Page 85 of One Wild Ride

THIRTY-THREE

Aria

“Orgasm, to go.” Morgana winked at Tiffany who sat next to her on the barstool.

“How many drinks have you had?” Tiffany asked as she turned to Morgana.

“None. When we left the dinner buffet and you went to your room, I met Aria in my room. I texted you that we were heading to the hotel bar but didn’t get a response. How is Evaleen, by the way?” Morgana lifted her finger in the air to try to grab the bartender’s attention.

Tiffany shook her head. “Not good. I ordered some chicken noodle soup from room service for her but she can’t hold anything down. Maybe I should room with you two. Whatever she has, I don’t want to catch it.”

“Too late, you already have,” I mumbled as I turned my head to find the bartender.

“What?” Tiffany asked.

“Nothing. I’m sure you won’t catch it, Tiffany,” I said already knowing what Evaleen had.

The tall, thin bartender finally came over and sat a drink in front of Tiffany.

“From the man across the bar.” He pointed to a man as he turned in his barstool and got up. I didn’t get a good look at him but the ladies did.

“Damn, Tiffany, that guy is hot!” Morgana raised her voice so most of the room turned and looked our way.

After kidnapping Alex yesterday, we spent the night together. I haven’t seen him since breakfast as he wanted to meet with his sister. He finally told me everything. Now I was conflicted about his mother. If what she said was true, then what she did to Alex was to help him.

Maybe she wasn’t the enemy. I was beginning to think the enemy was something or someone we had yet to fully understand. And that scared me. At least with Mrs. Hawthorne it was obvious what she was doing. But now, we had yet to uncover who was really pulling the strings.

I was becoming worried. I hadn’t heard from him and it was nine o’clock at night. The ladies wanted to get a drink but I thought I might need my wits about me tonight.

“What would Evaleen do?” Tiffany closed her eyes and cupped the large amber colored drink in her hand.

“She wouldn’t drink it. Evaleen would assume it was drugged,” I said.

The bartender leaned over the bar at me. “Hey. Why would I drug you? I made the drink, not him.”

I narrowed my eyes and leaned close to him, feeling like that was something Evaleen would do. She wasn’t here with us and I needed her strength tonight.

“Don’t worry, I have on that special nail polish. I can dip my finger in to see if it’s been drugged. Henrik insisted I wear it as he didn’t trust any man in Vegas.” Morgana rolled her eyes as she held up her pointer finger and pushed the tip into the cup. When she brought it back out it was the same color.

“I told you I wouldn’t do that.” The bartender pushed away from the bar and walked off. I turned my head to try to find the man who bought Tiffany the drink. Not that I knew what he looked like, but there had to be a man walking toward us or looking our way. But what I found wasn’t a man at all, but a woman. Two women to be precise.

Emma Hawthorne. She was just outside the bar in the lobby of the hotel speaking to a short woman. Mrs. Hawthorne blocked the woman so I could only make out the woman’s dark hair. They began to walk away, so I got up with the intent to follow them.

Tiffany lifted the glass and took a sip. Her eyes widened. “Wow, that’s pretty strong. I wonder what it is?”

“Hey, um, I’m going to go check on Evaleen. I’ll see you guys later,” I said and waved at the women.

I heard a male voice behind me as I left answering Tiffany’s question.

“A whiskey sour,” he said. I turned to get a look at him but all I could see was his back.

He was wearing a black suit, might have been a tuxedo. Obviously, some high roller. At least Tiffany attracted someone who could afford to show her a good time tonight and not some thug.

I followed Mrs. Hawthorne and the other woman until they went to the elevators. There was no way I could get on the elevator with Mrs. Hawthorne and not have her recognize me.

At that moment a group of loud, drunk women stumbled their way to the elevators. I could see Mrs. Hawthorne doing everything in her power to avoid them, but when the doors opened, they followed her inside and that was my chance to slip in unnoticed.

I pushed my way through and huddled near the back with my head down, pushing my hair in front of my face. When the elevator stopped, I saw Mrs. Hawthorne get off with the short woman. I still hadn’t gotten a good look at her.

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