Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as told by Christian (Fifty Shades 6)

“Ages ago.”

“You never told me he made a pass at you!”

Ana shrugs.

“It can’t just be a grudge about that, surely,” Kate says. “I mean, his reaction is way too extreme.” She turns her attention to me. “Is he mentally unstable? What about all the information he has on you Greys?”

She really doesn’t let up. I sigh. “We think there’s a connection with Detroit.”

“Hyde is from Detroit, too?”

I nod. How the hell does she know all this stuff?

Ana grips my hand as the plane accelerates. My fearless girl is not a fan of takeoffs and landings. I brush my thumb across her knuckles.

We’re okay, baby.

“What do you know about him?” Elliot is serious for once, and I have no choice but to reveal what I know. I shoot Kate a warning look.

“This is off the record,” I tell her, and rattle off what I remember from his background check. “We know a little about him. His dad died in a brawl in a bar. His mother drank herself into oblivion. He was in and out of foster homes as a kid. In and out of trouble, too. Mainly boosting cars. Spent time in juvie. His mom got back on track through some outreach program, and Hyde turned himself around. Won a scholarship to Princeton.”

“Princeton?” Kate squeaks, surprised.

“Yep. He’s a bright boy.” I shrug.

“Not that bright. He got caught,” Elliot observes wryly.

“But surely he can’t have pulled this stunt alone?” Kate asks.

Christ, she’s irritating. This is none of her damned business. “We don’t know yet,” I growl, trying to keep a rein on my temper. Ana looks up at me in alarm. I squeeze her hand to reassure her as we sail into the air. She leans in to me.

“How old is he?” she whispers, so neither Kate or Elliot hear us.

“Thirty-two. Why?”

“Curious, that’s all.”

“Don’t be curious about Hyde. I’m just glad the fucker’s locked up.”

“Do you think he’s working with someone?” She sounds anxious.

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe someone who has a grudge against you? Like Elena?”

For fuck’s sake, Ana. I check that Kate and Elliot aren’t listening, but they’re deep in their own conversation. “You do like to demonize her, don’t you?” I mutter. “She may hold a grudge, but she wouldn’t do this kind of thing. Let’s not discuss her. I know she’s not your favorite topic of conversation.”

“Have you confronted her?”

“Ana, I haven’t spoken to her since my birthday party.” Well, I haven’t spoken to her in person. “Please, drop it. I don’t want to talk about her.” I kiss her knuckles.

“Get a room,” Elliot interrupts my thoughts. “Oh, right—you already have, but you didn’t need it for long.”

“Fuck off, Elliot.”

“Dude, just telling you how it is.” Elliot looks so pleased with himself.

“Like you’d know,” I retort.

“You married your first girlfriend.” Elliot gestures to Ana.

“Can you blame me?” I kiss Ana’s hand again, and give her a smile.

“No.” Elliot laughs and shakes his head.

Kate slaps Elliot’s thigh. “Stop being an ass.”

“Listen to your girlfriend.” Maybe Kavanagh can keep him in line. She scowls at Elliot while Stephan announces our altitude and flight time, and tells us we’re free to move around the cabin.

Natalia appears from the galley. “May I offer anyone coffee?”

When the Gulfstream pulls to a stop at Aspen Pitkin airport, Taylor is off the plane first.

“Good landing.” I shake Stephan’s hand as the rest of our guests prepare to disembark.

“It’s all about the density altitude, sir. Beighley here is good at math.”

“You nailed it, Beighley. Smooth landing.”

“Thank you, sir.” Her grin is rightly smug.

“Enjoy your weekend, Mr. Grey, Mrs. Grey. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Stephan steps aside to let us deplane, and we descend the aircraft steps to where Taylor is waiting with our ride.

“Minivan?” I raise a brow. With an apologetic smile, he slides open the door. “Last minute, I know,” I offer. I turn to Ana. “Want to make out in the back of the van?”

She giggles.

“Come on, you two. Get in,” Mia nags from behind us. We climb on board, scrambling to the backseat, where we sit down. I put my arm around Ana as she cuddles into me.

“Comfortable?”

“Yes.” Ana smiles and I kiss her forehead, delighted that we’re here together. I’ve been on trips like this before, with my parents, to their place in Montana, and with Mia and Elliot when they’ve included their friends. But I’ve always gone solo.

This is another first.

As a teenager I didn’t have friends, and as an adult I’ve been too busy and too solitary to enjoy this kind of outing.

And I still don’t have many friends.

Once Elliot and Taylor have loaded the luggage, we set off toward town. As I enjoy the scenery, my thoughts drift to our house on Red Mountain. I wonder if Ana will like it.

I hope so. I love it here.

Aspen in late summer is as green as Seattle, more so at this time of year. It’s what I love about the place. The grass in the pastures is lush and tall and the mountains are smothered in forests in full leaf. Today, the sun is high in the sky, though there are dark clouds on the horizon toward the west. I hope that’s not an omen.