“It couldn’t be helped, Tempest. Anyway, now isn’t the time to discuss it. The show is about to begin. Just try and have a good time.”
A half an hour later, he and Ainsley seemed to be doing just that, but my quiet anger bubbled over into a simmering rage.
That’s it. I’m done being a pawn in his game.
Right then and there I made up my mind I was going to escape. I’d go to the police and tell them everything. He might have been a lot of things, but he wasn’t above the law. It wouldn’t be long until intermission. That’s when I would do it. In the midst of my decision, Dorian leaned into me, pointing towards the act on stage.
“Can you believe they can do stunts like that with those huge wigs on their heads? Fucking incredible, wow.”
I hadn’t paid any attention to the show.
They could have all been naked and on fire, I wouldn’t have noticed. Frustrated, I followed the line of his finger, shooting a quick glance towards the performer. Pinching my cheek between my teeth, I nodded but didn’t reply, forcing a small smile to my lips instead.
Intermission arrived. This was it. Above all else, I had to stay calm and focused. I didn’t waste a single second.
“I’m going to go to the ladies’ room.” I said, attempting to stand from my seat. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Dorian reached for me, wrapping his fingers around my forearm. I shot a glance in his direction.
“Yes?”
He shook his head. “You know I can’t let you do that.”
I tugged my arm free of his grasp. “What? I have to use the bathroom.”
“You didn’t let me finish… I can’t let you go to the bathroom all alone. Ainsley will go with you.”
Oh, great. I should have seen this coming.
“Why?”
“Yeah,” Ainsley chimed in. “She’s a big girl. She can do it all by herself.”
Dorian raised his hand in the air. “Because I said so. I wasn’t able to make the exchange tonight so I’ll feel more comfortable having the two of you together. That’s the end of the discussion.”
It’s not like Ainsley was thrilled either. I’m sure she saw it as little more than a babysitting assignment given to her by her big brother.
“Don’t stay gone long,” Dorian began, smiling at me and stroking my thigh. “I’m really enjoying your company tonight.”
I wanted to get out of there. I really did. Still, feeling his touch and hearing words like that from his lips, it threw me for a bit of a loop. For a split second, the feelings almost got the best of me. If it hadn’t been for Ainsley distracting me, I might’ve lost my focus.
“Tempest?” she said, snapping her fingers. “Hello?”
Getting up, I ignored her rudeness and smiled at Dorian.
“Thank you for saying that and thank you for inviting me tonight. I won’t be gone long.”
I hated having to say that but what choice did I have? I could only hope I was convincing. Even though the restrooms weren’t far, it felt like the longest walk of my life. The entire way, I reminded myself of what I had to do, and as much as I hated it, I did my best to be friendly and talkative with Ainsley.
That went about as well as I expected. In other words, she was her usual bitchy self. Her behavior reached a new low while we waited in line to use the bathroom where she stood ahead of me.
Turning, she arched an eyebrow at me. “I’m not stupid, you know.”
“Excuse me?”
Once she started to speak, the line for the restroom inched forward.
“You and Dorian? It’s not like I don’t know that the two of you are hooking up.”
It took every ounce of self-control I had not to tell her where to shove her opinion. However, the last thing I could afford to do was get into a huge fight with her.
Still, few things would have made me happier than to tell her to mind her own business. Instead, I exhaled a deep breath, careful to keep the heat burning inside confined to my nostrils and not my tongue.
“What did he say to you?” I asked.
“I’m not going to tell you what I talk about with my brother. If it isn’t obvious by now, I don’t want you here. But for some reason, he does.”
She stopped talking and turned around, facing me fully. Her expression crinkled into a dismissive mask. “Just watch yourself.”
The inside of my lip was getting sore and tender. I don’t think I’d bitten it that much in one night my entire life. My fingers threatened to curl into fists but at the last instant, someone came out of the stall and Ainsley walked inside, mercifully putting an end to the confrontation.
“Bitch.” I muttered.
I’ll show you.
With that, I turned and left the bathroom, walking as fast as my legs would carry me. Even though I’d ditched her, I worried that I might still see Dorian. Luckily, the exit stairwell wasn’t far from the ladies’ room. I made my way to it and after a long trip down the stairs walked out onto the Strip wondering how long it would be before he came looking.
8
Vanished (Dorian)
I knew Tempest was pissed, but it really was out of my hands.
The good news was even though she’d been angry when I told her the news, it seemed like her mood improved as the night went on. Now if I could just find a way to keep her and Ainsley from scratching each other’s eyes out, I’d really be making some progress. Working on my second gin and tonic, I’d just taken another hit of it when Ainsley reappeared, without Tempest.
What’s worse, Ainsley’s face had a pale hue to it.
Frowning, I looked on either side of my sister before turning my attention to her face. “Where’s Tempest?”
Ainsley’s mouth fell open but no words came out, at least not right away.
“Well?”
She just stood there, shaking her head.
“She was right…” Ainsley stammered. “Right behind me. I mean, we were in line together to use the restroom and…”
“And what?”
“I-I came out of the stall and she was gone.”
I slammed my drink down with a thump. “Gone! What you mean gone?”
She staggered back.
Jumping to my feet, I stared Ainsley straight in the eye. “Are you sure? Is there any way she could still be in the bathroom?”
Ainsley continued to shake her head. “I don’t think so.”
“You don’t think so?” I replied, struggling to keep my anger in check.
“I mean, no. No. I waited and waited. There was almost no one left in there by the time I decided to come back here and tell you.”
“Jesus fucking…”
“No!” she snapped, pointing her finger at me. “You are not going to take this out on me. Do you hear me? I told you she was going to be trouble. I warned you not to do this.”
“Hey! I sent you in there to keep an eye on her and…”
Before I completely lost my shit, I raised both hands in front of my body.
“I don’t want to start a whole thing here. Let’s just go. We don’t have any time to waste. We need to find her and fast.”