"You're with Carl now Patricia.", Ana whispered as she placed a single stem rose on Patricia's casket. Christian stood behind her, his heart breaking for her. His eyes scanned the cemetary for signs of Jack Hyde, but there were none. Two days had passed since the explosion in the Escala garage, and Christian and Ana were on edge. Christian was more concerned with Ana's safety and well being than his own. It was clear the one thing Jack wanted most was Christian's fiance, and that was something that Christian was not going to let happen.
"Any signs?", Ana asked, breaking Christian's daze.
"No, but he would be crazy to show up here out in the open."
"That's the thing though, he's crazy." They began walking to the SUV, with Taylor and Sawyer right behind them. "I hope I don't have to attend another funeral anytime soon." Christian stopped and turned towards her, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"We're going to find him, ok? After he's out of out lives, we can have that party that we've been meaning to have so we can officially announce our engagement." With everything going on in their lives, Christian and Ana both felt the timing was not appropriate to announce their engagement. They wanted to be able to share their happiness with loved ones, but Jack Hyde was standing in the way.
"I know.", she answered. Christian opened the door for her, causing Ana to smile. "Still wooing me Mr. Grey?"
"Baby, I'll never stop wooing you." Taylor and Sawyer exchanged smiles with one another as they listened to their tough guy boss turn to puddy with Ana.
After they returned to Escala, Christian headed to his study so he could call Welch. Ana knew he was only looking out for them, but she hated the loneliness. She headed to the kitchen and made some tea, but was soon interrupted by Taylor.
"Miss Steele, there is a Jose Rodriguez Sr. here to see you.", he spoke. Ana's eyes widened at the mention of Jose's father's name. She hadn't attended Jose's funeral out of respect to his family. Ray and Jose Sr. had been friends for many years, but that changed when Ray killed the younger Jose.
"Mr. Rodriguez, hi.", she greeted cautiously.
"Hello Ana. I'm sorry for just dropping in like this, but I wanted to see you. Have you talked to your parents?" Ana recalled the phone call she had with her mom a few days before. She and Ray were going on a second honeymoon to Hawaii and would be gone for two weeks.
"A few days ago. They're in Hawaii. Have a seat." He sat down in one of the leather chairs while Ana settled on the sofa.
"I want you to know that I don't blame you for my son's death. At first, I thought I did, but I was wrong in that. The truth is Jose was troubled, and I didn't see that.", he said with sadness in his eyes.
"I feel like I should have caught on to it. I never meant for anything like that to happen."
"Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, but you're too blind to see it." Ana couldn't help but feel there was an underlying meaning to that statement, but she shrugged it off. "After Jose's death, I tried to carry on like everything was ok, but I couldn't. So, I decided to move to Seattle. I arrived here last week."
"A fresh start could be good for you.", she smiled.
"I was hoping you might want to join me for dinner tonight. Bring your boyfriend Christian." Dinner with Jose Sr. could be a good distraction from all of the Jack chaos.
"Sure, that sounds good.", she answered.
"Wonderful, here's my address." He pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket and wrote down the address. "I look forward to it."
"Me too. Things have been hectic around here, and this will take my mind off everything." Mr. Rodriguez stayed only stayed for a few more minutes until he told Ana he had errands to run.
"Any news?", Ana asked Christian as she stepped into his study.
"No. Come here." She walked over to where he was sitting and sat down in his lap while he ran his hands down her back. "You're so tense."
"Being threatened by a mad man will do that to you."
"I think I have the remedy for loosening you up.", he whispered in her ear.
"Oh, I know you do.", Ana giggled. "While you were holed up in here, Jose's father stopped by."
"Really? What did he want?"
"He moved to Seattle to get away from memories of Jose, and he wants us to join him for dinner."
"What did you tell him?", he asked with an arched brow.
"I said we would. It will be nice to have a normal night for once. Please.", she pouted.
"Ok, we'll go. What time did he say?"
"I told him we would be there at 6. Is that ok?"
"Sure."
Christian and Ana relaxed for a while before getting ready for dinner. At 5:45, they were about to leave when Christian's phone rang.
"Hello." He listened intently to what the caller was telling him. "On my way." After hanging up, he looked at Ana with seriousness in his eyes. "There was a security breach at GEH. I have to go."
"All right."
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Do you have the address?" Ana reached slowly in her purse and handed him the piece of paper with the address. "Tell Sawyer to be careful." Christian kissed her before he and Taylor headed off.
"Sawyer, ready?", she asked as she met him at the elevator. They soon made their way to dinner.
When Ana and Sawyer arrived, happily greeted them at the door, but Ana couldn't help see what looked like disappointment in his face.
"This is Luke Sawyer. He's my security detail. Long story, but Christian will be here soon."
"Welcome. It's nice to meet you Luke. Ana, I look forward to meeting Christian. Would you like something to drink? Dinner is almost ready." Both Ana and Sawyer shook their heads as they sat down.
"Would you mind if I used you restroom?", Sawyer asked.
"Not at all. It's the last door at the end of the hall upstairs.", he smiled.
Christian met with Barney and Welch after arriving at GEH. As they sat in his office, Andrea walked in.
"This came for you." She handed him a piece of paper, and he recognized it appeared to be the same kind of paper Ana had given him. Opening the paper he found, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
"Fuck!", he yelled as he jumped from his seat. "Taylor!"
Back at Mr. Rodriguez's, Ana stood and looked at old photos on the wall of Jose. She wondered what was taking Sawyer so long. A few seconds later, she head a door slam upstairs.
"That must be our other dinner guest.", Mr. Rodriguez spoke.
"Other dinner guest? That's probably Sawyer." Suddenly, she felt more than dinner was planned for the evening.
"No. It's not Sawyer. We have someone else joining us."
"I don't understand. Who are we expecting?", Ana asked as anxiety flooded her body. She shifted her gaze to the doorway. In walked Jack Hyde with a grin on his face. "This was a set up? You're working with Jack?"
"Sorry I'm late. Now, the party can really get started.", Jack laughed as Ana stepped back. "Ana, don't be scared."
"Why? Why would you do this?", she questioned Mr. Rodriguez.
"Your father took my son from me, so an eye for an eye. Unlike your father though, I don't have the heart to kill anyone."
"Enter me. I saw in the paper the tragic news about Jose's death so I paid his father a visit to offer my condolences and my help.", Jack sneered.
"You won't get away with this. Sawyer is right upstairs."
"He's laying in the bathroom floor unconscious."
"Christian will be here soon.", Ana said as put her hand on her purse which was on table next to her.
"And I'll kill him.", Jack cackled. "Damn, I left my gun upstairs when I was knocking out that idiot."
"You're not so smart are you Jack?", Ana laughed as Jack shot her a confused look. "Lucky for me, I come prepared." Ana quickly reached for her purse and pulled out a small pistol. "When you killed my friend, I knew I needed this. Annie, get your gun."
"You don't have the nerve to do it."
"Jack, I think we have taken this too far.", Mr. Rodriguez said.
"Shut the hell up."
"Go on Ana, do it.", Jack taunted. He began walking closer to her until bang. Ana shot him in the knee. Grabbing his knee, he continued to painfully make his way to her but once again bang. She shot him in the other knee, causing him to fall. Ana aimed the gun at the other man who held his hands up.
"Grief makes you do crazy things." A few seconds later, the front door was kicked open by Taylor. He and Christian walked into the living room where Jack was in pain on the floor from his wounds. Christian was shocked to see Ana holding a gun in her hands.
"Ana, where did you get that?"
"I've had it in a lock box for a while. After that bastard killed Patricia, I started carrying it. Sawyer is upstairs." Taylor handcuffed Mr. Rodriguez and headed upstairs to check on Sawyer. Soon after, he walked back down with Sawyer leaning on him.
"I'm ok, just a headache.", Sawyer smiled.
"This isn't over Christian.", Jack laughed from his spot in the floor.
"You're going to prison Jack. Shut the fuck up."
Ana handed the gun to Taylor as Christian held her in his arms.
"Patricia can rest in piece now."
