"If this isn't Sleeping Beauty," Ana singsonged teasingly as Hyde groaned awake, the remnants of a drug-induced slumber still clouding his mind. He attempted to move, but his body betrayed him; the harsh reality of his restraints set in as he discovered he was on all fours, his knees drawn uncomfortably close to his chest. An overwhelming sense of vulnerability washed over him, only compounded by his utter nakedness. The cold air of the room prickled against his skin, amplifying his discomfort.
"What is the meaning of this?" Hyde roared, battling the chilling dread that gnawed at his insides. Even in his raging defiance, he could feel the weight of his predicament bearing down on him.
"Ah, Jack," a voice he recognized all too well chimed in, dripping with malice. "This is payback." The words rolled off Madison's tongue like honey mixed with poison. His futile attempts to turn and face her were thwarted; he was securely bound, a helpless prey caught in her trap. As she stepped closer, the taunting glimmer in her eyes was unmistakable. "Hello, Jack," she cooed, the sweetness of her voice belied by the malicious delight in her grin. "There are no words to express the elation I feel at this moment. I have been looking forward to this day for months. The day I inflict onto you ten times what you did to me."
The door creaked open, and three men filed in, their presence suffocating the room's atmosphere. Hyde swallowed hard, the taste of fear thickening in his throat. In a moment of sheer vulnerability, he didn't bother to hide his whimper, an involuntary response to the growing dread. Their nakedness and covered faces revealed the truth of the horrors he was about to endure. A taste of the medicine he dished out so mercilessly.
"What do you want?" his voice betraying the quiver of genuine fear coursing through him.
"Oh, you will know what I want soon enough," Madison hissed with a fierce intensity. "By the time I'm through with you, you will give me whatever I desire. I will make sure of that." Her hand clamped onto his face, forcing him to look directly at her as she brandished a belt, its slick leather gleaming ominously in the harsh light. As the crack of it resounded through the room, a cry of pain escaped Hyde's lips, echoing off the walls, a sound of anguish that fed Madison's twisted satisfaction. "Ana, thanks for everything. I've got this," Madison added, dismissive and confident.
Ana stepped back, taking in the sight of Madison, the girl she'd known since childhood, now transformed back into the woman Hyde had nearly destroyed. She nodded, seeing the fire of determination in her best friend's eyes. This was a moment of catharsis, an opportunity to reclaim lost power. It was also the first genuine smile Ana had seen from Madison since Hyde had drugged her, violated her, and cruelly taped the act as leverage. Now it was her turn.
"Of course. You know where to find me if you need anything," Ana replied, her voice a blend of encouragement and mockery as she looked in Hyde's direction. She drew Madison in for a tight embrace, a sisterly bond underscored by an understanding of the pain she'd suffered. With a smirk aimed at Hyde, who was shivering uncontrollably, she made her exit, using the backdoor as Grey's people were watching the main entrance.
As she slipped into the waiting town car, she felt the exhilaration of freedom mingled with the adrenaline of revenge.
"Are you done already?" Luke asked, his surprise evident as he pulled away from the curb.
"Madison has it all in hand," Ana replied, a satisfied smile creeping onto her face. A sense of triumph enveloped her as she leaned back against the plush leather seats. She turned the conversation to their mission. "How are things on your end?"
"The team is in his apartment, sifting through all his belongings. We'll have his blackmail material turned into evidence very soon. Henson is waiting nearby. He told me all the girls have agreed to come forward, contingent upon our promise that Hyde's videos will never see the inside of a courtroom," Luke explained, his focus steady.
Ana nodded, a steely resolve hardening her expression. "He won't go to trial. He'll plead out if he knows what's good for him," she groused, the thought of Hyde's downfall bringing her a measure of comfort.
Nearly a month had passed since Ana had evaded Grey's men back in New York. She had checked out of the Conrad Hotel and relocated to a townhouse she'd rented for the month, a safe haven from prying eyes. Sawyer had alerted her to the two men tailing them from the airport; they displayed a clumsiness that was laughable yet irritating. When Elliot warned her that his brother would surely come after her to prove a point, Ana had to admit she hadn't expected any less. Elliot had embarrassed him, and a man like Grey would feel the need to reclaim his status, to dominate.
When Elliot arrived right on time, his vibrant energy seemed dimmed. "Hey, you," he said softly, pulling her into a hug. Ana felt the weight of his troubles and the guilt he carried like a shroud.
"Come on, El," she said, determination coloring her words. "Your brother's actions are his own; and that's final."
"Your life is disrupted because I couldn't resist poking the bear," Elliot whispered angrily. Worse, he couldn't truly explain to Ana why he and Christian were on the outs.
"How young was he when Lincoln got her hooks into him?" His head shot up, surprise flashing across his features. "My father ran a background check on him," she replied nonchalantly, brushing off the gravity of her revelation. "It was evident he started young, just how young I wasn't sure. And I've heard the rumors… she introduced him to the lifestyle."
"I didn't think anyone would find anything," Elliot muttered, a growing sorrow etching lines across his brow.
"He hid it well," Ana replied with a shrug. "That's precisely why I invited you for lunch today, knowing Kate would be absent. I wasn't sure if you had told her the complete story." When Elliot shook his head in response, she continued, "I figured as much." Ana murmured.
"He was only fifteen, and when the truth came out… when he had to make a choice, he chose her over his family. After everything Mom has done for him, to say nothing of the rest of us… it stings." Elliot's bitterness spilled forth with anger-laden tears that he brushed away.
As Ana contemplated the implications of the background check, she realized it shifted the entire narrative. Christian might have misjudged what his men witnessed in New York, thinking she was part of his world, and that opened a new door for her to exploit.
"I can get rid of her," Ana suggested, her voice cool and calculating. "If he's coming after me to make a point, then they're both fair game. Just say the word, and I'll make sure she's history."
Elliot considered her offer. He knew that if anyone was capable of doing it, it would be Ana. Her lethal determination both unnerved and comforted him.
"Thanks, but no," he said finally. "He has to deal with this himself. He needs to see her for who she really is, or else…" His words trailed off, the weight of unsaid thoughts hanging in the air.
"Duh, of course he has to handle it himself. What do you think I'm planning on doing? Kidnapping her, hog-tie her naked, and dropping her in a village in Kyrgyzstan? That's in the cards too, after he delivers her a swift kick to the curb," Ana answered, a wry smile creeping onto her lips.
Elliot could hardly contain a laugh at the image Ana painted. "If that's the plan, go right ahead," he chuckled, his shoulders shaking with mirth.
"Excellent! Let's order," Ana declared, her stomach grumbling in agreement. "I'm absolutely famished."