Page 329 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

Alex thought back to those first weeks in New York and shared his story with Anna...

He’d been stuck in his condo for a week after being cooped up on his family’s estate for the prior four months. Before that, he’d been imprisoned for four years. He needed to get out. Get out and be around people. Being in the city, watching the hustle and bustle from above, made him restless. Not to mention having to wait a few more weeks to begin his mission to destroy Devin.

Yes, he’d been “called out,” but this was a mission he was looking forward to fulfilling. As a Brotherhood Assassin, he couldn’t just go out and start shooting people. The Elders would have him executed. Him and his team. But, if given an assignment by Vlad, Tom, and his father to take out some Elders and Sons, then he was merely acting as a proper Assassin. It didn’t matter that he had helped plan the assignment. It didn’t matter that he was itching to see those men through the scope of his rifle. All that mattered was that they had given him the assignment. And he would gladly complete it.

But he was restless. Very restless. Alex paced up and down on his rooftop terrace, feeling like a caged lion. He needed to do something. Something other than cleaning his rifle and working out.

Tony came up and plopped down in one of the Adirondack chairs, bottle of beer in hand. “I need a drink and a fuck.” Tony wagged his eyebrows. “And by fuck, I mean a woman.”

Alex chuckled. “I understand and respect that.” He only wanted Anna, but he understood his men had needs. They had been very busy the last few months and their ability to go out in public had been restricted. They hadn’t been out to a bar or club since before they’d been captured.

Alex thought for a minute. “Call Simon. Maybe he can come up with an idea.”

Tony raised his brows. “You’re willing to go out?”

Alex shrugged. “I need to get out of here. I’m going crazy. Maybe there’s a place we can go and remain unseen?”

Tony rolled his eyes. “Doubt it.” But he stood and made the call, anyway.

Simon knew the perfect place. This particular club was classy and low key. Several private areas were available off the main floor, providing a discreet setting to watch the goings-on of the club.

Alex thought it was a good course of action, but as he, Seth, Greg, and Tony walked in through the back door and took their seats in the room to watch the activities of the night, he groaned. Before Irina had helped Sebastian imbue him with the Immortal essence, it had been years since he’d been with a woman, and the mostly naked women gyrating on the dance floor in front of him didn’t help his restlessness. He didn’t want anyone but Anna, and had no intention of sleeping with anyone else, but it had been a very long time since he’d seen this many women in one place.

Of course, he wouldn’t expect the same level of control from the others, though he told them to keep it anonymous. They also couldn’t go out on the dance floor, in case someone recognized them. It was a small chance, but he couldn’t risk it. He was grateful for his men’s loyalty.

Tony choked and coughed. “Holy shit.”

Alex took a swig of his beer and looked in the direction Tony pointed near the entrance. Then spat out the entire contents of his mouth.

Anna! Half-naked and irresistibly sexy. She wore a scrap of white over her ass and a sheer pink top he could almost see her delicious breasts through. He frowned. How could she walk out in public for all the world to see her breasts? He started to stand, but Tony and Seth grabbed his arms and shoved him back into his seat. He growled. “What the hell is she doing in public dressed like that?”

“That’s Anna?” Simon let out a wolf whistle.

Alex spun around and glared at him.

“Sorry.”

Alex’s only comfort was that she seemed oblivious to most of the stares, and even shy when she caught a man’s eye. “Who’s she with?” A short, thin man standing next to her grabbed her hand and pulled her across the room to a table. Alex was thankful he could still see her.

The man winked and sauntered across the room to the bar. Alex relaxed. A little. He was obviously gay, but could he protect her from those... savages who ogled her like she was a piece of meat?

“Shit.” He ran his hands through his hair. Why did Simon have to pick the one club Anna went to? If he stayed, he’d almost certainly end up killing someone for touching her. If he left, his mind would fill with all sorts of horrible scenarios, most of which ended with her in some random guy’s bed. He growled again.

Simon rested a firm hand on his shoulder. “Alex, relax. This is a very safe, discreet club. Nothing will happen to her.”

“Except that she looks like she wants something to happen. Why the hell is she dressed like that?”

“She’s dressed like all the other women in the club.” Seth shrugged. “She has more clothes on than at least half of them.”

“That’s not comforting.”

The other men chuckled, making him growl again.

A man approached Anna. Alex was pleased when her cheeks turned pink and she shook her head. The guy said something else, to which he was given another headshake, and he walked away, dejected.

Alex grinned. “She’s learned to say no.”

The gay man returned with several drinks in hand. Two shots and two martinis. They clinked their shot glasses together and drank. Anna giggled and wiped her perfect pink mouth.

---