Christian

My phone rings while I'm in my home office and Dexter Cardigan's name pops up. He's the head of my legal team and he's been in charge of Anastasia's legal cases against that poor excuse of a human being, Hyde.

"Grey." I answer.

"Good evening, Christian. I have some interesting news."

"Do you? It's Friday night at 9:00pm. How interesting can it be?" I tease.

"Interesting enough to interrupt your weekly cream bourbon while reading proposals party. You know... I can think of a thousand other ways to decompress after a long hard week. And they're all in your library."

"I can read any time." I take a sip of my weekly bourbon and wonder why I have such an array of books I really don't take time to read. I suppose the thought of a study is more much more satisfying than actually using it.

"But you don't. Such a waste of a library."

I roll my eyes. I don't like that he knows me so well. "What's the news, Dexter?"

"Well, when we went to serve him papers today, he wasn't there... and neither were his belongings. We looked through the front window and it's empty. The man bailed."

I cock an eyebrow. "Is that right?"

"He's got to be on the run. The police have a warrant out for him and a BOLO on his vehicle. I guess we'll just have to wait and see where he shows up. But in the meantime, I'd keep an eye on Ms. Steele."

"I always do."

"A closer eye."

"Dexter. I don't need a reminder to keep an eye on mine. I would never let anything or anyone touch a hair on that pretty little head of hers. I'd do anything to make sure of it."

There's silence.

"Is that so?"

As I open my mouth to retort, my phone beeps, letting me know I have another call. "Someone is calling in, Cardigan. We'll talk later."

The other number is Anastasia.

"Hello, angel."

"Hi."

"What's wrong?" She sounds small and unsure and I don't like it.

"It's stupid."

"Nothing you do, think, or say is stupid, sweetheart. Tell me."

"The girls went to a party and Elliot is out with his friends."

"Okay?" I don't understand.

"I haven't been alone since... well, usually when the girls are out, Elliot lets me bunk up with him and he's always home when the girls aren't, but now they're all gone and this place is big. I know that there is no way Jack can get past all the security in this place, but my brain isn't logicking right now."

"Angel." I sigh into the phone, my heart aching for her. I understand far too well.

"Can I borrow your couch for awhile? I won't bother you and as soon as the girls-"

"You may come up, Anastasia. You're always welcome here."

"Thank you." The relief in her voice makes me smile.

"You're very welcome."

I unlock the door to the entranceway just as the elevator door opens. She has a small smile on her face and she's wrapped in a blanket and clutching a pillow, her feet bare.

"Hi."

I shake my head at how adorable she is. "Hello, there."

"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything."

"Nothing important."

"That's good then." She stands there awkwardly, waiting for me to give her direction.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Like... a drink drink, or...?"

I snort. "I didn't say a word about your underage beer drinking while camping, but you won't be doing it under my roof, Anastasia."

She rolls her eyes and I click my tongue.

"Water is fine, Christian, thank you."

Giving her a nod, I make my way to the kitchen while I let her get comfortable on the couch.

When I find her, she's already snuggled on the couch, her eyes closed.

I place the water on the coaster and lean down, hoisting her into my arms while she's still wrapped in the blanket. It makes her startle, but I hold steady. She's wrapped like a burrito, her arms pinned to her under the blanket, making it easy to move her.

"Christian! What are you doing?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were ready for bed already? You aren't sleeping on this couch. It's bad for your back."

"But-"

"Hush."

She clicks her mouth shut and keeps quiet while I carry her toward my bedroom and drop her in the bed. I cover her with my own blanket and she grunts. "Too hot."

I smile. "Okay." I pull my blankets down and grab ahold of the edge of her blanket, yanking hard. Her burrito'd self flips around and she ends up on her stomach when the blanket finally falls to the floor. "Better?"

"Menace!" She shoves her hair out of her face while I cover her with my sheet and blanket.

"Sleep now."

"Demanding."

"You already know this."

"Rub my back."

"Excuse me?" I'm surprised by her bluntness. "Who's demanding now?"

"You were so worried about my back on the couch, then you came in here and flipped me around like a Six Flags ride. Fix what you broke."

Laughing, I have a seat next to her on the bed, but do as demanded and rub her back up and down as she relaxes and sinks further into bed.

"Perfection." She mumbles into the pillow.

"If I had a dime for every time a woman said that to me..."

"Don't ruin this for me, Grey." She turns her head on the pillow and scowls at me.

Chuckling, I lock my lips with my free hand and pretend to throw away the key.

"Better."

XxXxXx

When Anastasia fell asleep, I slipped out of the room to give myself some distance from her. I would love to stay with her, but I know it's for the best. I can't make this harder on us. It isn't just affecting me, it affects her, too.

I sit in the great room, the lights off, while I enjoy the rain coming down outside. The rain always calms me. Even through the thunder and lightening, I feel a peace that comes over me. I can feel the electricity in my bones and the hum of the static gives me a floating sensation. It can simultaneously calm me and make me feel more alive than ever. Bliss.

The bell to my elevator sounds and when I turn around, Elliot is running in, looking completely panicked.

I stand. "What's going on?"

"Answer your fucking phone, dude! Anastasia is missing."

"Elliot-" I put a hand up.

"The girls called saying she wasn't in the apartment and isn't answering her phone. She isn't at my place and she-"

"Elliot! She's fine."

"What?"

"She's here."

His shoulders sag in relief and he lets out a grunt. "Where?"

"She's sleeping in my bedroom."

He turns, but I grab his arm.

"Let her be. She's sleeping."

"I need to see her. I need to be with her. She won't mind."

"No. I already let you have an apartment, you aren't taking over my bed, too. Let her be. She needs rest. And I don't want your scent in my bed."

His lips curl up in a grin. "You want hers. You want to be enveloped in her scent when you sleep."

"Shut up."

"You're so far gone, dude."

"Get out." I push him toward the elevator. "You can see her in the morning. Let the girls know she's fine."

As the elevator doors close with him in them, a muffled whimpering sound comes from the bedroom. I hurry toward the bedroom, my bare feet slapping against the marble floor until I realize that the sound of someone ambushing her might make it worse. I slow my pace down just enough to walk on the pads of my feet, my strides quiet this time.

Peeking in the door, I see Anastasia still curled up in bed and when the lightening strikes and lights up her face, her eyes are closed but her mouth is pulled into a pout. A deep line between her eyebrows. I open the door enough to slip in and have a seat on the bed so I can watch her closer.

She whimpers again and I stroke the side of her her head, smoothing her hair down. "I'm here, Anastasia. You're safe."

"Don't let him get me." Her whisper in the dark is barely audible.

"Never." Using the pad of my thumb, I caress the deep ridge between her eyebrows, trying my best to get her worry to ease. "Rest, sweetheart."

Her body and face relax and she rolls away from me, going back to what I hope is a peaceful rest.

I stand, heading toward the door and look back toward her one last time.

XxXxXx

When I wake, I find myself in an oversized armchair in my bedroom, a crystal tumbler next to me with the remnants of my cream bourbon. Last night I couldnt sleep. I found myself wandering the apartment and ended up back in the bedroom, watching over Ana as she slept. I must have drifted off.

Now, my bed is empty and made. No Anastasia in sight. I hear a muffled giggle though, telling me she's close. Grabbing my tumbler, I go in search for the angel.

The smell of bacon hits me and I find her at the oven while my giant-ass brother is sitting at the island, grinning at her.

Why is he here?

Unfortunately I already know the answer to that.

"Morning." My rough voice makes her spin in her spot.

"Christian! You're up. I wanted to thank you for last night by fixing you breakfast. I hope that's alright?" She's got a brilliant smile on her face and she looks much more happy than she did last night. All worry of Hyde and her nightmares seem to have vanished with the darkness. The sun is shining today and so is she.

"That's great, Anastasia. Thank you." Heading for the fridge, I pull out a bottle of water.

"I hate that you slept in the chair. You didn't have to." Her shining smile pulls into a pout, making me bristle.

I shrug with my bottle to my mouth and take a swig. "I couldn't sleep. So, I had a nightcap. Didn't intend on falling asleep."

"Well, I'll try not to bother you again. I have to get over this illogical fear at some point."

"You're no bother, Angel. I already told you that you're welcome here anytime."

"I'm sorry, Ana. I should have checked with the girls about their plans. I would have stayed home." Elliot speaks up, looking regretful that he chose a night out with friends over a night in with her.

She huffs. "You act like I need a babysitter." Her shoulders slump. "Hell, maybe I do. I can't seem to be alone in the dark anymore."

Standing, Elliot makes his way over to her and pulls her in for a hug, holding her tight against him. Unfortunately, jealousy churns hot in my gut when I see her arms wrap around his waist, squeezing him tight.

"You went through something traumatic. It's completely natural to have some PTSD from it. But I guarantee he won't be an issue much longer. Everything will work out how it should."

"You think so?" She doesn't bother to pull her cheek off his chest to speak. I don't like them so fucking close. I don't like how comfortable they are. At this rate, he's going to blow it all to hell before she's 21. He cannot fuck this up. The Order will get involved. The repercussions could be devastating.

"I know so." He rubs her back up and down before releasing her. "Now cook us some breakfast, woman. The bacon is burning."

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