“So did I, if I recall, Miss Steele. We aim to please. And it means you’re mine, completely.”
“Yes, I am. I wanted to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Your biological father, do you know who he was?”
Her question is completely unexpected. I shake my head. She surprises me again. I never know what’s going on in that smart brain of hers. “I have no idea. Wasn’t the savage who was her pimp, which is good.”
“How do you know?”
“Something my dad—something Carrick said to me.”
Her look is expectant, urging me on. “So hungry for information, Anastasia.” I sigh and shake my head. I don’t like thinking about this time in my life. It’s difficult to separate the memories from the nightmares. But she’s persistent. “The pimp discovered the crack whore’s body and phoned it in to the authorities. Took him four days to make the discovery, though. He shut the door when he left. Left me with her. Her body.”
Mommy is asleep on the floor.
She has been asleep for a long time.
She doesn’t wake up.
I call her. I shake her.
She doesn’t wake up.
I shudder and continue. “Police interviewed him later. He denied flat-out I had anything to do with him, and Carrick said he looked nothing like me.”
Thank God.
“Do you remember what he looked like?”
“Anastasia, this isn’t a part of my life I revisit very often. Yes, I remember what he looked like. I’ll never forget him.” Bile rises in my throat. “Can we talk about something else?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s old news, Ana. Not something I want to think about.”
She looks guilty and, knowing she’s gone too far with these questions, changes the subject. “So, what’s this surprise, then?”
Ah. She remembered. Now, this I can deal with. “Can you face going out for some fresh air? I want to show you something.”
“Of course.”
Great! I swat her behind. “Get dressed. Jeans will be good. I hope Taylor’s packed some for you.”
I leap out of bed, excited to take Ana sailing, and she watches me pull on my underwear.
“Up,” I nag, and she grins.
“Just admiring the view,” she says.
“Dry your hair,” I tell her.
“Domineering as ever,” she observes, and I bend down to kiss her.
“That’s never going to change, baby. I don’t want you sick.”
She rolls her eyes.
“My palms still twitch, you know, Miss Steele.”
“I am glad to hear it, Mr. Grey. I was beginning to think you were losing your edge.”
Oh. Mixed signals from Miss Steele.
Don’t tempt me, Ana. “I could easily demonstrate that is not the case, should you so wish.” I grab a sweater from my bag, fetch my phone, and pack the rest of my belongings.
Once I’m done, I find Ana dressed and drying her hair.
“Pack your things. If it’s safe, we’ll go home tonight; if not, we can stay again.”
ANA AND I STEP into the elevator. An elderly couple moves aside for us. Ana looks up at me and smirks. I squeeze her hand and grin, remembering that kiss.
Oh, fuck the paperwork.
“I’ll never let you forget that,” she says so only I can hear. “Our first kiss.”
I’m tempted to do a repeat performance and scandalize the elderly couple, but I settle for a discreet peck on her cheek that makes her giggle.
We check out at reception and walk hand in hand through the foyer to the valet.
“Where are we going, exactly?” Ana asks as we wait for my car.
I tap the side of my nose and wink, trying to hide my excitement. Her face lights up with a huge smile, matching mine. Leaning down, I kiss her. “Do you have any idea how happy you make me feel?”
“Yes. I know exactly. Because you do the same for me.”
The valet appears with my R8.
“Great car, sir,” he says, as he gives me my keys. I tip him and he opens Ana’s door.
As I turn onto Fourth Avenue, the sun is shining, my girl is beside me, and there’s good music playing on my car stereo.
I overtake an Audi A3 and suddenly remember Ana’s wrecked car. I realize I’ve not thought about Leila and her crazy behavior for the last few hours. Ana’s a good distraction.
She’s more than a distraction, Grey.
Perhaps I should buy her something else.
Yes. Something different. Not an Audi.
A Volvo.
No. My dad has one.
A BMW.
No. My mom has one.
“I need to make a detour. It shouldn’t take long,” I inform her.
“Sure.”
We pull into the Saab dealership. Ana looks perplexed. “We need to get you a new car,” I say.
“Not an Audi?”
No. I’m not getting you the car I’ve bought all my subs. “I thought you might like something else.”
“A Saab?” She’s amused.
“Yeah. A 9-3. Come.”
“What is it with you and foreign cars?”
“The Germans and the Swedes make the safest cars in the world, Anastasia.”
“I thought you’d already ordered me another Audi A3?”
“I can cancel that. Come.” I climb out of the car, walk to her side, and open the door. “I owe you a graduation present.”