Disclaimer: Most of the characters in this story are those from the Fifty Shades Trilogy. They remain the rightful property of E L James. Recognisable brands, places, music or films remain the property of their owners. No copyright infringement is intended.

SuzB – Thank you! Good ol' Taylor coming to the rescue! It's no wonder we all love him so much. I really hope you like this chapter! Much Love x

Labella – Thank you! Ana is definitely in for a long recovery, more mentally than physical, but I'm sure she will pull through. With Christian's love and strength, she can survive anything. I really hope you enjoy this chapter! Much Love x

DoloresDeeHowe – Thank you so much! Taylor definitely has nine lives! I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Much Love x

Yanny – Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. I hope you enjoy this chapter too! Much Love x


Hello Lovelies,

Thank you all so much for reading and commenting on the last chapter. It's great to see so many of you enjoying how the last few chapters have played out. :)

I really hope you enjoy this chapter. This is the penultimate chapter! Just one more chapter to follow... (Plus an epilogue at the end!)

More coming soon!

Much Love,

Chelsea x


"Ana?" Christian called out, rapping his knuckles on the bathroom door. "Do you need me to come in?"

I let out a huff as I dropped onto the closed toilet seat. Reaching to the side, I unlocked the door and yanked the handle, opening it ajar.

"I need help," I confessed, feeling defeated.

Christian slipped inside the small ensuite, closing the door behind him. He stood in front of me, crossing his arms. My shoulders slumped forward.

I had disappeared in here ten minutes ago, ready to change into my own clothes. I had asked Kate to bring me something to wear, desperate to get out of that bloody gown. She brought with her a large holdall full of clothes and my toiletries, and I thought I was strong enough to dress myself. I had managed to remove my gown and change my underwear, but the rest was proving impossible.

Christian shook his head and reached down to the holdall. He pulled out my t-shirt.

"Arms up," he urged.

I raised my hands and let him work the material over my arms and head. He allowed me to tug the sleeves down to my wrists. I urged Kate to bring me something with sleeves, anything to cover the red welt marks circling my wrists. I didn't want to be reminded of them.

"I said I would help you change," he sighed at me.

"I wanted to do it myself," I muttered. He arched his brow. "Well, I had to pee anyway and I wasn't going to do that in front of you! I have to keep onto some dignity in this place."

He didn't say anything. He returned to the bag and pulled out a pair of sweatpants.

"Put your hands on my shoulders," he said. He crouched at my feet and waited for me to set my hands on him, then he delicately lifted each of my legs and placed them into the pants. Using him for support, I was able to lift myself up enough for him to hitch the pants to my waist. "There you go. See, was it really that difficult to just let me help you?"

"I'm used to doing this kind of stuff on my own," I reminded him, a hint of remorse in my voice. "Thank you. I know I'm being a total pain in the ass."

"I get it. You're independent. I love that about you," he hummed, softening his expression. "But I'm here to help you. Let me help you."

"I will," I nodded, smiling at him. "I think I just need time to understand what I can and can't do right now. It's confusing."

"How so?"

"I haven't been injured anywhere but my head," I began. "But everywhere aches. I don't know if it's because I've been laid up in bed for so long or if it's shock…"

"You just have to take it easy," he reminded me. "With time and rest, you'll start to feel better."

I rolled my eyes as he repeated the doctor's words to me.

Christian took a step back and lifted his hands to his shirt. He quickly unfastened each button, starting at his throat.

"What are you doing?" I frowned as he stripped his torso bare and then kicked off his shoes.

"I asked Kate to go to my place and pick up some clothes for me too," he said. My gaze fell to his waist, where his deep V disappeared beneath his pants along with the trail of dark hair casting down from his navel. His fingers settled on his belt. "I've been wearing this for two days. I feel disgusting."

"You say that, but you still look hot," I shook my head. I dragged my eyes up to his and found him staring at me, pursing his lips. "What? It's true. You look hot regardless of whether you're wearing two day old clothes or not. I, however, probably look like a steaming pile of shit."

"Hey," he frowned, his brows pinching together in the middle of his forehead. He closed the gap between us and brought his hands to my jaw. "Don't say that. You're stunning. With or without bruises, you're still beautiful."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"I'm not," he shook his head. He lowered his face to mine and brought our lips together for a tender kiss. "You are my gorgeous girl. You will always be my gorgeous, beautiful, sexy girl."

A smile crept over my lips and spread itself onto his. I reached up and set my hands on his waist, enjoying the feel of his naked skin under my fingertips.

"Oh no," he breathed, resting the tip of his nose against mine. "There will be no adult fun until you are one hundred percent better."

I leaned my head back. "Adult fun?" I giggled. "I'm sorry but who are you and what have you done with Christian?"

"What would you rather I say? My dick won't be coming anywhere near you for the foreseeable?" He cocked his head and smirked. "That my dick is off limits until you're back to normal?"

"Well, when you put it like that…"

He stroked his thumb down my cheek, careful not to press too hard.

"It's not that I don't want you," he promised. "I just want to make sure you are fully recovered before I allow myself to touch you again."

"You're touching me right now," I whispered.

"You know what I mean," he smiled. "It's just until you're back to normal."

"Define normal?" I angled my head, another giggle brewing in my chest. "Because your definition might be different to mine…"

"When you can dress yourself without almost passing out," he quipped. He kissed me again before pulling away. He quickly yanked his pants down and stepped out of them, leaving him completely naked. My jaw hung open. "You're staring at me."

"I can't help it," I grinned.

He rolled his eyes and attempted to clothe himself as quickly as possible. He changed into a perfectly pressed white shirt and a pair of navy slacks.

"I'm sorry but you'll have to wait a few weeks," he smirked, shooting me a glance as he began shoving his old clothes into the holdall. "You can look but you can't touch."

"Are you seriously going to deprive me of your body for a couple weeks?" I sucked in a sharp breath and tutted. "That's cruel."

A laugh escaped his lips, filling the room with his delicious chuckle.

"You're in hospital, you're in pain, yet you're thinking about sex?" He shook his head at me.

"You mentioned sex," I protested, folding my arms in mock defiance. "You put the idea in my head."

"I could see it in your eyes," he arched his brow again. "You were almost salivating… Miss Steele, you are a fiend."

"It's all your fault," I smiled, returning his laughter. "This is the effect you have on me, Mr Grey."

"I'm glad," he nodded. He zipped up the bag and pulled it onto his shoulder. Standing up, he came back to me and held his hands out, ready to help me to my feet. "It's good to see you smiling again. I've missed your giggling."

I stepped into his chest and wrapped my arms around him.

"I really want to go home," I mumbled.

"I know, baby," he whispered. He dropped his chin onto the top of my head and embraced me with his free arm. "We'll be out of here soon, I promise. I want you home too."


I wrapped the bedsheets between my fingers, nervously staring at the door and willing it to open. I could feel my heartbeat speeding up in anticipation. In just a few seconds, Sawyer and Taylor would be coming to visit me.

I had asked Christian to call and ask them both to come to the hospital. I needed to see them. Although Christian confirmed they were both fine, I needed to see it with my own eyes. My brain wouldn't settle until I saw them.

It had filled me with some relief when Christian explained that Taylor had been at the hospital most of the time anyway, keeping a silent guard in the hallway. I didn't expect anything different from him.

The door slowly opened and a breath caught in my throat as Taylor stepped inside.

"Miss Steele," he nodded, throwing me a broad grin. He held the door open and waited for his companion to enter.

"Hi," I smiled to them both, trying to mask the quiver in my voice. "Thanks for coming."

Taylor was as relaxed as ever, completely unflappable. He was wearing his usual attire: a black suit with a white shirt, a thin black tie at his collar. He met and held my gaze, his calming manner helping to settle me.

While Taylor was at ease, Sawyer appeared awkward and daunted at the prospect of seeing me. He could hardly bring himself to look at me, his eyes fixed on the floor ahead of him. He wasn't wearing a suit, instead opting for a pair of dark jeans and a plain grey sweatshirt. His hands were deep in his pockets.

"Sawyer?" I said, willing him to look up. After a second or two, he caved and lifted his chin. His eyes widened, horror passing over them as he took in the sight of me. "How are you feeling?"

"Me?" He choked, gulping hard. "I'm fine…" He let out a sigh, his shoulders hunching forward. "Miss Steele, I… I want to apologise for what happened."

"You do?" I frowned. "Why?"

"I should never have put you in that situation," he blurted in a rush. "I should have called for backup. I should have known something was wrong when Mr Hunter didn't appear."

"But you –"

"I should never have got out the car and left you," he continued. "I'm so sorry."

"Sawyer," I shook my head. "You had no idea what was going to happen."

"It's my job to pre-empt situations like that," he said. He was tearing himself apart, his features darkening with guilt. "You hired me to keep you safe. I led you into danger."

"It was my decision to go to lunch with Cal," I reminded him, my frowning causing my forehead to ache. "It was my choice. Neither of us would have been there if it wasn't for me."

"I left you alone," he shook his head. "Mr Grey made me promise him one thing when I was hired: never leave you alone, never leave you open to an attack. I failed."

"It was my decision to get out of the car," I sighed. "And I'm glad I did. God knows what could have happened if I hadn't followed you."

I shuddered as I thought of the possibilities. I was under no illusion that she would have killed him, Cal and José if I hadn't entered the club.

"I was reckless," Sawyer added, shuffling his feet. "I failed you and I'll never forgive myself for that."

"Don't blame yourself," I muttered to him, feeling my throat tighten under the strain of his crestfallen appearance. "I'm not blaming you. No one is blaming you… or, at least, I hope they aren't."

I glanced to Taylor for backup and he nodded. He turned to look at Sawyer.

"You were investigating the situation," he said, trying to soothe him. Taylor set his hand on Sawyer's shoulder. "We've all done things wrong in the past. Made the wrong move."

"I've never failed before," Sawyer shook his head, lifting his eyes to Taylor. He rubbed his lips together and dropped his eyes to the floor again. "I've emailed my resignation to Mr Grey."

"What?" I gasped. "You did what?"

"You deserve better, Miss Steele," he concluded.

Taylor's brows lowered around his eyes, his lips pressing together into a hard line.

"No," I blurted. "No, I don't accept your resignation."

"Miss Steele –"

"No. If the only reason you're quitting is because you think you've failed me, that's not a good enough reason."

He opened his mouth to protest again but I silenced him with a single look.

"I picked you from the list Taylor and Christian gave me because you had an incredible record," I told him. "You had outstanding references and, to be completely honest, you seemed like the one person who wouldn't treat me like I was made of glass. I didn't want someone who was going to keep me under lock and key."

He met my gaze and pursed his lips, waiting for me to finish.

"Neither of us knew what or who was waiting for us in the club," I added. "There are so many things everyone could have done differently. I should have known something was wrong when Cal's call ended abruptly. I should have listened to Christian and stayed with him. Hindsight is great but it doesn't help after the fact. What's happened has happened. We can't change the past."

"You need security you can trust," Sawyer mumbled. "You could hire the best detail this country has to offer. Someone who can actually keep you safe."

"I still trust you," I replied, no hesitation in my words. "Look, if you really want to quit, then I will accept your decision. I won't like it but I'll accept it. But I want you to continue working for me."

"I really fucked up," he groaned. He quickly held up his hand. "Please excuse my language."

"That makes two of us then," I shrugged my shoulders. "We're human, Sawyer. We make mistakes. I can accept your flaws if you can accept mine?"

He paused for a moment and stared at me. It looked like he was waiting for me to laugh and say 'just kidding, you're fired'.

"I'm serious," I nodded. "You don't have to make up your mind right this second. Take some time and work out what you want. The job's yours if you want it."

"What about Mr Grey?" he asked, a slight frown developing on his black brows.

"It's my decision to make," I said firmly. "If he doesn't like, then that's his problem. He'll just have to deal with it."

Sawyer didn't appear comfortable with my response but he nodded his head anyway, agreeing to think about his decision and get back to me soon.

I hoped that, in time, he would come back to me. I didn't blame him for what happened. Not even for a second.

Sawyer said his goodbye and excused himself from the room. I imagined him disappearing into the hallway and puffing out his chest, trying to stave off the tears I knew were stinging his eyes.

I watched the door close and then shifted my attention to Taylor. He hadn't moved an inch, but his expression appeared more sombre now.

"He's really beating himself up," Taylor observed with a sigh. "It'll take time for him to shake this off."

"Do you think he'll come back?"

"Yes," he nodded. "He'll want to make amends. Prove himself to you."

"Is Christian angry with him?" I wondered.

"He's not happy," Taylor hummed, pursing his lips again. He narrowed his eyes at me. "That might be putting it nicely."

"I think I need to steal his phone and delete that email then," I sighed.

"He won't accept Luke's resignation," Taylor shook his head. "I'll talk to him. I'll tell him you want Luke to remain as your detail."

"He won't like it. Christian wants to wrap me in cotton wool."

"He'll calm down once you're home," he said. "Yes, Luke made a mistake. He should have called me or brought you back to GEH. It was suspicious when Caleb didn't appear. It was a red flag and he should have realised that. But everyone in this line of work has made a mistake at some point in their career. I've made mistakes."

I frowned at him. I couldn't imagine Taylor being anything but perfect and precise.

"What's important is that we learn from our mistakes and don't let it happen again," he continued. "We were lucky this time. You came out of this relatively unscathed."

"Thanks to you." I let out a long breath, my shoulders sagging forward. "Taylor… I can't thank you enough for what you did. You saved me. You saved Cal and Sawyer."

"I was doing my job," he shrugged.

"You could have been killed."

"I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he said firmly. I knew he meant it too.

"Christian said you weren't injured?"

"I'm fine," he smiled. "I had to throw my suit in the trash, but I can replace it. We can't replace you."

"I'll never be able to make this up to you," I shook my head. "Is there any way I can repay you for what you've done?"

"Just keep doing what you're doing," he shrugged his shoulder. He lowered his voice despite the fact we were alone. "Just keep loving Christian and making sure he knows how you feel. That's all I want. Before you came into his life he was miserable. He was a complete nightmare to work for. He'd test the patience of a saint. But now? It's actually a joy to follow him around, day after day. You know, I'd never seen him smile before he met you."

"Really?"

"Not a real smile," he shook his head. "He has this fake smile he dishes out when he needs to, but with you it's real."

I broke into a grin. There was no question I would continue to love and cherish Christian. I couldn't imagine a world where I wasn't truly, madly, deeply in love with him.

"Actually –" Taylor held up a finger and nodded. "There is one thing you can do to repay me."

"Name it and it's yours."

"You can get me more candy like the stuff you brought back from London," he grinned from ear to ear. "Because I've already finished it and I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms."

"I will buy you a lifetime supply," I laughed.

I eased myself off the bed and carefully walked over to him. I slipped my arms around his middle and hugged him tight, linking my hands in the centre of his back.

"Thank you for saving us," I whispered, pressing my bruised cheek into his chest.

"You're welcome," he hummed in his gruff tone. He brought his hands to my back and began rubbing his palms in slow circles. "I really would do it again."

"I know," I smiled, closing my eyes to stop myself from tearing up. "I know."

Jason Taylor was and always will be a truly incredible man. The world was a safer place for having him in it.


Walking.

It's one of the first things we learn to do in life, yet none of us give much thought to just how many muscles and body parts are required to move us a few feet along a flat surface.

I was being reminded of this now. Each step was laboured, feeling like I was trudging through mud.

"I can get you a wheelchair," Christian offered. He had one arm wrapped firmly around my back, his other gripping my hand. I leaned my weight into him for support. "If you wait here, I'll go find one."

"No, I'm okay," I shook my head defiantly. I tried to mask my heavy breathing. "This is the farthest I've walked so far. I'm doing okay."

"You look tired," he observed.

"We're almost there," I said, pointing to the door at the end of the hallway. It was only twenty feet from my room, but it could have been on a different continent my muscles were protesting that much. "I'm taking it slow. What more do you want, huh?"

"Less sass for a start," he snorted. I raised my chin and caught his eye. "Fine," he sighed. "But you are sitting down once we get in there. No arguments."

He wasn't going to get one. Although I felt good being up and about, I knew I was going to be punished for it later. The sooner I can prove to the doctors I am fit and well, the sooner I can leave this place. I know I will recover quicker away from this place, this building, the constant memories of why I'm here…

We reached the door and Christian peered through the small window. He nodded his head and opened the door, holding it for me to enter first.

"Ugh, I was just starting to feel better and now you've come here to pester me? Fucking great."

I glanced back to Christian and broke into a grin.

"You were right, he is back to his usual self," I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. I returned my focus to the grumpy man lying in the bed. "Do you ever crack a smile?"

"Only for the hot nurse who said she'll give me a sponge bath," Cal quipped. His lips curled into a wry smile, the corner of his eyes creasing. "Steele… Good to see one of us is up and walking."

I let my eyes wander over him, a breath catching in my throat. He looked so out of place in a gown identical to the one I was wearing, the pale colour contrasting with his tanned skin and dark hair. His eyes were shrouded in black and purple, the bruises spreading across his nose and along his cheeks.

He tried to move and immediately winced, his left hand shooting up to his right side.

"Are you in pain?"

I shot a look to the voice in the corner. I hadn't realised anybody else was in here. A young man stepped into view, his attention fixed on Cal, concern consuming his face.

"I'm fine," Cal grunted, shaking his head. He rode out his pain and then plastered a smile on his lips. "Ana, this is my little brother. Trent, this is Ana Steele."

Trent turned his head to me and gave me a polite nod, his thin lips forming a semblance of a smile. Dimples formed in his flushed cheeks, his skin several shades lighter than Cal's. He rounded the bed and extended his hand to me.

"It's nice to finally meet you," he nodded again. He was a few inches shorter than Cal, but they shared the same black hair and whiskey coloured eyes. "Cal's talked about you a lot."

"You too," I smiled. "I wish we weren't meeting under these circumstances though."

He smiled and let out a small laugh, bowing his head slightly. He shuffled on the spot and faced Cal again.

"Are you sure you don't want me to get the nurse?" he asked, frowning at his brother. "They might be able to give you something to help take the edge off."

"I'm fine," Cal sighed. "Seriously. I'm okay. I don't need medication, but I'll chug a fuck load of vodka if you can find some in this hell hole."

I couldn't help but laugh at his response. Typical Cal.

Trent simply rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in surrender.

"Trent, why don't we give Caleb and Ana a minute alone?" Christian suggested, stepping further into the room. "I want to pick your brains. I'm sure you have a lot of interesting stories to share about your brother."

"I've got stories that could make your hair curl," Trent snorted. He rubbed his palms together and looked at Cal. "You gonna be okay?"

"Somehow I don't think Ana is here to strangle me to death," Cal hummed, arching his swollen brow. He cocked his head. "Go get a coffee or something. But for the love of God, do not tell him anything about me. I will never hear the fucking end of it!"

"That's the point," Christian retorted with a smirk.

Christian moved towards me and ran his hand across my lower back, gently guiding me towards the empty chair next to Cal's bed. Once I was settled, he leaned down and kissed me, promising he would be back in ten minutes. He didn't hover, instead escorting Trent out of the room and leaving me alone with my friend.

Cal sighed a hard breath, a low groan tumbling out of his lips. I watched him as he tried to shift his weight, another grimace creeping over him.

"You're in a lot of pain, aren't you?"

"A bit," he nodded. He pursed his lips for a moment and then slowly leaned his head back against the pillow. He blew out his cheeks and rolled his head towards me. "They really fucked me up. I'm pretty sure I've still got their footprints in my ribs."

I winced for him.

"Christian said you needed surgery?"

"Ruptured spleen or something like that," he mumbled. He shrugged his shoulder. "They didn't have to remove it, so that's a relief."

He took a moment to study my face. He shook his head.

"Jeez, she really did a number on you," he whistled. "Does it hurt?"

"A bit," I hummed. I twisted my fingers in my lap. "You tried to warn me, didn't you? When you called?"

"She cut the call. She knew what I was trying to do," he nodded. "I was working on the drinks menu when she arrived. Before I even had a chance to talk to her, her fucking minion was on top of me. He knocked me out for a while because the next thing I knew, I was tied up with the phone against one ear and a gun pressed to the other."

Nausea swirled in my stomach.

"I should have known something was wrong," I shook my head. "I could have got you some help."

"She would have pulled the trigger," he replied, dismissing my comment. "I always knew she was crazy but I never thought she would go that far."

"How much do you remember?"

"Bits and pieces," he groaned. "Most of it is a blur. I kept blacking out but I remember sitting opposite you. You were tied up… I heard her talking about Leila and playing games… I saw Leila beating up Lincoln's punchbag. I remember her setting him on fire."

"She did," I confirmed. There was an element of confusion in his voice, as if he didn't trust his memories. "She finally realised that she was being used. She came to her senses, even if only for a few seconds."

"I don't think Leila was living in the real world," Cal said quietly. "When I first met her, she seemed fairly normal. There was something weird about her though. A couple times it was like she was trapped in her own thoughts, but I didn't think anything of it."

"Christian said she acted the same when he first met her," I nodded. "He said she quickly became erratic and that's why he ended their contract."

"She was a fucking mess when she followed Lincoln into the club," he grimaced. "I don't think she had washed in weeks."

"She had been kept in a cage," I revealed. His brows shot up his forehead, the quick action making him wince again. "Leila and José. They were both kept in a cage. Together. They must have been in there for weeks."

"Fucking hell," Cal huffed. He brought his fingers to his lips and began gnawing at the skin around his nails. "Do you think she was driven to it then? You know, suicide?"

"Probably," I hummed. "It's sad. We could have gotten her some help."

"She's at peace now, wherever she is," Cal said, trying to lift the gloom that had thickened the air around us. "I've already given a statement to the police. They came to see me yesterday."

"Right."

"I told them everything I could remember," he added. "It was the FBI. Seattle PD is being investigated, all ongoing cases have been referred. Apparently the chief has been fired."

"I guess it's just a matter of time before they want to talk to me," I sighed. I wasn't looking forward to that. "Not that I'll be able to trust them. You know the man that was with her? He was the detective supposedly helping me and Christian."

"Are you serious?" he gasped. "Jesus Christ… Fuck. I'm glad she's fucking dead. I hope she rots in hell for everything she's done."

"If there's any justice in the world, she will," I grimaced. I released a hard breath and shook my head. I needed to rid myself of her. She didn't deserve any space in my thoughts. "So… Do you know when you'll be allowed home?"

"A couple more days," he sighed. "I'm pretty sure the nurse has the hots for me and that's why they're keeping me in longer."

"I'm sure that's the only reason," I giggled.

Cal smirked and let his face relax.

"When I'm discharged, I'm heading down to San Diego with Trent," he revealed. "I'm gonna need the extra help and he still has school. It'll be easier if I'm down there with him."

"That makes sense," I agreed. He pressed his lips together and I sensed there was more to follow. "You're moving down there, aren't you?"

"I think so," he nodded. "With the club gone… I think my bar manager days are over."

"You're quitting the business altogether?"

"I always said I'd quit when Trent finishes college, but now seems like as good a time as any," he hummed. "I don't have to worry about money now, so that's a huge weight off my shoulders… Did Grey tell you what he's done for me and Trent?"

"No," I shook my head.

"He's agreed to paid for the rest of Trent's school fees," he smirked. My mouth fell open in surprise. "He's also bought us an apartment in San Diego, not far from campus."

"Seriously?"

"That's only half of it," Cal grinned. "He's paying for all my medical bills and the rehab I'm gonna need. I thought he was kidding at first but he brought me the paperwork yesterday. He said he's compensating me for all the hard work I've done over the years, working for him and Lincoln."

"My god," I sighed, shaking my head. "I can't believe it."

"He's already transferred a lot of cash into my bank account," he added. "It's enough for us to live on until I'm back on my feet. Plus extra if I want to think about a career change… I'm thinking about maybe applying to college in the Fall."

"Wow…"

"I always wanted to study mathematics but with everything that happened with my mom walking out and Trent's dad dying, I had to put everything on the back burner," he reminded me. "But Trent's older now and with Grey's help, I can start thinking about myself for once. Grey said he'll help me get a place in a college of my choice, if that's what I want."

I was completely stunned. Christian seriously arranged all of that?

"I guess I have you to thank for this," Cal said, drawing my focus back to him. I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "I don't think for one second he's done this just to keep me sweet because I was almost killed by his psycho ex-domme."

"I –"

"I've known him for years and he's always been an uptight, arrogant prick," he cut across me. "I hated him with a passion and the feeling was mutual. But he's… God, he's almost like a normal person now. The old Grey wouldn't give me a fucking dime, let alone buy me an apartment. No, Steele, he's doing this for you."

"Why though?" I frowned. "It can't be because he's trying to impress me…"

"He isn't doing this to impress you, you fucking idiot," he rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna just throw this out there and say that you like me, right?"

"You're my friend," I nodded my head.

"You're a people pleaser," he said. "It makes you happy when the people around you are happy. Grey knows that."

I was about to press him for clarification but my eyes were yanked to the door as Christian and Trent came back into the room.

Christian was holding a cup of coffee in hands, a genuine smile stretching high across his mouth as he met my eye. I felt my heart treble in size, my chest flooding with admiration and love for this mercurial, compassionate man.

"Are you ready to head back to your room?" Christian said to me. "The nurse is coming to check on Cal, so I think we should give them some space."

I nodded my head and turned back to Cal. He was smirking, knowing that realisation had finally hit me.

"Don't be a stranger, Steele," Cal told me. He held his hand out to me, which I took without hesitation. "Wherever I end up, I'll only be a phone call away."

I forced myself out of the chair and shuffled towards him. I leaned forward and gave him a gentle hug, careful not to put pressure on his side.

"Thank you for everything," I whispered to him.

"You're welcome. Now fuck off out of my room. I need to make myself look pretty for the hot nurse." He pulled away from me and grinned. "She's stunning. Red hair, beautiful smile, great pair of -"

"I wouldn't get too excited," Christian called, ending Cal's train of thought. "It's a male nurse. Enjoy your sponge bath."

Trent and I burst into laughter.

Cal didn't crack a smile. He pursed his lips and pointed his finger at his former boss.

"If I wasn't laid up in bed right now, I'd be ripping you a new one. We both know I'd kick your ass in a fight."

"In your dreams, Caleb," Christian shook his head, his smile unmoving. "Take care of yourself and remember what I said. If you need anything, just ask."

"I will," Cal nodded. "Now seriously, the both of you need to fuck off."


After much persuasion and trying to seem as upbeat as possible, I was discharged from hospital the following afternoon.

I had spent most of the night tossing and turning, unable to sleep. I was tired of the same four walls, the sterile smell and being poked and prodded every few hours.

Christian tried his hardest to convince the doctor that I should stay in for another day or two. Thankfully, the doctor relented and agreed to let me go as long as I refrained from strenuous exercise and I rested as much as possible. She warned us that I would need someone to stay with me to monitor my condition. Christian assumed the role before we had even left the hospital. He was going to be glued to my side for the near future.

Not that I hated the idea of spending all my time with him. I would bathe in his attention if I could.

Taylor drove us back to Christian's apartment at a low speed. It was like he was driving a newborn baby home for the first time, too scared to shift into fourth gear. I was sandwiched between Kate and Christian, each of them holding my hands and refusing to let go even for a second.

"Jesus Christ, I can't believe you live here now," Kate whistled as the elevator doors peeled back and we entered the penthouse. Her eyes were wide and darting everywhere, trying to absorb as much as possible. "This place is unreal!"

I told Kate this morning that I was moving into Christian's apartment permanently. I was wary of her reaction but she seemed genuinely happy for me.

"Have you got room for me to move in here too?" she giggled, staring out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Seriously, Christian, this is incredible… It's so… spacious."

"That's one way to describe it," I smiled to myself.

"It'll be better once I've redecorated," Christian admitted.

I pulled my head up and stared at him.

"I think it's time for a change," he shrugged his shoulders. "Make the place feel more homely."

Upon hearing that I rolled my head towards Kate, standing on my other side, and we shared a knowing smile.

He wants to make the apartment less him and more us.

"Right, let's get you into bed," Christian announced, his hand on my elbow and ready to guide me into the bedroom.

"Oh no," I shook my head. I ground my feet into the floor, causing him to arch his brow in confusion. "I am not going to bed."

"You need to –"

"I have just spent the best part of five days in a bed," I grumbled. "No. I am going to sit on the couch and that is where I'm staying. If I have to lie down in a bed for just a second longer, I swear I'm going to scream."

He pursed his lips but, thankfully, Kate came to my rescue.

"I'm sure she'll be fine on the couch," she said, fixing her green eyes on him. "She'll still be resting. It's not as if she's asking to sky dive."

"Don't give her any ideas," he shook his head.

He paused for a moment before he sighed and led me to the couch. He eased me into the corner of the L-shaped sofa, expertly plumping the cushions behind me. He disappeared for a moment, returning with a thick, sapphire coloured blanket.

"You enjoy fussing over me, don't you?" I smirked as he wrapped the blanket around me, tucking in all the edges.

"It gives me great pleasure," he hummed his reply, his voice smooth and deliciously deep. "Fiend," he winked.

He pulled away before I could steal a kiss and stood beside Kate, the glass coffee table separating us. They were both staring at me, mimicking each other with their crossed arms and slightly downturned chins.

Kate broke her stare first, her eyes dropping down to the coffee table as she placed her purse on it. She angled her head, confused.

"What's that?" She leaned forward and picked up a brown envelope from the table. Her brows knitted together. "It has my name on it."

"It's for you," Christian shrugged.

"Well, duh," Kate sighed. She rolled her eyes at him. "I meant, what's inside it?"

"Open it and find out," he retorted. He shifted his body slightly, facing her.

Kate hesitated before she turned the envelope over and tore open the top. She glanced inside and pulled out a stapled document, several pages thick. She remained silent as she scanned the information, her frown deepening the longer she looked at it.

I was equally as confused, glancing between the two of them, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

"Christian," Kate sighed his name, her jaw hanging open. She slowly raised her head and stared up at him. "Is this… is this what I think it is?"

"It's a revised deed to your apartment," he confirmed with a single nod. "All you have to do is sign it, then the apartment will be in both yours and Ana's names."

"What?" I gasped.

"But how?" Kate shook her head. "My father transferred my half to Ana. My brother owns the rest."

"I bought it from him," Christian replied, nonchalant and matter-of-fact. "What your father did was despicable. I was appalled when Ana told me what happened. So I asked Elliot to find your brother's number and I called him."

"But Ethan would never sign away his inheritance," Kate breathed.

"For the right price he did," Christian nodded. "I offered him a one-time deal. $50,000. I gave him one hour to make his decision and he chose to sell. I can be incredibly persuasive when I want to be. Just ask Ana."

Kate peeled her eyes off him and glanced at me. I nodded my head, too dumbstruck to speak.

"So you own his half now?" She asked, dropping her gaze to the paperwork in her hands.

"Right now, yes," he nodded. "But not for much longer. I've marked the boxes you need to sign. As soon as you've done that, it will be yours again. I'm simply returning what is yours."

"Why?"

"Because I want to," he shrugged, unsure of what else to say, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"But you hated me," she replied.

"We didn't get off to the best start," he agreed. "But that's behind us now. Like I said, I despise the way your father has treated you. I offered your brother a fair price and he accepted it. Your share of the apartment was worth far more than I offered."

"And now you want to just give it to me?" She licked her lips. She was feeling nervous. "You can't do that."

"Your father forged your signatures," he said. "Neither of you remember signing anything. When I spoke to your brother I asked him what he thought of the situation. He agreed that the likely outcome was that your father forged everything."

Kate pressed her lips together, her chin wobbling. She was uncomfortable thinking about what her father did. She shuffled on the spot.

"I can't let you do this," she shook her head. "It's too much."

"It's already done."

"You spent fifty grand," she huffed. "And now you want to just give it away?"

"I'm giving back what was legally yours to begin with," he reminded her.

"I can't accept it, I'm sorry." Her held out the paperwork to him. "Thank you but I just can't."

Christian was about to protest but Kate held firm.

"I can't just let you give away that kind of money," she said.

"It's your home –"

"And I want to continue living there," she admitted. "So why don't I pay you rent instead?"

"I don't want your money," he shook his head.

"I could buy it back from you," she quickly offered. "I mean, it'd take me a while but I'd pay back every penny."

"My god," Christian groaned, throwing his head back in exasperation. He pushed his hands onto his hips and blew out a hard breath. He dragged his eyes to me. "Now I understand why you two are friends. Neither of you can just accept a gift when it's given."

I grinned at him as I clutched my hands to my chest, feeling a familiar warmth spreading through me.

"Fine," Christian grumbled. He shook his head and glanced back at Kate. "How much cash do you have on you?"

"What, right now?"

"Yes," he nodded.

Kate frowned at him. She dropped the paperwork onto the coffee table and picked up her purse. She unzipped the bag and dug around inside it, before withdrawing some cash.

"Um… I have five dollars," she muttered, grimacing slightly. "I don't get paid for another week or so."

"That's fine," he hummed. He took the money from her and nodded down at the paperwork. "Now we're even. You've just bought back your share from me. Now quit moaning and just sign the God damn paperwork."

Kate's lips fell open, her eyes widening. She shot me a look and shook her head.

"Is he for real?" she asked.

"I think so," I grinned back at her. "You should sign it. He won't let you leave until you do."

"Are you sure about this?" She yanked her head to Christian, almost giving herself whiplash. "Like, one hundred percent sure?"

"Yes," he sighed. His mouth pressed into a hard line, telling us both that he meant business and he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Kate broke into a manic laugh and jumped on the spot. She flung her arms open and practically yanked Christian off-balance, her petite body squeezing the life out of him.

He froze for a second, his brows shooting up his forehead.

"Thank you so much," Kate sang. She released him as quickly as she pounced on him, now hugging her arms around herself. "You have no idea what this means to me."

"I do," he nodded. He managed to offer her a friendly smile. "You're welcome."

"I was wrong about you," she sighed, shaking her head. "So, so wrong."

"No, I think you were right," he nodded. "I used to be an asshole."

"I'm sorry for the way I –"

Christian raised his hand and frowned at her. "It's in the past," he said. "I don't want to hear any more apologies. I'm over it."

Kate grinned at him and nodded.

"Now that's sorted," Christian hummed. He clapped his hands together and shifted his grey gaze to me. "Ana, would you like a cup of tea?"

"I'd love one," I nodded eagerly. The tea in hospital was revolting, more like dishwater than my favourite Twinings. "I'd really love some cookies too, if you have some."

"I'm sure there's some in the kitchen," Christian smiled. I think he was glad my appetite was returning. He was about to move away but stopped himself. "Actually, Kate, would you mind making Ana her tea? I'm sure you'll do a better job than me, you know how she likes it."

"Yeah, sure, no problem," she agreed. She placed her purse back down on the table and turned towards the kitchen. "Is it just through there?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Everything you need is next to the refrigerator. You should find some cookies in the cabinet next to it. Help yourself to anything you want."

"Okay, I won't be a minute," she beamed and practically skipped into the kitchen, quickly disappearing from my line of sight.

My brows furrowed as I stared at Christian and noted the smile working its way over his lips.

"You know how I take my tea," I muttered to him. "What are you up to?"

He winked and, without saying anything, he picked up Kate's purse and stuck his hand inside it. He removed her wallet and opened it, returning the five dollars she'd given him.

But he didn't finish there.

Instead, he reached into his pocket and retrieved his own wallet. He held Kate's belongings under his arm as he looked in his wallet and removed whatever cash he had. I counted at least four hundred dollar bills. He slipped them inside Kate's wallet and set her things back on the table, in the exact position it was in a moment before.

"Christian," I breathed his name, my eyes starting to sting again.

He smiled and walked over to me, sitting himself down at my side. He draped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his chest. I nestled my head against him, placing my palm on his lower abdomen.

"I can't believe you sometimes," I whispered. "You're amazing."

"I'm just helping out a friend," he replied.

"Friend?"

"Well, you care about her and I care about you. That makes her my friend by default." I looked up and admired his boyish smile. "Anyone you care about is worth looking after. One thing I've learned about you: you only give your heart and time the most worthy people."

"I love you," I choked, feeling a tear slipping down my cheek. "Thank you."

"You never need to thank me, Ana," he shook his head. He ran his thumb across my cheek, wiping away my tear. "Just having you in my arms again, that's all the thanks I will ever need in life."

I curled into his side and closed my eyes, taking a moment to embrace his warmth and scent.

I used to hate Christian buying me gifts and showering me with his wealth. I hated the way he threw money at problems, as if nothing couldn't be fixed without a hefty check.

But now I realised my mistake.

When Christian gave me an obnoxious tip when we first met at the club… When he bought me a new cell phone and paid for my car repairs… When he paid for First Class flights to London…

He didn't do any of those things to impress me or to get me into his bed.

He wasn't throwing money at whatever problem we faced.

Christian's wealth is an extension of him. It is an extension of his love. He shares it freely with those closest to him, doing so without obligation or expecting anything in return. He shares a piece of himself with every gift he gives and he began sharing himself with me from our very first meeting.

He has loved me since the beginning. Even if he didn't know how to say the words.

"I love you too," he whispered, cocooning me in his arms.