"Ana! You ready?" I hear Christian shout from the kitchen. I run from the bedroom and meet the man who rules the universe. Christian is dressed in a dark charcoal gray suit, a freshly pressed white dress shirt, and a dark navy tie that complements his copper hair quite nicely. I catch him staring at me and quickly lower my eyes.
"Sorry." I mumble.
Christian sighs. "Ana, you know that I don't mind if you look at me." All I do is nod and go over to stand next to him. I'm still dressed in my sweats and hoodie. Christian agreed to let me go back to the apartment to grab some clothes and other personal items. The only way I could get him to agree to this is by telling him multiple times that Kevin was at work.
"Now, I'm going to have Taylor drop you off at your apartment. I have to be at the office as soon as possible, so I'll be driving separately. I want you to call me when you reach the door and again when you leave safely. Got it?"
His speech sends my mind in spirals, but I nod in agreement. "I understand."
He breathes a sigh of relief and nods. "Thank you." He bends down, pecks me on my cheek, and then heads down the elevator. I'm left standing alone in the kitchen.
"Miss Steele." The deep voice comes from behind me and I jump back in response. Standing at the room's entrance is Taylor dressed well as always, holding a set of keys. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." He walks over towards the elevator where he waits for me. "Ready when you are ma'am."
Taylor and I hop into the Audi SUV. He sits in the front while I sit in the back as always. Just like old times. We take the quickest route to the apartment and the entire time my stomach moves in waves. I start to feel sick the closer we get. Maybe I should have just stayed back at Escala…
"I'll be waiting out here for you ma'am." Taylor parks right outside the walkway. I take a deep breath and step out of the car. The first thing I do is glance around to make sure that Kevin is gone. I don't see his car anywhere so that's a good sign. I take a couple deep breaths to calm myself.
The apartment looks exactly how I left it. It doesn't even look like anyone's been here. Maybe Kevin hasn't come home. The first thing I do is head towards the bedroom to change into my work clothes. I fix myself up quickly and work on packing a duffel bag to take back to Christian's.
I fill the bag until it's completely full. I think I'm done here. I take one last look at the bedroom. The small bed is nicely made, the dresser is neatly packed, and the curtains are still closed just like they were before. Kevin really hasn't come back. I make my way downstairs and head towards the door when a dark pile on the counter catches my eye and makes me stop in my tracks. That wasn't there before…
The sick feeling in my stomach returns and I immediately get a prickling sensation in my fingertips. I step closer and see that the pile is actually a pile of clothes that don't look like mine. I pick up the shirt and my heart freezes in my chest. These are Christian's clothes. I see the sweatpants that are also Christian's. I'm momentarily confused until realization hits me like a freight train. These are the clothes that Christian let me wear. These are the clothes I changed out of the night I thought I saw Kevin's car. I remember leaving them in the bedroom floor…
Before I get the chance to throw up, out of the corner of my eye I see a small index card lying next to the pile of clothes. My vision blurs, but I somehow manage to pick up the paper with shaking hands. It's a note.
I KNOW YOU WERE WITH HIM LAST NIGHT. NEXT TIME CLEAN UP THE MESS. UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO MAKE THE NEXT ONE.
My throat closes up in pure fear. I'm shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. My stomach threatens to bring up my breakfast, but nothing compares to the last line written at the very bottom of the card.
TURN AROUND.
I don't breath as I slowly turn my body around. Standing in the kitchen's entrance is the man that I never thought I'd see again. Kevin stands tall with his hands placed at his sides in tight fists. He's wearing all black, including his black working boots. My eyes reach his and I feel like a mouse looking into the eyes of a snake. His dark eyes pierce me, his mouth is twisted into a snarl and I wouldn't be surprised if he started frothing at the mouth.
Instinct kicks in and I break away from the counter and bolt straight for the door. My body slams into something hard and I find myself airborne and twisted around. When my feet hit the floor, my arms are twisted behind my back and I stop twisting when I hear something pop and terrible pain shoots down my arm. I scream until my throat burns, but Kevin quickly covers my mouth with his one hand while the other hold my arms back.
"Hey, baby." He growls into my ear. "You really thought that you would get away with all this?" He spits the words. When I don't respond he quickly takes the hand covering my mouth and wraps it around my throat. "You better fucking answer me, bitch." He puts pressure on his hand and I struggle to fight for my breath.
"I'm sorry." I manage to choke out.
"Sorry?" He growls. "You're not fucking sorry. You're a whore. Nothing but a lying whore." He releases me, but uses the freedom to push me up against the wall.
"Please, Kevin." I beg. "Let's talk about this." I watch as his eyes somehow become darker. I don't even register what's happening until his fist flies out of the air an connects with my hip. I grunt and bend over to help with the sharp pain.
"Oh, there will be talking, Ana. Just not between us." He slowly comes to stand in front of me. He roughly squeezes my chin between his hands and makes me look at him. His eyes are so dark that the pupils aren't even visible. "You're going to tell your little Grey buddy that you don't want to see him again."
I squeal in protest and try to wiggle my way out of his grasp. "No!" His one hand grips me harder while the other comes flying through the air an smacks me clean across the cheek. I whimper in pain.
"Shut up!" He growls in my face. "You tell Grey that whether you want to or not." He scoots back for a moment, but all of a sudden I hear a flick of something and then cool metal is pressed against my throat. He has a knife.
"Kevin…" I whimper. "I'm begging you." The tears fall in buckets now. He can't do this. He won't do this.
"Tell him or I'll kill you." The cool metal of the blade slides down my neck and rests at my waist. I feel the bottom of my blouse being lifted up and I try to squirm away, but Kevin holds me in place. His feet are placed in a certain way so I'm not able to get a good kick in.
The blade grass my skin and then I feel it slice into the soft flesh. I scream as he slowly drags the blade over my skin. I can feel the blood rise to the surface and trickle down.
"Don't think I won't." He pulls away from me, but not before shoving me hard against the wall. He backs up to the sink and stares at me as if I'm just the dog he's beating. "Now go tell him what I told you. I'm sure his bodyguard will be delighted to take you to him." I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off. "Don't bother sending him in. I'll be long gone anyway."
I begin to tremble. Me entire body feels as if I'm being shaken. My hands are reseed against my side, trying to stop the bleeding. It's a small gash, but it's enough to soak through my shirt.
"And don't try any funny business, Anastasia." He points the knife at me. "I'll know exactly where to find you."
"Why are you doing this?" I manage to find my voice.
He looks at me and has the nerve to smile. "Because I love you, Ana. I want you all to myself." My skin prickles at his words. His voice just oozes slime if that were possible. "Now get out of here."
I jump off the wall and beeline for the door. It swings opens and slams against the wall. Relief floods through me as I spot the SUV. I climb in and see Taylor sitting just as he was. The clock on the dash says that I haven't been in there for more than twenty minutes.
"Miss Steele-"
"Take me to Christian." I plead. "I need to go to the Grey House."
I see Taylor look in the mirror with concern, I do everything I can in order to calm myself and cover up my fresh wound. "As you wish, ma'am." He pulls out into the street, leaving me alone with my thoughts.