The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced by Marissa Honeycutt Read Free Book Online Page A

the bed, pulling
the ring box out of the pocket. She didn’t open it, but held it
tightly in her hands and stared at it.
    “I’m sorry, Anna. I really am.”
    Anna looked up and saw Ian watching her.
“What do you care?” she asked coldly.
    Ian grimaced. “I’ll let Devin know you’re
awake.” He stood and walked stiffly out of the room.
    Anna continued to stare at the ring box, only
dimly aware when Devin walked back into the room with someone else
entering behind him.
    “Anna, Baby. I’m glad you’re awake. I was
getting worried.” Devin walked to her and embraced her. She pulled
away and glowered at him. “All right. Kaveh wants to take a look at
you and then Ian will take you back to your car.”
    “Please lie down, Daughter.”
    Kaveh stood on the other side of the bed and
Anna did as he asked. He put his hand on her head and then stomach.
Anna vaguely remembered having sex with him the previous night, but
not much else.
    Kaveh looked at Devin. “It is done.”
    Devin smiled broadly. “Excellent.” He glanced
at Anna. “You can go now.”
    Anna glared at Devin as she dressed. She was
curious as to what Kaveh said was “done,” but didn’t want to give
Devin the pleasure of knowing her curiosity. He watched her with an
amused expression on his face.
    “I’m ready,” she said when she was done,
crossing her arms over her chest.
    Devin stood. “Good. I’ll take you downstairs
to the car.”
    She followed Devin through the Manor and out
the front door. “I’ll come see you this week since I can’t have you
on Fridays while you are performing.”
    Anna didn’t reply. She just looked at him
with as much hatred as she could muster.
    “Hatred isn’t very becoming, Anna. You won’t
catch another lover with that expression on your face.”
    “I don’t want another lover, you asshole,”
she spat. “I want Ben.”
    “Oh, sweetheart. Ben’s body has been dredged
from the Bay. I’m sure his family is on their way down here as we
speak.” He took a step closer and pulled her hair so that her face
tipped up to his. “You would do well to remember your place, Anna,”
he snarled. “I can make your life a living hell. Remember
that.”
    “You already have.” She twisted out of his
grasp and got into the back of the car, refusing to look at him as
Ian drove away.

Chapter Nine
    It was a silent drive back to the theater
garage. When they arrived, Anna didn’t wait for Ian to open the
door, but got out on her own without saying a word. She walked to
her car, got in and started it without looking back.
    Where to go? She needed to tell Matt what
happened. She glanced at the clock as she drove out of the garage.
Almost three. She wished she had stayed asleep. Sleep was peaceful.
Sleep didn’t hurt.
    She parked her car and then headed up to her
apartment. When she got off the elevator on her floor she
hesitated. Glancing down at Ben’s apartment door made the tears
start again. Anguish consumed her, making her heart burn, and her
legs buckled beneath her. She slid down the wall next to the
elevator, sobbing uncontrollably. She needed to get to her
apartment, but she couldn’t move. All she could do was sob.
    She didn’t know how long she sat there, but
unexpectedly, she felt strong arms around her shoulders.
    “
Kommen Sie, Liebling
.” Wilhelm
helped her to her feet and guided her down the hallway, but not to
her apartment. To Ben and Matt’s.
    “No! No! I don’t want to go there,” she
wailed, digging her heels into the carpeted floor and struggling
against his grip, but he held her tight.
    “Anna, Ben’s family is here. They want to see
you.” Wilhelm pushed the door open and gently pulled her into the
apartment.
    “Anna!” Ben's family embraced her the moment
she walked into the living room.
    Ben’s mom, Katherine, hugged her tightly. “We
were so worried about you. That you had been in the car with Ben.
But Wilhelm said you were okay. I don’t know how he knew, but I’m
so