A very special thank you to daytonalay for the perfect line to use in this story and stargazer93 for being so sweet and thoughtful! Also to the guest reviewer who left me what is probably my favorite review of all time, "Nooooo". That cracked me up- thank you!

"Ana, can you hear me?" I heard a blurry voice starting to break through the complete darkness and silence. It sounded nice, soothing. "Ana?"

"She's waking up!"

"Oh, thank god! Are you sure she didn't get a concussion from the explosion, Mom?"

I forced my eyes open, and took in the familiar surroundings. It was the same bed I woke up in last time I lost consciousness. I smiled slightly at the familiar feeling of the pillows.

"Hi sweetie, how are you feeling?" Grace asked, raising a glass of water to my lips. I groggily struggled to sit up. She handed me the glass, encouraging me to drink. I warily scanned her face, hoping that she either didn't know about my meeting with Flynn or was willing to ignore it for now.

"What's the verdict?" I asked, my voice sounding hoarse. "What's the time?"

"It's only about five in the morning," Grace said gently, refilling the glass for me. "It's stress, darling. With all that you've been through in the past couple of days, I'm not surprised. Your body couldn't cope with any more stress reactions."

I nodded. "Is everyone else okay?"

Christian nodded. "Our patrol was successful. I'm glad I got the tip though. Better to check out the threat, even if it was nothing. I'm so sorry Clayton scared you so much."

I shrugged. Something was off about his tone, he seemed almost defeated. I narrowed my eyes slightly, taking in his disheveled appearance and the faint mark of a scratch above his eyebrow. He got into a fight. Thankfully, I knew that he was lying, and I played along by nodding.

Grace patted my hand. "Please try and relax more, Anastasia. I realize that's going to be difficult, working for my son, and especially considering all that you've been though, but carve out time for yourself. Otherwise, you'll end up in hospital next time."

I nodded as she left the room, pausing to look at Christian. I couldn't see her expression, but from the way his jaw clenched, I had a very strong feeling she was chastising him. I waited for the door to close before talking.

"You knew," I said, watching him shift uncomfortably. That was a new reaction.

"You should have known. He was outside my office. You know my brother works in construction, what need would I have for another construction company. I'm surprised you didn't connect the dots," he said harshly.

I blinked back tears. "Are you trying to tell me I'm not good at my job? Fuck you, Christian! My best friend is part of the Martinez Cartel and you're telling me I should have known?"

He frowned and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I didn't mean that you aren't skilled. You usually pick up on these things."

I shook my head. "Get out."

"No, Ana," he said, using my nickname. He took my hand in his and I struggled, trying to pull it out of his grasp. "Shit. I didn't mean it like that."

"You just implied that I was stupid," I whispered, blinking back tears. "I have been nothing but loyal to you, and this is how you repay me? Get out, Christian."

He closed his eyes, his face tense like he was in pain. "I'm so sorry, Anastasia."

He left the room, leaving me to burst into tears as soon as the door closed. I cried for my father, losing my best friend, the betrayal of the man I cared about, the bar shooting, and my situation.

After what felt like hours, my eyes were red and raw, and my throat was hoarse. A quiet knock interrupted my sniffling. Great. Someone had heard me cry like an infant.

"Ana?" I groaned when I heard Christian's voice. "My mom says you can go once you have something to eat."

"Come in," I said hoarsely. He slipped into the room holding a tray of soup. Setting it in front of me, I eagerly began to devour the broth. He perched on the side of my bed, watching me eat with a guarded expression.

"Can I take you somewhere after this?" he asked softly, looking nervous. For the first time, I had a feeling Christian was dropping his walls around me, allowing me to see the real him.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked evenly, not giving anything away. I loved it when he tried to open up. But I couldn't let myself be so easily manipulated by him. Not like last time. I wouldn't get played again.

"I know Barney told you about the person who was trying to blackmail me," he said,lacing his fingers together and gazing at his hands. That was very out of character for him. "I've tried to keep my past as buried as possible so people would focus on my present. I don't want to go back to what I was or who I was."

"Barney told me you were rescued from the Jungle," I said softly, watching as Christian's eyes flashed up to meet mine.

He nodded. "And the lady that rescued me thought she could blackmail me. I want to show you who I really am."

"Okay," I said, watching as his face turned into one of surprise.

"Really?" he asked.

I nodded. "Just because you went behind my back doesn't mean I don't care about you, Christian. I mean, you chose a really shitty time to tell me that my best friend was part of the Martinez Cartel."

He exhaled heavily. "I know, and I'm still so sorry about that Anastasia."

I shrugged. "I know I haven't been through much compared to you, but losing two of your friends, your home, and your father does take it's toll."

He nodded empathetically. "Of course."

"So can you take me there now?" I asked, finishing my soup.

"Yes, but we have to stop by Escala first. The Jungle is very dangerous, especially for someone like you, Ana," he said, his voice back to the domineering and commanding tone I was used to. He helped me out of bed and left me to get organized.

As I was heading down the stairs, I paused on the second floor landing, hearing raised voices. I quietly stepped further into the hallway, straining to hear more of the conversation. It was Grace.

"You told me you had the boys under control, Carrick. Now, more than ever, we need to be united. Make sure this doesn't happen again," she said. I heard a door shut and quickly darted down the stairs, ignoring my sore muscles. Christian looked at me and was about to say something.

"What?" I asked, as we walked out of the house to the waiting SUV.

"It's nothing," he said. I didn't push it.

After making a quick stop at Escala, we pulled off of the freeway. Taylor parked the SUV besides a hill covered in trees. I could see tarps and pieces of cardboard littering the side of hill.

"Welcome to the Jungle," Christian quipped as he started walking up through the grass. "Stay close."

I followed him up, focusing on the steep incline. A homeless man passed us, heading down and smiled broadly at Christian who shook his hand. I glanced over my shoulder at Taylor, who was as stoic as ever. We crested the top of the hill and I was shocked at the sight below me. Extending down the slope and onto a flat patch of land that bordered the wall of the highway was the largest encampment I had ever seen. My heart broke for these people, and for Christian especially.

"I was born here," he said. "In a tent or something. I was six when I was rescued. Do you remember Issac Reynolds? He was also recused by the same lady."

I frowned. "Elena Lincoln?"

Christian nodded, gazing out over the tents and tarps, makeshift cardboard huts. "She pulled Issac out at the same time as me. Took us straight to social services. We were both adopted eventually and when I was fifteen she told me that she was the one who recused me."

I tried not to gasp. Elena Lincoln, the lady with heart-shaped nipples, had some kind sadistic of hold over both Issac and Christian. From the emails Flynn sent Grace, she had to be aware of Christian's story, of the abuse he suffered when he turned fifteen. Yet, Elena Lincoln was still running around as her friend.

"I know you know all about Elena form Flynn's emails," Christian said softly.

I nodded, trying not to start crying again. "You were fifteen. She groomed you."

He swallowed thickly. "I know. And she's still doing it. Choosing the most at risk children."

I bit my lip. "Christian, how did you get the money to start GEH?"

He closed his eyes. "My parents made me kill when I tuned sixteen. It went with the territory, the nature of our family. I loved the power and Elena knew that. When I left Harvard, she made me kill the parents of a little boy. I helped her get her hands on another child!"

He rubbed his eyes, and I grabbed his hand, kissing it, trying to provide some level of comfort. He took a ragged breath.

"She had pictures of our time together, pictures of me and the submissives. She has the ability to ruin me. And now, Esclava is destroyed, she's threatening to expose me if I don't fund her rebuilding."

"I won't let that happen," I said, wrapping my arms around him as he broke down in my arms.

Between sobs he managed to keep talking. "I don't know who killed Mia, I stole from my brother. I thought I could keep legitimate business separate from the illegal stuff, but right now, everything is about to unravel."

"Come on, Christian. Let's get out of here," I said. This place, The Jungle, was full of bad memories for him. "You know that we can keep everything separate. Right now, we need to get Issac back on board. I'll talk to Gwen. He's still Elena's submissive and he might know where the images are stored. He can access her records. She was stupid enough to try and steal from you, so she's stupid enough to think she won't get caught."

I had no idea if any of what I was saying was true, but Christian responded, pulling himself together. "Issac will help. He has always been a friend."

I nodded. "I'll call Gwen."

We reached Escala and Christian slipped away into his office. I called Gwen.

"We need Issac back. It's time to get Elena Lincoln out of the picture," I said into the phone as I gazed out at the impressive view of Seattle from the great room.

She sighed. "And this is the only way?"

"I'm sorry. I know it's bad practice to rehire employees. But if we spin it so that he was under duress and reduce what accounts he access to, it should pass through HR easily," I explained.

"I'll see what I can do. No promises though," she said. "I heard about Jose and the Cartel. How are you holding up?"

"Honestly, I'm not. It's not that I can't look past his involvement, it's more that I can't believe he didn't tell me and that Christian chose to reveal it such a fashion," I said, pressing my head against the cool glass.

"Christian only wants what's best for you," Gwen said. "He had a very terrible way of showing it, but he cares about you more than I've ever seen him care about anyone before. He turned his back on his entire family before he met you, ready to kill them all and take everything. But once you saved his life, he found a better way."

I didn't know what to say. Christian was always very tightlipped about everything. If Gwen knew this, then it was obviously true. "I just need time. I haven't had a chance to come to terms with everything yet."

"Take some time off, Anastasia. After this Elena situation, I'll be ready to pop and we can all take a step back. You can come and visit baby Bailey everyday. Just get some distance, okay?" she said.

"Of course!" I said. I loved Gwen and Ros and I was so thrilled when Christian told me Gwen was pregnant. "I'll get through it."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Ana," she said, hanging up. I slipped the phone into my pocket and grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, chatting with Mrs. Jones quickly before heading towards Christian's office.

I knocked and the door swung open. Christian was standing in front of me, still dressed in yesterday's clothes, a smattering of stubble along his jaw line, still looking as gorgeous as ever. "Gwen just texted me. She's talking to HR now."

I smiled, handing him the water. "I know. She's not happy, Christian."

He frowned. "She can't know the whole truth, Anastasia. She knows a lot. And now, especially after Mia, I need to try and keep everything separate."

I raised an eyebrow. "Does Elena know about your families really occupation?"

He nodded. "Elena's ex-husband, Linc, still ships illegal guns to us from South America."

I grimaced and nodded. "He's untouchable?"

Christian nodded. "Until Carrick steps down and we find him a new pipeline. It's best just to leave that be. It's worked well for decades, so I don't want to change it until I'm fully in control of everything."

I gazed into Christian's eyes as he spoke, feeling a familiar tingle spread through my body when his tongue darted out to lick his lower lip. His lips twisted up into a smirk when he realized I was no longer listening to him.

He stopped talking and before I could react, his lips were on mine, firm and demanding, his tongue ravaging my mouth. I let my hands tangle in his hair, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me up. I moaned when my core came into contact with his hard length. Even through our jeans I could feel him, pulsing and ready. He began walking us towards his bedroom, his lips roaming down my throat.

I bucked against him, causing him to groan. "I'll take you right here if you don't stop."

I grinned as he pulled his face away from neck. "You owe me one, remember?"

He smirked. "You owe me one too, then. Let's take a shower."

I laughed as he threw me over his shoulder, swatting my behind playfully. This was how it was supposed to be. Playful and happy. He dropped me on the bed, hastily stripping out of his clothes as I hopped up and did the same, streaking into the bathroom.

I felt his arms wrap around my bare waist and his warm body press against my back as I turned the shower on. His hand trailed over my stomach and nestled between my folds, rubbing consistently, eliciting moans. "I like you wet and slippery."

Moaning as he slipped to fingers inside of me, I reached behind me to start stoking his twitching erection. He growled in my ear. The water began to steam and Christian removed his hands causing me to whimper as I followed him into the shower. "Ever since you walked into the bathroom topless, I have wanted this, Miss Steele."

I arched a brow at him, letting one of my own hands tweak one of his nipples. "That's very perverted, Mr. Grey."

"You have no idea, baby," he said, kissing me soundly as he pressed me into the cool glass. He lifted me up and then suddenly put me down, during his head in my shoulder. "Shit. I forgot a condom."

I chuckled. "Are you clean?"

He pulled back and looked at me. "I check every six months."

"Then what are you waiting for?" I asked, hitching one of my legs over his hip.

He grinned and slid into me, his moans mixing with my own as we found our bliss.

I really have a habit of making my main characters lose consciousness, don't I? Yes, this is kind of a filler, but it's a crucial chapter for what I want to set up!

Anyway, thank you guys for keeping me entertained with your theories! And thank you for all of the support, reviews, follows, and favs! I love interacting with you all, so feel free to drop me a line.

Check out my other stories too! Especially La Femme Fatale if you like this genre! Also check out Dark Side of Love by Philaenis!

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