Page 47 of The Life of Anna, Tenth Anniversary Edition, Act 2

In the prison tower floor common area, Alex silently counted while doing his workout routine. He envisioned Vitaly’s sickly face as he did his pushups, wondering what had turned the old man so ill so quickly. Peter’s cryptic last words to him about old men dying had haunted him ever since he’d first seen the change in the old man a few weeks back. His face had been gray and he’d lost a lot of weight. He’d had no sympathy for the man, though. If he did finally die...

Alex shook his head. There was no guarantee it would benefit him or his men if he did.

He hadn’t seen Vlad in several weeks and Peter was back in California. With Anna.

Alex sat back on his heels. Peter clearly cared for Anna. And he kept Devin away from her. Alex supposed there was some comfort in that. But just barely.

It had been over three-and-a-half years since he’d left her for what he’d thought was a simple job. Three-and-a-half years that she’d been left in Devin’s sadistic control. He supposed being with Peter was a blessing, but it still ate away at him.

He rolled onto his back and started his sit-ups. She’d been so angry when she’d visited a few weeks ago. Well, she hadn’t started out angry. But she’d left angry. He’d only been trying to comfort her, and it had backfired.

He lay back and stared at the wooden beams of the ceiling far above his head. It was like when they’d first met, and he hadn’t been able to do anything right with her. Everything he tried backfired, now as it had then.

He clenched his fist and let out a frustrated growl. Why was he stuck in this fucking place? Why couldn’t he be home with his precious wife?

No. He knew why. Devin. The man had won and Vitaly made sure it stayed that way. Trying to escape was useless. He wouldn’t risk his men’s lives again.

Erich was walking again, after a long surgery that had fixed his legs which had healed badly after the last beating. Vlad had arranged therapy for him and it had been working very well. A therapist and doctor visited once a week to check on all the men’s past injuries and had been instructed to do whatever it took to ensure they were as healthy as possible. Alex didn’t dare ask why the Elder was insistent on his friends getting healthy, but he was grateful.

Keys rattled and the heavy iron and wood door opened below, announcing someone was coming for a visit. Or Vlad had sent a few Dirne to take care of them again. It was nice to see a woman every once in a while. The girls were beautiful and talented, as Manor slaves always were. He appreciated Vlad’s kindness after his father’s harshness for so long. It was a nice change.

Alex sat up and watched Vlad pause at the top of the stairs and look around.

“I’m here, Vlad,” he said softly in Russian as he stood.

Vlad nodded and approached, stopping a few feet away from Alex. His expression was somber. “My father is dead.”

Alex blinked, unsure if he should silently rejoice or feel sorry for the man for losing his father. He decided to take the high road. “I’m sorry to hear that, Vlad.” It would be tough to lose a father, even one as harsh as Vitaly.

“Yes, well...” Vlad shifted on his feet. “Anna will be here in a few days and I must take you all down to the cellar until she’s gone.”

Alex blew out a breath as his heart leaped in his chest, even as a groan escaped his lips. That fucking cellar . “Anna’s coming here?” He couldn’t hide the hope in his voice and scolded himself for it.

“I don’t think she’ll come here to the house, but she will be in the city. If she senses you here... Devin will not like it.”

Devin wouldn’t like it? Alex furrowed his brows as he studied Vlad’s face. His face was inscrutable, but he lifted his chin ever so slightly. “What about you?”

“I . . . don’t want her to be hurt.”

Alex snorted. “If you don’t want her to be hurt, let me and my friends go.”

Vlad held up his hand. “After the funeral, I will be looking over many things my father did and deciding if they are... worth continuing.” He raised his eyebrows. “But until then, the protections on the house must be strengthened and you must be hidden. There cannot be a hint of anyone knowing you are here or Devin would be very upset.”

Alex slowly nodded. Hope glimmered in his heart as he pondered the man’s words.

“Tomorrow I will take you to the cellar. Be prepared for many days down there. I do not know when everyone will leave.” He turned to leave, but quickly turned back around. “I almost forgot to give this to you.” He handed Alex a portable DVD player. “Peter sent it to me. I thought you might like to see.”

Vlad gave a curt nod and walked back down the stairs, the heavy door clanging shut behind him. Alex powered the device on and his heart pounded as the first strains of the music of Giselle came through the tiny speakers. My Anna! He slowly sank to the floor, mesmerized by her dancing. Peter was magnificent, but Anna... Oh, she drew in her audience, wrapped them in chains of silk, and seduced them with her beauty and grace.

Tears ran down his bearded cheeks as he watched her dance, wishing with all his heart that he could have been there for her. He remembered her performing this same dance years before, but she’d matured as a dancer. And he could see the electricity of emotion between her and Peter as they danced together. There was no doubt she loved him, too.

Alex pressed his lips together. Peter would have to return to St. Petersburg now that Vitaly was dead. What would happen to Anna? There was no one to protect her if Peter left. His father was barred from entering the US. The American Elders there were weak and completely under Devin’s control.

He had to get free. He had to get free and save his beloved, even if she loved another man. If it was the last thing he did, he would save her from Devin and ensure she had the chance to live out the rest of her life in peace and happiness, even if it meant not being with him.