A/N: Happy Thursday Ladies! Hope everyone is doing okay and staying safe. Thank you all for waiting patiently for this chapter and hope it was worth the wait.
Please Be Advised. WARNING: This story has strong, bloody violence, strong language, contains material that some find disturbing, and contain scenes of sexual nature.
I do not have an editor so there are going to be blips and mistakes. Please be kind when reviewing. This is purely for entertainment and not real life.
As always all mistakes are mine. Enjoy!
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHRISTIAN
I can't believe I let Ray and my old crew get the drop on me. Finding them in my home was a shock but I shouldn't have been surprised. Ray saying that Pop has known all along where I was floored me. I thought I did a pretty good job wiping my tracks.
Watching that video Luke had on his phone of Anastasia taking down Jose was classic. Her and Kate had started taking self-defense classes right after their friendship start. I was thrilled and it has helped her clumsiness tremendously.
Kate.
That little snake is going to get a piece of my mind. Everything that Anastasia has been through with friends in the past made it difficult for her to be open to a friendship with anyone. But now that Kate has duped her and me only means that she'll go back into her shell and not trusting anyone again.
Speaking of not trusting anyone again I'm going to be on that list. I have yet to tell her about my family. Well, the more in depth version of my family. She knows I left because I didn't want to be a part of their business anymore, but I never told her the whole truth. I thought I had years before we crossed that bridge, not less than a year. I knew once we had kids that I wouldn't be able to not have them know my Ma. She has been my best friend since I can remember. Keeping her away from her grandkids would've killed her. Or her killing me.
I climb the steps of the private jet waiting for us and take my seat towards the back. My old crew steer clear of me and take seats up front away from me but not Ray. No, that man comes and sits right across from me.
"When things move back to normal we need to talk." Ray speaks up as I take my phone out. "There are some things I need to tell you and it might come as a shock."
"Nothing will ever be normal after today." I say not looking up.
Before we take off from the private airport I text Carson to get himself and two of our best guys up to Seattle asap and be on standby. I'm not sure what my father has planned but once he grabbed Anastasia all bets were off. In a matter of a minute he responded and said he'll get a team and be on the next flight out.
Pocketing my phone I lean back in my plush leather seat and tilt my head back. I feel a tension headache coming on just thinking about how I'm going to explain this and not have her hate me or try to run.
I must've fallen a sleep because the jolt of the jet touching down on the private runway startles me. I look around and see that night has come and a sheen of sweat has started to form down my back.
The jet takes longer to park and the bounce in my leg is making me grow even more impatient. Jose takes a call and bounds off the aircraft first and into a waiting car before speeding off.
"Where'd he run off to?" Most orders come from Ray who gets them from Pop.
"Mr. Grey wants some time alone with Anastasia before you get there. We're supposed to stall."
My hands go immediately for my gun.
"I came willingly but if you so much as block my attempt to my wife I'll send each and every one of you to your grave." I threaten.
Ray puts his hands up in surrender.
"I understand, that's why I sent Jose ahead of the group. No detours, we will go directly to the main house." He placates.
"I fucking hate Jose. He better keep his hands to himself or he'll have more to worry about than that fat lip and black eye my wife gave him." I snap. My nerves are fried and I can't squash the agitation.
I've never like that motherfucker. Ever since I was in high school he was always trying to worm his way into our crew. I've always felt like he was a snake sitting back waiting to strike when the opportunity presented itself.
The drive to the compound takes forever.
"Mr. Grey had told everyone that you'd gone to Italy to help oversee a new territory with your uncle." He whispers. "So you wifed up, huh?" Luke nudges my arm as we're stopped at a red light. "She got a sister, cuz she's hot as hell?"
Everyone's avoided talking to me up to this point, but I should've known Luke would be the one to break the tension in the car.
I can't help but smirk for the first time since learning Anastasia had been taken.
"No." I shake my head. "Only child."
Luke, Jason, Jose, and Ryan all grew up together. All families were a part of my family's business except Jose.
"Never thought I'd see the day that you'd take on that responsibility. It suits you man." He pauses. "I get it now, why you left and all. If there was someone out there for me I'd do the same."
"Thanks man."
I'd confided in Luke and Jason the turmoil I'd had but never giving anything away about Anastasia or the very first time we met. They did know that I was wanting, no, needing to do my own thing. At least for a while.
"She'll be fine. Once Mrs. Grey sees her and that rock on her finger, you'll be the one who has to make arrangements to spend time with your wife." He chuckles knowing how my Ma is going to react to Anastasia.
The moment is broken when we pull through the gates and up to the main house. I'm out of the car before it's come to a complete stop, storming up the steps and into the house.
I hear noises coming from down toward the kitchen but seeing the two guards down by my Pop's study and watching Kate exit I know she's in there.
"You and I will talk later." I seethe and grab her arm with a jerk as she tries to rush past me.
"I'm sorry. I was told I had to." She's blubbering and borderline hysterical.
Luke comes up beside me, "Not now, Christian."
I let her go and keep moving. The guards try to block my path but I'm a man on a mission to find and protect his wife. A fight ensues and Luke joins in on the action. I've never had to ask for help from him. He's always had my back, even when I'm the one in the wrong.
Once we've handed the guards their asses I burst through Pop's study door taking it off the hinges. What I find will haunt me forever.
Pop has his gun by his side with Bruno behind him holding a scared, shaking Anastasia toward the corner of the room. My hand immediately goes to my piece pulling it out but leave it at my side.
"I'm glad you decided to come home, son." Pop starts. "I was beginning to think you didn't love this family."
"You got my attention and I'm here. Now let Anastasia go and we can discuss whatever it is that has brought me back here."
"It was time for you to come home, son. I let you have your fun and let you slide on your responsibilities but now it's time to start to take your role in this family."
"I'm here aren't I."
"Yes and apparently with a wife." He adds looking over at her. "Does she know about us? Does she know who you really are?" His voice is borderline menacing.
"Whatever you want to say, say to me. Don't bring her in on this. She has nothing to do with it."
"She has everything to do with it. Does she know what you've done?" He's pushing me.
"Don't do this now Pop." I've never been one to be a nervous wreck during a hostile environment but right now I'm sweating bullets. I need more time, she won't understand or be able to process all of this.
"Don't do what? Tell my new daughter what you did all those years ago in her house."
My heart sinks. I know what he is referring to. The night I killed Frank.
I take a step forward but a hand clamps down on my shoulder. I know it's Ray holding me back.
"Pop, you don't understand. Let us speak alone." I urge not raising my voice to show him how out of control I'm feeling.
"I understand that my son kept a secret from me, and I think it only fair to tell my new daughter the truth. We've never kept things from each other and I'm not about to start now, son."
My hand tightens on the handle of my gun.
"Easy Christian." Ray whispers. He knows I'm about to lose my shit.
I notice that my father's guards have come in and taken a position around the room. Them verses us. How in the hell did we get here?
My father turns to my wife and I know that there is nothing I can do short of shooting my Pop to stop it.
"Darling…"
"POP!" I yell to stop him. My arm moves and my gun now has aim over towards the desk, but he doesn't even falter.
Anastasia is shaking uncontrollably now. Her breathing is elevated, and I worry about her having an asthma or a panic attack. All attention has turned towards her except for my Pop's guards. They have their guns up and pointing to me and my crew.
"Christian is the one who killed your father that night. He was the one in the house."
Her face goes pale white and I can see she is minutes away from passing out. She gasps in shock and her eyes pass between Pop and me. Pop turns and sees my gun pointed in their direction. His face contorts and his eyes narrow. He raises his gun but instead of aiming for me he points it over to the corner of the room where the love of my life is.
"I should punish you for lying to me and betraying your family." Pop threatens.
The sound of shifting clothes echoes behind me and out of my peripheral I see Luke, Jason, even Jose and surprisingly Ray brandishing their guns. They have the room covered.
"Don't you dare point a gun at her!" Ray surprises us all and barks at Pop.
Never in all my life have I ever heard Ray talk to Pop that way. The tone even surprises Pop.
"This doesn't involve you Ray. I suggest you put that gun down or I might think you've turned sides on me, old friend." Pop pushes with venom spewing.
"No one will threaten my family and get away with it. That includes you, old friend." Ray meets Pop with the same force. His words surprise us all and for a moment I can't understand his meaning.
"Family?" Pop looks at Anastasia then back at Ray a few times. "My God."
Pop slowly lowers his gun, but Anastasia's legs give out. She crumples but Bruno hauls her up roughly. She screeches as he manhandles her, and I lose my shit. I do what I should've done when I walked in and saw the situation. My finger squeezes the trigger and the sound of the bullet leaving the chamber and explodes out of the gun. A mere seconds follow and the body of Bruno lands on the floor in a heap. He had such a hard grip on Anastasia that she falls back with him and lands on his chest.
The room becomes chaos as Pop is yelling for his guards to stand down as I make my way over to her. She's a total mess and I'm not sure if she'll ever recover from this.
"You're okay, baby." I repeat over and over as I lift her up into my arms. She fights me on instinct, but I hold her tight, not letting her see the dead man with a bullet between his eyes on the floor. "I've got you."
"Chris-tian!" She's huffing and I know what she needs. Her breathing is worse, so I reach in my jacket pocket and pull out her inhaler and give it a few shakes before bringing it up to her mouth. Her eyes are going wild and can't seem to focus on any one thing for long.
My hand goes to the back of her neck and I steady her as I all but shove the albuterol between her lips and pump the device. At first her brain doesn't register what is happening, so I try again, and her body takes over what she needs to, and she inhales.
"Breath with me, beautiful." I coach and she only has her eyes on me. Once she has her breathing under normal she chances a look around as if the last several hours has finally caught up to her, she passes out and right into my hands.
The room has gone quiet and after I've gathered her up in my arms I turn and notice Ray standing with his back to me blocking everyone from viewing me and Anastasia. I have a thousand questions right now, but my first priority is my wife. Luke, Jason, and Jose stand side by side with Ray and make it an easy line to walk behind them to the door.
"Take her to your old room and I'll have Doctor Fulton come by immediately. We obviously need to discuss things." Pop speaks into the silent room.
The moment I make it out in the hall I see Ma standing there.
"What is going on? Christian I didn't know you were here." She takes steps toward me and if she didn't notice that I was carrying a woman in my arms, she stops and puts a hand over her mouth. "Who on earth is this? Is she okay? I heard a gun and Mack wanted me into the saferoom but refused to see what happened down here." She explains.
I need to get Anastasia settled first so I give Ma a quick reply.
"This is Anastasia, my wife."
"Your wife?" Her delicate hand comes up to her chest in surprise.
Just like a lightbulb turning on for the first time, Ma beams and claps her hands together. Then her eyes dim as she looks over to Pop's study.
"What did your father do?" Her hands immediately go to her hips.
"I love you Ma, but I need to make sure she's fine."
"Yes, of course, use your old room then come down here and you tell me everything." She reaches up and places a kiss on my cheek then does the same to Anastasia. "My heart is full, baby boy."
I walk down the hall then up the flight of stairs toward my old bedroom. I could take her to my house but I'm not sure there is anything there for us to stay since I've been gone for over two years now.
My room is the same as I left it when I decided to move out years ago. The bed is still in the middle of the room and the door to the balcony has the same blinds. I can hear the rain starting to come down and hope when she wakes I'll have the words to explain all this.
A knock on the door alerts me and my hand goes to my gun. Luke pops his head in.
"Doc Fulton is here to have a look at Mrs. Grey." He nods over to my wife I've laid down on the bed.
"Send him in."
Moments later an older man I've known my entire life and has saved me a few times comes in with his black medical bag.
"Good to see you again, Doc." I stand and shake his hand.
"Christian, my boy, I thought I'd die before I saw you back in the state again." He answers. "And to hear you came home with a wife at that." He nods over to Anastasia.
He steps around me and sets his bag on the end of the bed then checks her pulse. Doc does a quick exam and I fill him in on her allergies and asthma.
"Everything looks normal. She's just in a bit of shock I'm sure. Let her rest for a while and she'll be good as new. I'd like to get some blood work done so that if there is anything later on I can have it in the family file. I'll also send out for more inhalers to have on hand with her security."
I nod thankful that he always knows what we need. We walk out and I find Luke standing outside the door.
"Mr. and Mrs. Grey are asking for you to come down when Dr. Fulton leaves. I'll stand guard and let you know when she wakes." I know he can see my hesitation. "I'll protect her with my life Christian." He places his hand on my shoulder.
My feet move back in the room and I place a kiss on her lips before whispering, "I love you and I'll be right back, baby."
Closing the door behind me I give it one last look before I turn, and Luke stands in front of the door. I descend the stairs and can hear the loud voice of Ma coming from the study. Ray is standing outside the door and turns when he sees me coming.
"I will tell you right now Carrick, if you don't make this right with our new daughter you'll be sleeping in the nearest roach motel this city has to offer! I'll make sure the guards kick your ass out and won't let you in!"
"Now wait a minute Gracie…" we heard but Pop is cut off.
"No, you wait a minute! She is going to have our future grandbabies and if you've put a rift in between that I'm going to make you regret it."
The door opens and Ma is crosses her arms over her chest.
"Both of you come in here." She demands and we both hop to it.
When we walk in Bruno's body has been taken care of and there is no sign that he was ever there.
Pop looks like he was a chastised schoolboy and kicks back his amber colored liquor as he falls into his chair.
"Did you have to kill him, Christian?" Pop asks as I stand behind the chair waiting for this conversation to start.
"Anyone who thinks they can touch my wife will see the same fate." I answer coolly letting him know that the next time I won't hesitate to kill him on the spot.
"I wasn't going to harm her. What kind of person do you take me for? She's family for Christ's sake."
"Then why did you have Bruno hold her? Why point your gun towards her?" I seethe.
"I was trying to make a point. A poor one I see now but I needed you to understand the severity of your actions."
"I hear them loud and clear now." I grind my teeth.
"Carrick Grey, I'm so mad at you right now." Ma steps in and shakes her finger. She turns back to Ray and I then motions for us to have a seat.
Ray and I both take a seat across from Pop and wait. Ma circles around and stands off to the side of the desk, halfway from Pop.
"Now that I have the full story, you men are going to answer some questions."
Pop pours himself another drink and offers us each one. We gladly take him up on it. Ma waits then pounces.
"Let's start first with you." She points over at Ray and I watch his shoulders slump. "Then I'll get to you!" She points over at me and I feel my own shoulders slump.
Ma may be a loving, caring, gentle woman but when you fire her up stand out of her way. And from the lashing we heard outside the door a few minutes ago I know she'll hang us up by our toes if we don't comply.
"You've had a daughter and didn't tell us until now?" There is a bit of hurt in her voice and I know that she considers Ray to be a part of our family. He's been with us before Pop and Ma married. Hell, he was the only one there at their wedding.
Ray throws back the bourbon then clears his throat.
"I didn't realize that she existed until she was about fourteen or fifteen. Even then I was in denial. Her mother, Carla, and I met at a pub one night and hit it off." He pauses as if going down memory lane. "She was beautiful and fun and had this presences about her. You were immediately drawn to her."
I know that feeling because that is exactly how I feel about Anastasia.
"She was here on a college scholarship at the University for an Art degree. We started seeing each other almost every day. I'd told her that I was in the service and was on leave. Chicks always jumped at that when you told them that and I was young and stupid back then. I thought it would impress her, but she didn't seem to care. We'd been together for about two months when I was arrested for Charlie Turners murder. Remember I made the plea for two years then would be out. I had sent Dustin a letter while I was locked up to write and tell Carla that I'd been sent off overseas. We wrote back and forth a few times but after a while I decided to cut ties with her. I thought it wasn't fair to lie and string her along, so I told Dustin to send her a letter saying I was killed and to make it look all official."
He rubs his hand up and down the back of his neck.
"I had no idea she was pregnant. I would've never turned my back on her if I'd known." He sounds genuine. "She was everything to me and I didn't want my life to touch her." He looks over at me and I can see the sympathy in his eyes. "When we visited Frank at his house I saw the photos of Carla and it threw me. At the time I had no idea that Anastasia was mine. I was still trying to wrap my head around at the woman in the pictures being my Carla. A few days later I started looking into Frank and his wife and knew that she was my Carla. I saw that she'd had a daughter but still it didn't register that she was mine until months later. By the time everything sank in Anastasia was in the guardianship of a teacher and was doing well. I thought if I tried to step in that I might screw her up or do more harm than what was already done. My lifestyle isn't the best to bring an emotional teenager into especially after losing her mother and father figure so close together. I thought she'd be better off if she didn't know I existed."
He looks over at me.
"We've known all along that you spared her life. You can't be in this life and not know every detail that happens." He stares hard at me and I'm shocked.
"You've known all this time?" I question, stunned.
"Yes, I'd noticed her coming up from the backdoor when I was upstairs retrieving Frank's laptop. But we sure as hell didn't know you were pursuing her and planning to leave the family business for her." Ray says then seats back in his chair.
"Nor did we know that Ray had a daughter and was keeping it from us." Pop glares towards Ray. They've known each other a long time and trust one another like brothers. I can only imagine what this might do to their friendship.
"I thought by not telling you, Carrick, I was saving her but now I can see my mistake. Our kids have seemed to connect us even further and not even realize it."
A figure runs across the rainy windows of the study and has us all turning to watch as it passes in a flash. My body immediately is on high alert and stands. Moments later the door bursts open and Luke huffs out of breath. He's left side of his face is red and swelling with a cut right beside his eye.
"She ran. I heard movement and when I peeked in she hit me with a tennis racket then fled out the door to the balcony. When I realized what had happened she was gone." He breaths out in a rush.
My legs jolt towards the French doors that lead out to where we just saw Anastasia bolt from, and I take off in a dead run.
She's running scared. She's running from me.
A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you like my story! Was it worth the wait? I hope so! Next will be Christian POV. Bad news is that the next chapter won't be released until October 1st or 8th. I have my son's bday, my bday, then a good friends wedding happening all this month. I know that it will be a long wait but hopefully I'll be back to releasing a chapter a week after that. Thank you all for your patients and understanding. Stay Safe.
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