Mrs. Fifty Shades

Chapter Nineteen

Ana

I hung up then searched for Crow. In his three story mansion, it was impossible to find him anywhere. "Crow?" I leaned over the stairway in the hope he could hear me wherever he was.

He appeared behind me. "Ana."

He scared me because he appeared out of nowhere, but I was too excited to be afraid. "Christian's plane just left. He's on the way here. He should arrive in twelve hours." The words came tumbling out of my mouth in a jumble.

"That's great." He stood in his suit and tie, looking mean and powerful. "In twelve hours, I'll finally get rid of you."

Perhaps I knew him well enough to understand his humor because I knew it was a joke—at least partially. "I think you're going to be sad when the children are gone."

"Maybe them. But not you."

"You don't hate me."

"I never said I hated you. But I don't like you." He stepped closer to me, his hands moving into his pockets. After a pause, he continued. "But I'm glad Christian is okay. He's a good guy. It would be a shame to the world if we lost him."

"I would never recover." I didn't even want to think about it. His spirit would still live on through his children, but that wouldn't be enough for me. I needed my husband every single day until my time was over.

"Now you don't have to worry about it. Maybe you should get some sleep before he gets here."

"I can't sleep." I was too anxious to calm down. Once he was finally in my arms, I would unwind.

"Don't fuck all over my house." He lifted the corner of his mouth in the form of a smile.

"We'll keep it in the bedroom."

"And Lars will burn the sheets."

I still didn't understand Crow, and I suspected I never would. Like Christian, he protected his secrets and refused to share them with anyone. But I felt closer to him than before. "Thank you for everything... We all appreciate it."

He held my gaze, his expression stoic.

"It's been really difficult for us, but you've made us feel at home...and safe. If there's anything I can ever do for you, don't hesitate to ask."

That cocky grin emerged again. "Have a cute girlfriend?"

It was the first time I felt happy since I arrived. "None that I'm letting you go near."

"Damn. I fancy American girls."

"I really mean it, Crow. Thank you."

He clearly didn't respond to intimacy well. And he didn't like to be complimented. He didn't show any embarrassment or a hint of awkwardness. But he didn't seem thrilled by my words either. "I'm not a selfless man. One day, I'll need something from Christian, and now he's guaranteed to deliver."

"Maybe," I said. "But I think it's more than that. You act like a hollow tough guy, but I don't buy it. I think underneath that rough ruggedness, you're a good man. You're kind, compassionate, and noble. But I'll keep your secret."

"That's your opinion," he said quietly. "But don't share it with anyone else."

I grinned from ear-to-ear. "Your secret is safe with me."

***

I stood in the roundabout driveway holding Phoebe while Teddy stood beside me. Crow was there, but he was positioned far off to the left. Teddy looked down the empty road then turned back to me. "When is Daddy coming?"