Chapter 144

Back at his condo, Alex ran his hands through his hair as he slumped down on the couch in his unlit living room. Oh, what a mess. This was not how it was supposed to go. Not at all. Anna was supposed to be happy to see him, not be angry and slap him.

He’d never seen her so angry... never imagined she could even get that way. He would strangle Devin for what he’d done to her... once she was freed from him.

But once she was freed from Devin, she would be freed from Alex as well. Would she stay with him? He hadn’t doubted before, but did now. Vati had told him she’d changed, but Alex hadn’t realized how much.

The door to the condo opened and closed, and Seth walked into the room.

“Did she get home okay?” he snapped in English.

“I think so.”

Alex shot his friend a dirty look and Seth held up his hands, palms out.

“Some guy grabbed her on the sidewalk and I took care of him. She ran away and got into a taxi.”

Alex slumped back into the couch. How would he find out if she made it home? It wasn’t like he could just call Aaron and ask. Aaron would freak out.

Seth tapped the light switch on the wall and plopped down on the couch across from Alex as the lights slowly turned on. “So what happened?”

Alex flinched at the brightness. “I blew it.” He leaned his head on the back of the couch and looked up at the high ceiling. “I was... passionate, I suppose, and I was letting her touch me. It felt so good to have her touch me.” He lifted his head and Seth gave him a sympathetic look. “I was being stupid, but I couldn’t stop her. Couldn’t bring myself to pull her hands off me. But then I spoke and she froze. I don’t think she knew it was me right away, but she knew something was off. She tried to leave, but—?” He shook his head. “I couldn’t let her leave like that.” He closed his eyes. “She knows it’s me.”

“Oh, shit.”

“She hit me.”

Seth’s eyebrows shot up higher and faster than Alex had ever seen them.

Alex grimaced. “She was so angry, she hit me, and then she left. That’s why I told you to follow her.” He looked back at Seth. “Did the guy hurt her?”

“Nah. He grabbed her and I got hold of him before he could do anything.” His eyes lit with amusement. “Anna really hit you?”

Alex nodded and rubbed his cheek where she’d hit him. “She’s strong.”

Seth chuckled. “She’d have to be to survive everything she’s gone through.”

“She hates me.” Alex scratched at his beard. “She yelled at me.”

“Alex, think about it. She’s in shock. She doesn’t hate you. She couldn’t. She just... needs some time?—?”

“You didn’t see the look in her eyes.” Alex’s eyes burned with tears. “She accused me of lying to her.” He grimaced. “She’s not wrong.”

“You have your reasons and they’re good reasons. She never would’ve let you out of her sight to complete your missions if you were together.”

“Now I wonder if she’ll let me into her sight.”

“She will. I’m sure of it. She just needs some time to process it.”

Alex’s cell phone rang. “Hello, Vati,” he said in German.

“She’s not answering her phone.” Wilhelm sighed. “She’s so stubborn now.”

“So I’ve seen.”

“I can’t get there until Monday. Marcus’ funeral isn’t until later today. But I don’t know if it will do any good for me to come. She’s angry at me, too.”

“She wouldn’t have been angry at you if you two had been more careful with her,” Alex snapped. “Kurt’s been treating her like shit, too. How is she supposed to trust either of you?”

“I know, Alex,” Wilhelm snapped back. “I was going to try and make amends on Tuesday.”

“It’s a little late for that.”

Wilhelm sighed. “Perhaps she would respond better to your mother.”

The penthouse phone buzzed where it hung on the wall across the room, and Seth stood to answer it. Who would be coming here in the middle of the night? Maybe Anna changed her mind? Everyone knew where he lived.

He watched as Seth spoke in low tones into the phone. “Someone’s here, Vati.”

His friend’s expression wasn’t encouraging when he hung up.

Alex raised his brows.

Seth pursed his lips. “It’s Aaron.”

“Aaron?” Alex blinked. “Vati, Aaron’s here. Maybe he’ll be able to get through to Anna.”

“Call me in the morning and let me know.”

Alex tossed his phone on the wooden coffee table in front of him and looked at Seth. “Is he coming up?”

Seth nodded. “Ken said he didn’t look very happy and was hesitant to let him up, but I said it was alright.”

Alex nodded and shook his head. Another friend was angry that he was alive. No, that wasn’t fair. It was unlikely that Aaron was upset that Alex was alive. Neither was Anna. Oh, what a mess! But at least he could be assured that Anna got home alright.

“When’s your dad coming in?” Seth asked.

“Monday. Funeral’s tomorrow—er, today.”

“It’s too bad they can’t let on that they know what’s going to happen already. What a waste of time, having to hang around Chicago until the real funeral.”

A knock a few minutes later announced Aaron’s arrival. Alex’s stomach churned as he watched Seth go answer the door. What would Aaron say?

Aaron’s fists clenched as he waited for the ornate white painted door to open. He had no idea what he would say to Alex. Right now, he just kinda wanted to hit him like Anna had. How could Alex have not told them he was in New York? That he was alive?

The door opened and Aaron sucked in a sharp breath, staring at the broad man with long dark hair, trying to place the face covered in facial hair. “Seth?”

Seth smiled nervously. “Hey, Aaron.”

“You’re alive too?” What the hell had happened?

“And Greg and Tony. And Erich.” His face darkened. “Not all of us made it out.”

Aaron’s anger vaporized at Seth’s words. He didn’t know the other guys as well, but he did know them. “Jason, Michael, and Jesse?”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “C’mon in.” He stepped aside and Aaron walked inside.

The entry foyer was round, with dark wood floors and white paneled walls and ceiling. He followed Seth—who walked with a slight limp, making Aaron wonder what had happened—around a corner into a large living room with a very high ceiling and two long white couches. At the end of one couch stood Alex.

Aaron stared at the man for a long moment. His friend was older, with messy blond hair that brushed his shoulders and a neatly trimmed golden beard, but it was definitely him. He was just as tall as he had been when he’d left, though not quite as broad. The cobalt-blue eyes that watched him were the same, albeit filled with apprehension.

A myriad of emotions flitted through Aaron’s mind. He wanted to hug and punch Alex at the same time.

“Hello, Aaron,” Alex said in a quiet voice. His accent was very strong and different from before.

“Alex.” Aaron blinked, still having a hard time believing Alex was standing in front of him. “I don’t know whether to punch you or hug you.”

“Please don’t hit me. Anna already did.”

Aaron nodded. “She told me.”

Alex winced. “I’m sorry.” His eyes filled with pain and his shoulders slumped. He shook his head sadly. “I am so sorry. This is not how it was supposed to go.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Aaron asked, his voice hoarse. “Why didn’t you come and see us as soon as you got here?”

“Because—?” Alex ran his hands through his hair. “Because I must complete certain tasks before I can confront Devin, and I didn’t want you and Anna to think I was leaving again.”

“What do you have to do?”

Alex hesitated and then inhaled slowly. “You know what I... do for The Brotherhood.”

Aaron nodded.

“I assume you’ve heard about Connor and Marcus?”

He nodded again, and then inhaled sharply. “That was you?”

Alex nodded. “Once Devin’s supporters are gone, I can confront him in front of the world Elders and he will face judgment. I was going to come to you and Anna in just a few weeks. After I took out Oscar.”

It amazed Aaron how casually Alex could talk about killing a man, but then he remembered what those men had done to Anna and he clenched his jaw. “Can I help?”

Alex chuckled. “If there was something you could do—?” He stopped, growing serious, and his brow twitched. “Help me with Anna,” he pleaded.

“She’s changed.”

“I know.” He grimaced and shook his head. “I’ve missed so much...” He took a step forward and stopped. “Please forgive me, Aaron. I had my reasons for staying hidden. It was to protect Anna. And I have to leave in a few weeks and take out Oscar. Anna won’t like me leaving again... if she forgives me.”

Aaron sighed, his anger slowly giving way to sympathy. “She will. I’m sure of it. She still cries herself to sleep sometimes.” He pressed his lips together. “What the hell is wrong with your brother? If she wasn’t so angry at him and your dad, she probably would have taken your surprise better.” Wilhelm’s command to stay out of Hugo’s bed made more sense now.

“He doesn’t want to give her up,” Alex said with a small shrug. “I showed up and suddenly the woman he was in love with belonged to his brother again.”

“He’s been an ass.”

“I know. He knows. He regrets it. He hates that he’s taken his anger out on her.” Alex chuckled. “Believe me, we’ve had words. And fists.”

“You two fought?”

Seth laughed from behind him. “Kurt’s picked up some impressive moves. He beat Alex a couple of times.”

Alex frowned. “I wouldn’t say he beat me...”

Seth leaned against the wall. “I would.” He wagged his eyebrows above amusement-filled eyes.

Aaron looked between the two men. His friends. His friends that were dead and now were alive. “Aw, hell,” he muttered. He hurried over to Alex and hugged him hard.

Alex hugged him back. “Thank you, Aaron.”

Alex sighed in relief as Aaron hugged him. His friend wasn’t furious at him. It gave him hope that things would work out with Anna.

Aaron pulled away and went to hug Seth, and then grinned at the two of them. “I can’t believe you’re really here.” He looked around. “Nice place.”

Alex smiled. “Thanks. I hope Anna likes it.”

Now that Aaron had accepted his presence, Alex relaxed. A little. Like Anna, Aaron had changed—matured—in the years he’d been gone. Still tall and lithe, Alex had enjoyed watching him dance while hiding in the darkness to watch the rehearsals. Especially when he and Anna had danced together. His best friend and his wife in the same spot on the stage was a sight to behold.

“Alex?” Aaron’s voice cut through his reverie.

He shook his head to clear it. “Sorry.”

“I can imagine there’s a lot on your mind.”

“You could say that.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I guess I can cut my hair now.” He gave a wry smile. “And my beard. I kept it to keep from being recognized.”

Aaron laughed. “Like you could disguise yourself.”

Alex shrugged. “As much as I could.”

Seth laughed and ran a hand over his beard. “I don’t know. I kinda like not having to shave every morning.”

Aaron glanced at Seth and shook his head. “I’m not used to either of you guys being so hairy.” He shrugged and rubbed his neck.

Alex motioned to the couch and they all sat down, Aaron on the couch next to him and Seth across from both of them. Simon had arranged “blind dates” for Greg and Tony so they could get out of the house. “I understand you’re dating someone?” Alex had learned that the man he’d first seen Anna with at the bar was Aaron’s boyfriend. A good guy and very flamboyant. Alex had never imagined Aaron as a dominant partner with another man, but seeing them interact with one another, it was obvious he was. Oh, how time had changed things.

“Yeah,” Aaron said slowly. “Cameron.” He tilted his head. “Does that bother you?”

“Why would it bother me?”

“Well, I wasn’t . . .” Aaron shrugged. “. . . gay when you left.”

Alex laughed. “You were bi.”

“There’s a difference. I never went trolling for other guys.”

“Aaron, it doesn’t matter how I feel about it. If you’re happy, that’s what I care about. And if Cameron makes you happy, then I’m happy for you.”

Aaron nodded, staring at the floor and then looked back up at Alex. “I’ve never met another woman like Anna,” he said softly, his eyes pained.

He was still in love with her. After all these years, he still loved her. Alex nodded. “She’s special.”

“I kept hoping—?” Aaron shook his head. “I guess I know why things never worked out between us.”

“But you’ve been there for her. She’s had you to depend on while I was gone.”

“I didn’t keep her very safe.”

“You did what you could. You got her out here and away from Devin.” He put his hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “Thank you, Aaron. Anna is here and safe because of you.”

“I hardly did anything.”

“You told Peter the truth. If you hadn’t...” Alex shuddered. “I don’t want to imagine what would have happened.”

Anna tossed and turned on her bed. One minute, she wanted to find Alex and fling herself into his arms. The next minute, she wanted to hit him again. She loved and loathed at the same time.

He’d lied! He’d hidden from her! Was he trying to get his jollies off by taking advantage of her need for sex? How many other women had he slept with while he was here? Why didn’t he call her as soon as he’d escaped? How could he claim to love her while keeping his distance from her?

At long last, the sun started to rise and Anna had hardly slept. She hadn’t heard Aaron come home last night. Had he snuck in during her few moments of sleep?

She got up and went to his bedroom. Cameron was there, asleep, but no Aaron, so she went to find her phone and called him.

It took a few rings before he answered in a very groggy voice. “Hello?”

“Aaron, are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh . . . yeah . . . fine . . .”

“Where are you?”

“Um . . . Alex’s place.”

“You’re with Alex?” What was he doing there?

There was a pause. “Yeah, I came here last night, and we started talking until I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I slept on the couch.” Another pause. “Anna, he has a really good reason for not coming to us when?—?”

Rage flooded her body. Alex had talked to Aaron, but not her? “I don’t care.” She ended the call and tossed the phone on her bed, chest heaving as she glared at the offending device. At least, she told herself she didn’t care.

But she did. She desperately did.