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 thankful he was right.”
Anna couldn’t look at anyone. It was her fault that Ben was dead. She shouldn’t be here. She didn’t deserve to be here.
“I…I can’t be here.” She turned and fled to her apartment at the opposite end of the hallway. Once she was inside, she closed the door behind her and fell to the ground, sobbing again.
“Anna.” Wilhelm. Dear Wilhelm. He knelt next to her. “Liebling. How did you know?”
“How did I know what?” she sniffed.
“How did you know he was dead?”
Anna looked up into Wilhelm’s face, shame filling her. “It’s my fault,” she whispered. “He killed him because of me. I was so selfish and he killed him.”
“Who killed who?” Wilhelm stared at her for a moment. “Ben?”
Anna nodded. “Devin. He killed him. Right in front of me.” She stared at the ground. “It’s my fault,” she said in a broken voice, squeezing her eyes shut in despair. “It’s all my fault.”
“Anna, it is not your fault. Devin is…does bad things, but those things are not your fault.”
She shook her head. “If I hadn’t wanted to be with Ben, Devin would have let him go. He asked me and I told him. He called Ben a distraction. But I couldn’t lie. I told him the truth. And he killed him.”
“Anna, the police found his body in his car early this morning. In the Bay. Are you sure you didn’t just imagine it?”
Anna shook her head absently. “He said he’d put him off the Golden Gate Bridge. The same bridge my parents died under.”
Wilhelm muttered something in German. “Oh, Anna.” He pulled her into his arms and rocked her gently. “Shh, it will be all right, Liebling. It is not your fault.”
“He was going to ask me to marry him,” she whispered after she’d calmed down a bit. She pulled the ring box out of her pocket.
Wilhelm took the box from her and opened it. “Very pretty,” he said with a gentle smile, hugging her close.
“Where’d you get that?”
Both Wilhelm and Anna looked up to see Matt standing in the doorway with an accusatory look on his face.
Anna stared at Matt. “He had it with him when he died.”
Matt frowned. “I know. He showed it to me at the theater. The question is, how did you get it?”
Anna’s mouth moved but there were no words. She didn’t know how to respond to Matt’s accusation.
“Matt, it is not what you think,” Wilhelm said. “And apparently what happened to Ben is not what we were told either.”
“What are you talking about?”
Wilhelm stared at the young man for a long considering moment. “Matt, if I tell you, you cannot tell anyone. Especially not his family. They would be in danger.”
Matt walked in and closed the door. “Tell me.”
Wilhelm gave him a brief history of Anna’s relationship with Devin—reinforcing what Jenna had told him—and then what Anna had told Wilhelm.
“Devin threw it on the ground next to him after he was…,” Anna said softly. “He said it had been in Ben’s pocket when they took him.”
“Oh, God,” Matt said, sitting hard on the floor next to them. “We should call the police.”
Anna laughed bitterly. “Devin controls the police. There’s nothing we can do.” She leaned against Wilhelm. “Nothing.”
“Matt, would you please take Anna back to your apartment. I need to make a phone call.”
“Wilhelm….” Anna clung to him.
“Anna, I need to call Alex and tell him what happened.”
“Is he home?”
Wilhelm nodded. “He got home yesterday.”
A cold chill ran through Anna’s body, but she nodded and allowed Matt to help her to her feet. If Alex really cared, he would be here, not his father.
Anger at Alex mixed with her anger at Devin and Ian and the world.
*****
Wilhelm watched as Matt helped Anna back to his apartment and then phoned Alex.
“Vati?” came Alex’s groggy voice over the line.
“Alex, wake up.” Wilhelm spoke in German. “I need to speak with you.”
There was a pause. “What happened? Is Anna okay?” His voice had cleared.
“Devin killed Anna’s boyfriend. Right in front of her, as far as I can tell.”
“My God!”
Wilhelm repeated to Alex what Anna had told him.
“That fucking bastard,” Alex growled when Wilhelm had finished.
“My exact sentiments. How are the plans progressing?”
“Slowly. I have to be careful if we’re going to keep it a secret.”
“Will it be done by the time Anna gets there?”
“It will. I will make sure of that.”
“Good. You might want to send Seth out to help Greg get Anna to Frankfurt. She is extremely unwilling to go.”
Alex chuckled. “Who knew she could be so strong willed?”
Wilhelm chu
ckled as well. “It would be good for her to learn some stubbornness. But Alex, I don’t know what Ben’s death will do to her. She is extremely distressed and blaming herself. She’s…different than she was. Devin has been ruthless with her emotions. You’re going to have to be very, very careful with her. You must have your temper under control at all times or you will deeply wound her.”
Alex sighed. “I know, Vati. As soon as she gets here, I will put out word that we are unavailable. I don't want to do it beforehand or it might tip off Devin.”
“Do you think she might be more willing if she flew commercial? It might be less threatening to her.”
“Maybe. But I hate the idea of her on a commercial jet.”
“Alex, don’t be a snob. Lufthansa does an excellent job in their first class.”
“I know, but…I don’t want her getting hurt.”
“That’s why you’re sending bodyguards with her. So she’s watched and kept safe. Greg would never allow anything to happen to her.”
“Neither would any of my men. Seth, especially.” Alex paused. “I think I will send him out. Just don't tell Anna.”
“I won’t, believe me. Every time I have mentioned it, she becomes hostile.”
Alex sighed. “Poor Anna.” He paused. “Vati, I don’t like the idea of Anna living alone. Do you think you could convince her to have Jenna move in with her?”
“I agree. I’ll speak to her about it.”
“Good. Keep my name out of it and it might go better. I don’t want to command her and make her resent me anymore than she already does.”
“I will. All right. I will let you get back to sleep. I know you need it, but I thought you might want to know.”
“Thank you for calling me, Vati. I always want to know if something happens to her.”
“I know, son. Good night.”
Wilhelm put his phone in his pocket and headed back to Matt’s apartment. He hoped that Alex’s plan would work. The poor girl couldn’t take much more before she completely lost her mental faculties.
Chapter Ten
Anna sat on the floor in the corner listening to Ben’s family talk about him and make funeral plans. Tears were intermixed with occasional laughter. His sisters, Marcia and Ruth, huddled next to their parents, Dave and Katherine. Matt and Jenna sat together on a chair near the window.
Wilhelm sat in a chair near Anna. He had tried to get Anna to sit on a chair, but she refused. If she had to be here, she wanted to hide in the corner.
The family had decided on Friday morning for the funeral. Anna knew she had a matinee early Friday afternoon, but would ask Isaak if he would let her miss class that morning.
Would it be inappropriate to continue dancing? She couldn’t imagine not dancing, though. Even now, especially now, she felt a need to go somewhere alone and dance. Dancing kept her sane. It was the only thing that had done so through all the years of abuse.
Anna felt the ring box in her pocket. She should give his family the ring, but they would be suspicious if they knew she had it. How could she explain how she got it? She wasn’t supposed to have seen him. She glanced at Matt and then Wilhelm. What should she do with it?
“It doesn’t make any sense, Mom,” Marcia said in a broken voice. “How could he have disappeared on Friday and not…been found until this morning?”
“You know how your brother is, Marcia,” Dave said gently. “Maybe he just needed some time alone.”
Anna flushed in embarrassment. Did they know about her? Had Ben told them? She was thankful that she was hidden in the corner and that no one could see her. She didn’t belong here. She should leave. Leave his family to grieve without her tainted presence.
She stood quickly, and the room spun. Wilhelm grabbed her before she could fall. “Anna, are you all right? Have you eaten today?”
Anna shook her head. She wasn’t interested in food right now.
“I think I will take her back to her apartment and have her rest,” Wilhelm said. “Kommen Sie, Liebling.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “I will make sure she is all right. Let me know if there is anything you need.”
“Thank you, Wilhelm,” Dave said. “I appreciate your concern.”
“Anna means a great deal to myself and my family. Anything that concerns her concerns me.”
Anna glanced at Matt. “Matt, can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked.
He nodded and followed her to the door.
“Here,” she said, handing him the ring box. “I…I don’t know what to do with it.”
“Anna, you should keep it. He’d want you to have it.”
Anna shook her head. “How would I explain why I had it?” she asked, tears forming in her eyes again. “I’m not supposed to have seen him.” Her voice squeaked as she spoke.
Matt nodded. “I’ll put it with his things. I’m sure his mom will give it to you when she finds it.”
“I don’t deserve it.”
Matt put his hands on her shoulders. “Anna, Ben didn’t care about what you’d been forced to do. He loved you and wanted to marry you. He was gonna ask you at the party. That’s why his family was down here already.”
Anna closed her eyes. Ben had said he loved her before he died.
“I will take care of her, Matt,” Wilhelm said. “I think she needs some sleep. She did not sleep well all weekend.”
Matt looked at him strangely but didn’t say anything and nodded. “I’ll keep you updated.”
“Danke.”
*****
Anna let Wilhelm help her back to her apartment. Her legs shook as she walked. Wilhelm ordered her some dinner and watched her carefully as she ate.
“Do you want to dance tomorrow, Anna?” he asked, sitting next to her on the couch after she’d finished. “Or shall I call Isaak and let him know that you need some time off?”
“Dancing is the only time I’m free,” she said quietly. “A few minutes of solace.”
Wilhelm touched her cheek as he looked at her closely. Then he nodded. “I understand. Then you need to make sure you sleep well tonight. You look exhausted.”
Anna leaned against Wilhelm. “I hit Devin,” she said without emotion.
Wilhelm stiffened. “You what?”
“I told him that I hated him and I got a couple of hits in before Ian pulled me off him.”
Wilhelm chuckled. “I bet he was surprised.”
Anna shrugged. “He didn’t seem to care. I hit Ian, too.”
Wilhelm petted her hair and kissed the top of her head. “You are full of surprises, Liebling.” He paused. “Anna, with all that has happened…I do not know if it is wise for you to live by yourself.”
“Why?”
“Because if something were to happen…I worry about you. Would you consider having Jenna stay with you? At least until the end of the year?”
Anna thought about it. Jenna probably wouldn’t mind. She’d be closer to Matt, even though she stayed with him most nights anyways. It would be nice to have someone to come home with. The apartment felt so big right now. Big and empty.
She nodded. “Yes. That would be okay.”
Wilhelm smiled and kissed her temple. “Gut. Go get ready for bed and I will go talk to her.”
“Okay.” Wilhelm left and Anna went into her bedroom. She heard a faint ringing and looked around until she found her phone in the bottom of her bag.
She saw it was Aaron calling.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Anna, how are you doing?” he asked in a gentle voice.
“I’ve been better. You…heard what happened?”
“Yeah. Jenna called me. I’m so sorry, Anna. I know you really cared about him.”
“It wasn’t an accident, Aaron. Devin killed him.”
The line was silent for a minute. “How do you know?”
“Because I was there. He did it in front of me.”
“Oh, God, Anna! Oh, God. I’m so sorry. Please tell me you’re not alone.”
“Wilhelm
is here. Well, I mean he just went to talk to Jenna, but he’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Good. Anna, hon, if you need anything, please call me.” His voice was so tender it brought tears to her eyes. Maybe if she hadn’t dated Ben and been dating Aaron….
No, if she’d been dating Aaron, he would be dead instead of Ben. Devin didn’t care who it was, he just didn’t want her loyalties divided. He wouldn’t have hesitated to kill Aaron any more than he’d hesitated to kill Ben. Either way, her affections would have gotten someone killed. She needed to keep her emotions under control from now on. Devin would surely get rid of anyone she cared about too much,
“Thanks, Aaron. I appreciate it.” She sighed. “I need to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You’re coming tomorrow? Anna, Isaak would understand. You should stay home.”
“No. I need…sanity. Dancing gives me that.”
He was quiet for a minute. “I guess that makes sense.”
“Does Travis know?”
“Yeah. I called him and told him. I’ll let him know you’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Aaron.”
“Try and get some rest.”
“Thanks. Bye.”
“Bye, Anna.”
Anna tossed her phone onto the bed and went into the bathroom to shower. When she finished, she went back into her bedroom and found Wilhelm was sitting on her bed.
He looked up and smiled at her. “Jenna said she would happily move in here.”
Anna smiled as she sat down next to Wilhelm. “I thought she might.”
Wilhelm smiled and pulled her close. “I think, if circumstances were different, she would have been bouncing off the walls.”
She laughed softly. “I think you’re right.” She buried her face in his neck and inhaled. He smelled good.
Chapter Eleven
Wilhelm hugged Anna tightly to him. She was so small and vulnerable and it pained him to know she was hurting so badly. He wished there was something he could do to take away her pain, but only time would do that. He rubbed her back and kissed her cheek.
The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced Page 5