.
"Sir I think the house is wired. I am almost positive that is a trigger rig set up for trespassers. I bet this is a safe house of some kind. I need to identify this guy immediately. Ryan is still out there but I need to send someone to relieve him. We need to see who comes out of the house without the mask."
"Send Sawyer. Ana and I are heading out on the Grace this afternoon before returning to her apartment for the night. Prescott can tail us. You've got dinner with Gail and her sister this evening. Once you've checked the Grace and cleared it, you're free to go as soon as we're moving on the water. I don't want anyone else with us till they're cleared. Get Welch to send someone else over to watch the cameras. You brief them personally. I want no one outside my family allowed into this place right now."
"Understood sir. You go get Ana. Gail should have breakfast ready in a few minutes. I want her here for the debrief. This team needs to know her place in all this and know they can defer to her."
Alright Taylor I'll see you in 30. Now to go wake my princess.
Ana's POV
I hear something buzzing in my ear. Something brushing my cheek. I try swatting it away and then I hear his chuckle. "Come on Snow White. We need to eat some breakfast and then Taylor wants you to join for the security brief about last night. We need to get moving if we're going to keep our plans before we get to your place this evening."
I roll onto my stomach and bury my face in my pillow before responding. "We just went to sleep. It's not time to wake up yet."
"If you get up now, I promise we can take a nap this afternoon. I promise you'll be able to get nice and rested, but I need you up now. No time for a shower. You can do that after the security meeting." With that he swats my butt and raises from the bed.
"Alright you tyrant. Let me brush my teeth and hair. Can you grab my sweats from my bag. I'll need to borrow a t-shirt because the tank I brought is not something I want to walk around in front of your team in."
I quickly race to the bathroom to relieve myself and brush my teeth. I pull my hair into a messy bun and walk out into his bedroom. He's leaning against his dresser, one foot crossed in front of the other and his arms crossed. I walk over to him and he grabs me and kisses me.
"Good morning." I can't help but smile.
"Good morning." He hands me my sweats and what appears to be one of his old Harvard t-shirts. I quickly dress and I can't help but smell the shirt. I love being wrapped in his scent. I might have to squirrel this shirt home in my bag. He takes my hand and leads me to the breakfast bar where I see a woman in her mid-forties. I assume this is Gail, Taylor's wife.
"Gail, this is Anastasia. If she ever shows up here, you make her feel at home. She's to have free reign even when I'm not here."
"It's nice to meet you Ms. Steele. Taylor's told me a lot about you." Oh god. What did he tell her?
"Please just call me Ana. Now what did Taylor tell you?" I ask as I take a seat on one of the chairs at the bar.
"All good things Ana. He speaks very highly of your father as well." Okay she's going the safe way, but I have to get my kicks where I can.
"Did he tell you about the time I kicked him in the shins for calling me little? It's quite the funny story. I was 8," and she starts laughing so loudly before I can finish.
"He told me not to call you little. Said you liked to kick, but then again you were eight. I here now a days you pull a gun and hold people to the floor by a stiletto. He never told me he had firsthand experience though."
I smile over my cup of coffee at her. "Yeah he and Sawyer both learned the hard way. I shouldn't really do those sort of things, but it's always something that's bothered me. You'd think it would have gotten better as I got older, but nope. People still look at me and don't see me as a threat. My short stature and petite frame makes them think I'm defenseless. Yeah a gun will stop most people, but then you have the sort that think a bullet won't even stop them. That's where the kickboxing and other training comes in." Christian is sitting quietly next to me shoving his food into his mouth. He looks like he's trying to keep his mouth full to keep from saying anything. I can see amusement behind his eyes though.
"Out with it Grey. What's got you in a snigger now?" I start in on my omelet.
"I saw the video with Sawyer." That explains that and Gail starts laughing again.
"I saw it to. That boy doesn't know what to do with himself now. Taylor told him not to call you little and he still did it. The gun might have been a bit much, but the look on his face. I want to print it and make a security Christmas card with it." Gail's got jokes.
"Glad to amuse you all." Christian and I continue to eat and chat with Gail. She and Taylor have plans with her sister this afternoon, so whatever it is we're doing Prescott is the one shadowing us. Sawyer has another assignment he says.
"Gail this was delicious. Thank you." I drain the last of my coffee before I head to the security office with Christian.
I see five men and one woman crowding around a monitor when we enter. Sawyer is groaning and Johnson, I think Christian said that's what the kid's name was, is holding his sides laughing.
"I'm telling you guys that woman is like some kind of Mrs. Smith trained ninja. I didn't realize what I said till the gun was in my face. And where the hell was it anyway. She never reached into her purse."
Now I speak up. "I was wearing a conceal carry corset. All I had to do was lift my shirt up and pull the Punisher out. I can carry up to three extra clips as well and there is always a knife hidden too." They all straighten up, eyes bugging out at me, standing in my sweats and Christian's baggy shirt with my arms crossed across my chest. I bet I look like a 15 year old. "And I'm not a trained ninja. I could tell you exactly how I've been trained, but then I'd have to kill you."
Christian is behind me trying to cover his chuckling with his fist. "Taylor why don't you go over everything with us now that Ana is here with us."
"Okay, Boss man. Let's move to the couches. First Sawyer, when we're done here I need you to head to this address and relieve Ryan." Taylor hands him a piece of paper with the address. "We had an unknown enter the gala last night. A man in a red and white mask was tailing Mr. Grey and Ms. Steele throughout the night. Never made contact but left immediately after the altercation with Ms. Drakos. Ryan tailed him to a house in Newcastle. We suspect the house is a safe house of some sort and likely rigged with trip wires. The preliminary photos Ryan sent in this morning show wires and small boxes around the house."
"Now let's start with Amara Drakos. She was added to the proscribed list on Thursday. Reynolds. You were at the entrance. How did she get in? She wasn't on the guest list and you should have recognized her."
Reynolds fidgets a bit. "Sir I took a break around 10:45. Ryan was the one that took over. I never saw anyone matching her description before or after the break. I only took about 5 minutes to use the facilities and then I returned to my post. I know I messed up with Mrs. Lincoln the other day, but I didn't realize she was banned from all properties at that time. I just thought she wasn't allowed access to GEH without an appointment first."
It's Christian who speaks up next. "You're right. At that time she wasn't on the proscribed list. She is now though. In fact tomorrow at 8 am a team from legal and accounting will descend on each of her salons. She will not be allowed entrance. We will be conducting audits simultaneously and I don't want her to have a chance to hide anything. Bartlett, I'll need you to coordinate with Welch and get someone at each salon 24/7 while the audit is ongoing. Also search for safes and crack them. Any place she could hide anything. I don't know what we're looking for but I don't want any surprises."
"Yes sir." That was the first and only words I'd heard from Bartlett.
"Now, Taylor, Sawyer, how did Ana make it to Amara before you did when she pulled that Knife?"
Taylor starts to clear his throat and Sawyer's looking a little green. He should be, it's the second time that woman has gotten to me under his protection. I hold up a hand and begin to speak. "Christian, I was less than three feet from the woman. I have bags like that, so when I saw her start to move around I was watching her hands. I saw the handle before anyone of you could see the steel of the blade. I reacted instinctively. However, I have to apologize. I'm sure I broke that girl's wrist. I should have stepped back instead of grappling with her. I didn't give Taylor or Sawyer the chance to do their jobs."
"Ana is partially right Sir." Taylor is talking now. "She doesn't have anything to apologize for though. She didn't give us a chance to do our jobs." He turns to me at this point and I feel like a kindergartner being called to the principal's office. "Ana, you purposely put yourself in the line then. As it is now, people know you're carrying. You shouldn't have reached for your weapon at all. You should have let us handle her. We know you're the daughter of a marine and have a permit, but that doesn't make you invincible." He's looking at me trying to convey something else.
Christian brushed a piece of hair out of my face and leans in to plant a kiss on my head. "Remember your cover Snow White." His voice is barely a whisper and now I know what Taylor isn't saying. I could have royally screwed up last night. "I'm sorry Taylor. I let my ego get the better of me. It won't happen again."
I sit and listen for another 20 minutes as Taylor gives assignments and dismisses the team. Christian sends me off to shower and tells me to dress comfortably, but to bring a sweater with me.
After a quick shower, I leave my hair in the messy bun. I add some moisturizer with SPF to my face and a little mascara and lip gloss. I don't know what we're doing but I'm prepared for anything.
I'm in skinny jeans and a lightweight flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled and dark skinny jeans. I've got my gray oversized sweater and rain boots on in case it starts to rain this afternoon. When I walk out to the great room, Christian has grabbed a navy blue pullover sweater and put on. He looks absolutely yummy.
"I'm ready when you are Mr. Grey." He takes my hand and leads me to the elevator and we're off to destinations unknown.
Christian's POV
It wasn't until we were with the team that I saw just how dangerous the Amara situation could have been last night. Ana could have blown her cover completely with the team last night. As it was Taylor and Sawyer were the only ones who knew she carried a gun until then. We're In the SUV with Prescott headed to the marina. Taylor will be there already clearing the boat for us to board. Mac will be joining us and he and Prescott will keep each other company.
"Welcome to the Harbor Club Marina." Ana is reading the sign to the parking lot we just entered. "What are we doing here Christian?" She's looking at me quizzically.
"We're going sailing on my boat." I smile at her as we park, waiting for Prescott to sweep the lot and open the door to signal our safe exit.
"I've never been sailing before."
"Really? Your dad is a marine and you spent your childhood on the coast."
"Yes my dad was a marine, but he was a land lubber. He didn't do boats unless they were for fishing and then it was never anything larger that a two man boat on Lake Tahoe." She looks positively excited actually.
"Come on Snow White. Let me show you my boat." I help her out when Prescott opens the door. We walk down the dock toward my boat. When we reach the end she looks at me in bemusement.
"You said you had a boat. This is a small yacht."
"Actually it's a catamaran. My company designed and built it from the ground up. I named it the Grace after my mother. Other Mia and mom, you're the only woman I've ever had on my boat. I want to spend the day on the water relaxing and enjoying a little peace. We'll get back to the troubles plaguing us soon enough."
We walk onto the boat and as when we see Taylor give the all clear. I introduce Ana and Prescott to Mac. Taylor makes his goodbyes and tells us he'll see us in the morning to escort us to GEH. WE move through the motions and quickly make our way into the bay.
Once we're on our way I lead Ana to the back deck and show her the food I've had set up for lunch. We sit in the sun and breeze and talk about all kinds of stuff. She tells me more about her parents and her childhood, little antidotes. I realize her mother wasn't always a cold uncaring bitch, but she changed after the divorce. Raymond is her hero and will never do anything wrong in her eyes though.
I tell her more about growing up in the Grey household. I open more to her than ever before. I share with her my feelings of inadequacy growing up in the perfect family. How I was drinking by the time I was 13 and fighting with everyone except my family. I tell her it was a talk with my grandfather Theo who got me started in business. I was home on break after my first semester and he was talking about someone he knew having a hard time with their company and him thinking it came down to how it was being ran. It was the first company I bought a year later. I spent two months turning it around and making a million dollar profit when I sold it another month after that. That was when I hired Ros.
I explain to her how Ros and I work like a well-oiled machine. I generally tend to let Ros do her own thing, and sign where she tells me to. The only business decision we ever disagreed on was my financial backing of Elena's salons. I think that's why she got such a hard on when I told her I wanted the audits and then I wanted to pull out of them. She's always seen through Elena's shit. I tell her I hired Ros mainly because when we met she wasn't clouded by the face. Of course, I think that has to do with her being gay though.
"Kate and I were roommates in the dorms the year I got to move in. I wasn't allowed in till I was 18. She was the only freshman without a roommate. We are total opposites, so I think that is why we get along so well. She's the sister I never had. Our junior year we moved out and into an off campus apartment. We stayed there till we moved like I told you. We were going to originally move together again, but I decided I needed to be on my own. I had a few demons to work through after the assignment I'd been on before then. And I still have nightmares sometimes. If I ever wake you up screaming, I apologize now. I can't tell you what they're about. I wish I could and as soon as I can, I will tell you. Just trust me when I say I'm not keeping anything from you willingly."
I am sitting on a bench next to her with my arm around her. I place a kiss to her head when I answer, "I know you aren't sweetheart. It's okay. I'm here when you can." She snuggles into my embrace closer. We watch the sun move across the sky as we spend the afternoon getting to know each other. Before long we start back to the harbor so we can head for her apartment.
After a discussion with Prescott we decided to order in some Chinese take-out when we get back to her place. No sense in taking chances at the supermarket for groceries with just Prescott with us. Not after Ana's last trip.
Ana's POV
We've had such a lovely afternoon today. We spent our time just talking and sharing stories getting to know each other. I'm so comfortable around him. I don't think I've shared half as much with Kate when it comes to my childhood. I checked my phone to be sure there were no security breaches at my place before going up. I plan to hand Christian a key when we get up there. I'll have to download my app to his phone as well. I want him to feel free to come by anytime.
When we enter, I let Prescott do her thing and make sure we are alone. Once she's given us the okay, she promises to stand guard till take out gets here. Then she'll be relieved for the night knowing we won't be going anywhere else. Johnson will be down stairs in a car throughout the night till Taylor gets here in the morning with Sawyer to take us to work. We drop our bags in the foyer after watching Prescott close the door.
"So this is it. I didn't give you a full tour last time you were here. Let's start in the back." I show him the two spare rooms I have set up before showing him the laundry and utility room. I take him into the living and dining room and he gets caught up looking at the photos in the frames on the built ins. He sees several of Ray and I from when I was growing up. I start a fire in the fireplace before walking back to him.
I point to a photo on the shelf and start to explain them as he picks each one up. "That one is Ray and I the day he was leaving for an overseas tour. I don't remember which one. He left a lot back then, sometimes he was only gone a couple months. The longest mission he ever left for was almost 6 months." He sets it down and picks up another one. "That's us a few months before my fourth birthday. Mom and Dad had a military dinner to attend and I hadn't seen him in two days. He came out to play with me before the babysitter showed up. I think it was the last tea party I ever held. I decided I wanted to be like him after that. The next one is the day of my 8th birthday. That was taken right before the famous shin kicking incident at the on post range."
He moves to the next shelf. Ah my beach shelves. "Where are all these beaches at Ana? I've never seen sand like this."
"The one with the pink sand, that's Isla Harbour in the Bahamas. Kate and I went there the week after graduation with her parents and her brother Ethan. The black sand beach is at Waianapanapa State Park in Maui, Hawaii. I went there for four days after the overseas assignment where I created and deployed my Screaming Eagle code. I didn't tell anyone where I was going. Just that I was taking a vacation. I landed in Maui the day after my incident in the hotel with Jeff."
"You really like the beach?"
I move to sit on the couch and beckon him to me. Once he's sitting so I can snuggle into his hold I answer. "Yes I love beaches. I like to just sit and watch the waves roll in. I find it calming to for my ever busy mind. I have a beach bucket list. I want to see all the unusual and beautiful beaches of the world."
"What beach do you want to see the most?" He ask while he rubs his hand up and down my arm.
"That's easy. I want to go to the Glow Beach in the Maldives. There is an algae in the water that glows blue in the dark. I want to camp in the sand and watch the night tide come in and the glow as it fades and glows."
"We'll go there together when we get all this hacker mess over with." I just sit with him and watch the flames dance before I hear my system going off in my office.
"Come on. The last report is done." I walk into my office and head for my printers. I grab each report and sort and file away in manila folders. I'm not sure why but I decide to look at Elena's reports first. There are some interesting bullets in here. She likes her subs male and young. As far as the reports can tell they're all legal, with the exception of Christian. I have photos upon photos of her exiting and entering clubs with females and males alike. Always young, early twenties tops. There's a series of photos with a particular petite brunette that grab my attention. They correspond with a series of dates in her report that I need to call an FBI contact about. Christian walks up behind me and looks at the photos over my shoulder.
"Do you know this woman with Elena Christian, she's in a series of photos all over the city with her?"
He looks and says shit. "Yeah I do. She's sub number 12. Leila Williams. She was my longest contract at 16 months. We ended about 2 two years ago. Before you ask, it was never more than sex with her. We met three weekends a month. We fucked and then she was dismissed. She wanted more. I didn't so I ended it. When was this picture taken?"
"Six years ago. She looks to be 20 at the most here."
"That sounds about right. She was 23 when our contract started. I ended it a month after her 25th birthday when she was hinting at a romantic trip in celebration." I flip to the next photo and I have to stop and stare. It's a picture of Elena and Leila with a young man who looks oddly familiar.
"Christian, does this kid look familiar to you too? It was taken about the same time as the others."
"Let me look." He takes the photo out and looks a little closer. I hear a harsh curse muttered as he reaches for his cell phone.
"Taylor, I know who the rat fink is. It's…"
Before he can finish my alarms start to sound and we hear a gunshot in the hallway.
A/N: I'll see you all on Monday with the next chapter. We'll have one mystery solved, but still lots to process.
