I hated uncertainty more than anything. I was successful in my business because anytime I walked into a deal I knew every detail, every player, every crack. But today I only had a little intel from Sawyer, the scraps that he gave could have been a deflection so in reality I was going in blind. Hyde's threats were at the forefront of my mind. He was an serial abuser of woman, not unlike myself. The only difference was everything that I had ever done was consensual. The thought of him even touching Ana was too much, I was spiraling out of control just thinking about it. I didn't know what tatic I was going to take, Taylor and I discussed various options but I did know one thing for sure… There was no fucking way Elena and Jack would get away this time. I was prepared to do anything and everything necessary to keep Ana safe.
Knowing that Elena was at the root of this plan made it easier to gauge. I knew her motivations. I knew her mind and her fears and her needs. This was all a very long and elaborate scene. In our early days together she would teach me about the art of the scene, that every detail mattered from the scent of the candles, the color of the sheets, the quality of the leather strap. Everything so carefully planned and plotted. It was a true gift that she had and looking back this whole thing had her stamp all over it. She continued to play to my strengths, knowing that I was fully capable of landing a failing chopper, knowing how to manipulate my trusted staff. For the first time it hit me that it was Elena pulling Lelia strings, I often wondered how she got her hands on a gun in the first place. Lelia must have confided in her about Sawyer. It was all falling so neatly into place. Elena had visited me unannounced the day Leila took her own life. She came in with a bunch of potential subs disguised as hair models for her salon. Leila must have snuck in with the group of them. This had been going on for much longer than I realized. Elena was in this for revenge and the rush that I had denied her for years. I knew she was desperate for money, her husband had a new young mistress who was carrying his child, he was on the brink of leaving her. I knew that her salons would fold without my money to keep things going. I also knew that she was playing a very dangerous game with a married senator. Blackmail was another one of her hobbies. I was so blind to her, in some ways where she was concerned I was still a fifteen year old boy. The lasting effects of her grooming were longer reaching than I even realized.
The elevator ride up to my apartment felt like forever. My body was buzzing a mix of rage and anger and fear. Most of my things were already removed from Escala including the contents of the red room. It was strange walking through the hallways that I once called my home. It felt like a lifetime ago. A time before Ana where Escala was a refuge and a retreat. Women lived here with me but they did not live within me the way that Ana did. It was eerily quiet because I knew there were three people upstairs waiting for me, I could feel Ana's fear and Elena's excitement.
I stood outside the closed door to the red room, a place that I once felt was my sanctuary. I straightened my back and clenched my jaw as I pushed open the door. Ana was kneeling in the middle of the floor, naked, head down, hands on her thighs. Jack was standing beside her a few feet away. When he saw me he raised the gun he was holding towards her head. Ana would not look up. She had been told not to. Elena was dressed in her full Domme persona. Black leather everything - head to toe. She was seated on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed and her whip in hand.
"Christian, finally. I thought you were never going to arrive, close the door and lock it, will you." She cooed. She was ripe with power. She picked up her cell phone and made a call. She told who ever was on the other end of the phone to make sure that I was alone and to not let anyone up stairs. There was a third person in play. I knew Taylor and his men were parked in a van outside. I had a small earpiece in so they could hear and record everything that was going on. It was barely a comfort. "Come sit beside me." She patted the bed as if she was calling a dog. I exhaled loudly and crossed my arms against my chest.
"I don't know what you think is going to happen here today, Elena. But let me be clear, this little scene you have created… it's not going to happen."
"Oh, I think it is, Grey." Jack sneered taking a step closer to Ana the gun pressing to her temple. She jumped at the contact and for a moment her eyes met mine. Her face was bruised, her lip busted open. I resisted the urge to rush at Hyde and tear him to pieces but I could tell from the look in his eye that he would pull the trigger. Elena's plan didn't matter. Hyde had no plans to leave here with me and Ana alive. "Elena, pat him down. Bugs and weapons." Elena took her time waltzing towards me. She ran her hands over every inch of my body, removed my jacket, even went as far as unbuttoning my shirt exposing my chest down to my navel.
"Christain, darling. You will do exactly what we say or Ana dies. And you know better than anyone what a bullet looks like going through a beautiful girls brain. He's clean, Hyde." She pressed her palms flat against my chest, knowing full well what she was doing. I wrapped my hands around her wrists, squeezing them as I pulled her away from me. I heard Hyde cock the gun and I quickly released her. "Good, boy. Now take off your clothes."
"Fuck you. If it's money you want then its money you can have. But this… all of this is a waste of time. It's not happening. You're a crazy bitch. You've always been a crazy bitch." She looked me dead in my eyes, full of rage and slapped me across the face. There was a time when I would have enjoyed it but today it fueled my rage. She laughed and walked over to the bed lifting her whip.
"Ana, stand up." I took a step forward.
"Stay the fuck where you are Grey. Get on your knees. You dumb fuck. On your knees hands behind your head." Hyde was starting to lose control. I slowly descended to the ground.
"Ana. Stand. NOW." Ana rose slowly, but did not raise her head. She crossed her hands as if she was in prayer. Elena had given her full instructions. Hyde took his gun away from Ana and pointed it directly at me. In a flash Elena lifted her whip and it struck Ana across her back. She cried out and stumbled forward, Hyde caught her before she could fall. His hand lingering over her breasts before he released eyes and his gun never left me. And his smile would be burned in my brain for the rest of my life. He was enjoying this.
"Shall I do it again? Ana, Shall I?"
"Yes, master. Please." Ana choked out the words and no sooner did they hit my ears the whip struck her again. This time she took the impact and was silent. I was in complete shock hearing Ana submit to Elena.
"Elena! ENOUGH. You made your fucking point." I roared.
"Have I, Christain? You would forsake me for this weak little child? Look at you on your knees before me. Look at what she has reduced you to. All the years of work I put into you, into us. Do you think any of this would exist without me? Do you? Foolish boy." Elena was truly unhinged as she raised her whip and stuck Ana again. "Jack… do you want to fuck our little pet?" Hyde's face curled up with a satisfied smile. Ana's body went stiff and she finally looked me directly in my eyes. I expected to see fear but what I got was a burning rage equally matched to my own.
"Money first. I'll fuck her later."
"So you're going to be adding rape to your scenes now, Elena?"
"Of course not, Christain. Ana signed a contract. Jack and I can do whatever we wish, as long as you are unharmed and leave here alive."
"Ana, what? No. Enough, I have had enough. This ends now." I stood and took a step closer to Ana, Hyde fixed his gun on me. "You want your money, Hyde. I can have it wired anywhere in under two minutes. Take the money and get the fuck out of here. You take this any further and there is no going back for any of us."
"It's not up to him. This is my scene and I'll…" The shot rang out, I heard the unmistakable crack of the bullet hitting Elena's skull. Ana screamed as Elena's blood splattered across her face and body. Before any of us could move Elena's body hit the floor with a thud.
"Fucking bitch. Months and months of her going on and on and on about you and Ana." he was waving the gun back and forth between us. "Jesus Christ. This is what's going to happen, Grey. You're going to walk over to that laptop and wire forty million dollars into this account." He pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket and threw it to the ground. I slowly bent down to pick it up "Once I get a text that the money is there I am going to kill you."
"Jack no!" Ana screamed out drawing his focus away from me and on to her. I took a step closer to him.
"Shut the fuck up! He knows he is not leaving here alive. After I fucking kill you, Grey. And I am going to enjoy killing you. I am going to fuck this little slut. And there is nothing you can do about it. And you are going to do what I say because if you do I will let her live after I am done with her."
"Christian, look at me. Please look at me. I don't want to die today. Please. Please. I love you and I will always love you."
"Ana, I love you too. So much."
"Remember that first night together… in the car with Taylor… when I didn't want to go home with you…" Tears were rolling down her face. "Do you remember?"
"There is no way I am going to your apartment... alone. You really do have some nerve." "I assure you Ana. You will be perfectly safe. Taylor will be there and..."
"Yeah because being alone in an apartment with two men, one of which is on your payroll, carrying a gun no less makes me feel much better."
"Fair point well made Ana... wait...How did you know Taylor was carrying a gun?"
"The bulge in his jacket, from the looks I would say a .45 right Taylor?"
"Yes, Miss Steele."
"My father is ex army, we have been going to the shooting range since I was a kid."
"I see."
"I told you that you had no idea who you were dealing with. Now like I said, I am not going to your apartment..."
"Ana, my housekeeper Gail will also be there. She has prepared us a meal... Everyone in the company by now knows that I left with you. I understand your trepidation considering your experience at SIP, but you are perfectly safe."
"Said the spider to the fly. Fine..."
"Good."
"But no funny business, Grey."
"Yes, Ana. I remember. You told me I had no idea what I was dealing with and you were right."
"No matter what happens tonight, I don't regret getting in that car with you."
"Awww isn't that sweet. Get me my fucking money…"
She smiled and nodded. I knew what she wanted me to do. We were in this together. With that I charged at Hyde. The shock in his eyes brought me such extreme joy as my body hit his like a freight train. His gun went flying. We hit the ground with a thud knocking the wind out of us both. We struggled as we stood and threw punches. The mother fucker was able to get a few good shots in. I had my hands around his throat, choking him. He was clearly a trained fighter and was able to maneuver out of my grip. I could taste the blood in my mouth and my left eye was swollen but I felt no pain. All I felt was rage. We stood a foot apart glaring at one another, preparing for a fight to the death. There was another shot and the mirror on the wall exploded into a thousand tiny pieces scattering light everywhere.
"Enough!" Ana screamed out. "Don't move, Hyde." Ana stood there naked, covered in blood splatter, a gun in hand. It was surreal. In that moment everything around me felt disconnected. My mind flashed to my mother and to Lelia and then back to Ana. Jack spit a mouthful of blood onto the floor and shook his head. It would be the last thing he would ever do. Ana cocked the gun, pulled the trigger. The noise was deafening. Her aim was true and the bullet stuck him just to the left of his heart. He was stunned as he fell to his knees and then to the floor. Dead before his head hit the ground. Ana dropped the gun and collapsed. I ran to her, wrapping my body around hers and pulling a blanket off the bed. Ana was shaking and was crying uncontrollably. .
"Taylor… I hope you can hear me, call 911."
A few minutes passed and I could hear Taylor and his men pounding down the door and the sirens in the distance.
Thank you for reading and please review. I would love to hear what you think and if I should end the story here or continue.
