Page 352 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“Sebastian left suddenly yesterday and hasn’t returned. Everyone is in rehearsals and no one is picking up. I don’t know if Anna is alright.”

“Do you want me to go over to the theater?”

Alex thought for a moment. He wanted to see for himself that Anna was alright. “Do you have time?”

“I can make time.”

“Call your father first. See if he has heard anything. He’s in the country, right?”

“Yes. He arrived yesterday.”

“Let me know what you find out.”

“Will do.”

Alex laid his phone on his knee and closed his eyes. Anna had to be alright. She just had to be.

Alex sprinted through the back door of the theater and toward the stage. Simon had called him back a little while ago, letting him know that his father hadn’t heard anything about Anna’s whereabouts. The drive from the airport had been torture, and they’d gone straight to the theater.

He burst onto the stage and looked around, desperately searching the faces for his beloved wife. She wasn’t there.

The music stopped and everyone turned and looked at him. The sadness in their eyes did nothing to ease the knot in his stomach.

His eyes met Hugo’s and he took a step forward. “Anna?”

Hugo swallowed, and his eyes filled with grief. “She’s... Aaron said that man—Devin—was here.”

Alex’s jaw trembled and the rest of him followed. He stared into the eyes of the man who loved Anna almost as much as he did. “This isn’t some sick idea of a joke?” he whispered in German. He couldn’t think straight.

Hugo’s brow twitched and he shook his head.

Alex looked around. “Where’s Aaron?”

“He’s in the hospital. He got beat up pretty bad.”

Alex grabbed his stomach as if he’d been hit. “Where?”

Hugo gave him the name of the hospital and Alex thanked him and shakily turned and walked off the stage.

Alex couldn’t call any of the Elders to find out what was going on. Not with the chance that Devin could be near anyone he could call. He had to wait to be called. In the meantime, he went to the hospital and visited Aaron.

Cameron was sitting next to Aaron’s bed holding his hand when Alex walked in. Cameron’s face was full of worry. “Alex! Oh, thank goodness!” The smaller man rushed over and hugged him around the waist.

Alex looked down at him for a moment before hugging him back. It was obvious how much Cameron cared for Aaron. He couldn’t begrudge the guy some affection.

“What happened?” Alex disentangled himself from Cameron and walked over to Aaron. His face was covered in bruises and a tube was sticking out of his mouth. He looked to be sleeping.

“I don’t know exactly. He was conscious when he arrived, but has been sleeping since. He’s got some pretty bad internal injuries.” Cameron sat back down and took Aaron’s hand. “Tom Pendleton brought him in.”

Alex felt his men enter the room behind him, and they stopped and stared at Aaron. Cameron looked up with wide eyes. Alex realized they probably looked rather intimidating. They hadn’t stopped to shower and were still in their black clothing.

“You have my number?” he asked Cameron.

Cameron shook his head. Alex grabbed a piece of paper from the table next to Aaron and scribbled his number on it. “Call me the moment he’s awake. I have to go find out what’s going on.”

Cameron nodded, tears in his eyes.

Alex and his men returned to the condo, and they cursed when they saw the mess.

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