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Chapter Thirty-Three

RAELYN

Apparently, Cameron got the short stick. After the game, the others had things to do, and Phoenix had to cancel our get together because her daughter Raven wasn’t feeling well. So Cam had to babysit me.

Which leads us here, to Pancho’s, a Mexican restaurant in Downtown Summerlin. As we sit here at the table, surrounded by the colorful walls, the brick floors, and greenery, I take a small sip of the margarita I ordered. They have the best ones here, or so I’m told.

The margarita tastes like a lime with a tart and zesty kick.

But that tartness is balanced by the sweetness of what I’m guessing is the orange liqueur that it stated on the menu and the earthy, slightly spicy notes of tequila.

The salt on the rim just enhances all the flavors, making me hum as I savor it.

My eyes flit up to Cam. “I’m sorry you have to spend your time with me.

I know I’m a diseased being you would rather throw to the wolves than be around me,” I say as I take another sip.

The alcohol gives me a bit more courage to tell Cam how I really feel.

“Not like I ever did anything to hurt your sensitive man feelings, but whatever.”

Cam lets out a sigh and runs a hand down his face. He grabs his beer and takes a quick pull off it, then looks at me. “I don’t think you are diseased.”

“Then why do you hate me?” I question.

He pauses. “I… I don’t hate you.”

I let out a laugh and throw my head back.

But before I can respond to his bullshit, the waitress comes over with our meals.

She sets down my Ensalada de Carne Asada, and I instantly start to feel myself salivate over the aromas of the meat.

Large flat iron steak flanks greens, sauteed fajita, and sliced vegetables.

It looks so good that I put on hold my response and dig in before she even gets to set down Cam’s taco salad.

With food in my mouth, I snark, “I didn’t take you for a taco salad type of guy.”

He raises one eyebrow as he looks up at me, his fork in midair. “And what type of guy did you take me for?”

I hum for a moment. “A burrito type of guy.” I shrug.

“A burrito?”

“Yeah, big, bulky and full of shit.” I smile sweetly.

Cam lets out a groan and shakes his head at me. “I don’t hate you, Rae.”

“Then why the fuck are you such an asshole to me? Why do you hurt me with your words? Why do you feel the need to put me down?” I spit back, digging into my meal.

“Because you need to leave.” He stares at me, his eyes boring into me with such an intensity that I have to look away so I can feel like I can breathe.

“I want to leave. But I just don’t know where to go right now. How to get back home.”

He takes a bite of his food. “Don’t go home. Go anywhere else. But just leave.”

“Cam, that makes no sense. Why can’t I go home?” I scoff.

He shifts uncomfortably in his chair but doesn’t look at me. He lifts up his fork and takes another bite of his taco salad. Suddenly, my food and drink don’t look as appealing.

“Cam, what the actual fuck? What does any of that mean? You don’t hate me, yet you tell me to leave and not to go home? Please make sense!”

“You need to fucking leave. Get the fuck out of Vegas. Go find another pole to go grind your ass on and take money for it like the whore you are. I don’t care where you go, just get the fuck away from us and this city!

You are nothing but a pest and a problem for us. You have caused more harm than good.

“We almost lost the game today because of you. You infected every single one of those guys with your slut ways. I will give you money; no amount is too much to make you go away.” He pushes away from the table and throws money down before storming off.

My cheeks turn red from the utter embarrassment of his words and him leaving me there at the table. The waitress comes over moments later, and her eyes say it all. Pity.

“Are you okay? Do you need anything?” She frowns.

“I-I’m fine, thank you. I’m sure he left enough to cover the bill.” I grab my purse and phone and quickly try to exit the restaurant.

As I push through the heavy wooden doors, my eyes start to search for Cam’s Lincoln Navigator. My eyes go to the parking lot that it was supposed to be in, the spot we left it in when we got here, and it’s gone. Now in its place is a Tesla Cybertruck.

Did he leave me here? My heart sinks.

I start to walk through the parking lot, scanning it, thinking maybe I had the spot wrong. But when I end up in front of Dillard’s, I turn and look back at Pancho’s and dread sets in.

The asshole left me here.

I let out an audible groan and stomp the ground in complete and total frustration. The fucking asshole took off and left me stranded. I pull out my phone and pull up my Lyft app. I punch in that I need a ride back to Drew’s and wait for the car to come and get me.

One thing is extremely clear: Cam is right.

I need to get the fuck out of here.

When I get back to Drew’s house, it’s quiet and empty.

Lights are on in the kitchen, so someone was here at some point.

I immediately run toward my bedroom. When I get there, I flip on the lights and see a white envelope on the bed.

I approach it cautiously, but then I see the corner of money sticking out.

Picking it up, I open the envelope wider and see what looks to be thousands of dollars sticking out. Well, I know who this money came from.

Fine. He wants me gone? I’ll go.

I realize one small problem is that I have no luggage to pack my stuff in. I press my palm into my forehead. Drew. He may have something in his room.

Quietly, I push my head out of my doorway to listen for any sound or any indication that Drew is here. But the house is dead quiet. So I carefully walk a few steps toward the stairs that lead up to his room. I start to tiptoe up and then chastise myself for sneaking around.

No one is home, Rae! Stop being stupid.

Once upstairs, I locate his closet and try to see if he has anything I can use as luggage. On the floor in the corner is a black duffel bag. Shit’s gonna have to do.

I quickly grab it, thankful it’s empty except for a baseball glove.

Taking the glove out, I place it on one of the shelves.

I notice that the front of the bag has a DW logo on the front with ravens.

At the bottom of the logo, it says Darkwood Academy.

I remember Phoenix telling me they went to school together there.

Running back down the stairs, I head back into my room and pack a few items of clothes. I have no idea where I’m going, but if I can pack at least a week’s worth, it should last me until I get where I’m going.

Once I pack my toiletries and clothes, I pull up the bus schedule. The first available is at six in the morning tomorrow to Dallas. That will have to do.

I don’t have a choice but to buy it online with Drew’s credit card because I don’t have an ID. So paying cash at the station isn’t an option. But I quickly realize that effort is futile as I will need an ID to even board the bus.

Fuck, fuck, double fuck.

Ride share. Maybe Lyft can take me at least far enough away. I start looking up places around Vegas and see a city called Boulder City. That should work for now, and then I can figure out how to car hop my way to Dallas. Then maybe home.

I set my alarm for eight, knowing Drew will get up at seven and leave for the gym. That gives me enough time to get my stuff, get a Lyft, and get the fuck out of here.

I get up and make sure my door is locked. I don’t want to talk to anyone right now. I need to plan how to get a new phone and get out of here without Drew’s card. I may have to use it to at least get to Boulder City, and then I can figure out how to get into Arizona.

I climb up on my bed and let out a sigh.

The only home I have known was with a woman named Trixie who took me in.

I was left alone as a newborn and she took care of me.

She raised me when she didn’t have to. She never gave up on me, and she always treated me as if I was her own.

And yet, I gave up. I gave up in that house with that man. I was ready for life to just end.

There was nothing more that I wanted to do but die.

Tears form in the corner of my eyes. I felt comfortable here. The guys gave me a sense of calmness in my chaotic life. I almost felt normal. But I am ruining everything for them. I’m causing a division between them. My problems are seeping into their lives and creating havoc I don’t mean to cause.

So I just need to go. Get the fuck outta dodge.

Maybe I’ll find normalcy elsewhere. My eyes get heavy as I sink into the bed. I let sleep take me with the hope that when I wake, I will have the strength to get through this new chapter in my life.

My eyes flutter open. It’s pitch black in my room. I look over at the clock on the nightstand and see that it’s two in the morning. I let out a breath but then freeze. A strange sense comes over me, like I’m not alone. I can sense eyes on me.

My breathing quickens as I try to adjust my eyes to see if I can see anyone in the room with me. My door is shut, but I can’t tell if the door is locked in the dark. I go to reach for my phone, but I notice that it’s gone.

Before I can react, a body is on top of me and presses me back into the bed.

I go to scream, but a hand wraps over my mouth. With every ounce of strength in me, I try to fight them off. Whoever it is, they are too strong, too big for me to even get them to move an inch off me.

Tears fall from my eyes as my breathing starts to become a struggle with the weight on top of me.

A growl rips from the person’s throat, and I freeze. “I told you to leave. I gave you a chance to leave.” My eyes widen at the voice. “Why didn’t you listen to me? You needed to run. I’m so sorry, I tried to protect you the only way I knew how.”

Green eyes come into focus, and the last face I would ever expect to see is hovering over me. Why is he doing this?

My heart races, and I struggle again against his body. But a sharp poke in my neck stops me and makes me yelp.

The green eyes start to go dark in my vision, but I call out his name to save me from whatever he is doing to me before my world goes completely dark. One final plea.

“Cam!”