He gave her a brilliant smile. “Hello, Katrina.”
Anna pressed her lips together and Hugo stiffened slightly, then moved around her and jumped down to the audience level. He extended his hand in greeting to Alex. “Hello, I’m Hugo Sintzenich. You’re Alex, correct?”
Alex gave him a stiff smile and took his hand. “Yes, Alex Kunze.” He glanced up at Anna, who was still on the stage. “I’ve enjoyed watching you work these last few weeks. You are truly a gifted choreographer.”
“Danke.” Hugo said something in German that she couldn’t understand.
Alex looked surprised and glanced at Anna again. “You speak German?”
Hugo smiled. “Didn’t your father or brother tell you?”
Alex began to shake his head and then stared. “You know who I am?”
“Katrina told me.”
“Ah.” Alex looked between Anna and Hugo, confusion in his eyes. “I see.”
“Kat, where’re we going...?” Stef walked up and trailed off as she seemed to sense the tension in the group of people. She glanced around at the tense faces. “We doing lunch?”
“Yeah,” Aaron said. “C’mon.” He dragged Alex by the elbow and Hugo followed after them, speaking in German with a serious look on his face while Alex listened intently.
Anna crossed her arms and huffed. Was Hugo trying to make friends with Alex?
“Kat, what’s wrong? Do you know Euroman?”
Anna sighed and glanced at her friend. “Yes. He’s my husband.”
“What!” Stef exclaimed loudly and then clapped her hands over her mouth. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?” She stared. “When did you get married?”
“I...no, my husband that I thought was dead. I...I didn’t know until Saturday night....” She began to tell Stef about her trysts with Mr. J. when Aaron turned around and looked at her.
“You coming?” he asked.
Anna saw the pleading look in Alex’s eyes and bit her lip and nodded. She and Stef both jumped down off the stage and hurried after the men.
They stayed well behind them and Anna finished telling her story to Stef. “I didn’t think anyone could be hotter than Kurt, but man....” Anna saw Stef drag her eyes all over Alex’s backside. “Damn, girl.”
Anna frowned. She didn’t like her friend ogling Alex. But she had a point. ‘Course, all three men ahead of them were worth looking at, not to mention the three men, Seth, Tony and Greg, walking behind the whole group. She suddenly realized she hadn’t greeted them, nor thanked Seth for saving her on Saturday night. She stopped and turned around, giving them timid smiles. “Hi,” she said softly, looking between the three of them. They, too, had aged in the last four and a half years. Tony and Greg both had a bit of grey at the temples, but were as handsome as they’d been when they’d left her that morning all those years ago....
“Hey, Anna,” Seth said, walking up and giving her a bear hug. Tony and Greg did the same thing and Anna found herself blinking back tears. Her past was surrounding her. These guys watched out for her and Alex. They suffered years of imprisonment because of her.
Suddenly, Anna wasn’t hungry. She glanced at Stef. “I’m gonna go back to the theater. I’m not hungry.” She squeezed her way between Tony and Seth and ran back to the theater. She needed to be alone.
*****
Alex found himself reluctantly liking Hugo. He was a good, honorable man and cared about Anna deeply. He half suspected he was in love with her. It would have been so much easier to hate the man he was competing with for Anna’s heart, but he couldn’t.
“I want Katrina to be happy,” Hugo said in German as they walked out of the theater. “I don’t know everything that she’s gone through, but I know enough to want her to be happy, even if it’s not with me.”
Alex glanced at Aaron. “We can speak in English. I’ve known Aaron longer than I’ve known Anna, er Katrina.”
Hugo gave Aaron an apologetic look and Aaron grinned. “It’s all good,” Aaron said.
Hugo looked back at Alex. “I don’t want to stand in your way. You are her husband and....” He grinned. “...from a very powerful family that I don’t want to mess with.”
Alex chuckled. “I appreciate your understanding, Hugo. I....” Alex glanced back at Anna, who was speaking softly and intently with her friend. “I want her to be happy, too. I don’t want to force her into anything and resent me.” He sighed. “But I love her. I’ve spent the last four and a half years longing for her. I will do whatever I can to win her back.”
Hugo nodded, understanding in his eyes. “As much as it kills me to say this, I will back off and let you and her get to know each other again.” He was quiet for a moment and then chuckled. “I hope you’ll let me continue to dance with her, though. It would be difficult to find a new partner two days before the performance.”
“That’s not my decision. That’s hers.” Alex twisted his wedding band on his hand. Anna had chosen well in Hugo. “If she decides against me, I’m glad to know that you are sincere in how you feel about her.”
“I had asked her out to dinner for tonight before we knew you were coming. I’ll talk to her....” Hugo looked behind them. “Where’d she go?”
Alex whipped around and saw Stefanie jogging towards them. “Where’s Katrina?” he asked, a little harsher than he meant.
Stefanie’s eyes widened.
“I’m sorry,” he said, with a soft smile. “I worry about her.”
“She said she wasn’t hungry and went back to the theater,” she answered, narrowing her eyes.
“Stef is Katrina’s defender,” Aaron said, walking over and putting his arm around her. “Stef, Alex is as protective of Katrina as you are. Maybe more.”
Alex smiled, glad to learn that Anna had surrounded herself with good people who cared deeply about her. Maybe if he could win them over, Anna would be more receptive to his advances.
*****
“Katrina,” Hugo sighed as they talked after rehearsal. “I don’t want to get in the way of you and Alex. I think you need to give him a chance...give yourself a chance to get to know him again.”
Anna stared in disbelief at Hugo. He’d just told her he didn’t think they should go out to dinner tonight and now he was telling her that she should give Alex a chance?
Anna had been looking forward to having dinner with Hugo. After all, she was free to do as she liked now. And, when she didn’t remember Alex was there, or look at him, she really wanted to spend time with Hugo. The problem was that Alex seemed to always be somewhere she could see him and it tortured her heart.
She saw the other female dancers come up with excuses to go over to him and flirt, but he never flirted back. He was polite and friendly, but nothing beyond that. There was an element of relief in seeing that.
Alex stood at the edge of the stage, talking with Aaron and Vincent. Seth, Tony and Greg were all surrounded by female dancers and appearing to enjoy it very much. She could imagine they hadn’t gotten out much since they’d arrived.
“Katrina?” Hugo touched her shoulder. “Are you upset?”
Anna turned her gaze back onto Hugo’s kind, handsome face. “Hugo...I...I want to go out with you.”
“And I, you, Kittycat.” He stepped closer. “But you need to figure things out with Alex first. If you decide you don’t want to be with him, I will welcome you back with open arms. But you need to give yourself a chance to find out.” He inhaled deeply. “He loves you, Katrina. It’s written all over his face when he watches you dance. And he is your husband, like it or not. He should have the first chance with you.”
Anna grimaced at the reminder that Alex was still her husband, though she wasn’t exactly sure why. She nodded slowly. Hugo was right. If nothing else, it wasn’t fair to Hugo to be uncertain of how she felt about Alex.
Hugo leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He straightened and walked away.
Anna stared at the pointe shoe in her hand. She felt lonely aga
in, but at the same time, felt like she wanted to be alone. She dropped the shoe in her bag, picked it up and walked into the wings to head home.
Footsteps sounded behind her and she turned to see Alex jogging in her direction. “An—er, Katrina.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “I don’t know if I should call you Anna or Katrina.”
Anna stared at him for a moment. “Whichever you’d like to call me, I guess.”
“You’ve always been mein Schatzi,” he said in a low voice, filled with emotion.
Tears sprang to her eyes. “Alex....” She shook her head. Why were her emotions so raw?
“Please, just give me a chance,” he whispered, stepping close. “I know that I wounded you terribly by hiding from you.” He cradled her cheek. “But I couldn’t bear to tell you I had to leave again. I didn’t want to put you through that again. I knew it would be incredibly difficult for you if I did.” He stepped closer and she tipped her head up to gaze into his eyes, brimming with tears. “I was going to tell you as soon as I came back from this next job. Vati is fairly certain that...I will be able to retire once the others find out what happened.”
Anna closed her eyes. She could hardly stand to look at his eyes, they were so filled with emotion. “I’m afraid, Alex. I’ve been hurt so badly....”
“I know, Schatzi,” he murmured. She could feel his breath on her face and knew his face was just inches from hers. His arm slipped around her waist and he pulled her close. “I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re not hurt again.”
Fear bubbled up inside her and she pushed him away. “No...no, Alex. I can’t.” She clutched her chest and ran away from him as fast as she could.
*****
Alex stared through his tears as his beloved wife ran away from him. He took a deep breath, chest expanding as he sucked air into his lungs. Maybe the cool air would soothe the burning pain in his heart.
He’d pushed her. Pushed her too fast. He hadn’t meant to, but he did. The fear he’d sensed from her as she ran away was heartbreaking. Once again, she was afraid of him.
“She’s not afraid of you, Alex.”
Alex looked up to see Sebastian walking towards him from the backstage area. “What are you doing here?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
“Wanted to see how you two interacted today.”
“Hardly at all,” Alex muttered, running his hand through his hair. “I tried to kiss her and pushed her too fast. I felt her fear.”
“Fear of being hurt, Alex, not of you. Her heart is battered. The very fact that she’s not a cold-hearted bitch is attributable only to her heritage.”
“Why are the other ones like her so...cold then?”
“They’re not cold, they’re just above emotions.” Sebastian stopped in front of him. “She was born of love between her parents. She was raised, at least her first few years, in a home of love. Even Jack and Devin loved on her when she was younger. That is why she’s able to feel things other women like her could only dream of. That’s what makes her so powerful. That’s what makes her so vulnerable.”
Alex felt his rage oozing through his veins like molten lava. A slow-burning hatred and abhorrence to the abomination that was Devin Andersen. No pain, no punishment would ever make up for what that man did to Anna. But he would pay. Alex would personally oversee it. Death was too kind for someone like him.
“Alex, calm down,” Sebastian said softly, putting his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “You will have your opportunity to deal with Devin.”
Alex’s eyes were hard as steel. “And I will savor every moment.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
“Hey, Anna you want to come out to dinner with us?” Aaron asked, standing in her bedroom doorway.
Anna sighed, assuming the “us” included Alex. She didn’t want to see Alex. He made her feel things she was afraid to feel. Every relationship she’d ever been in ended in heartbreak. Why would she want to go through that again? Yes, she’d been about ready to try and start things with Hugo, but...Hugo was different. He had nothing to do with the Brotherhood and Devin didn’t know he existed.
She sat on her bed and frowned at Aaron. “Not really.”
“He’ll leave you alone, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
Anna’s stomach growled and she clutched her stomach with her arms.
“We’re going to Rinaldi’s,” he said in a sing-song voice.
Anna huffed. Leave it to Aaron to pick her favorite restaurant.
“You have to come, there’s too many guys, and I can’t handle them on my own.”
At that, Anna laughed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine. But only for you. And because of where we’re going.”
Anna dressed quickly in a dark green sheath dress. After she fixed her hair and makeup, she went out to the living room and was relieved to find that only Cameron was there, standing in the kitchen with Aaron.
Cameron’s blue eyes were sparkling as he walked over to her. “I can’t believe I get to meet Mr. J. tonight!” he shrieked, and Anna couldn’t keep herself from giggling at his enthusiasm.
Aaron rolled his eyes. “If you start flirting, I’ll be jealous,” he muttered.
Cameron grinned and kissed Aaron full on the mouth. “Only as I would flirt with any celebrity.”
“Not encouraging.” He kissed Cameron back as though trying to brand him, and Anna watched their easy relationship with frank envy.
They took a taxi to the small Italian restaurant across town. When they walked in they were led to a large table in the back where Stef, Jamie, and several other dancers including Hugo, were sitting with Alex and his men.
Anna was not happy to see Jasmine there, sitting next to and blatantly flirting with Alex. Jasmine had been behaving herself lately and had even apologized to Anna for the Devin incident. Anna had a feeling it had more to do with fear of losing her position with the company than any remorse on her part, but the other dancers had slowly been allowing her back into the social circle.
Anna sat between Stef and Aaron after greeting everyone. Alex gave her an affectionate smile that made her heart flutter, but she quickly looked away.
Aaron introduced Cameron to Alex, and Cameron greeted him wide-eyed and breathless, to which Aaron looked a little grumpy. Alex greeted Cameron with an amused but genuine smile. It would be a strange event, meeting your best friend’s boyfriend.
“I can’t believe Jasmine!” Stef whispered behind the menu.
Anna looked over at Alex who was smiling politely and nodding, but there was no hint of flirting in his face. “She doesn’t know who he is.”
“She flirts with anything with a cock. Aaron, did you warn Alex about her?”
Aaron shook his head. “No, but Alex is a smart guy.”
“Does he know what she did with Kurt?” Stef asked Anna.
Anna shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve barely spoken to him.”
“Why?” Stef looked shocked.
“It’s...uncomfortable.”
“It’s uncomfortable looking into those gorgeous eyes and beautiful face?” Stef asked with a grin.
Anna smiled, knowing Stef didn’t mean anything by her comment. “Well, kinda. I’m not used to him being alive. It’s something I never dared to hope would happen and I’m not sure what to do with it.”
“Take him home and jump his bones. That’s what I’d do.”
“It’s complicated,” she said softly. Alex was not only her husband, he was also her Master. He could make her do anything he wanted.
Anna watched him throughout dinner as he interacted with her friends. He was polite and friendly with the women, but didn’t flirt back when they flirted. To the guys, he was more relaxed, telling jokes and laughing a great deal. She found herself gazing at him as he did laugh, noticing the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, wondering when they’d appeared. His lips were as perfect as ever, and she remembered the feel of them against her own mouth and body. His hands were large and powerful as he waved them in
the air while he talked, and she remembered how those hands had made her feel.
Even after being imprisoned for all that time, he was still an easy-going, charming man who knew how to interact with people in such an admirably easy way, it awed her. He listened to each person carefully, asking questions and clearly making them feel as if he sincerely cared about what they were saying.
Alex would glance at Anna frequently, giving her gentle smiles and making her heart jump in her chest. He asked her questions along with the other dancers, but didn’t single her out. Anna wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She had a feeling he was trying to be unobtrusive, but part of her was indignant that he treated her like all the other dancers.
“That’s a pretty ring,” Jasmine said as the dinner plates were being cleared. She grabbed his right hand and stroked his ring finger. Anna narrowed her eyes.
“Danke. It’s my...wedding ring.”
“Wedding ring?” Jasmine exclaimed and then gave a strained smile. “Your wife is a lucky woman. Where is she?”
“We are....” Alex glanced at Anna. “We have been separated for a long time and are trying to see where our relationship is at the moment,” he said softly, taking his hand away from Jasmine and twisting the ring on his finger. “I am hoping we can work things out.”
“Why did she leave you?”
“Nein, it is I who left her.” He blinked several times. “I...made a mistake in leaving. I should not have left and have regretted it every day since.”
Anna stared at him, heart aching. He thought he made a mistake in leaving?
“She doesn’t want you back? Is she crazy?”
He looked at his ring. “She’s been through a lot and is a different person than she was when we were together.” He paused. “She may have decided she’s better off without me.” The pain in his eyes stabbed directly into Anna’s heart.
“Do you still love her?” Stef asked.
The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged Page 27
