Chapter 35

It was nearly a month after Kate Kavanagh was transported back to Seattle by her parents that Carlos was allowed admittance into the country. When he landed at Sea-Tac, he wanted to kiss the ground. It had been twenty plus years living abroad because of a stupid mistake. He thought he was in love with Elena Lincoln and when he learned that she had other boys, he went certifiably insane with anger and a deep hurt that tore at his heart and mind. Even though years had passed, the memories were still fresh in his mind. Carlos closed his eyes for just a moment and those memories scanned quickly before him.

During their "affair" Elena kept a house that was a few miles away from her home. It was there that she taught "her boys" how to please her and take a damn fine beating. It was there that Carlos found her with a dark haired boy barely fourteen. Carlos had turned twenty-one and was finished with college. He had come home to celebrate with his Domme. Elena was furious with him and began to whip Carlos until he lost all fear of the woman and caught the whip around his arm and pulled her off balance. She landed on the floor now at his mercy. Carlos untethered the young boy and told him to get the hell out of there and never to return. When they were alone, Carlos brought Elena to her knees by her hair. His eyes had no emotion. His only thought was to punish the bitch that broke him.

Carlos was met at the gate by a driver who held up a sign that read, "Balitrane".

"I am Carlos Balitrane." His voice was deep and rich.

"Mr. Raymond Steele sends his regards and regrets that he and his daughter, Mrs. Grey could not meet you today so I have been sent to make sure that you are safely arrived at the Grey Residence. Mrs. Grey told me to tell you that you are staying with them and there is no need for a hotel room." The driver only smiled. "I suggest you comply with Mrs. Grey's orders. One does not want to disappoint her."

"Is she as frightening as her Father?" Carlos said with a smirk at his little joke.

"More, so, Sir!" The driver said in all seriousness.

"Oh." Carlos said taken back by the man's answer. "Let's get my luggage and be on our way. We must not disappoint Mrs. Grey!"

"That is a very smart choice, Sir." The driver said as he took Carlo's bags and led him to the limousine.

Christian was not very happy when he learned that they would be entertaining a stranger in their home. He growled around the house until his sweet little wife kissed him softly and told him that it was for her Daddy. Christian relented and he was awarded with more kisses and hugs and whispered that Raymond could have all his friends over if it meant that he could continue kissing and caressing his lovely wife! Ana could only giggle that delightful giggle that warmed Christian's heart as she led him into their bedroom so she could "thank" him properly!

Within a few hours of asking for a background report on their houseguest, Christian had a detailed report on his desk about Carlos Balitrane. When Taylor delivered it to him in his home office so quickly, he asked how. Taylor only shrugged which meant not to ask any more questions. Little did Christian know, but he was reading one of Raymond Steele's files.

When Taylor learned that Ana Steele was the daughter of Raymond Steele, his regard for her went even higher. He knew that this young woman would be exceptional. Jason Taylor had already been approached by one of Steele's cohorts for information on his employer. Of course, Taylor had been tight lipped and would not divulge any information. It was when Raymond Steele approached Taylor in person did he make the decision to discuss very delicate issues with the man. By the time, Ana came on to Christian's radar, he had been fully investigated by the Steele fractions. At first, Taylor didn't think that Papa Steele would let his daughter within five hundred miles of Grey, but she became a fixture at 3P and was running it with military precision. When they got engaged, Taylor was preparing for World War III since Raymond knew all about Christian Grey and his dark tastes, but then again, Raymond kept silent. Taylor finally realized that Raymond was a puppet master and he was moving the "players", unknown to themselves, about and setting the stage for the main show. Never did Taylor think that Elena Lincoln was on Steele's radar and that the man was adamant to bring her down. The "why" was what made Taylor finally ask Papa Steele for the reason for his investigations. It all came down to Katherine Kavanagh.

Ray started out investigating the girl that would be his daughter's roommate and stumbled on to her penchant for sex, alcohol, and then BDSM. Through investigating Kate's foray onto the "dark side" is where Ray learned about the underground sex trade of Seattle and the Northwest Pacific area. All roads led to Elena Lincoln. She was the Queen of Pain and she was making quite a nice living off her finder's fees and the outright selling of men, women, and children! She was also into blackmailing those who could afford and needed to hide their behavior.

Taylor shook the hand of the man that he greatly admired. "Mr. Steele, as always, it is an honor…"

"Jason, please…I'm just Ana's daddy." Ray said in all modesty. He didn't consider himself a superhero. He was just protecting his daughter and all the other children that could have become victims to Elena Lincoln. "So, is my daughter home?"

"She just arrived a few minutes before you." Jason took Ray's luggage from him. "I will see that your belongings make it to your room. Mrs. Grey has made sure that you will be most comfortable. However, she would like to see you in her office as soon as you arrived."

"What is the little vixen up to now?"

"I wouldn't know sir."

Ray began coughing as he said, "Bullshit!"

"Really, sir, I don't know." Jason said as he accompanied Mrs. Grey's father to her home office. "She can clam up tighter than her husband when she wants to!"

"Poor Christian." Ray laughed.

Jason had to join him because he was a witness to how Ana handled her husband. Only Ana could call Christian on his over-the-top behavior and not feel his wrath. She calmed him, nurtured him, and most importantly, she loved and believed in him. In her hands, the big bad CEO was a purring little kitten! When they arrived at the door to Ana's office, Ray stopped Taylor from going forward. "Any word on Balitrane?"

"He landed at Sea-Tac a few moments ago and is being transported here per your instructions, and of course, Mrs. Grey's." Taylor looked down at his watch. "ETA forty minutes if traffic is light."

"Thanks, Taylor." Raymond patted the man on the back then without knocking walked into his daughter's office.

"Daddy!" Ana jumped from her chair and was around her desk in record time to embrace her father. "I am so glad you are here."

"Is there something wrong? Ana, are you ill? How about Teddy?"

"Daddy, we are all well. But, your Grandson took his first steps yesterday."

"I can't believe that he is a few days of being a year old. Time flies by so quickly." He said with a giant smile. Well, at least for some people, other people who had been incarcerated for the last few months, time stood still. "So, how is Christian taking it that his little boy is growing up? Next thing you know, he will be off to school."

"Let's let Teddy have a toddlerhood without sending him out for his college degree." She laughed. Ana hugged him once again, always so happy to see her Daddy. Once a Daddy's girl, always a Daddy's girl! She led him to the lovely grey satin covered sofa. "Please, sit." She was nearly giddy. "Daddy, how would you like to be a grandpa again?"

"Ana? Are you…? Really?" He took her hands and held them in his giant paws as she nodded affirmation. "But, Teddy isn't a year old yet." Was it too soon? Would it be risky for her to have children so quickly?

"Teddy will be almost two when this baby gets here. I am barely ten weeks. We haven't even told his parents yet, but I had to tell you. I can't keep secrets from you." She looked down at their joined hands then back up at him. "Dad, I need a few answers. Why is Carlos Balitrane coming to Seattle? And, how in the hell do you know Kate's lover and Dom?"

Ray had to admit to himself that his daughter was a woman of few words. She didn't beat around the proverbial bush! He took in her lovely face, and those big blue eyes that looked up at him with so much love and trust. "Baby girl, Carlos is coming to Seattle because this is his home. He was born here. And, I know the man through Kate."

"What do you mean "through Kate"?" She asked confused.

"Annie, I had the girl investigated when you told me that you two were going to be roommates. I had to know that you were safe. Then, you moved out of the dorms with her into an apartment that her parents bought…I just wanted to be able to sleep at night that you were protected. I kept my eyes on her."

Ana pulled her hands from his. "In other words, I was being spied on the whole time I was in college."

"Not you, honey. Katherine."

"Dad, really?" Her voice went up an octave in annoyance. "So, you know about her lifestyle?"

"I've always known there was something off about her. I never trusted her. And, yes, I know about her life in the BDSM lifestyle and that she has been with different Dominants, including Carlos."

"Daddy, why didn't you tell me this?"

"I was trying to protect you and your happiness. Kate can be a dangerous woman. She is spoiled and feels she is entitled to anything and everything. You married well, Ana, and she was not happy about it."

Ana remembered the day in her office when Kate denied that she thought that Ana was beneath her. Even though the truth hurt, Ana accepted that her friendship with Kate was strained enough to break and break it did! Ana didn't bother to call or write Kate about her pregnancy and the delivery of Teddy. It was sad, but life went on and Ana was more than happy with her family and friends. "Dad, is there anymore I need to know?"

Raymond considered his answer very carefully. "Not at this time, Ana." He answered lowly

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Even though Carlos was an internationally wealthy man, he was impressed with the residence that greeted him as he was driven up the long curving driveway to the main house. The grounds were beautifully manicured with wild spaces for wildlife and lovely perfectly mown expanse of a yard that would rival the most famous golf courses of the world. His eyes took in the three story house that he knew had to be close to 15,000 square feet. He spied the in-ground swimming pool that was fenced off from the patios and the elaborate playground with forts. Carlos remembered that his hosts had one child, a boy.

The limo parked under a covered area and Carlos was greeted with the beauty of estate. The driver opened his door and he stepped out to be met by Raymond Steele and the daughter, Anastasia Steele Grey. The men shook hands and Ray started the introductions.

"Carlos, this is my daughter, Ana." The charming lady offered her hand. "Ana, this Carlos Balitrane."

"Mrs. Grey, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your father has talked so much about you that I feel that I know you." He patted her hand and let it go. "You have a lovely estate. I do appreciate all the greenery."

"Mr. Balitrane it is a pleasure to meet you. Please come in and make yourself at home." She led the men into her home. "Christian isn't home yet, but he will be joining us for dinner. I do hope you like Beef Wellington."

"I will eat anything you put before me, Mrs. Grey."

"It's Ana." She corrected gently. She led them into the living room and offered drinks while they got comfortable and acquainted. She noticed that Carlos was a handsome man, a mature man probably in his mid-forties. He had a masculine grace about him with a touch of danger. It must be the Dom in him. She sat across from her father and their guest and listened as they spoke. She finally made her voice known. "Mr. Balitrane, are you here for Kate?"

"Pardon me? I don't understand the question?" Carlos said cocking his head to the side slightly and giving her his hard stare. He saw that his dominant posturing would not work with this woman.

"I just want to know if you are here in Seattle to cause problems for my family at Kate Kavanagh's bequest."

Her forwardness took him back. He wasn't use to a refined woman with such quiet strength. He saw from the corner of his eye that Ray was stifling a laugh. "I am here only to see Miss Kavanagh if her family will let me. She was living with me in Spain when her unfortunate accident…"

"Don't you mean suicide attempt? Mr. Balitrane, I know my friend has problems. I know she has a very unhealthy obsession with my husband. I just want to know if you are going to try to cause problems so then I can take appropriate measures to thwart your plans." Her lovely blue eyes turned ice cold. "And, I will do whatever I have to do to protect my family."

Carlos looked to Ray for some support but the man only motioned him to answer Ana's concerns. "Ana, I have no intention of ever hurting you or your husband. Actually, I was keeping Kate occupied in Europe."

"Why?" The ever curious young woman asked.

"Easy, a friend of mine, someone who I respect a great deal asked me for a favor. I could not turn down Raymond Steele." His dark eyes went to Ray. "I owed your Dad and I was more than happy to help."

Ana accepted that answer. She knew that her father gained the respect of many men. She took a deep breath and relaxed. This was good. She didn't have the strength to kill him and be rid of the body. This pregnancy zapped her energies. "That's all that I need to know." She stood up which caused the men to stand. "Please, relax. I need to check on Teddy and I might rest a bit." She gave her Dad a kiss. "Gail is in the kitchen if you want something to snack on."

"Okay, Annie, thank you." Ray replied. He smiled as she turned and left the room. He waited a bit then turned to Carlos. "She isn't sure she can trust you."

"I don't want any harm to come to her. She is your daughter and I am quite fond of all the stories you told me during our involvement with the Lincoln and Kavanagh issues." Carlos sat back down. "I admire her. You raised a lovely, strong woman."

"Alright, then. Subject is discussed and absolved. To the next subject – I understand why you did what you did all those years ago. Why did you run? Why didn't you stay and tell the authorities what was going on?"

"I didn't think they would believe me. I was a twenty-one year old snot nosed kid fresh out of college. I had no job, no direction, and I had just found the woman I thought was the sun and the moon fucking a boy! A boy! I went insane. She was hurting him, just like … she did to me." He looked down at his large hands. "I'm not proud, Ray of what I did. I am ashamed that I lost control of myself. She tried to use her whip on me but I took it away from her." His eyes turned nearly black as he was back in that house, the house of pain. The house where Elena broke the spirits and the skin of boys and young men for her sexual pleasures. "I was so full of anger … disillusionment … she betrayed me." Carlos was lost in the past and Ray let him go. It was time for the truth to be set free and for Carlos to let go of the guilt.

Her blonde hair, which she was wearing longer was wrapped tightly about his forearm. He took great delight in hearing her scream that he was hurting her. The tables had turned. Carlos threw her across the room and she slid on her ass to the foot of the St. Andrew's Cross that earlier she had an innocent young boy tethered to. Carlos picked her up and roughly pushed her onto the cross. When she tried to fight him, he slapped her so hard that her head slammed back into the wooden cross. He shackled her as tight as he could then went to the discarded whip and displayed to his teacher what he had learned at her feet. Elena was left with red welts covering her body from her neck to her knees. Even her pussy had welts! He didn't fuck her. He couldn't stand the sight of her. "I should kill you, but you are not worth going to prison!" He whispered into her ear. "I hope you burn in hell, Elena, but I doubt if the Devil himself would want you!"

"I never saw her again. I heard from her. Oh yes, I heard her threats." He swallowed hard. "After I beat her, I placed her in her car and told her to go home. As she left, I started the house on fire. I watched from the neighbor's yard as it burned to the ground and I wished that the cunt was in it."

Ray only nodded. "And, then you left the country. How did she find you to blackmail you?"

Carlos felt that anger begin to rise up. Even after all these years, his hate for that woman had not abated. "She found me thru my parents. She conned them into giving her information then when she found me, she threaten that she would tell the authorities where I was and then she would go after my little sister, Maria."

"Evil bitch." Ray mumbled.

"You, my friend, have no idea." Carlos needed a drink. Thinking and talking about Elena Lincoln made him anxious. He wished to heaven that he never came across her ad in the paper looking for someone to do yardwork. "I have no fear of the devil … I fucked his sister!"