Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Las Vegas 1

Wendy wasn’t one to beat around the bush or lie. I knew that. So when she started shifting in her seat like there were needles poking her, I could tell she either planned to ignore me or wasn’t going to give me the full story.

Powerful women, she always said. But honestly? She didn’t fit that description at all.

Darnell walked into the foyer carrying more empty brown boxes, and the reality hit me all over again that the decision had already been made.

But they could still change their minds, right?

“Where is it?” Blanche asked, not even bothering to look up from her salad. She toyed with her fork, looking like she could explode any second if she looked up.

Her father cleared his throat, taking his sweet time sipping from his glass of water before finally answering. “Eden.”

Don’t talk.

Don’t say anything.

You’ll just ruin everything.

I bit my lip, trying to hold it in.

Screw it.

“So, you’re taking us to somewhere from the Bible, where sin basically started, and you think it’s safe for your kids? That’s... real responsible,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

My mother snapped, “Don’t be dumb, Elizabeth. Eden is a place in Las Vegas, you’re eighteen for Christ's sake!”

“Wendy,” Jackson placed his hand over hers on the table, trying to calm her down.

He was so whipped. Jackson Torres was completely whipped by the women who might ruin him. And I was pretty sure there was no going back.

“Have your maids pack up the stuff you want them to. Our flight is on Wednesday,” she said with an exasperated sigh, then went back to eating like it was just another day.

Wednesday.

Blanche shot her a glare, her eyes burning with even more hatred than usual. She’d always hated Mom. “I’ll have my friends over to help pack up. I'm hoping that’s okay.”

But, of course, Mom didn’t catch the sarcasm. Instead, she broke into a broad smile and nodded. “Of course, sweetie. I’ll ask the chef to make them some snacks before I leave.”

I wished I could just stretch out my hand and wipe that smile off her face. Such a selfish hypocrite. How can one's mother be so… human?

Did she know what I did at school today?

About my revenge plan? How I put him in his place?

Would she be proud of me if she found out I didn't let anyone walk over me?

Lunch dragged on, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. By the time I was done, cheer practice was supposed to start—if I was even still on the team, or in school for that matter. I called over two of my favorite maids and watched as they began packing my stuff into suitcases, starting with my shoes. It might take until tomorrow to finish, but starting early wouldn’t hurt.

Jackson Torres had a huge estate in Eden, passed down from his grandfather before he died. Jackson had bought out his brother’s share, and now his brother and his family lived in one part of it. That estate in Las Vegas— I'm sure that’s where we were going.

My phone vibrated annoyingly on the bed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I picked it up and saw an unsaved but familiar number on the screen.

Heather.

I answered. “Hello?” I rubbed my feet together and twirled a strand of hair around my finger, waiting.

There was no reply at first, just the sound of shuffling feet and some groaning in the background. Then finally, her voice came through. “Elizabeth Torres,” she drawled, and immediately, I felt that familiar surge of anger. I wanted to appear wherever she was and stab her. “How have you been?”

I stared out the window at the setting sun. “Hi, Heather. Why did you call?”

“So I heard that you guys are planning to come here. To live. Forever. You didn't bother to tell me, so, I thought I’d call.”

So, she was still in Vegas.

“I just found out today. What are you even doing there? I thought you were—” I stopped mid-sentence, glancing at the maids still packing. I snapped my fingers to get their attention and waved them out of the room. They didn’t argue.

Once the door clicked shut, I put the phone back to my ear and leaned against the windowsill, relaxing on it.

“… I thought you were arrested?”

Heather laughed, that grating sound that always got under my skin. I sometimes wondered if she faked it, or it was just something she was good at. “Oh, sweetie. You didn’t hear about my release? One year, and you already shoved me into the past? After you ruined my life?”

I raised an eyebrow, even though she couldn’t see it. “I ruined your life? You messed up, Heather. I was a good friend. I supported you when no one else would. You wanted someone who never questioned your decisions, and I gave you that. But I’ve changed.” I glanced down at my nails, noticing a little chip. Definitely time for a manicure. “A year is long enough for anyone to change. You can’t stay stupid forever and blame someone else for it.”

She took a sharp breath, clearly pissed. “Oh, really? So it’s all on me now. I’m the problem? I blame myself for murder and sent myself to jail, right? I guess I put myself in deep shit and didn't want own up to it” She paused, letting it hang in the air. “I heard about your little sin. Marcus, is it? The cute boy”

Okay… seriously? Like hearing his name was supposed to make me shake.

“I’ll be in Vegas soon, Heather. Here’s some advice: stay out of my way. It’s for your own good. I don’t like it when people forget their place and reach for things beyond them. I also don’t like when alley scum think they’re better. And I definitely don’t appreciate getting calls like this. Now, I have packing to do. Enjoy your freedom and try not to end up back in prison.”

I hung up without waiting for her reply.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter