Page 350 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“What are you doing?”

“If he sees you wearing your wedding rings, he’ll know Alex is alive. He can’t find out yet. Alex needs the element of surprise.”

With tears in her eyes, she pulled her rings off and handed them to Aaron. He was right. If Devin was going to take her, he couldn’t find out Alex was alive.

“C’mon. The less he sees of the place, the better.” Aaron dragged her out to the living room.

Anna was shaking so badly she couldn’t move. Her vision grew dark. Terror froze her feet to the floor. An invisible metal band wrapped around her ribs, keeping her from breathing. She didn’t want to go back to Devin. She wanted to stay with Alex. They had a plan. This wasn’t part of the plan.

“I’m scared,” she whispered as she sat curled up next to Aaron on the couch.

“Alex will get you back, Anna. Stay strong.” He turned her to face him and she saw tears in his eyes. “You are so strong. Don’t forget that. Don’t let him tell you any differently.”

Tears streamed down her face. “Tell Alex I love him.”

Aaron nodded.

They heard a knock on the door, but neither dared to answer it.

The knock became a pound, and then it sounded like someone was kicking the door. Anna jumped at each hit. Finally, there was a crash, and Anna whimpered and huddled lower on the couch.

Aaron grabbed her face and kissed her passionately.

Devin kicked in the door after several attempts and stalked into the luxurious apartment. He walked into what had to be the living room and saw Anna on the couch. Kissing... Aaron? He thought Aaron was gay.

“Anna.”

The couple froze and he saw Anna shaking. Good. She should be terrified. He would torture her to death for leaving him. And then have Kaveh heal her so he could do it again. And again. And again.

She turned and looked at him, terror in her eyes. Devin smiled. “Stupid girl, Anna. Stupid, stupid, stupid.” He walked toward her slowly. She shrank into the couch. He grabbed her by her hair and she shrieked and grabbed at his hand as he pulled her over the back of the couch, her body hitting the wooden floor hard with a thud.

Aaron reached for her, but Devin pushed him away. “You will pay for hiding her, you fucking twat.”

“No, Devin, please...” Anna whimpered. “He wasn’t h-hiding me. Th-this is my place. I d-didn’t like P-Paris so I came back. Aaron didn’t know a-anything about me r-running away.”

Devin twisted his hand in her hair and she shrieked again. “Please don’t hurt him!”

She didn’t want him hurt? Oh, he would hurt him. He released her hair and reached for Aaron.

“Aaron.”

Aaron groaned and rolled to his side, coughing. Blood splattered on the floor and he realized it was coming from his mouth. Shit. Devin had jumped over the back of the couch and laid into him without mercy. The last thing he remembered was hearing Tom tell Devin that he would deal with him and to get Anna out of there.

He opened his swollen eyes to see Tom crouching next to him.

“Anna?” Aaron whispered.

Tom pressed his lips together and shook his head. “Devin took her. But he won’t kill her. He would have killed you.”

“You let him take—‍” A coughing fit seized him and Tom helped him sit up.

“I didn’t have a choice, Aaron. Devin’s defeat depends on him not knowing about me or Alex.”

“He’ll hurt her.” God, even talking hurt.

Tom sighed. “I know, and the thought kills me. But he won’t do anything until the funerals are over. He wouldn’t want her to look bad in front of the other Elders. He’ll wait until he’s home.”

“You can’t let him take her home!” Pain shot through his chest and he clutched his ribs and groaned.

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