Fifty Shades Darker(84)

"It's a big place. You haven't seen it all yet."

"Why don't you just call her... tell her you want to talk to her?"

"Anastasia, she's unstable, and she may be armed," he says irritably.

"So we just run?"

"For now - yes."

"Supposing she tries to shoot Taylor?"

"Taylor knows and understands guns," he says with distaste. "He'll be quicker with a gun than she is."

"Ray was in the army. He's taught me to shoot."

Christian raises his eyebrows and for a moment looks utterly bemused. "You, with a gun?" he says incredulously.

"Yes." I am affronted. "I can shoot, Mr. Grey, so you'd better beware. It's not just crazy ex-subs you need to worry about."

"I'll bear that in mind, Miss Steele," he answers dryly, amused, and it feels good to know that even in this ridiculously tense situation, I can make him smile.

Taylor meets us in the foyer and hands me my small suitcase and my black Converse.

I am stunned that he's packed me some clothes. I smile shyly at him with gratitude, and his returning smile is swift and reassuring. Before I can stop myself - I hug him, hard. He's taken by surprise, and when I release him, he's pink in both cheeks.

"Be careful," I murmur.

"Yes, Miss Steele," he mutters.

Christian frowns at me and then looks questioningly at Taylor, who smiles very slightly and adjusts his tie.

"Let me know where I'm going." Christian says.

Taylor reaches into his jacket, pulls out his wallet, and hands Christian a credit card.

"You might want to use this when you get there."

Christian nods. "Good thinking."

Ryan joins us. "Sawyer and Reynolds found nothing," he says to Taylor.

"Accompany Mr. Grey and Miss Steele to the garage," Taylor orders.

The garage is deserted. Well, it is nearly three in the morning. Christian ushers me into the passenger seat of the R8 and puts my case and his bag in the trunk at the front of the car.

The Audi beside us is a complete mess - every tire slashed, white paint splattered all over it. It's chilling and makes me grateful that Christian is taking me somewhere else.

"A replacement will arrive on Monday," Christian says bleakly when he's seated beside me.

"How could she have known it was my car?"

He glances anxiously at me and sighs. "She had an Audi A3. I buy one for all my submissives - it's one of the safest cars in its class."

Oh. "So, not so much a graduation present, then."

"Anastasia, despite what I hoped, you have never been my submissive, so technically it is a graduation present." He pulls out of the parking space and speeds to the exit.

Despite what he hoped. Oh no... my subconscious shakes her head sadly. This is what we come back to all the time.

"Are you still hoping?" I whisper.

The in-car phone buzzes. "Grey," Christian snaps.

"Fairmont Olympic. In my name."

"Thank you, Taylor. And, Taylor, be careful."

Taylor pauses. "Yes, sir," he says quietly, and Christian hangs up.

The streets of Seattle are deserted, and Christian roars up Fifth Avenue toward the I-5.

Once on the interstate, he floors the gas pedal, heading north. He accelerates so quickly I'm momentarily thrown back in my seat.

I peek at him. He's deep in thought, radiating a deadly brooding silence. He hasn't answered my question. He glances frequently at the rearview mirror, and I realize he's checking that we're not being followed. Perhaps that's why we're on the I-5. I thought the Fairmont was in Seattle.