Chapter 26

Anna POV

At our table are my mom and dad, my sister, my brother, Elliot, Christian and, myself. Christian's mom and dad and gran and grandpa. They are such a cheerful crowd to be around. Everybody is so happy and full of smiles. I have Elliot on one side of me and Christian on the other side of me. The evening is going great. There are no problems thus far. Although I knew our security team are the best and they are stationed close around us and all around the property. No idiot is getting past them anytime soon. This is the best time of my life. I can't remember the last time I was entertained like a princess. The food was the best I have ever had and most importantly the Grey family loved me. They are all so easy to talk to. When Christian left the table to go to the bathroom his family started all thanking me, for the way Christian has changed and how he is now so happy. They were all trilled about the engagement and couldn't stop looking and talking about my ring. Our two families are bonding so well together.

Elliot stood up and extended his hand to me asking me for my first dance. It worked out perfectly, because I needed to chat to him about his mood at breakfast and at the table tonight. Something is eating at him and I don't like it. He has helped me out so much its only fair I pay him the same. We got on the floor and he pulled me tight against him my head resting on his shoulder and we swayed to the music. It was not an intimate dance more of a brotherly one but I could feel the tension in his whole body. I lifted my head and looked into his sad eyes then he spoke.

"Hey butterfly, are you having a good time tonight?" Elliot asks me with a strained voice.

"I actually was El, but…but you don't seem to be enjoying yourself. I'm worried about you. I don't like to see you upset and worried like this and I feel like I done something to hurt you. But I don't know what it is. "

"No need to worry about me anymore baby, you have Christian now so you wont need me anymore. You're engaged to be married soon, to yet another Grey. It is a good thing for you, that you got the better brother this time round."

What the fuck? Did I hear Elliot right. I should have known something like this would happen. I am such an idiot. I didn't take my best friends feelings into consideration. I should have spoken to him first. He thinks he is going to lose me because I am marring his baby brother. I would never do that to him. Shit what do I say to that. Just as I was going to reassure him, the song ends and Christian is there to take me for the next dance. Elliot passes me over to Christian with a bit of a shove and storms off the dance floor right out of the tent. I could see how glassy his eyes were with the unshed tears I have caused. Dam it I need to find him after this dance.

"Hey babe. Having a good time."

"Yes I was but but I need to find Elliot. Something is up with him and I need to find him and sort it out as soon as possible. I think I might have messed things up with him."

"I don't think so baby. My brother adores you there is nothing you could do to make him feel any less for you. Don't worry what ever it is he will come around."

We finish our dance then I tell him to ask his mom for a dance. The last event of the evening was the dance auction. I skipped signing up for that, there was no way in hell I was going to go through that again, I couldn't even watch the show. So I excused myself to go find Elliot while Christian was dancing with his mom.

I practically ran out the tent and went down to the docks to look for him. I stood there a long while hoping he will show up, but he was not there. As I turned to leave an older woman and her partner dresses in black came up to me startling me. I have such a very bad feeling about this. My skin starts to crawl and they have not even said a word to me. There was something very familiar about them but I could not place what. Their masks were very unique. Nothing I have ever seen. It covered their entire faces and hair so nobody would know who they are. I will never forget it and there eyes were so cold. He did nothing but stand there. All she said was.

"Anastasia, my darling." They both turned around and walked away from the dock towards the tent.

What the? That…. Voice… from… the… slave… display… party…. the… American…. woman. Oh shit his eyes I know those Eyes it's him Mr Paul. But how?

I was so scared even my thoughts were stuttering. My whole body went numb. I dropped to the ground onto my knees and my mind completely shut down. I went into total shock. I couldn't hear or see a thing. My whole world just stopped. I just stared into nothing. I knew who they both were. I knew now she was connected to him all along and she is helping him to get to me again now. I remembered how I met her while I was half-naked chained to a wall, and my world started crumbling down all over again. I cannot go back to him. I will not survive it this time around.

Elliot POV

I see Christian dancing with mom but I have not seen Anna since I walked off the dance floor and I know she is looking for me because of my stupid comment and because I am a complete asshole. Christian looked straight at me thinking the same thing and he walked over to Terry. Something is definitely wrong. I can sense it. I have to find her now. I walked straight out and bump into Taylor.

"Taylor have you seen Anastasia anywhere? We can't seem to find her." He shakes his head but talks through his misc. and earpiece. Apparently she was last seen heading towards the docks.

I sprint out towards the docks feeling very guilty for my behavior. I find Anna on her knees on the dock, looking at nothing. She is completely blank not a single bit of emotion or life on her face or even in her eyes. She does not even look like she is breathing.

"Anna it's me Elliot are you okay." No response. "Butterfly please come back to me please." She was like an empty casing. I scooped her up into my arms, her head resting on my shoulder and walked towards the house. By the time I got near the tent all the men from our group were standing there looking very alarmed. I could see panic cross over their faces. I just walked straight pass them not saying a word towards them. But they all followed me into the house. I went straight into my childhood bedroom and sat on my bed cradling her into my chest and rocking her back and forth. Reminding her I am here and she is safe. It was as if a dam just broke and she started to sob and shake uncontrollably.

Christian was nervously pacing the room running his hands in his hair. He was so out of his element he didn't know what to do. The pain clear on his face. Terry stood by the window staring at us not knowing what to do to help his sister. Alex, Taylor and Luke were by the door waiting for answers. I didn't know what to do to help her because I didn't know what had happened. It could not have been just my comments. It must have being something serious that happened by the dock to cause her this much distress. I bent down low and spoke to her loud and clear so I know she heard me.

"Butterfly you are safe now. I have you safely in my arms. I am not letting you go ever. I'm sorry I let you out of my sight at the ball. I am sorry I let you down. I am sorry for my inappropriate comment on the dance floor and for walking off like that. I know it was very childish of me. I told you I would always keep you safe and I failed you. I am so sorry. You know that even though our marriage was not real my vows to you were. I will protect you with all of my life. I will always keep you safe. Butterfly Please we have been through so much I cannot lose you now. I will not lose you. Please come back to me? Talk to me. Let us know what happened so we can sort it out. You have to trust us now butterfly." I could not help but beg for her to listen to me I didn't even know I had started to cry.

Anna POV

I could hear Elliot pleading with me he was looking down into my eyes and talking to me but I could not respond to him I tried but nothing came out, then a single tear rolled down his face and landed on my cheek bringing me out of my trance and I threw my arms around his neck and held on for dear life. I knew he would protect me. I was safe for now.

"Elliot that voice I know that voice," was all I could say over and over.

"Anna what voice? Who is it?"

Christian POV

I couldn't believe what I was hearing and seeing they sounded like they are in love. Him, talking about been true to his wedding vows. So were does that leave me? I'm just the pathetic little brother. Pining away over his big brothers girl/wife. That is so pathetic of me. We were supposed to be engaged but look at them. I knew I would never be enough for such and incredible women. What do I do now?

To top it all off they look so intimate together hanging onto each other both of them in tears. This is the first time I have ever seen my big brother cry. I couldn't take it anymore so I ran. I passed Elena on the way but she didn't notice me. I knew it was her. She was weary a very scary Pink mask and she was with some guy I have never seen before. But I could not be bothered. The last thing I needed was her in my face telling me I told you so.

Alex POV

Fuck what the hell happened on the dock? What ever it was it spooked the little lady bad. I decided to step in and sort this out. I took the little lady out of Elliot arms and cradled her into my arms.

"Go Elliot, go and get your brother I will be ok with butterfly." He got up and left.

Taylor and Luke left to secure the property.

Elliot POV

I found Christian by the dock looking very hurt. I walked up to him and he broke down in front of me. I have never seen my baby brother like this before.

"Elliot I can't loose her not again, you need to be honest with me please. You…. And… Anna… Is there more going on with you to than you are letting on? Must I back off to give you'll a chance? I can't be the cause of her being unhappy."

"No bro, definitely not Anna is yours. I promise you with all I have. You and her are getting married she is totally in love with you. I do not want her like that. I have never wanted her like that. Please believe me Christian. I am sorry for the way I acted to her earlier. I am the one who is scared of loose my best friend to you. I am scared to get rejected from here. I know she no longer needs me because she has you bro. I've had her for 6 months and she is like a baby sister to me. Never have I thought of her like that. I know I tease you sometimes but it is because I get a reaction from you and it is funny. You have to understand something about our relationship."

"I found Anna when she was at her worst. You saw the video. I felt responsible for her. I did not leave her side once when she went through her major withdrawals. I saw it all; I felt it all for her, we bonded over the most terrifying drug addiction around. So bro, no I don't want Anna like that we only got married so she can change her name so they would not trace her, it was also another way for me to keep her safe. I'm so sorry if I made you think otherwise. I love you and I would never hurt you like that. Now pull your self together and go and get our girl we are leaving this party in 10 minutes. We also need to find out what or who spooked her. She has to talk to us and soon.

Christian POV

When Elliot found me on the dock I was a complete mess. To hear him tell me he is the one scared of loosing her friendship blows my mind we are sort of feeling the same way. It did not even occur to me at the time, that our engagement could cause him to feel like this. He then started explaining to me what he went through emotionally with Anna and I started to understand how connected them two are. Not sexually, but emotionally and I can live with that, in fact it makes things easier for me, because I now know for a fact that he will not let anything bad to happen to her. The more people I have looking out for Anna's safety the better.

I went back and took her. They were already passing the tent her in Alex's arm holding her so tight. I took her from him and held her close to my chest. When she felt it was me she relaxed all her muscles. That just proved to me what an ass I was being, because all this time her body was looking for my comfort and I was felling sorry for myself by running away.