APOV

They didn't wake up for nine hours, nine hours of plotting and losing myself. I found cuffs, rope and duck tape in their bedroom and ensure that they are unable to move. When they woke they stubbled, I knew that I only had so much time before things get out of hand. I have a variety of knives set out on the counter and my gun next to the two clips, my switchblade in my hand. They both look at me expectantly, oh what I could do.

"I am going to remove the tape from your mouths, if you can't stay quiet it will be right back on, understand?" They both nod at my instructions. "Good."

"What the fuck are you doing Leila?" Stephan snarled.

"It's not Leila," Mom's eyes lock with mine. "How did you get away from your dear, sweet Christian, Anastasia?"

"Leila and I spent the night becoming each other, right down to the tattoo's, fake copies but we are each other and taking care of each other. Were you guys really stupid enough to send Leila after me, she would never hurt me or betray me. We look out for each other."

"You're too week to kill anyone or really harm anyone. you have always been the weak one, Anastasia," Stephan sneered.

"I killed Jack, I killed your son. It was as easy and blinking your eyes, he was the weak one. Both him and you. I just wanted answers and I know that you won't give them to me, I just need you to know that nothing you have ever done is right. You were both grown adults who found joy in seeing kids in pain, in tearing them down."

I was going to make this last but I can't look at them for long without losing me, so I shot his cock off, let him shriek out in pain while I shoot my mother in the head which kills her instantly. When I turn back to him he is radiating anger, the pain may have faded but this is not how he goes out. He doesn't get out as easy as mom did but I don't want to be here any longer.

"You'll regret this, Ana. This will eat you up," He says.

"Killing Jack didn't eat me, in fact it thrilled me. Killing you be the same."

I open the switchblade and walk behind him, placing one hand on his head I slit his throat, gather my belongings and then leave the room. Luke is waiting in the lobby for me, I run to him with my heart and stomach crammed in my throat.

"We need to go, they're holding a family trial," Luke says. "Elliot sent the helicopter so we should be at the penthouse in an hour instead of three."

"I just killed my mom, Luke," I cry.

"I know, and they have Jose and Leila wants you there with her to talk to him, and Christian is surrendering himself to the family, admitting that he hit you."

The tears won't stop, he helped me up to the helicopter pad on the rood and into the helicopter, we fly to NYC in what feels like seconds but I know is at least an hour. We land on the building and go into the penthouse where everyone is waiting. I have pulled my hair up into a messy bun on my head, walking in I am taking off the contacts and tossing them into the rubbish bin. Leila rushes to me and I hug her as she hugs me.

"What the Fuck!" Christian bellows.

I turn to Leila, "You didn't tell him as soon as you knew we were coming back?"

"I figured that this would be more entertaining, I mean everyone else in this room except for that one," She points and Maia, "knows. It's not all our fault."

"Who did this? When did… why… what the fuck!" Christian is broken.

"Carla and Stephan were expecting Leila back, they never could tell the difference so we made each of us look like the other so she could go with you and I could deal with them. They're dead Christian, it's over and this stupid family court thing is not happening. Christian hit me, I pushed as many buttons as I could to piss him off. I should be the one in trouble and not him. Just, everyone needs to let the past forty-eight hours go," I shout, then turn to Leila. "Mom could tell, she knew that it wasn't you and it was me. I don't know how but she knew."

Christian stomps over to us, an adorable pout spread on his face, looking up and down us like he really can't tell except for the eyes now. He grabs both of our left wrists, and flips them so palms up and sees the butterfly tattoo on Leila's wrist and not on mine. His brows furrow as he attempts to figure it out.

"They airbrushed the tattoo's out and then a tattoo artist copied them on the other one. It'll wash off," Luke explained.

"You have a SISTER!" Maia shrieks, finally catching up. "No one told me!"

"Maia, Noah; meet my sister Leila, your aunt," I introduce.

Maia rushes over and hugs Leila, which startles my dear sister. The only people who we hugged before I was married were each other and it seems that she continued to block herself off from everyone. Leila's arms are up awkwardly, I can't help but laugh at her position.

"So what's happening now?" Kate asks. "If Ana's adamant on not holding Christian accountable. Wait, Leila is the one that hit him today?"

"You what?!" I look at Christian and start to examine him, he doesn't bruise easy but he swells. "Babe, are you okay? I'm so sorry I should have warned Elliot to hold her back, she can be more protective then you can at times."

"It's okay, I kind of gave her permission thinking it was you. I feel kind of better knowing it was her because she fractured my cheek bone. Face is off limit for hitting now. It's alright Kitten," Christian smiles.

"Kitten? He calls you Kitten?" Leila laughs. "Awe, that's so cute."

We all sit down around the living room, the guys pulling in couches from the library, and talk amongst each other while we await the arrival of dinner that they ordered. Leila and I sitting next to each other, across from Christian who still seems confused. He wants me to dye my hair back which I am all for, it is still hot like summer and I don't know how Leila keeps her hair this shade. We keep looking at each other and laughing at Christian's analyzation of us.

"So what are your plans now, Leila?" Mia asks.

"Not sure yet, most of my life I have been held back by them and not being free I don't know what to do. I mean I have my MBA and MSW, so I could work and start working soon but I have no savings or pre-requisites since mom and dad never let me work," Leila answers.

"You could always work for Christian's company and live here, we don't really live here and then you can get back on your feet. What part of business do you like?" I suggest.

"His legal business, right?"

I laugh, "Yes, his legal business. He owns too many to count or you could work out of the main GEH headquarters here. Name it and I will make sure it happens."

"You've already done a lot for me Banana, more then I have done for you. I can figure it out for myself, I promise. You need to focus on you husband with control issues and that huge brood of tiny humans you have back home."

"Leila, if it means you being back in Anastasia's life for a long time I would do anything. I want her happy and it's clear that you do that, so what do you enjoy in business?" Christian says. "I will set you up anywhere."

"Public relations, headhunting, takeovers and pretty much everything. No matter how much education you have in business it is a constant learning process," Leila smirks.

"Battle of wits," Elliot laughs.

The ding of the elevator stops Christian from attacking his brother, but instead of the food it is all the younger kids of the family, running in and tackling us. I grab Jair when he tries to run by me and look at his hands, his knuckles are bruised and cut.

"What happened to you?" I yell, no response just big eyes. "Jeremiah Abraham Grey, you will answer me and you will answer me now." His little eyes go over to Wyatt and Canaan, then to his father. Christian knows and never told me, never called or texted. "Don't look at them, look at me. What happened to make your knuckles look like this?"

"Noah said too!" Jair accuses.

"No I didn't," Noah defends.

"Yes you did, you said since I was the big brother to look out and take care of Canaan and Wyatt so I did. A big kid at school was making fun of Wyatt's name and Canaan's so I hit him, multiple times like Uncle Luke showed me. Dad already talked to us about it," Noah announces. "I was just trying to be a good brother like Noah."

"Did your father punish you?"

"No, we just had a friendly conversation."

"Okay, well this is how this is going to go. You are grounded for two weeks, no electronics and we will take the TV and desktop out of your room and there will be no after school activities for a month. I am never one who will condone fighting unless you sisters are in physical danger. You could have talked to your teacher, lead them away from the kid, talked to that kids teacher. Do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am," Noah frowns.

He runs off to join his sisters and I glare at Christian he was going to let him off the hook that jerk. I am not going to tolerate this with the younger kids. Verbal threats can be taken to an adult but if someone throws the first punch by all means they can fight back. It's why we let them take martial arts, but this is too much.

"That was harsh," Christian states.

"No, I am not allowing the littles to be okay with fighting like Maia and Noah were. Hard Limit, Christian. Don't test me tonight, I have had a long day."

The next time the elevator rings it is the food and there is a little bit of everything, while everyone gets their food and sits wherever they want I stay seated on the couch and just watch everyone interact. Leila gets along with everyone and they all seem to really like her, who couldn't love her though she is one of the most amazing people I know.

I can't help but wonder why Carla and Stephan believed that she would betray me, we were never like that unless they really brainwashed her. I've been on that end, I have let them manipulate me and get to me in ways I never thought would happen.

"I'm going to go and get some air, I have my phone so you can call and track me if you need to. I just need some air and space to clear my head," I announce before rushing towards the door, high tops are easier to escape in compared to stilettos. "Bye."

I really love the placement of this place because you walk across the street to get to Central Park and can walk and walk for hours. Emily always says when someone plants a seed in your head, if it grows there is a reason but most I should let die. Carla and Stephan seemed so sure that she was going to hand me to them on a platter made of gold and diamonds, there has to be a valid reason for that, but I can't believe that Leila would betray me. I would do everything for Leila, I do what I can when I can and would never consider turning her over to the dark side. I am so worried about everything right now, it's not fun for me. My head can't handle these type of situations, it is too much for me.

Jose was caught really soon after Leila came into the picture, Leila was in with Jose by herself when Christian thought she was me, Leila is up in the penthouse right now with my family getting along with them while I am down here. My head is going to explode.