Page 115 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Anna found a bathroom downstairs and washed her face before heading back outside. Her phone was on her bag and she stared at it as she walked down the stairs to it, dreading the call she had to make.

Her heart pounded as she waited for Devin to answer.

“Hello, Anna. What took you so long to return my call?”

Her voice shook as she answered. “I-I’m sorry, Devin. Alex’s girlfriend discoveredwhat I am and... used me.”

Devin laughed. “Really? Did you enjoy eating pussy?”

Anna cringed. “It wasn’t terrible, but I don’t really like it.”

“Well, then, fortunately for you, it doesn’t happen very often. But it will happen, Anna.”

“Yes, Devin, I understand.” She paused. “Are you angry at me for... pleasing her?”

Devin didn’t answer right away and Anna shivered. “You were trained to please anyone who wants it. If someone wants you, please them. If they were incorrect in asking, I will deal with them.”

Alex watched Anna from the kitchen doorway as she picked up her phone. She had that sad, hopeless look on her face again that stabbed his heart. Damn Kirsty!

Anna had been having a good time at the party before that damned phone call. He might admit to himself he’d been a little jealous, watching all the men flirt with her. But he’d told himself it was good for her. She needed to see what it was like to be normal. Well, normal for her. There were few women in the world like her.

He’d also seen Aaron watching her. Oh, his friend had it bad. He’d suspected as much when they’d hung out earlier in the week, but as he watched Aaron watch Anna, it became obvious. Good.

He looked around for his best friend and found him leaning on the railing at the end of the deck, staring out into the yard. Alex joined him. Anna stood near the fence at the edge of the grass. Her face had softened and much of the fear seemed gone. Devin must be behaving himself.

He glanced at Aaron, who had been watching Anna. “You really like her, don’t you?”

Aaron jumped, then shrugged. “Not as much as you do.” He raised his eyebrows.

“It wouldn’t work right now. I told you that.” He sighed. “I think you should ask her out.”

Aaron jerked his head back and then turned to look at Alex. “Me? Why?”

“Because it’s obvious how much you like her, and I trust you to treat her the way she should be treated.”

“Why are you so concerned about her? I don’t remember you ever being so protective of someone. Especially someone you hardly know.”

“I know her better than you think,” he said without thinking about it, and Aaron raised his brows even higher.

Alex grimaced. He’d said too much. But he trusted Aaron without reservation. His friend knew things about him only his father knew, and even things his father didn’t know.

Aaron also knew about the Manor, at least as much as anyone not in The Brotherhood could know. Alex needed to warn him about Anna’s piercings. If they were going to date, they’d have sex eventually and he’d see them. The last thing Anna needed was Aaron getting the wrong idea about her.

Alex looked around to see if anyone was listening. They were the only people on this side of the deck. “Aaron, Anna is my slave. She belongs to me and my family.”

“She—What?” He clapped his hand over his mouth, then gave Alex the dirtiest look he’d ever seen Aaron give anyone. “How the hell is that possible?”

“It was the only way to save her...” Alex briefly explained how Anna came to be his slave and what would have happened had he not interfered with Devin’s plans. Aaron’s eyes got wider and wider as he spoke. He also told him a little bit about her abusive past.

“And you’re not with her... why?” Aaron’s brows drew together. “You’re obviously crazy about her.”

Alex sighed. “She needs freedom. I don’t want her with me because she belongs to me. I want her to come to me willingly.”

Aaron frowned, but nodded. “I guess I could understand that.”

“Aaron, being with her could be hard, but she’s worth it.” Alex pursed his lips. “She has... obligations to Devin. I think she’s attending something with him on Wednesday. You can’t get upset with her when she has to do those things.”

Aaron grimaced. “He’s gonna have sex with her, isn’t he?”

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