kened stomach, I watch as Leila responds,
her lips parting, her breathing picking up as the first flush of
color stains her cheeks. No! It’s such an unwelcome
glimpse into his past, agonizing to witness.
Finally, he mouths a word at her. I can’t make out
what it is, but the effect on Leila is immediate. She drops
to the floor on her knees, her head bowed, and the gun
falls and skitters uselessly across the wooden floor. Holy
fuck.
Christian walks calmly over to where the gun has fallen
Christian walks calmly over to where the gun has fallen
and bends gracefully to pick it up. He regards it with illdisguised
disgust then slips it into his jacket pocket. He
gazes once more at Leila as she kneels compliantly beside
the kitchen island.
“Anastasia, go with Taylor,” he commands. Taylor
crosses the threshold and stares at me.
“Ethan,” I whisper.
“Downstairs.” He responds matter-of-factly, his eyes
never lea一ving Leila.
Downstairs. Not here. Ethan’s okay. Relief floods hard
and fast through my blood, and for a moment I think I’m
going to faint.
“Anastasia,” Christian’s tone is clipped in warning.
I blink at him, and I’m suddenly unable to move. I
don’t want to lea一ve him—lea一ve him with her. He moves to
stand beside Leila as she kneels at his feet. He’s hovering
over her, protectively. She’s so still, it’s unnatural. I can’t
take my eyes off the two of them—together . . .
“For the love of God, Anastasia, will you do as you’re
“For the love of God, Anastasia, will you do as you’re
told for once in your life and go!” Christian’s eyes lock
with mine as he glowers at me, his voice a blistering cold
shard of ice. The anger beneath the quiet, deliberate
delivery of his words is palpable.
Angry at me? Surely not. Please—No! I feel like he’s
slapped me hard. Why does he want to stay with her?
“Taylor. Take Miss Steele downstairs. Now.”
Taylor nods at him as I stare at Christian.
“Why?” I whisper.
“Go. Back to the apartment.” His eyes blaze frostily at
me. “I need to be alone with L
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