Chapter 14

Christian PoV

When Anastasia answered the phone, she was annoyed. As soon as he answered her question about why he was calling, I watched as all the color drained from her face. Not just her skin, but her beautiful blue eyes went flat and lifeless. It was like watching someone's soul or life essence simply leave their body. First she dropped the phone; then she collapsed on the ground. It happened so fast, I couldn't catch her in time.

"Anastasia?" I called out, pulling her in my lap. "What's wrong?"

Mr. Steele picked up the phone where she dropped it and resumed the conversation, barking at Reynolds. "Reynolds, what did you tell her?" he demanded. I looked up to see his reaction, which wasn't all together dissimilar from Ana's. He remained standing though.

"Oh no," he said. "Jack Hyde is out of prison," he told us, locking eyes with his wife, who was instantly in hysterics. Kate's and Ethan's jaws were on the floor, eyes wide as saucers.

"Who the hell is Jack Hyde?" I asked.

"The man who raped her," Mr. Steele said. My mouth fell open in shock. Welch was still digging into that information for me, as it wasn't on the preliminary reports he was able to find. And now I found out. In nearly the worst way possible.

"Anastasia," I pleaded. "Please come back to me." I stroked her hair and her cheek, willing her to regain consciousness.

"He'd been released from parole a few weeks ago. His current whereabouts are not known," Mr. Steele went on, relaying what Reynolds told him over the phone. "We were only notified of it because a man matching his description had been seeing lurking about Seattle, near Steele Designs. It's a breach of his parole, crossing state lines, and part of the decree when he was imprisoned was that he would never be in the same state as one of our kids ever again." I felt like I was going to be sick. If that fucker was anywhere near my Anastasia, he was going to die.

"Why the hell wouldn't the police notify us upon his release?" Miranda asked. "We could have been prepared for this."

"It was in a completely different state, on the other side of the country. I'm sure they had no idea that he'd come after the kids. Much less even know where we are."

My mother knelt down next to us and put her finger to Ana's wrist, to check her heart rate. Ana yelled out in protest and tried to snatch her wrist away. Grace, not knowing any better, wrapped her hand around Ana's wrist to steady her. The answering scream could have been heard for miles. Anastasia wailed and wailed until finally I got my mother to let go.

Ana stilled immediately and curled up like a ball in my lap. "I'm taking her home," I said. "Ethan, can you make sure Kate gets home, later?" I asked him. He nodded solemnly, concern for his older sister written all over his face.

I carried Ana to the car and placed her in the backseat. She curled up tighter again and I was barely able to get the seatbelt around her. Hopping in the front seat and starting the engine, I drove as quickly as possible to her house. While driving, I dialed Welch.

"Sir?" he asked, probably wondering why I was calling on a Sunday.

"Jack Hyde," I hissed. "That's the name of the man who raped Anastasia when she was five fucking years old, Welch. He's out on parole right now, violated by crossing state lines, so now he's wanted. He's fucking in Seattle! Find him!" I snapped. I disconnected the call and threw the phone on the passenger seat.

Finally, I arrived at Ana's house and carried her quickly up the stairs and into her bedroom. "Ana baby," I cooed, smoothing her hair off her face. "We're home. You're safe. I won't let him near you. Please open your eyes for me." I waited a few moments and her eyes began to flutter open.

"Christian?" she asked, as if confused by my presence.

"I'm here baby. I'm not going anywhere."

"Oh Christian," she cried burying her head in my chest, clutching my t-shirt as if it was her life line. "I keep seeing his face. His horrible face." Then the tears began, they flowed from her eyes freely as if they'd been pent up for years. "How did he get out?" she whispered.

"Reynolds told your dad that he'd been let out on parole. Good behavior, apparently. But now he's violated the parole by crossing state lines and by being in the same state as you. I'm having my security head, Welch, look into it. I'll make sure he never comes near you, darling."

"I was so afraid," she said. "For so many years that he would come after me, since what he did to me got him in jail for a long time. I knew he blamed me for it. I think he still might come for me."

"I know, baby. But try not to worry, I promise that he'll never come close to you. I'll kill him myself if he tries."

"Christian, no," she replied. "If he tries, we'll notify the proper authorities and they'll handle it."

"The same authorities that let a child rapist out on parole?" I scoffed.

"Well he should have been out after only 15 years. 12 for the rape and 3 for child neglect as we were 'left in his care' according to the judge. He apparently kept starting fights in prison and having his sentence extended to 25 years. How he got good behavior now is a complete mystery to me. The man is a monster."

"I've no doubt of that, my love. You know I'll protect you right? I'll keep you safe."

"Yes, I know that Christian," she replied. "In your arms is the only place I do feel safe." She curled into me and let me hold her close. "I remember screaming bloody murder, but I can't remember why."

I cringed at the memory. The woman had a good and loud scream, blood curdling. "I think it was because my mother had touched your wrist to check your pulse after you fainted, and when you tried to jerk it away, she reflexively wrapped her hand around it, like a manacle. It doesn't surprise me that it set you off."

"Jack did that," she said. "He had his hand around both my wrists when he held me down. Plus my scars from being tied up all the time, I'm sure that's what caused my reaction. Please apologize to you mother for me."

"Baby, there's nothing to apologize for," I assured her. "She didn't know the extent of your aversion to touch, and feels that she is the one that needs to apologize."

"That wasn't her fault either, though."

"Do you think you want to sleep? Or go sit in the hot tub a while? I could try to make you something to eat."

"No, just hold me. I need to calm myself down, and being in your arms is the best way." She gave me a half smile, but her eyes were still so sad and afraid. I could tell this was the calm before the tempest. If I knew somehow that her sadness and fear would quickly translate to rage. I wouldn't have been surprised if she stood with a jolt, dressed as GI Jane and went on a man-hunt for Hyde, who ironically wouldn't have a place to hide from Anastasia Rose Steele. And God help anyone who got in her way. I certainly wouldn't.

Eventually, Anastasia drifted off to sleep, her grip on my shirt slackening. My phone buzzed in my pocket. Thinking it was Welch, I extricated myself from the bed and answered it quickly. "Grey."

"Oh Christian," Elena replied, sobbing into the phone. Oh god, not her, too.

"Elena? Why are you calling me?"

"Christian, I just found out some terrible news." Did she know about the story already? Why would my mother even tell her?

"What news?" I asked, impatient. I wanted to get back to my girl.

"Well you remember that I gave up a baby for adoption when I was only fifteen," she began. God damn it, she's drudging that up again? What the hell for? "I just recently decided to look for her. And I found out that she's dead. Has been for over 20 years, Christian. I'm just devastated."

"You weren't her mother Elena. Someone else got that privilege when you gave her up," I said coldly. I didn't have time for this. "How did she die?"

"She slit her wrists after giving birth. I don't even know if the baby is still alive! They wouldn't tell me," she said. I froze. That was exactly how Ana's biological mother committed suicide.

"What was her name?" I asked.

"Well I named her Marguerite Isa—"

"I don't give a fuck what you named her, Elena. What was her name when she died?"

"Rebecca Louis," she replied coldly. "Why are you acting like this, Christian? I called you for comfort and you're acting so cold."

"When have you ever called me for comfort, Elena? You know that isn't how I operate. Secondly, I have my own issues to deal with today, and damn it; I didn't need this, too." I debated telling Elena that she had three grandchildren, who happened to be at the very same benefit she was at just over a week before. I could hear Anastasia stirring and I wanted to get back to her. "I have to go, Elena," I said, hanging up. I quickly silenced my phone so she couldn't pester me anymore that day.

"Hey baby," I greeted my angel.

"Hi," she replied. "Did I fall asleep?"

"For a little while," I replied. "I um, have some news." I decided to just tell her the truth. She might even be excited about it.

"About Hyde? Already?" she asked, fearful.

"No, it's different. Slightly related, but different." She blinked at me. "You remember my friend Elena? You met her at the benefit. She said your company designed one of her salons."

"Yes I remember. Mid-fifties, platinum blonde. Why?"

"Well, I have reason to believe that she is your biological grandmother," I said, trying to get the words out as quickly as possible.

"What? Why?" She looked at me as if I'd sprouted a second head.

"She just called me a bit ago, wailing about how she just found out that the daughter she'd given up for adoption when she was fifteen is dead. I asked her what her name was and how she died, she said Rebecca Louis, and that she died by slitting her wrists after giving birth."

Ana didn't respond; she just stared blankly at me. It was like she couldn't take in any more information. Her brain was on overload. After a pregnant pause, she finally spoke. "How did you know my mother's name? I've never told you. I only said Rebecca." Oh shit. Well, it had already been a day of days, I decided to just admit.

"When we first met, when I had intended to ask you to be a submissive, I performed a background check, which I do for all potential subs. I tore it up once I decided against that plan of action, but I had seen a bit of the information first."

"I don't have the energy to be mad about that yet, but you're not off the hook. Did you tell her about me? Or Kate or Ethan?" she asked.

"No, I more or less hung up on her. I didn't have time to deal with her drama too. Besides, you take priority over everything right now. And I thought it would be better if you decided that. Along with Kate and Ethan, perhaps."

"Yeah, where are they by the way?" she asked.

"I heard the front door open and close a few times. I'm not sure who all is here. I haven't left the bedroom except to go out and take Elena's call on the balcony. I thought it was Welch calling with more info about Hyde, but it was her instead. If I'd looked at my phone first, I wouldn't have answered it."

She nodded, her mind still elsewhere. Getting up from the bed, she walked into her closet and changed into a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt. I followed her out of the room and down the stairs where not only her siblings were, but her parents, my siblings, my parents, Reynolds and Taylor.

"Hello everyone," Ana said as she descended the stairs.

"Oh Ana dear," her mother replied, standing up. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Ana said, sounding empty. "I just want him found so we know he can't come after me and I can move on with my life."

"Miss Steele, our best security investigators are on it," Reynolds assured her. Taylor said something similar of the security at GEH as well. "The most we can do right now is wait to hear from someone."

Ana sat down next to her sister and pulled Kate into her arms. I recalled the story she told me about how she protected her infant sister from that monster. Only five years old and her protective instincts were so strong then. Even more so now. Kate was reveling in her sister's embrace, having never felt it before. I was going to sit on Ana's other side, but Ethan sat there instead, reaching out to his sister, waiting for her to make the first move. She sat back and pulled him into her arms, too. She was completely silent, not crying, not yelling, not even talking. Her face was an emotionless mask. It was like she was numb.

My heart broke for her. I couldn't imagine if I had to face the man that put the burns in my chest and back from his cigarettes. I'd probably let anger take over and kill him, but what would be left of me afterwards?

Eventually, Kate and Ethan pulled out of their sister's embrace and went back to their significant others. I took the opportunity to sit next to her and pull her in my arms. She melted into me, sobbing silently into my neck. She was strong and emotionless in front of her siblings, but as soon as she was in my arms, she let her emotions go, let herself cry. I wondered how many times they had ever seen her cry. As I looked around the room, both her parents and her siblings were gazing at me in awe.

"Call Flynn," I mouthed to Taylor. He knew that meant I wanted Flynn over here. I wasn't sure if Ana was over the session we had with him the other day, but I wanted him here, at the very least, he could help explain what was likely going through Ana's head at the moment.

Twenty minutes later, he arrived, which is nearly exactly how long it would take to get here from his office. Did he live there or something? "Taylor briefed me on the situation, Christian," he said as he approached me and Ana.

"Doctor Flynn?" Ana asked, confused. "Why are you here?"

"Christian asked me here. For support," Flynn replied. "Again, I am so sorry for what I brought up the other day. It was reprehensible and I hope you can forgive me."

"It's fine Doctor Flynn. I'm fine," she snapped.

"Ana, you're not fine, and if you are fine, then there's something seriously wrong with you. It's okay to let yourself feel what's going through your head. You don't have to be strong for anyone. We're all here to support you because we care about you and we want to keep you safe."

Ana seemingly ignored Flynn's words and turned to her siblings. "Apparently we have a grandma," she said to them. They looked at her confused. I was worried, as my parents had no clue of the extent of the relationship between me and Elena. Well, neither did Anastasia for that matter. I remembered referring to a "family friend" when I told her about my training as sub and a Dom, but I never mentioned that said friend was Elena.

"Elena called me," I told everyone. My mother looked at me confused. "She said she tried calling you, mother, but then tried me, thinking I may have still been at your house for the barbecue." I shrugged. "She told me that she recently decided to look for her daughter, that she gave up when she was fifteen. She was crying because her daughter was dead, and had been for at least 20 years. When she told me her daughter's name and how she died, it was the same as Ana's biological mother."

"You're telling me that Elena Lincoln is Ana, Kate and Ethan's grandmother?" My mother asked, disbelief all over her face.

"It looks that way. I mean, I don't know how many twenty year old Rebecca Louis's there could have been in 1992 that ended their own lives that way." I chose not to go into detail; I didn't need to be graphic about it.

"Sir," Taylor said, asking me to step out. "Welch found out some disturbing information about Hyde." I took the phone from him to hear it from Welch directly.

"Mr. Grey," Welch began. "I found out that Hyde was hired under a false name, John Hitchins, by the Newsie as a photographer. The same tabloid that showcased all those photos of you and Miss Steele. He is the one that took those photos. Got a hell of a pay day for them, too."

"Shit," I muttered. "Ana's not going to take this well."

"Ana baby, we have some news on Hyde," I said as I walked back into the room. Everyone looked at me expectantly. "He was the photographer that took all those photos of us for the tabloid magazine. He used a false name. He's going as John Hitchins right now."

Ana looked like I felt, violated, exposed, and very, very angry. "I'm gonna kill that fucker," she hissed.