Author's note!
As you read on from this chapter onwards, you will realize that I've been playing with the thesaurus. Hahaa. This is because I'm learning new words for the SATs and need to apply them to remember them! Bear with me!
Chapter 17: Rubiks Cube
"What is it, sweetheart?" Having maintained a calm stance the entire way, Christian's was immediately worried.
I sat sprawled across the bed with my knees folded at the sides, my hand gripping my phone coldly. I could feel my fingers turn rigid and my palms begin to sweat as I shook my head at him.
"Ana?" He called, letting himself onto the bed and wrapping his arms around me. In answer, I lifted my phone to him. Christian's eyes narrowed. "FU*K."
With his arms still tender around me, soothing me from falling into an abyss, he dialed Welch once more. "It's internal. I need you over." He was feral, teeth clenching, "NOW."
Whatever rush I was feeling must have been from the hormones because usually lost in situations like these, today there was a surge of adrenaline and a pang of anger. Whoever threatened Ethan threatened me and my family because he is family, regardless of the mistakes that had separated us in the first place.
Mistaking my flush for panic, Christian dashed to my side in hope of calming me down. "Ana, don't worry about this." He kissed the little impression between my ear and jaw that sent tingles down my spine. "I'll handle it, you can trust me."
"Of course I trust you, Christian." I responded, wrapping my arms around his neck to reassure him.
Because they were the windows to his soul, Christian's eyes fell shut as he continued, "I know how much Ethan means to you and I don't want you to feel like I'm going to do this half-heartedly."
The corners of my lips twitched downwards as I realized how I tortured this beautiful man who was self-confident in all aspects of his life... except ...when it came to me. Cradling his face between my palms, I smiled at him softly. "I love you, Christian Trevylan-Grey. Do you know that?"
His slightly over long fringe flopped down and covered an eye, likening him to a child playing pirate. "Most of the time."
I threw him a look of mock horror and brushed his hair back. "Well, you best remember that."
He raised an eyebrow in confusion, "You're surprisingly calm."
"Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that I have a capable husband and worrying about something out of my hands won't get me anywhere but further from you." I said in all honesty. "And we both know how close I like to be to you."
The smile on his face reassured me that he was almost on board with my mood and he nodded, his arms encircling me a little closer to his chest as he lowered me to the bed. His lovely grey eyes smoldered, " You're not worried for Ethan?"
"Of course I am." I shrugged. "But Ethan's tough and seeing that the threat is directed at me with him as collateral, its pretty obvious that they'll bait me before they even think of harming him." That made me realize... "Could I have my phone back?"
Christian seemed puzzled at my logical state, but at the moment, I repeatedly told myself that panic was not the road to take. He felt down the side of his pants and produced my iPhone.
Pulling up the recent conversation, I punched in, "Touch one strand off his head and I will kill you." And pressed send.
"Ana, I'm not sure that's a very good idea." Christian was vaguely worried. "We could be dealing wi-"
Just as he was about to highlight the consequence of my action, the unknown number replied. "Find me if you can, Ms Steele. Bravery falls short in the face of practicality, but he's safe as long as you comply."
"He, she, they... know you." I could almost see the lightbulb appear over his head. "The kidnapper's a poet too huh."
"So we know he's reasoned, probably highly educated and definitely has a motive involving me." I filled in the inference for him.
Christian's eyes sparked, realizing that I had goaded the kidnapper into revealing bits of himself. "Pretty much narrowed Welch's search scope by a whole load. You're brilliant, Ana." With that, he leaned in to lock his lips with mine.
It was a passionate kiss, one that spoke of the worry he had upon realizing that I was in the center of this all. I kissed him back to annihilate the tension, reassuring him that there will be no rash decisions taken on my own accord. In all sense of the situation, I will follow protocol. I needed him to feel and realize that I trusted him to bring my best friend back safely.
Weeks, close to a month, of abstinence did little to calm the sexual tension that was thickening exponentially. Christian pressed me into the soft bed, my hands grabbing at his hair and his own skimming down the sides of my body. We moaned into each other, peaking the carnal desire we both had even more.
There was a knock on the door, "Mr Grey, Welch is on the way up with Mr Elliot Grey and Mrs Kate Grey." I had no idea Taylor was up. Did Christian even wake him?
Forcing himself to do the right thing, Christian broke the kiss mid-tongue fence. His treacherous tongue traced the outline of my lips, "Later."
"Time to save the world, Mr Grey."
Playfully, he gave a me a little wink and then hauled us both up from our reclined position. "Time to shut this shit down."
"ANAAAAAAA!" I heard her before I saw her. Luke's face was a pitch of white, with no doubt, he was exhausted and had just been recently woken up only to experience a Kate's scream.
I gave him a small pat on his shoulder in encouragement and then turned to ready myself for Kate. She sauntered into the room with her hand in Elliot's, her face tear stained and redder than I had ever seen her. Catching sight of me, she dropped Elliot's hand and made a sprint for me.
Before Christian could brace himself for impact, I pulled my hand out of his and started to meet her half way. "Kate!" Her hands wrapped around me like a snake about to kill its prey, I gasped for breath and quickly patted her back to soothe her as she began to wail once more.
"Kate, honey." Elliot was soft, "You're holding Ana a little too tight for Christian's comfort."
Christian was probably concerned over our children, his hand coming to clasp my elbow. But then again, we could not blame Kate for not knowing. I had yet to tell anybody about the babies. "It's okay, Christian."
Kate released me by a margin, still embracing me for dear life. "A-na, t-t-t-they too-k h-h-im." She stuttered. "MY BABY BROTHER!" She wailed.
"Welch." I heard the familiar order.
"Yes, Mr Grey. Unfortunately, Ethan's disappearance from Campus is confirmed," my heart stopped at this new fact, "and the video sent to Mrs Kate Grey's phone was from a signal bounced across a few satellites. That will take a while to trace but my men are on it."
"How long?" Both the brothers demanded.
"It's hard to say, sirs. Whoever did this knew what he was doing, it's like he created a Rubiks Cube for the security team. After we locate the original signal, something we have no way of speeding up, there's still the matter of tracing the pattern to find the source." The poor man sounded exasperated but confident that he could do it.
"Ana's phone?" Christian continued.
"What?" Elliot piped up, his hands on his hips at the new information.
Christian pursed his lips whilst he explained, "It's directed at Ana she received a photo of Ethan and a threat."
"Ana!" Kate squealed, pulling away from me to check if I was alright. "How's Ethan?"
I shook my head at her, my heart wrenching at the visual of Ethan's tortured face. The side of his forehead bleeding profusely.
"It was iMessage. So surely, that will be easier to crack."
"Yes, Mr Grey. Unfortunately, it came from a phone reported stolen four hours ago." Welch was irritated as well. "I traced it, same pattern as the first."
"You're fu**ing kidding me right now." Christian folded his arms crossly.
"Kate." I whispered, beginning to fear that Christian was about to combust at Welch.
"Here, I'll take her." Elliot stepped up, circling Kate's waist gently and tugging her into his embrace.
"Thanks." I mouthed at him as she nestled herself into his neck.
"MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY ARE THREATENED AND YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU CAN'T DO FU** ABOUT IT?!" Christian hollered, balling his fists in anger.
Welch shrunk under his penetrating and accusing gaze, mostly just a smart tech-whiz who would fail physically. "Christian," I took his hand and kissed his bicep. His enraged eyes flew to me and then softened. "He's doing his best, love."
Closing his eyes, Christian sighed and put an arm around me, pulling me close and kissing the top of my head. "Taylor, could you please get Welch a glass of water?"
Instantly, Taylor made his way to the kitchen.
I offered Welch a comforting smile, "You're our best shot at getting Ethan back."
"Yes, Mrs Grey." Welch had the weight of the world upon his shoulder and when Taylor came back with the water, he was more than grateful.
"We managed to narrow it down a little." I tried to inject optimism into our otherwise bleak atmosphere. "The kidnapper is educated, motivated and this is definitely personal." As proof, I gave him my phone.
Welch scanned the conversation. "This is unconventional for a terrorist or paramilitary group of any sort. You're right, Mrs Grey. This is more a game than anything else."
"We just have to learn to win it." Christian was finally back to his calm self. "Welch, Elliot, lets proceed with protocol." Elliot nodded at Christian from the corner, kissing Kate's forehead. "Ana, baby," Christian squeezed me tenderly, "Will you and Kate get some rest?"
"That's highly unlikely." Kate sobbed as Elliot released his hold on her to head for Christian's office.
"But we'll try." I promised with a beam, leaning up on my toes to give me a peck on his cheek.
"I love you, Ana Grey." Christian muttered, kissing me back once more before leading the men into the office.
"Come on, Kate." I held onto my best friend with the realization that my other was missing. "Let's go roll around on my bed, Christian just got new pillows." I tried to distract her, knowing I was working on distracting myself too.
"What the hell is this?" Kate groaned mid-whine upon seeing my bed, "Is this a bouncy castle?"
It was then that I decided to steer my best friend completely away from her missing brother. "Kate." I called, placing both my hands on her arms. What I was about to do would be considered heretical as even my own mother had not been informed.
"What is it, Steele?" She pouted slightly, sad eyes reddened at the developments.
"Kate," I smiled at her. "I haven't told anyone this yet and you're my best friend..."
She narrowed her eyes at me in suspicion.
Oh, crap. "But Ethan has been informed and of course Christian knows too." I quickly corrected myself.
Kate glared at me, turning the atmosphere intricately morose. "I think I know... but you know how I hate surmising."
Emboldened by the need to be, I cleared my throat and gesticulated at the cushions, "Christian's taking precautions."
"For what?! An impending back surgery?" Kate snapped, knowing Christian's peculiar little personality.
"Actually, something along the lines of back support." I bit my bottom lip, beginning to lose my courage.
"Steele."
"I'm pregnant!" I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut as my hands came to protect my baby bump.
When a good two minutes passed and nothing followed, I cautiously opened my eyes a millimeter at a time. Kate's eyes were wider than the moon, filled with surprise and lit with… joy.
"Kate?" I poked her in her rib.
"Stop that!" Kate brushed my finger away, "I have to protect my baby too."
"WHAT?!" I pretty much screeched before I could close my mouth and Kate erupted into giggles, she grasped my hands and nodded at me. "OH MY GOODNESS!"
Any woman would be thrilled to be pregnant and have a best friend help pull her along. But every pregnant woman would die for a pregnant best friend who could experience the same things they were together.
"You're not even showing!" Kate accused.
"I hide the boys under baggy clothes that Christian insists I wear." I explained.
"BOYS?!" Kate's eyes widened past the moon, rivaling something far larger.
I nodded, flushing.
"Oh wow!" Kate's excitement began to drain, her smile wavering at an unwelcome thought. "At least you managed to tell Ethan… I might… never…" She was suddenly frowning, fighting the tears.
"Don't think that way, Kate." I stepped forward and clasped her to my chest, soothing her once more. "Elliot and Christian are far capable and together, they will be able to bring him back safe." Even as I said it, I sent a silent prayer for divine intervention to guide them both onto the right track.
Kate's tears began to seep into my shirt. She nodded meekly, "I trust Elliot with my life."
"And I, Christian."
"I just keep contemplating and processing, over and over again." Kate sunk into my hold languorously, "I keep trying to think of who I pissed off to deserve this, to put my baby brother in harms way."
"Katie," A spread of sadness loomed overhead and guilt tainted me. "I'm sorry, baby. I think it's me."
"What do you mean?" She sobbed, whimpering a little.
"The threat I received said: Yes, Ms Steele, this has everything to do with you." I admitted, the situation paralleling itself to a convict in court. I could feel the heat of tears beginning to start in my chest.
Kate stepped back, her gaze confused and slightly worried. "What? You're the one they want?"
"I think so," I shrugged, "But I don't understand why they couldn't just kidnap me. Why did they go after Ethan?"
Kate pursed her lips, "Don't think like that, Ana. You're practically our sister too, losing either one of you in place of the other won't change anything."
"I don't know…" In all seriousness, I wanted to be in Ethan's place. He could be here with Kate, holding her in his embrace and promising her that he'd get me back. He would not be hurt and missing. He would be safe.
"Ana, it's not just you anymore." Kate reminded me, helping me down to my bed. "You have to understand that whatever it is, we'll get through this."
Suddenly, the tears began to stream down my face. Kate was still being so nice to me. "I can't help thinking that this is my fault," I cried, brushing my tears back with my hand.
"No honey, no." Kate reached for the tissue box and dabbed my cheeks dry. "Whoever did this is a sick bastard, regardless of his motivation."
"I'm so pathetic." I cried harder, "I wanted to comfort you and here you are, comforting me."
The irony was not lost on Kate and she chuckled lividly, "Babe, just being with you is comfort enough. Don't you see that?"
I nodded at her sadly, trying to reassure myself that my best friend did not hate me for getting her brother kidnapped. Well, since you put it like THAT. My inner goddess rolled her eyes at me.
"I'm still trying to think about how to tell Mia." Kate sighed, "Even Elliot does not want to deliver the news."
Mia Grey. She was yet another problem that was sticking out like a sore thumb in my seamless relationship with others. Even though Ethan and I had vouched and reverted back to our friendship, Mia and I had gone beyond salvage. Even with my marriage to Christian, she still could not trust me with Ethan. Ethan had been boggled out of his senses and decided that they would keep some distance until he was done with university.
At family dinners, Mia and I often kept a good distance between each other. The Grey family, well aware of the delicate situation, would graciously steer clear of any… sensitive… topics or names. It disheartened me to know that I had ruined a friendship I had once held so dear. I had betrayed Mia and was paying for it every day.
"She'd be devastated," Kate said grimly, "Ethan told me they finally got together."
At Kate's words, something clicked. In the corner of my mind, wrapped with layers of intuition, the horror of a possibility crept up on me. "Kate, I need your phone."
"What's wrong?" Kate was suddenly alarmed, patting herself down to find her phone. "I think Elliot has it. What's wrong, Ana?"
Ethan was down. That would mean his phone and all those private messages and other little details as well. It was a trap in itself, a card waiting to play itself. I could not take the chance that the threat was directed at me. Surely, if it was targeted at Christian, they would take someone… closer… someone Christian would fight with all his being for.
"KATE!" The time bomb was ticking.
There was a knock on the door. Kate and I both peered up to find Luke's head sticking in.
"Is everything alright?" Luke probed, his face etched with worry and exhaustion.
I leapt up from the bed and raced to Luke. "Luke!" I suddenly lost my words, Luke himself stunned from my unprecedented attack. He stumbled out into the living room where all the other men had just immersed from the office.
"Ana?" Christian's familiar probing self grew distressed.
There was no time!
Frantically, I patted Luke's chest pocket for a phone. NADA. Quick quick quick. I searched him like an immigration officer, my hands flying down the side of his pants. Bewildered, Luke found himself disarmed and with his hands raised into the air.
"What is this?!" Christian snapped, striding forward.
His pockets came up empty.
Which body guard does not have a working handphone on him at all times?! My inner goddess was in disbelief, searching through boxes of her own.
Just as Christian's hand came around my wrist, I felt it at Luke's back pocket. When Christian tugged my hand away from harassing Luke, I gleamed with joy at the phone. Of course, once the crisis was over, my mute moment was gone and I unlocked the phone, "Do you have Mia's number?"
"Of course." Luke blustered, stepping forward to help me with it.
He was quickly cut off by a possessive Christian, who eyed me with questions I had no time to answer. Peeking around his boss, Luke pointed at his phone, "Saved under Ms Mia Grey."
"Thanks, Luke." I muttered, retrieving my wrist from Christian and beginning to dial.
Finally on the same page, Christian raised his eyebrows, "What are you thinking?"
"They might try to grab Mia too with Ethan as their cover." I informed him as the phone kept ringing.
"Fu**." Christian sweared. He turned to Elliot, "When's the last time you spoke to her?"
Elliot was gawking, disoriented at the mere thought of anyone taking his sister from him. Kate came to hold his hand and soothe him. "I don't know."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?!" Christian flared.
I put a palm on his chest and shook my head at him, instantly calming him down.
"Yesterday morning." Elliot recalled.
The line turned dead.
Christian was two steps ahead of me. "Welch, I want a trace. Taylor, bring in Barney. Luke, up security for every member of my family." His hand tensed around mine and I looked up into crazed grey eyes, tinged with anxiety. Much lower and softer, Christian leaned in to whisper, "And you, never leave my side."