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Chapter Seven
Anna
The sound of my phone dinging wakes me. I’m wrapped in Cyrus’s big, strong arms, feeling small and safe and like nothing can touch me. It’s still dark outside, so I nestle down further, deciding to ignore the message and go back to sleep, listening to Cyrus’s deep, rumbled breathing.
Then it dings again.
And again.
Cyrus stirs, lifting one arm from around my shoulders in his sleep, and I don’t want to wake him. He told me about his not sleeping. How he was scared he’s wake up and think I was from him dreams and hurt me.
I told him I’d try to sooth his demons, so I got down on my knees and gave my first blow job.
It was nothing like I imagined and I’ve found a new kink. Sucking his cock which apparently, I sucked all his bad dreams out of his dick because he’s been sawing logs for a few hours now.
The phone dings again. I reach to the nightstand and grab it, then flick the button so the notifications are silent and see who is blowing me up at four thirty in the morning.
The first one is from the center. They’ve been keeping me in the loop on Brittany and think God she’s doing great and they are keeping a close eye on her.
The other ones are from my father.
Dad: Where are you?
Dad: Anna, text me, this is urgent!
Dad: He’s here, Anna. He wants me to use the find my phone app.
Dad: CALL ME! I’m stalling but I can’t hold him off…
I turn the phone off before I’ve finished reading the last message. I don’t know if it’s quick enough to avoid the app tracking my location or if turning it off will even work, but I can’t have him coming here. I glance one more time at Cyrus, then carefully climb out of bed, finding my clothes in the dark and tiptoeing through to the bathroom to dress.
Unfortunately, it looks like it’s time to go. I hate that this is going to hurt him, but I don’t see a way through that doesn’t put other people I love in danger. He needs to live his life, and if that means he finds—
I don’t finish that thought. I can’t. The idea of him with someone else crushes me and my eyes start to burn. I want him to be happy, but that doesn’t mean I want to think about it.
I scribble a few meaningless words on the pad of paper next to the phone and look in one more time at my sleeping giant, then creep on tip toes out the door, to the elevator and ride it down to the bottom floor swallowing against the lump lodged in my throat. The night manager recognizes me immediately, smiling as she turns to greet me.
“Good morning, madam. What can we do for you?”
“Do you have a telephone I could use? Mine is broken.”
“Of course.” She nods, lifting the desk to let me walk through, then points to the office. “Obviously I wouldn’t do this for just anyone, but penthouse guests do get special treatment. Through there, close the door if you want privacy. I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”
“Thanks.” I try to return her smile, but I’m not feeling it. It feels like I’m going to my execution.
As soon as I’m in the office, I close the door and dial my dad’s number. He picks up almost immediately.
“Dad, it’s me.”
“Anna! Thank God. He knows where you are. I tried to stall him, but he’s on his way. If he finds you with Cyrus, he’ll kill him. Maybe not right away, but it will happen. If you care about Cyrus, your mother, or me, or even yourself, you’ll come home at once. I’ll send a car to your location. Go to the parking garage right now, smash your phone, make it look like it was stolen, that’s the story we’ll go with. You’ll accept his proposal as soon as he gets back.”
“Dad, I—”
“Stop. I don’t want to hear it. You’ll do this or you’ll accept that you’re the reason for everything that comes next. Family first, Anna. Always. Just get out of there, now. Get back here.”
He hangs up, and I’m left spinning. Confusion and anger toil in my belly. Blaming me for all this? I never wanted any of it.
But what difference does that make? I either do as he says, or live in fear. Or not live at all. My parents will be dead, and as flawed as they are, I love them. Maybe Cyrus could protect me, but not all of them.
