Page 280 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

She shook her head. “You should go.” He didn’t need to stay for a slave. He needed to be with his family. She crawled off his lap and stood next to the bed, staring at the floor. “I’ll be okay. Really.”

“Jenna said she would bring her things over tomorrow. Or I suppose that is today?”

Anna glanced up and saw a small smile on his face. She nodded.

Wilhelm stood. “Call me, Anna. Promise me you will if you need anything.”

“I will.”

She slipped on her robe and walked him to the door. He hugged her tightly and then left. She watched him walk down the hallway and then step into the elevator, waving before he did. She gave a brave smile and waved back.

As soon as the elevator doors closed, she hurried back to her bed, tears in her eyes. She stared at the ceiling and pushed away the pain that had returned fiercely at Wilhelm’s departure. His gentle lovemaking had allowed her to sleep peacefully for the first time in days, but now that he was gone... She rubbed her chest as tears fell down her face onto her pillow.

She didn’t feel abandoned. Wilhelm needed to go home, and she didn’t begrudge him. But his absence made her loneliness keener. Alex was gone. Ben was dead. And she didn’t dare pursue any other relationship. Devin wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone he thought was interfering with her duties. If nothing else, the pain of Ben’s death would be a constant reminder to keep those she cared about at a safe distance.

Chapter 131

“Anna.”

Anna groaned at her interrupted sleep. It had taken her forever to fall back to sleep after Wilhelm left. She opened her eyes to see Jenna standing over her. “What?”

“We need to get going if you’re going to the theater this morning.”

Anna glanced at her clock. It was eight-thirty. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

“You can stay here. Isaak will understand if you’re not up for performing.”

“I’m fine,” she snapped. “Just give me a minute.”

Jenna’s brows shot up. “Ooo-kay... I’ll wait for you in the other room.”

Anna struggled out of bed and stared at the floor for a long moment. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out, trying to get ahold of her emotions, but the tears came anyway. Wilhelm and Kurt were gone. Ben was gone. Alex was gone. She was alone. Again. She supposed she needed to get used to it.

She dressed and sucked in a deep breath before walking out to the living room, chin lifted high. “Okay, let’s go,” she said, grabbing her keys off the small table near the door. “I’ll drive.”

“Don’t you want to eat?” Jenna asked slowly.

“I’m not hungry.”

The two girls made their way down to the garage and got into Anna’s car. Tears filled her eyes and she bit the inside of her cheek. No, she told herself, I won’t cry. Crying wouldn’t bring anyone back, and crying was weak. She would be strong and not let anyone in. If she didn’t care about anyone, then there would be no one for Devin to kill. She glanced at Jenna. Or hurt.

“Where’s Wilhelm?” Jenna asked as Anna backed out of the parking spot. “I thought he would have stayed at the apartment last night.”

“He went home. Kurt’s wife went into labor and they had to leave.”

“Oh.”

Anna didn’t speak, and Jenna didn’t ask any more questions. The only sound on the way to the studio was the occasional tick-tick of the turn signal.

“I’ll get my things this afternoon and bring them to your place, if that’s okay,” Jenna said as they walked across the street to the theater.

Anna shrugged. “Sure.”

“If you don’t want me to move in with you, just say so.”

She shook her head. “Wilhelm thought it would be a good idea. I should do as he says.”

“Gee, thanks.”

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