Right at the front of my apartment stood a pair of men. They were dressed smartly in working pants and neat button up shirts with office ties around their neck. Given that my apartment building was for young adults with plenty of college debt and a shitty job that can't pay for any of that, they stuck out like sore thumbs. Beyond that, what truly gave them away as Christian's men were the wires that discreetly connected to their ears. Well-trained from my time hanging around Christian, I had grown more sensitive towards these little gadgets. 

Subconsciously, I patted down my pockets. Even if we could get past them, I did not have a key. "Ethan?" I said softly through my teeth, trying my best not to give away out hiding spot. We were located a few feet away, behind a pillar of another building. 

Just then, Ethan emerged from the shadows and swooshed past me. To my absolute horror, he strode directly towards the enemy. I could not help but notice his arrogant strut, drawing all attention towards himself evidently on purpose. Apparently, I was the only one hiding. 

"ETHAN!" I hissed, having no choice but to reveal myself and join him. 

Spinning on his feet, he stopped short. I slammed right into him. "What, ANA?" His voice was too loud and with way too much emphasis on my name. 

I shushed him but it was too late. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched helplessly as the men took interest in us. 

Looking up at him, I faked a smile. "I don't have a key."

Carelessly, he shrugged. "Neither do I."

Before I could speak, he let out an exasperated sigh as if I was missing the whole point. "ANASTASIA STEEL," He basically hollered, then leaned in to whisper, "did you not think I've thought this through?" 

Finally, the computer in my brain had completed its reboot process. It was now up and running. Oh, I was the key. 

Throwing his arm around me, Ethan hauled me directly towards the men... who were on a lookout for me. Their eyes widened ever so slightly at our entrance. 

"Boys," Ethan cast them a teasing grin, "I am sure you are both well acquainted with Anastasia Steele here."

They scanned me from head to toe, as if comparing me to something they had been shown. My mind skipped to the idea of police dogs, given a scent to sniff and hunt out. 

"Yes, yes, eyes to yourself now." Ethan scolded. "She'd like to get into her apartment."

Hesitation, but mostly, confusion crossed both of their faces. 

"What? You expert her to break into her own apartment?" Ethan's voice was hollow and challenging. 

Before they could answer, his arm slipped down my back as he jerked me forward along with him. Just like that, we had bypassed the two guard dogs. I turned back, watching them stare after us with utter confusion to their next steps. When we made it to my door, Ethan released me and pushed it ajar. How was my door already open? 

Imitating a gentleman, he bowed forward as his right arm swept forward. Unexpectedly, he said, "me first."

"Huh?" I was momentarily shocked at his bad manners.

He winked. "I have to check if unwanted visitors are awaiting your arrival." Then, he let himself into the apartment first as I waited outside.

Ethan was right. The last time I had been in my apartment, my world had taken a dive into the dark abyss. Nobody should ever go through the experience of having a gun pointed at them, even if there was a high possibility that no shots would be fired. 

On the other hand, sending Ethan in there first would put him in danger! My inner goddess snapped. 

My mouth dropped at the thought, "ETHAN!"

"ANA!" He called back, still very much alive. 

I breathed, quickly directing my attention to something else before I could suffer a heart attack. The two men were fidgeting, the taller one whispering into his wire, and the shorter one shooting me worried glances. 

Worried... for me? No, that couldn't be right. He had just let me pass him, and knowing Christian's feisty behavior, his job was on the line.

"Ana." Ethan tapped me on the shoulder and I jumped in surprise. He suppressed a laughter at my reaction and I hit his bicep softly in response. He had taken advantage of the fact that I was on edge. "Go on in, I just need to take this call."

As we switched positions, I heard him whip up his phone. "Kavanaugh." He shut the door behind me.

The feeling of betrayal slammed into my head on. Standing in this very spot that I had not been in too long ago, the memories came crashing over me. A paralyzing pain squeezed my heart and travelled into my body. Its cold hand wrapped around my throat and tightened its hold. 

I watched the scene play out right in front of me like a bad movie that would not end. Leila's smirk as I was taken away, the moment the door began to close, Christian reaching for her... I was overwhelmed.

The chill clenched from both sides of my throat, an involuntary breath leaving my system as the agony compressed my frail hear. Helpless, my eyes followed Christian and Leila into my bedroom. Once again, my tears blinded me as I realized why he had bathed her after. He bathes after our sessions as well. My body suddenly felt filthy at the idea and I fell to my knees, gasping for breath. 

"Ana," Ethan's voice was grave and loud from behind the door. "Christian just personally raided my poor friend's apartment."

But I was lost, falling deeper and deeper into darkness. I heard the door squeak open and his shoes shuffling against the floor. Then, arms circled me and Ethan pulled me down onto his lap. He let me cry as he stroked my hair, over and over. Even with Ethan's affection my mind could not overcome the tragedy that had played before me. 

Christian had never given me a reason to doubt him, unless I counted the fact the he had slept with probably half of Seattle and his awful record with steady relationships. Resentment filled me as my heart pounded, spinning around my love for Christian. I still loved him, I felt it. But his hands, the same hands that had touched me... and then... Leila. I clung onto Ethan for dear life.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" That voice.

I lost my heartbeat. 

Ethan was violently torn from me and my eyes flashed open to find Christian glaring at him. Christin was in denim jeans and a white linen shirt with the first two buttons undone. I could barely breathe or see. He looked shaken with a combination of exhaustion and anger. In the same instance, Christian pinned Ethan against my wall in a moment of fury.

"No!" I shrieked from my ball of torture. 

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" Christian bellowed.

Ethan pursed his lips and shrugged, not at all intimidated by the ball fo raging angst. "None of your business, really."

I watched in horror as Christian let out a feral snarl, raising his fist. 

"NO!" I sprung up onto my feet, about to dive forward to take the blow when Christian got knocked onto the ground.

"WOAH, bro." Elliott had tackled Christian to the ground. Keeping hi down.

"GO TO HELL, CHRISTIAN TREVELYAN-GREY." Compared to Christian's earlier snarl, this bark was far more ferocious in every way.

"Woah, Kate. He's still my brother." Elliott cautioned, clearly caught in the cross fire.

I heard Ethan chuckle and as we locked eyes, he smiled. "Back-up."