Page 102

“What?” Xayden and I say at the same time.
“How can you be sure?” I look between him and Xay.
Dekker turns his phone around and shows us the message.
Unknown:
Hey son. Hope you have the welcome party planned. See you real soon. -L-
“Are you sure that’s your dad?” I ask him.
He nods. “That’s how he always signs all his messages to me.”
“So, is he going to try and come here? To the fraternity?” Because that will be very problematic. I wait for Dekker to answer, but the silence stretches on. “What, Dek?”
His lips are pursed and his eyes stare down at his phone. “He’s not in Texas anymore.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Xayden’s face hardens.
Dek looks up at Xayden. “He was transferred to High Desert Prison in Las Vegas. Transferred a couple years ago.” Dekker moves to the bed and sits, putting his head in his hands.
“Shit. Shit.” Xayden shakes his head as he jumps away from the bed. He paces around the floor, his hands pulling on the ends of his hair.
My attention turns toward him. “What? What’s wrong?”
Silence stretches between all of us for a moment. Xayden stops and pales.
“I know where she’s headed.” He frowns.
I throw my hands up in the air when he doesn’t answer right away. “Okay, where the hell is that? And how the fuck would you even know that?”
Xayden blinks a few times before answering. “Because it’s always where she would have rather been. She’s going home. She’s headed to Las Vegas.”
Chapter Thirty
AURORA
“Thankyou all for flying with us. We hope you enjoy your stay in this beautiful city. And welcome to Lost Wages!” Laughter erupts around me in response to the flight attendant’s joke as we begin to deboard the plane.
When it comes time for me to step out into the aisle, I maneuverer myself around the seats and reach up and grab my bag from the overhead bin. Trying not to make eye contact, I quickly head off the plane and through the air bridge that leads us all into Harry Reid International Airport.
The second I emerge into the terminal, sounds of slot machines and Elvis music assault my ears. And I love it. I missed the sounds of Vegas. My mom should’ve just let me stay here.
My mom.
I need to find her. First, I need to get a phone, see if I can locate her or Aaron. Call them, leave them messages. See if I can get them to call me back.
Anything at this point. This “vacation” has gone on long enough.
Walking through the airport, I head to the taxi pickup area and hail a cab.
“Where too, ma’am?” the driver asks.
“Um, the Motel Sunrise off of Boulder Highway,” I tell him as I slide my card through the reader of his machine.
“You, uh, know that’s not the best area for a young girl to be staying, right?” He peers uneasily at me through his rearview mirror.
“I’m from here. I know where I’m going. Please take me to the Motel Sunrise.” My eyes lock onto his.