Page 253 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

The ringing phone startled Alex out of his reading. It was Greg. “Is Anna alright?”

“Yeah. I mean, I think so. She kinda... stormed out of her apartment.”

Alex frowned. That was very unlike her. “What?”

“Anna had a visitor last night, and when she kicked Jenna out, Jenna knocked on my door and told me what had happened. Said the guy had knocked hadn’t looked very nice, and that Anna seemed scared. So we waited and listened for the guy to leave. He left approximately four hours later. Jenna knocked on the door, but Anna didn’t answer, so I got the key and let myself in.” Greg sighed. “God, Alex, she was all torn up. I don’t know what that bastard did to her, but she was in bad shape. Really bad. Cuts all over her body. He had... raped her. Or worse. I don’t know. She passed out as soon as I walked into the room. I patched her up as best as I could and promised Jenna I’d stay with her.”

Alex gritted his teeth. Devin absolutely had something to do with it.

“I’m sorry, Alex. I fell asleep, and she woke up before I did and saw my tat. I tried to keep her from seeing any more, but damn if she seduced me and made me lose my mind. Then she slapped me.”

“She... slapped you?” He didn’t know whether to be shocked or amused. What was going on in that girl’s head?

“She’s pretty strong. It hurt.” Greg chuckled. “Anyway, she figured out I had something to do with you and got all mad about it. She, uh, wasn’t very kind in the things she said about you. Claimed you’d abandoned her and wouldn’t protect her.”

Alex slumped back in his chair and leaned his head back to stare at the gilded ceiling above his head. God, couldn’t he do anything right with that girl? No wonder she was angry with him.

“Alex?”

“What?”

“I asked what you wanted me to do.”

Alex ran his hands through his unkempt hair and across his scruffy chin. He’d barely been out of the library in a week. “Stay there. Stay out of sight. Don’t upset her, but keep tabs on her. I’m going to speak with Devin.”

“She, uh, met my neighbors, Ben and Matt. Remember them?”

“Yes.”

“They saw her and Jenna in the hallway and wanted me to introduce them.”

“What happened?”

“She and Ben seemed to have hit it off pretty well. We all went out to dinner, and he asked her out afterward.”

Alex wasn’t sure her getting involved with Ben was such a good idea. Devin wouldn’t let her attention to be drawn away from himself for long. And, yes, Alex wanted her to be happy, but the guy couldn’t protect her like he could... if he were there. He couldn’t go back yet. God, what a mess! “Is he a good guy? Ben, I mean?”

“Yeah. He is.”

“Okay.” He couldn’t do anything about it right now. He would just have to hope that she’d be over the guy by the time Alex returned to San Francisco. Or at least that he’d be able to woo her away from him. “Just... keep her as safe as you can without her knowing about it.”

“Yes, sir.”

They hung up, and a few thoughtful minutes later, Alex called Devin. “Why are you allowing men to go to Anna’s apartment and abuse her?”

“What are you talking about, Alex?” Devin sounded bored.

“Someone went over to her apartment and tore her up really bad. Was he sent to punish her?”

“Oh, that must have been Zach. He has... unusual appetites.”

“And you let him satisfy them with Anna?”

“Why not? She can handle it. Did she call you and complain?”

“No, of course not.”

Devin paused. “Ah. The babysitter?”

---