Chapter 25

Anna POV

The next morning I got up and Christian was still asleep next to me flat on his back. It gave me a chance to admire him. This was the first time in 6 months I slept with no nightmares. I noticed the scars on his chest and gasped out loud the grabbed my mouth with my hands the tears streaming down my face again. I knew those scars all to well. I have those scars. All I could do was stare at them and feel his pain.

"Anastasia what's wrong?" Christian asked with alarm written all over his face. His head slowly turned to followed my line of sight and he gasped.

"No, please Anna don't you dare cry for me it was a long time ago they don't hurt any more." He held me so close I could feel his rapid heart beat against my cheek and his labored breathes.

"No, Christian. You don't understand. I'm not crying for you. I'm crying because I know what you went through.

"What do you mean you know what I went through Anna?"

"I know the pain you felt when you saw the red ember of the cigarette get closer and closer with every step that monster took.

I know you can still smell the disgusting smoke around you at times especially when you are stressed out.

I know you can feel the temperature getting hotter and hotter the closer it gets to your chest, until it makes contact with your skin. I know you can still feel the excruciating pain that traveled throughout your body.

I know it was so intense you lost track of all that is you.

I know that even your screams of pain were not even noticed.

And finally I know when the cigarette is removed from your skin the pain lingers for days like your skin is still on fire."

"Oh Anna. My beautiful Anna. What did that bastard do to you? When I get my hand on him I am going to kill him. "

Then I sat up on the bed and he sat behind me. He took all my hair and threw it over my shoulder and gasped. He had never noticed them before. The scars left on my back from Mr Paul's cigarettes.

"Anastasia why didn't you tell me baby. How could he do this to you?"

He bent down and kissed each and every scar on my back with his soft supple lips. Healing me from the inside. I could not help the tears, it has been to long. He came from behind me and he sat in front of me so I could see his back and I gasped he had the exact same scars on his back as I have on mine. I got up on my knees and done the same thing he done to me. I planted feather kisses on each of his scars even the ones on his chest. Healing him from the inside out just like he done for me. When I was done we were both crying in each others arms emotionally spent.

A few hours later we both came out of our room. Starving from our morning session of passion and healing. Christian never strayed far from me. Always making sure he could feel me near. I think it was from fear that I might disappear or it was just Christian trying to be near me to protect me. I know he could not have prevented Paul from doing this to me but he is feeling guilty about it. It will take him a wile to let this go and in the mean time I will have to put up with been smothered by him.

Wile were all sitting around the table having breakfast and catching up on everything that's happened I lifted my left hand to scratch my eye and everyone gasped causing me, and Christian to chuckle. Everyone obviously noticed the rock on my ring finger and congratulated us.

I couldn't understand why Elliot was acting a bit off. What had happened? He got very quiet and withdrawn from all of us. Something was definitely on his mind. I made a mental note to talk to him about what is up with him later.

Christian told me a stylist was coming to the house in 1 hour to sort us 3 ladies out for hair and makeup for the ball, and for us to be ready. I was the last to have my hair done which was fine by me. When I was complete with hair and makeup I went into Christian's huge walk in closet and started to get dressed.

Christian POV

I decided to take matters into my own hands and find out about Anna and these pain meds. Since no body wants to be honest with me. I went into the security office and pulled up all the footage from the times when Anna was suppose to be taking her pain killers. I rewind the tapes and watch. You can clearly see all the times Elliot is taking his meds but no, Anna does not take hers. She flushes them down the toilet. I am speechless. All this time and she has been suffering in silence. The pain she must be going through makes me even angrier. I call Elliot up to the security office and show him all the footage of Anna flushing her pills. His facial expression shows me he knows more that he is telling me. It shocks me when he says.

"Listen Christian, yes I knew all about it. This started when

Butterfly was on the Island. We figured she wont take meds no matter how much pain and discomfort she is in. Why do you think I have been hovering around her every time its medication time, because I knew the amount of pain she was in. I knew she was also too stubborn to slow down or ask for anybody's help. I also knew her body could only take so much and I knew she was going to pass out from the pain and everyone around her would think the meds knocked her out. So yes Christian I knew but I always stayed close to her to keep her safe."

Fuck me I am furious at Elliot and Alex. They are deliberately putting her in danger by keeping this quiet. What the hell do I do now?

"Fuck Elliot what fuck were you thinking covering this shit up like that. You are fucking crazy to allow this shit to go for so long? I am very pissed at you. Do you even fucking care for her? Does her pain mean nothing to you? Do you like to see her suffer? Or is it when she passes out you get the opportunity to hold her in your arms?"

"Fuck you Christian I was not covering up shit, it is Anna's choice whether she wants to take the pills or not. Did it even occur to Mr control freak that she is terrified to get hooked on drugs? You have no right to be questioning my loyalty and love for Anna. I would never put her in danger or use her pain to get closes to her. You are a fucking prick to even consider a thing like that. You should be ashamed of yourself. Let me show you something to prove my point and maybe you will understand exactly where I, Alex and Anna are coming from. You have no idea? I will meet you in your office in 10 minutes."

Elliot POV

I walk out of the security room fuming. I go straight to my room and retrieve my external hard drive of all the footage from the CCTV cameras from my house on the island. I need to show my fucking control freak of a baby brother exactly what went down. He needs to understand we were not on holiday having a good time down there. I walk into his office with a mission to complete. That's when I notice we are not alone in Christian's office. He has brought in Alex, Taylor and Terry to join in on the party. I just nod to them and continue to plug my hard drive in and we starts watching the video in this order:

Me caring a lifeless looking Anna in from the boat all bruised and dirty clinging to my chest for dear life

The photo scene of me stripping her of her disgusting clothes and taking snaps of her broken body

The bath were I had to clean her up because she was so weak she could not even lift her arms let alone open her eyes

The entire withdrawal process. Days and weeks of her suffering and having continues nightmares every single night screaming and kicking in pain in her sleep

The gym workouts of me and her and occasionally Alex on the mats doing martial arts.

Me hitting the shit out of her almost every night and her letting me, because it was helping her keep the cravings away.

Alex getting the shit beat out of him from butterfly this was very funny I couldn't help my laughing.

The gym scenes of her alone, pounding at the bag like it's going to kill her. Her running on the treadmill till she can barely move. Then she would crawl off and collapse with exhaustion on the gym floor.

Al the meltdowns she had every time Paul's name was mentioned. Her shaking with terror in my arms clinging onto me for dear life

The pure joy and love in her eyes and in her voice, every time she would tell us the story about the Grey eyed stranger she met on the cruise.

Our wedding we had to try to keep her safe by changing her name

Then finally our departure and the pure bliss on her face when she knew we were going to get away from Paul and his attempts to find her.

I turn to all the men in the room and it looks as if they are all ready to faint. The shear terror in there faces and eyes. Every jaw in this office was so tight I could have sworn I herd them grinding their teeth. They were not happy. You could see they were out for blood. I actually feel sorry for the bastards who will try cross therese 4 men.

"Now do you understand what we went through Christian? The pain my friend went through everyday?It was not all fun and games on the island." He doesn't answer me he just nods his head and walks out of his office straight to the lab gym for a workout. All the other men shake their heads and walk out as well. I could tell my baby brother was in pain and he was blaming himself for her pain. If only he could have kept her safe and not let her go onto the island by herself.

Christian's POV

Wow watching those videos were intense now I know everything. I can't get her screams out of my head. But shit the withdrawals scene was the worst thing I have ever witnessed. What Elliot put up with for so long was fucking crazy and amazing. I can see now the love he has for her he will do everything humanly possible to protect her. My mother was a crack hore and I of all people should understand Anna's resistance towards taking medication. I myself hate taking them with the fear of becoming dependent on them. I am appalled at my behavior and need to back off. I realize now I was totally out of hand. I head strait to the gym to take my pain for Anna and my anger towards Paul out on the equipment. Luckily for me the ladies were getting ready for the ball so I had the place all to myself.

Anna POV

Christian walked in and I had my back to him. I was standing there in my silver and black designer mask that only showcased my big blues eyes, my plump pink lips and my chin. I stood there in only my black silk panties and bra set, black silk stockings and 5inch Jimmy choos. I spun around and he gasped so loud I got a fright. Our eyes made contact, and then he raked me up and down with his lust filled eyes. He was sexy as hell in his black and white designer suit with a grey tie and matching mask as mine. He looked so dangerous and sexy standing there.

"Fuck Anna you look so fucking sexy standing their looking like that. How the fuck, do you expect me to stand the whole night next to you when I now know what you have underneath that dress of yours. You are going to be the death of me women."

He stood behind me and put on the most beautiful platinum and black diamond chocker around my neck. It matches perfectly with my dress. Then he kisses me on the check, shakes his head as if he is ridding himself of a thought and turns around with a mischievous grin, then leaves the room. I put my dress on and when I see myself in the mirror I cant believe it, I do not look like me at all. Standing there is a woman straight out of a high fashion magazine.

When I looked into the mirror again, Elliot is standing behind me and our eyes met in the mirror. He was wearing a red mask that was so mysterious it made me smile. He is so handsome.

"There is my butterfly. You look absolutely beautiful Anna. Do not hang your head down."

"Thank you Elliot you don't look bad yourself." Then I realize I forgot to have that chat with him. He seems fine now so I will talk to him later.

He turned me around and put on me aTiffany bracelet in platinum of hand-carved black onyx and platinum-set diamonds in overlays of butterflies and dragonflies,it was absolutely stunning. I was completely lost for words. All I could just manage was a "Than you". Then he kissed the inside of my hand and went down to one knee and lifted my foot onto his knee to attach the matching ankle bracelet. He hugged me and put his elbow out for me and we went out to the great room together.

Everyone gasped when we came into view, making me blush all over. Luckily Elliot saved me with his comment.

"Yes I know I look that good, now can you'll all please pick up you'll jaws off the floor so we can get the hell out of here and make it to the ball in time." He handed me over to Christian with a smile and a nod. We all traveled in separate limos because they said it was safer that way.

"Anna please stop, fidgeting you look lovely. I will not leave your side I will keep you safe tonight. I just want you to have a great time. Enjoy yourself you deserve it"

We arrived at the venue and have to wait a wile in the limo for our turn. Not long we came to a stop in front of the red carpet. It was time to face the cameras. Taylor opened the limo door for us and Christian got out fist, he then extended his had to me to help me out. As soon as I was by his side I was blinded by the flashes, he escorted me up the path and when we were on the top he gave them a show of a lifetime.

He took me in his arms and looked into my eyes. Then he gave me his mega watt panty-dropping smile, causing me to retaliate back with the same smile. While the flashes were going off at us, he dipped me low and planted the most passionate kiss I have ever had on my lips. It was absolutely beautiful. I didn't even notice the flashes anymore. Then he brought me up and took me in his arm and walked straight into the tent to our table.

"What was that Mr Grey?"

"Didn't you like it, Anna?" I couldn't stop laughing at him causing everyone at the table to smile at us.

"It was the best kiss of my life baby, but were you staking your claim to the world?"

"I am glad to hear that because that was my best kiss to. And yes I was. I want the whole world to know you are mine."

And we both start giggling again.