Livid.
That's an understatement.
Furious. Indignant. Irate. Ferocious. Other synonyms for the word, but none do justice to the crushing liquid heat that's surrounding his chest.
Twenty minutes.
That was how long it has been since Sawyer called him, asking when Ms. Steele was coming down. She had stepped into the elevator a full ten minutes before then. Sawyer immediately spoke to the front desk and confirmed with the building security system that she had hailed her own cab to the bank. Why in the hell would she need a cab? She has a perfectly safe ride of her own.
Christian was so flustered and so angry when he found out that he did something he'd never had to do in his life. Something he hoped he'd never have to do. He tracked her phone.
When the computer showed that she was at the bank, he felt a small wave of relief run through him. Just a small relief...tiny really. Microscopic at best. She had made it there safely in a car driven by someone she didn't know. It could have been anyone. They could have taken her anywhere…
But they didn't.
Try to stay in control, Grey.
He can't wrap his head around why she'd feel so inclined to go by herself. What is she hiding? She's never hidden anything from him before. They have both been open books since the day they met. No secrets… that he knows of.
He calls his psychiatrist, but has to leave a message. He's always had issues with control over his emotions, over the safety of others, of life itself… but this is pushing him too far. He's feeling his control cracking more and more the longer the heated pressure on his chest continues to crush him. He knows he has to find a way to calm down before she comes back. He cannot lose his temper while she's carrying his child. Bickering back and forth is one thing, but this… this is far more than just their normal bickering.
What the fuck is he going to do?
She's not a stupid woman. She knows how important safety is right now. Especially with that Hyde fucker running amuck. All he wants to do is keep her safe. He can't live without her. Can't she see that? If something were to happen to her or their child, it would ruin him. They'd have to bury him with her. He couldn't go on. He just couldn't.
The phone rings, startling Christian. Blinking, he realizes that he's begun to cry and he wipes away his tears and takes a deep, cleansing breath to calm his shaky breathing.
Glancing at the phone, his stomach twists. Ray Steele. Ray must have found out about the money.
Man up, Christian. He's a part of this and he has to take the heat now.
He answers the phone, tries to answer, but nothing comes out. Clearing his throat, he tries again, but Ray interrupts.
"Christian?"
"Yes, Ray, sorry. It's me. Listen, before you start, I just want you to know that Ana had come to me in tears and I just can't say no to her. I did what is best for your family. My family. You're family, Ray, and I always take care of what's mine."
"Woah, wait, what?"
Christian grimaces.
"Christian, what are you talking about?"
He just outed himself. Ray doesn't know, yet.
"Shit." He mutters to himself.
"Christian, tell me what you mean by all that. Is something wrong? What happened? Is Annie okay?"
He knows he has to tell Ray.
"Ana is fine. She just came to me the other day saying you two were going to lose your house if you didn't pay it off. She was so worried you'd lose everything, so she asked for the money to pay for the house so it didn't get foreclosed on."
"My Annie said that?" Ray is in disbelief. "Christian… our house has been paid off for over a year."
Christian's heart drops into his stomach. She lied to him? Surely not. Ana?
"She said that Carla called her and told her."
"Carla? Carla would have never said such a thing."
Christian scratches the stubble on his chin, bewildered by the situation. "Is there any reason that Carla would have made that up?"
"Are you saying Carla lied to our daughter?"
"I don't know what I'm saying, Ray. Either, your wife lied to your daughter to get money for some reason or your daughter lied to me to con me out of money."
"Damn you, Christian." Ray curses, but Christian knows it's only because he's stuck between a rock and a hard place. His wife or his daughter. "Hold on, Christian. CARLA!"
While Ray speaks with Carla out of earshot, Christian decides to pull up her phone GPS again. Just in case.
"Christian...Christian!" Carla's voice comes over the phone while he waits for it to load.
"I'm here, Carla."
"Christian! I never spoke to Ana about money. In fact, I hadn't spoken with her all week! Do you think...oh, god. Do you think she's in trouble?" Darla's voice is panicked, causing Christian's heart to beat hard enough to rattle his ribcage.
His eyes focus on the computer screen and her GPS has pinged. Headed out of the city.
Where the fuck is she going?
"TAYLOR!"
XxXxXx
It didn't take but a minute to get down to the SUV with Taylor manning the wheel. Christian jumps in the passenger's side, his heart beating hard against his ribcage. It's causing his chest to ache painfully, but he doesn't even try to calm his heart rate. There's no point. Something bad has happened. He can feel it.
This time, he tracks her GPS on his phone and they follow the GPS until it shows she's pulled off onto a dirt road.
Instead of continuing, Taylor parks the black SUV just off the side of the road and turns off the engine.
Christian gives him with an incredulous look, wondering why the fuck Taylor's stopped now.
"From here, we walk. Quietly." If Taylor's feelings are right, plowing in at full speed with dust flying behind them will only get Anastasia killed.
They begin their slow jog down the dirt road, crouching from one overgrown bush to another, keeping an eye out for any movement. If they are caught, there'd be hell to pay.
Their footsteps slow by the time they get to the underpass and they can hear voices. One is undeniably Anastasia's, but the other makes Christian's stomach heave. Hyde.
They come closer, still, until they come around the corner and get a glimpse of Anastasia and Jack. There is shuffling behind them, causing Taylor to grab Christian by his shirt color and yank him to the side, out of eyesight. Squatting behind a slab on concrete that used to hold the old bridge, they peek out from the corner and see a tall, thin male come sashaying down the dirt road. He's got on dark sunglasses and has the face of a meth addict. The divets in his face from picking are so deep that as it begins to sprinkle, the drops of water slow at the scars.
It's both a disgusting and devastating sight to see. His drug habit has eaten the unknown man away. Christian would feel more empathy for the man if the fucker weren't about to mosey on up to Anastasia and Hyde with sinister intentions. He's working with Hyde and it makes Christian want to tackle the junkie from behind.
Christian grips the edge of the concrete slab until the porous stone scratches his sensitive fingertips, hoping not to jump the gun. It'll only put Anastasia's life in more danger.
XxXxXx
Anastasia stands in front of Hyde, the bag sitting on the dirt beside him. Inside, she's a nervous wreck, but she does the best she can to keep her hands still and her voice steady.
"It's all there, Jack. It's over now." There's finality in her voice, but not as much as she'd like.
He laughs. "Your bravery is wavering, my dear. You're nervous. Did you disobey my orders? Did you crumble and tell someone where you were going?" The handgun he's holding at his side comes up and he's scratches at the stubble on his chin. Taunting her.
She shakes her head, her eyes plastered to his gun. "I've told no one."
"How can we be so sure? Tell me. Why should I take your word?"
"Because there are lives at stake." Without realizing, Anastasia's hand comes up to rest on her bump, but her mind catches up and she pretends to scratch her neck instead. There is no reason to bring attention to her growing stomach. Her bravery would waver even more if he began threatening her child's life.
Hyde nods at someone behind her and she takes a quick peek over her shoulder to see a skeleton of a man walking toward them in a dirty green shirt, ripped carpenter jeans, and brown steel-toed boots with the toe worn so much the dirty metal is showing.
"No one, J. Where's the money?" When the man speaks, Anastasia notices that half of his teeth have rotten out of his mouth from his drug addiction.
"Don't worry about the god-damned money right now. You sure? No one followed?"
"I'm sure." The man scratches at the inside of his arms while he chews on the inside of his cheek. He's either needing a high or nervous, she can't tell which.
Turning her head back to Hyde, she finds him staring her down. "If no one followed her, then no one will come yelling when I do this." The butt of his gun hits her hard in the temple causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground on her hands and knees.
"Or this."
This time she knows the blow is coming and her arms wrap around her stomach before he kicks her in the abdomen, hitting her arms instead. Still, she falls to the side, holding her stomach, praying he won't do it again.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"
Before she can move, before she can comprehend whose voice is screaming, she's yanked off the ground by her hair and is pulled against Hyde, her back to him, his arm around her ribcage, her arms pinned against her sides. Squinting through her throbbing headache, she sees Christian running towards them and something cold is pressed against her sore, bleeding temple. The gun.
"Stop." Hyde barks at Christian. It's not loud, but the warning is enough for Christian to stop in his tracks and put his hands in front of him in surrender.
The junkie starts for Christian, running at him, but it only takes one blow of Christian's fist before he's on the ground. The man can't weigh more than 130 lbs. He's wasted away to skin and bone and has no strength to be fighting anyone. His habit makes him brave. Unfortunately, his bravery makes him stupid and his stupidity makes him braver.
"Stupid cocksucker..." Hyde murmurs, staring at the sorry son-of-a-bitch laying on the ground bleeding before turning his attention to Anastasia. "You lied to me, girl..."
Anastasia shakes her head. "No. No. I didn't tell him. I swear! I didn't tell a soul! I don't know how-"
"Shut up, bitch." He growls in her ear as he presses the gun into her throbbing temple, making her whimper. "You're a fucking liar. I should finish you right here."
"No, don't! Please! Don't hurt her!" Christian has taken a couple steps forward while Hyde was preoccupied with Anastasia and he's now just twelve feet away. So close. As the wind picks up, it catches Christian's scent and the scent washes over Anastasia like a dose of Ativan. It calms her through her pain. He's here. He's close. Even if this is it for her, he'll be the last sight she sees.
"Take another fucking step and I'll blow both your brains out!" Hyde now turns the gun toward Christian and Anastasia takes the chance to try to wiggle free. She tries to elbow the fucker in the stomach, but they're too close for her to get any momentum. It just makes Hyde laugh.
"Nice try, sweetheart. You're going nowhere." He squeezes her tighter against him and a rush of air escapes her mouth from the weight pressing against her ribcage. Unable to open her lungs completely and a little winded from trying to wiggle free, it causes her to pant. Short, shallow breaths rush in and out between her dry lips and she hopes it doesn't cause her to become dizzy. Her head is already fuzzy from her pounding headache and she doesn't think she can take much more. The last thing she wants is to pass out in front of Christian.
"Let her go and take me instead. I'm the one you want. I can give you however much money you want. You'll be set and we can both go our separate ways. We can forget all about this." Christian attempts to persuade Hyde to let her go. The side of her face is streaked with blood and her hair is matted with it, sticking to her bleeding temple. Her opposite cheek and her nose are smudged with dirt and he can see her chest heaving from her ragged breathing. All he wants is to get her away from the fucker. If he has to die, then he will, but she can't. She has to get away.
"You think it's that easy?" Jack asks Christian. "You think I'm fucking stupid enough to let you both go and we'd all forget about this? You're a liar. You'd have someone coming after me as soon as you're out of my eyesight. I-That's enough, bitch!" While he is speaking to Christian, Anastasia tries to stomp on his foot and kick him in the shin, but fails to get anything more than a tap in. He presses the gun to the side of her stomach. "I found you fighting entertaining before, but it's fucking annoying now. You keep it up and I'll find something else to entertain me. Shooting you in the stomach just so," He presses the gun into the stomach and pivots it outward, "will kill your baby, but keep you alive so you have to go through the pain of mourning your one chance at creating life. That would be oh-so-entertaining."
"NO! No, please! I'll stop! Don't. Don't hurt our baby." Tears swim in Anastasia's eyes, but she refuses to let them fall. She doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Begging is enough.
"Just take me, Jack. You don't need her. I've got the money." Christian tries again, shifting forward a little more. "Please. This is your last chance."
"Last chance? Are you threatening me, pretty boy?" As he questions Christian, the muzzle of a Glock gets pressed against the back of Hyde's head.
"Seattle PD. Let the hostage go and drop the gun." The voice behind Anastasia and Jack surprises them both causing her to jump, making the gun on her side dig into her ribs. She winces, but before she can make a sound, the gun moves away from her abdomen and back to her temple.
"Lower your weapon or I'll shoot." It's a warning to Hyde, but he doesn't move.
"You shoot, I shoot. Think you can kill me before I pull the trigger?"
"Lower your weapon, Mr. Hyde. You'll already be charged for the threatening and the kidnapping. There's no need to add a murder charge onto it, too. We can talk this over, make a deal with you. You won't spend much time in prison if you just let her go and put down the gun."
Christian takes a few more steps forward, trying his hardest to get to Anastasia. He just wants to knock the gun away and rip her out of Hyde's arm. After a couple steps, Hyde gives Christian a warning glare when he sees what he's up to.
"You stay right there, pretty boy. Don't do anything stupid."
"The same goes for you, too, Mr. Hyde. Put the gun down." The police officer tries again to convince him. "Don't be stupid now."
Jack Hyde gives a sardonic laugh. "You think that all of my problems will go away with a little bit of jail time? Why the fuck do you think I need the money?! I do what I fucking have to do to keep my body out of the water. I give up now and I'll be sleeping with the fishes as soon as I'm out...if I even make it that long."
"Who is that Mr. Hyde? We can help you with that, too. Whatever trouble you may be in, we can help. With your cooperation, we can get the right men taken into custody and your charges dismissed."
Hyde shakes his head, disbelieving. "You don't get it. It'll never be over. I'm going to die either way. I'll be damned if I'm going to spend the last of my life locked up. If I'm going down, I might as well take this little bitch and her bastard child with me."
Anastasia feels the added pressure of the muzzle against her temple as he squeezes the trigger and she begins to shake. She knows that this is it.
"No!" Christian runs, flying toward Anastasia, but the sound of a gun muffles his scream and deafens everyone in the vicinity as Anastasia and Jack drop to the ground, his weight on hers.
"No, Ana, baby, no…" He sobs out as he drops to his knees, pushing Hyde's body off of hers. "God, please, no…" It takes a few pushes and tugs, but he manages to roll his body away. "Ana! Ana, please!" looking down at her bloody face, he pushes her blood soaked hair off of her face. "Baby, look at me. You've got to open your eyes. Please… You can't! You just can't. Look at me! Wake up!" His head drops to her chest as he sobs.
"Christian!" Taylor squats down beside him, trying to get his attention.
"Just go!" Christian refuses to move, trying to take in the feel of her one last time. "Ana… my Ana…" His whole world is laying broken and bloody on the ground.
It isn't fair. They haven't had enough time together.