Page 85 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at Alex. “Much better, Master Alex. Thank you.”

Devin narrowed his eyes. Why the hell was she looking at Alex like that?

“Gut.” Alex kissed her forehead and sat up. “Devin is going to spend some time with you this afternoon and then he will bring you to my home around dinnertime.” He glanced over his shoulder and arched a brow at Devin, who gave a stabbing nod and crossed his arms.

Alex kissed her forehead once more, then stood. The two men nodded stiffly to one another as Alex left the room. Finally.

Devin approached the bed, deliberately calming his mind as he sat down next to her. “You really feeling okay?”

She nodded. “Yes, Master. Master Alex gave me some pain medicine before he pierced me.”

Devin gritted his teeth. “That was very nice of him. He... seems like a good guy.” Devin cupped her cheek and kissed her deeply, then rested his forehead on hers. “I wanted to have you last night, but Alexwas... better situated to take care of you. I had to attend to my Brothers.”

“I understand, Master.” She paused and bit her lip. “Are you angry with me? For last night?”

He paused, weighing how best to answer her. It wasn’t her fault Alex had intervened. “Last night didn’t go as I expected, but you did nothing wrong.” He trailed his fingers down her neck. There was something he needed to find out before she left. “Baby, do you remember the first time we were together and you had that dream?” His fingers moved down to her collarbone and cupped her right breast gently.

She sighed as he caressed the firm mound. “Yes, Master.”

“Was it Alex you dreamed about?” He stared hard, edging his mind into hers to make sure she told the truth.

Her lips parted and her jaw moved, but she didn’t speak. Finally, she gave a small nod and swallowed. He closed his eyes and tamped down the rage that threatened to erupt. “Did he recognize you when he saw you last week?”

“Kurt asked Alex if he knew me, and Alex said no.”

Devin narrowed his eyes. What wasn’t she telling him? “Did you recognize him?”

She shrunk back into the pillow. “Yes,” she whispered.

He pressed his fist into his thigh to keep himself from hitting her. She had known Alex and she hadn’t told him? Stupid bitch. He ought to drag her down to the dungeon for not telling him. He sighed. But that would make waves with Alex, and he needed Alex to leave him alone while he figured out how to get rid of him. Then he could do as he pleased with his slave. He cleared his throat and forced his voice to remain even. “Baby, if you have more dreams about people you know, or meet, will you please tell me?”

“Yes, Master.” She blinked and looked away, biting her lip.

“Good girl.” He leaned forward and kissed down her neck. She sighed as he began to fuck her. He might not be able to take her down to the dungeon, but he could enjoy her cries of pain and make sure when Alex fucked her tonight that she didn’t enjoy it.

Chapter 35

Alex drove home in his silver Mercedes SLS, his mind full. Owning Anna was a heavy weight on both his mind and heart. He didn’t mind the responsibility, but he hated the fact that she was a slave. His slave. And Devin’s. On the other hand, if she hadn’t become his slave, she would have become Devin’s puppet. Her being his slave was by far the lesser of the two evils. He would accept it for now and find a way to free her in the future. That thought was the only thing that kept the guilt at bay.

Spending time with Anna this morning had been both eye-opening and heartbreaking. He’d already known some of Devin’s character, but how he’d treated Anna over the last few years—and Alex was certain he’d only heard a fraction of her story—disgusted him. And yes, that’s how Devin expected her to be treated. Jack would have only done so at Devin’s command. Alex didn’t think Jack was intelligent enough to come up with such a cruel “training” plan on his own. But even if he was, he wouldn’t have done it without Devin’s approval. The blame for Anna’s abuse rested entirely on the shoulders of Devin Andersen.

He gripped his steering wheel hard. Anna’s situation was his fault. Coming face-to-face with his greatest failure stung in his chest as if a million angry bees had flown through his ribcage and unleashed their fury on his heart. If he hadn’t been so prideful, so disobedient to Vati, none of this would have happened.

Running a hand through his hair, he swallowed over the lump in his throat. He had to make it up to her. He had to make sure he gave her the life she deserved—that she should have had, but didn’t because of his damned pride.

He had to make sure she learned how to be human again.

She needed someone safe to explore life with. Jenna was the obvious choice because she and Anna had known each other their entire lives. But Anna needed a man in her life, too. Someone with whom she could learn that not all men were evil, like Devin and Jack and their friends. Someone Alex trusted, and who would treat her well.

Why not me?

He shook his head. He was her Master and she couldn’t see past that abused title. Not yet, anyway. She’d never let herself go around him. She’d be constantly trying to please and obey him, and she needed to find herself without a Master around.

He sighed and turned onto the street where his house was.

Seth?

Seth liked her. That much was obvious. Tony, too, but she and Seth had connected for some reason. Seth could be good for her.

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