Page 235 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“Wait!” Alex hurried to catch up with his father and motioned for Kurt to follow. “We need to talk to you.”

A few days later, Vati called Alex into his study early in the morning. When he walked inside, a young man in a suit sat on the couch, holding a glass of water.

“Alex, you remember Simon Reisig, Edwin’s youngest son?”

Alex nodded. “Of course.” Though he was a few years younger than Alex, Simon had always presented himself as more mature than most of his older brothers. And they shared a love of the outdoors. “How are you?”

Simon grinned. “I’m excellent. And eager to help with the big plan to rid the world of Devin.”

They shook hands, and Vati motioned for Alex to take a seat.

“Simon has worked in New York City for the past several years with Deutsche Bank and has agreed to help us get you settled.”

Alex blew out a breath of relief and sat back in his seat. After Kurt and Alex had told Vati about Anna, they’d decided that Alex needed to move to New York as soon as possible, but the logistics were challenging. Vati had spent the last few days making discreet phone calls to find someone who could help. Edwin had volunteered his youngest son, but it had taken some time to get in touch with him in a way that would not alert Devin.

“I have been in touch with a friend of mine in real estate, and he has suggested several options for purchase.”

Alex nodded. In order for Anna to be able to stay in New York, Alex had to formally move there. He had to purchase a residence intending to stay there long term. Again, the logistics were challenging, but Simon was a financial wizard and knew all the loopholes to make it happen.

Simon produced a tablet and he, Vati, and Alex spent the next couple of hours weighing the pros and cons of each of the properties. “Wilhelm said you’d be confined to the building, so I thought it would be best to have an outdoor space attached to your home.”

Alex flinched at the thought of being confined in a small space again, but knew it had to be done.

They finally settled on a two-story condo a few blocks from Anna’s apartment.

“Of course, everyone will know someone purchased the property.” Simon smiled. “New Yorkers love gossip.”

“How do we keep my presence a secret?”

“I have a friend in marketing. We’ll feed the press a story about a rich European. They’ll eat it up.” He glanced at Alex. “The building has excellent security. Celebrities are fond of the location, being right across from Central Park and such.”

Alex nodded, studying the floor plan and pictures. It had a large roof garden that would make being cooped up more bearable, though he couldn’t help but remember his time in Vitaly’s tower. Was this much different?

He stared at the picture of Central Park—a view from the rooftop terrace—and smiled, until he saw the unmistakable image of a fruiting Osage orange tree in one of the close-ups of the park.

Vitaly had grown one of these in the courtyard of his castle. Not as fine a specimen, so far from its native habitat, but the sprawling green boughs with their massive fruit reminded him of another scene.

Simon’s voice faded as Alex flashed back to a much colder summer, looking down from his tower room to see Vlad dragging his crying middle daughter past the tree toward a waiting vehicle. Yelena, pregnant and crying out to be released so she could run to her baby’s father—to him. He hadn’t thought of the poor girl in years, and he felt worse about it now than he had at the time.

Vlad’s daughter had managed to sneak up to the tower, somehow convincing the guards that she was a Dirne. Vitaly had sent girls up regularly, Alex assumed, to “scratch the itch” of the prisoners in an effort to keep them from doing stupid things.

Alex hadn’t been interested in the girl’s pathetic attempt at seduction, until he realized who she was and saw an opportunity to extract petty revenge on his “hosts.” At the time, the girl’s pregnancy felt like the coup de grâce of his small rebellion, but when she later “lost” the baby, he’d come to realize the tragic consequence of what he’d done. Of course Vlad couldn’t allow her to keep the child—after Vitaly’s death, he’d confessed to inducing a miscarriage. How could a dead man father a child?

And now, in light of his escape, it would have been doubly tragic. Neither he nor Anna needed such a reminder of his imprisonment.

After the incident with Vlad’s daughter, there were no more Dirne for two years. Punishment, he supposed, but it wasn’t much of one. Yelena’s pregnancy had just reminded him of Anna. That she had been glowing with her own pregnancy when he’d left. Despair and depression had crept in again and he did very little except sit in his chair and stare at the spot where Anna had appeared during her last visit, willing her to come back. But she didn’t.

Simon’s voice brought him back to the present as he glanced at Alex slyly and said, “It’s close enough to Anna’s apartment that you might see her walking by from time to time.”

That was the difference between his imprisonment in Vitaly’s tower and a voluntary seclusion in a New York City condo. This “imprisonment” had a purpose: to help Anna. Tommy had told Kurt yesterday that Anna had fallen asleep. Tom was with her, keeping watch, but the Elders were certain she wouldn’t wake until Alex had moved. Or Devin found her. Alex’s moving was, of course, the preferable option.

He glanced at Vati, who had taken the tablet from Simon and was examining the condo pictures with a satisfied expression. Sebastian’s hint about Devin’s Elders banding together, back when he’d spoken to Vati about Alex being imbued with the Immortal’s essence, had given the Elders a starting point in their plan to weaken Devin. The four-part strategy was set to begin soon, turning the unexpected move to NYC into an advantage. Moving around the country would be more convenient for Seth, Tony, Greg, and him, rather than constantly flying in and out of Germany.

Alex sat back in his chair and blew out a long breath. At last! Something to do besides studying. He’d learned all he could. Now he just needed to be patient as he awaited his orders from the Elders to begin.

Chapter 121

Anna sat up in her bed and looked around. The morning sun danced through the space between the drawn curtains of her bedroom. She remembered not feeling well, becoming feverish, and dreams. But now she felt better. All better. She smiled and stretched, then got out of bed and went to find something to eat in the kitchen. Aaron had gone upstate to Saratoga Springs. She remembered that.

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