The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced (36 page)

Anna sighed and wrapped her arms around him.
“I missed you, too.”

“Did you shower there?” he asked after a
while.

Anna nodded.

“
Gut
,” he said and picked her up and
carried her upstairs to their bedroom and made love to her. They
stayed in bed the rest of the afternoon, talking and making
love.

*****

The rest of the performances went exceedingly
well. Alex was at the theater a lot, mostly just to keep Anna
company. She loved looking offstage to see her biggest fan
watching, and that he could hold her between scenes. She felt like
she was on top of the world.

*****

Alex and Anna discussed the Spring Gathering
and Alex decided he would come. He would stay in the background,
but he felt like he needed to be there for her. When Alex told
Devin he would be attending, Devin sounded pleased. That made Alex
suspicious, but if anything happened to Anna, he would be there. If
Devin
tried anything, he would be there.

Anna had the first week of the month off, and
she and Alex flew to British Columbia and had a mini vacation
before she started dancing again. Her pregnancy was showing, but
she was still hopeful that she’d be able to dance in
Jewels
before she had to stop performing. Alex encouraged
her to consider dancing again after the baby was a few months old.
She didn’t have to perform, but Alex knew how much she loved
dancing. He wouldn’t push her and told her he would support her in
whatever decision she made.

Devin wasn’t happy that she wouldn’t be back
on Friday night for the Gathering, but Alex told him that he hadn’t
been able to have her while she’d been performing either and he’d
have to deal with it.

By Sunday morning, Anna was much rejuvenated
by her time with Alex. It had been such a peaceful week
together.

Thursday morning, Alex threw his phone across
the room at the fireplace as he let out a frustrated shout. He was
thankful Anna wasn’t there. He’d have time to calm down before she
returned home. He’d even resorted to begging, but it hadn’t done
any good. He’d received a call. It had to be his team. He had to
go.

What made things worse was that it had to be
done over the next weekend; the weekend of the Gathering. Alex was
initially suspicious of the timing, but the more he thought about
it, the more he realized it had nothing to do with Devin. The
target was in Russia. He knew the Elder that had requested it. It
was just an important job.

An important job with the worst timing he
could imagine. But he couldn’t say no. That was part of the deal.
You could put word out that you weren’t available, but if an Elder
called, you went.

Alex stared out the window for a long time,
trying to find a way out of his predicament. Anna would be
heartbroken. And perhaps a little frightened, considering what had
happened the last time he’d returned home from a mission.

He and his team would stop in Frankfurt when
the mission was over. It would take an extra day or two to get
home, but at least he wouldn’t have to worry about being
compromised by Devin. They could relieve their stress there and
then be home the next day. Vati could call Anna when he arrived
home and let her know he was safe. Her mind would be eased and her
body safe from him. Especially now that she was pregnant. He wanted
to be sure he was completely in his right mind before he came
anywhere near her.

Aaron.
Aaron could watch out for her
here at home. And Travis. Alex was sure he could convince Travis to
go to the Gathering to keep an eye on her. Travis was the only one
who would be able to go on his behalf.

Alex glanced at the shattered phone on the
floor next to the fireplace. These phones were very durable, but
they weren’t meant to be thrown against marble fireplaces. He
sighed and stood. He retrieved the pile of plastic and electrical
components and made his way downstairs to the theater where Seth
and Tony were playing video games.

“I need a new phone,” Alex said, walking down
the steps.

The men looked at him with surprised
expressions. Seth raised his eyebrow at the pile that Alex dumped
on the wooden coffee table in front of him. “What happened?”

“I threw it against the fireplace.” Alex
collapsed onto the couch and ran his fingers through his hair. “I
got a call.”

“I thought you put out word we weren’t
available,” Tony said.

“I did. It’s Vitaly. You know how he is.” The
Russian Elder was rather particular when it came to getting things
done.

“It’s still cold in Russia,” Tony
grumbled.

Alex let out a chuckle. “Yes. It is.” He
sighed. “How am I going to tell Anna?”

The other men cursed.

“She’s not going to take it very well,” Seth
said quietly.

“I know. It also means we can’t be at the
Gathering next weekend.”

“I think I’d rather be in Russia than listen
to Devin all weekend,” said Tony.

“No kidding,” Alex mumbled. “But I feel like
I’m abandoning Anna to him by leaving.”

“You don't think...,” Seth began.

“No. I don't think Devin had anything to do
with it.”

Alex played with his wedding band. The one
Anna had picked out for him. It had her name and the city they
lived in engraved inside. He hadn’t told her, but the reason he did
that was for identification purposes. If something happened to him
and there was no other way to identify him, her name and the city
would give whoever found them enough information to locate her and
tell her....

Alex shook his head. No, he wouldn’t think
about that. He was coming home. To her. To their baby. She needed
him. And he needed her.

*****

Anna’s stomach churned as she drove into the
garage. Something was not right with Alex. She didn’t know how she
knew, she just did. Alex’s car was in the garage, as was the SUV.
They were all home.

She grabbed her bag and hurried inside. Alex
was in the great room with a computer on his lap. That was
unusual.

“Alex?” she asked softly.

He jumped when she spoke. He put the computer
on the table in front of him and hurried to her, wrapping his arms
around her.

She felt the desperation in his embrace. It
worried her. “Alex, what’s wrong?”

He didn’t say anything, but led her back to
the couch. The computer screen showed a map of Russia.

She looked into her husband’s beautiful eyes.
They looked worried and sad. She reached up and stroked his cheek.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered. A million things ran through her
head as to what could be the matter.

Alex swallowed. “I got a call. For a
mission.”

Anna’s heart fell to her stomach. “What?” she
whispered. “I thought you said you wouldn’t get any for a few
months.”

“
Schatzi
, I can put word out, but
they don't have to listen.”

She was afraid to ask details, but needed to
know. “When do you leave?”

“Wednesday.”

“You’re not going to be at the
Gathering.”

Alex shook his head sadly. “I won’t make it,
Schatzi
. I’m so sorry,” he whispered. He grasped her hand
and held it tight as he gazed into her eyes.

Tears ran down her cheeks. “When will you be
back?”

“I’m hoping to be back the following Tuesday.
But I can’t promise that. These things can...take time.”

Anna nodded, unable to speak over the lump in
her throat. A week. A week without her beloved husband.

Alex gathered her in his arms and they sat
holding each other for a long time.

“The house will be a bit crowded until we
leave,” he said softly a while later.

“The others are here?”

“Not yet. Greg and Jason should be here soon.
Erich will be here tomorrow with Sebastian. Jesse and Michael,
too.”

“Okay,” she sniffed.

“I’ll keep my evenings free so we have time
together. I’ll try and get the work done during the day while
you’re gone.”

Anna nodded, feeling miserable.

“You can call Vati anytime you need to. I’ll
speak to Aaron and let him know to keep you company. If you want,
he can stay here with you. Or Jenna.”

“I don’t want anyone except you,” Anna said
softly.

“I know,
Schatzi.
But I’d feel
better if someone was here with you.”

“Whatever you’d like, Alex. I can’t really
think right now.” Her mind felt like a jumbled mess of goo and she
couldn’t think straight.

Alex held her tightly until dinner was ready.
She didn’t eat much, even though Alex encouraged her. When he
mentioned the baby, she gave in and tried to eat.

Greg and Jason arrived later that evening.
Alex got them settled in and then he took Anna to bed and held her
until she fell asleep.

*****

To Anna’s misery, the week went too quickly.
Devin insisted on her attending the Friday Gathering. They spent
time with Jamie on Saturday morning.

Devin said he was very pleased with how Jamie
had been trained. She would do anything for them now. Anything. And
she would get immense pleasure from it. Devin handed Jamie a wire
brush and told her to fuck herself with it. She did it eagerly and
bled profusely as she cried out in pleasure.

*****

Sunday night, after they made love, Anna lay
in Alex’s arms. Suddenly, an unexpected, overwhelming feeling of
dread came over her that brought tears to her eyes. She turned over
and looked intently into Alex’s face.

“I don't want you to go.”

Alex gave her an understanding look.
“
Schatzi
, I know. I don't want to go either. But I have
to.”

She shook her head. “No,” she said softly. “I
have a really bad feeling about it.” Tears came to her eyes.
“Please don't leave me.”

Tears welled up in Alex’s eyes.
“
Schatzi
...I...I can’t not go. I can get into a tremendous
amount of trouble if I don't.”

Her eyes widened. “You’d get punished?”

Alex nodded. “A disobedient assassin is of no
use to the Brotherhood.”

“You mean they’d....” She didn’t want to
finish the sentence.

“I would definitely not be here next week if
I don’t go.”

She swallowed and tried to push away the
sickening feeling in her stomach. “I need you, Alex,” she
whispered. “I need you to come home to me.”

“I need to come home to you too, Anna.” He
wrapped a lock of her hair around his fingers. “I won't abandon
you.”

She clung desperately to him as she fell
asleep, and her sleep was troubled with dreams of Alex being taken
from her.

*****

Aaron kept a very close eye on Anna Monday
and Tuesday during rehearsals. She was distracted when she danced
and anytime there was a lull in the dancing, she just stood
silently and stared at the ground. More than once, he had to get
her attention to begin the dance.

Aaron was thankful Isaak was sympathetic and
let it slide. He knew Alex was leaving in the morning and she was
having a hard time coping. Some of the other dancers mumbled behind
her back, but Aaron was firm in defending her. They had no idea
what she was going through.

Aaron followed her home Tuesday after class.
He was going to stay the night at their house so that she was not
alone when Alex left early the next morning. He had promised Alex
he would watch out for her, and Aaron would keep his promise, no
matter what.

Anna stayed quiet all afternoon and evening,
holding Alex’s hand and not leaving his side for a moment. Her eyes
were full of fear and Aaron’s heart went out to her.

Alex hadn’t told him what he was doing, but
he knew that he did special things for the Brotherhood. He’d never
wanted to know more. But from Anna’s reaction to his leaving, it
didn’t seem very safe. A simple business trip would make Anna miss
him terribly, but she seemed fearful that he wouldn’t return.

Alex had told him that he was to comfort Anna
in any way he could. If she needed someone to make love to her,
then he wanted Aaron to be the one to do it.

Aaron didn’t know if he could handle being
that intimate with Anna again, knowing Alex would be returning and
he would once again be separated from her. But he loved Anna and
would do as Alex asked. She obviously couldn’t drink her way out of
misery. Sex would help. It had helped her cope with Ben’s
death.

Alex especially told him to be aware of Anna
when she returned on Monday. She would return sometime Monday
afternoon, and Alex wanted to make sure someone was here when she
got home. Aaron had spoken to Isaak and took that day off so he
could be at the house when she arrived home.

Aaron felt out of place at dinner. All of the
guys gathered around the table were big guys, like Alex and Seth
and Tony. He had met Erich and Greg, but none of the other guys.
They all looked like they were in the military. Anna’s fears began
to make sense if they were doing some sort of military operation.
He’d never suspected Alex was involved in something like that, but
now that he thought about it, it made sense.

Alex lay in the darkness trying to sleep. He
needed to sleep, but couldn’t. Anna had cried herself to sleep an
hour earlier after a long lovemaking session.

He had spent an incredible amount of time
making love to her. He wanted to memorize every part of her to take
with him. He wanted to leave her with happy memories to keep with
her while he was gone. He wanted her to know she was loved.

He had wracked his brain to death this last
week, trying to figure out a way to get out of his mission, but
there was no out. He had to go. He had to leave Anna behind. He
kept telling himself it was only a week, but it didn’t soothe the
ache in his heart every time he looked into her sad eyes.

She was trying so hard to be brave for him,
which made him feel even worse. Fuck, there was nothing that would
take away his guilt for leaving. Maybe it was time to retire. But
retirement wasn’t easy. Not until his father died, and he was in no
hurry to say goodbye to Vati. Alex wasn’t ready to be an Elder
yet.