FORTY-THREE
Edgar
Everyone I loved ran from me.
My mother lived on the other side of the country in Florida, Jacob decided to go to the dark side, and now Evaleen took off to Vegas.
As much as I wanted my mom closer, she was happy in that state. She didn’t like the cold winters here and really, who could blame her?
As for my brother, I wasn’t speaking to him. The only reason I didn’t quit was to try and stop him. Maybe there was a way for me to earn his trust enough to tell me what was going on.
Evaleen took the most work. I had to hop on a plane and fly to Las Vegas.
It didn’t even occur to me not to go after her. I went because when you realize your heart has been captured, held hostage, you would race until your feet fell off to be with the person who held it. Not to ask for it back, but just to smile knowing your heart was where it belonged.
Something had scared Evaleen, and I worried that Damien had contacted her. Maybe it was something my brother told her. It was difficult knowing she might be in danger.
So when I saw a familiar face in the Vegas hotel lobby, I felt tremendous relief.
“Tiffany,” I yelled, my voice echoing in the marble and gilded room.
Her silky chestnut hair swayed as she turned her head in my direction. Her smile wide as she lifted her arm. “Edgar.”
I jogged over to her and she pulled me into a hug.
“What are you doing here? Did Aria recruit you too?”
I shook my head. “Aria’s here? Who else is here?”
My heart was so focused on getting to Evaleen that my brain never thought to get the reason she would come here.
“Morgana’s here too.”
I nodded. “Is it a bridal shower thing?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t think it’s gotten to that point yet.” Tiffany leaned over, cupping her mouth to my ear. “Don’t tell anyone but we kidnapped someone.”
“Kidnapped?” My eyes darted around the room and that’s when I saw him.
The guy from the alley who kicked me in the nuts. Wearing a button-up shirt and a suit jacket, he didn’t look so much like a low-life this time. His eyes skimmed the crowd and found me.
Fuck, Evaleen was in danger. If that guy was here then maybe Damien was too.
He began to walk toward me and I was about to push Tiffany away. I didn’t want to put her in danger too, but someone called his name and he turned. He squinted his eyes at me but turned to go toward the voice.
Someone had called him Jagger.
I’ll remember that. If I found out his last name maybe I could have Mr. Marks look into him. So I could find him and kick him in the balls.
“Shh! Edgar, do you want people to hear.” Tiffany blushed.
“Listen, I need to find Evaleen. Can you tell me where she is?”
“Oh, yeah. She isn’t feeling good, so she has been in the hotel room the entire time. We’re room 880.”
I hugged her being so grateful I would finally be able to find her after days of nothing. After I said goodbye to Tiffany, I made my way over to the elevators. Taking one to the eighth floor, I got out, stepping onto the thick burgundy carpeting with an oriental design, and followed the signs for room numbers until I got to 880.
Taking a deep breath, I rapped my knuckles on the dark wood door a few times. Would she answer if she knew it was me?