Case File 69

Case File Name:
What Happens In Vegas.

♤Chapter Sixty-Nine♤

I furrowed my brows as soon as a sharp ache grew around me.

Which I specifically felt in my head.

My entire fucking head.

I groaned, unconsciously reaching my hand to my head as I slowly blinked my burning eyes open.

The first thing I noticed was the slightly messed up sheets under me.

And Gia.

Who I'm currently laying on top of with no recollection of why.

Until it hit me.

Worse than a fucking train too.

I suddenly glanced back down to Gia when she blinked her eyes open.

And as soon as we locked eyes, hers widened—processing the sight of me above her.

"Did we...?" Gia hesitantly trailed off.

And I knew the fact that her clothes were still on was the best fucking sign.

So I quickly glanced down to mine, which immediately made me get whiplash.

But it was so fucking worth the pain when I noticed my white dress was still on—minus the straps hanging off my arms slightly.

"No," I breathed out in relief, adjusting my straps back up as I rolled off of her body and laid in the bed beside her.

"Thank God," Gia said as she remained layng down beside me.

I shook my head, "All I remember is us kissing—"

"And then I fell asleep," Gia said, glancing over to me.

"I think we both fell asleep in the middle of it," I determined, feeling so fucking grateful that I didn't have sex with Tazmin's sister.

This is definitely not my best moment. 

"Thankfully we fell asleep," Gia said, bringing her hands up to rub her temples, "I like being your friend—and I know you guys aren't on good terms but I really like you with my sister."

I nodded in agreement, "I like being your friend too," I admitted honestly, not addressing the part about Tazmin, "Which is why I'm a little offended that you never mentioned you were into women," I said, clearly joking with her as I nudged her side slightly.

Gia smiled, "I never really determined if I was—it was a little hard to explore anything past high school, considering I was going to school to be a surgeon," she explained, clearly just as left out of the loop as me, "But I don't know, I think now that I have the time I could explore more options," she determined.

Until her dark eyes suddenly widened.

"Not with you I mean," Gia quickly corrected herself, realizing how her words sounded, "It genuinely feels like we just committed incest."

I laughed, "Please don't use that fucking word," I said, shoving her away from me slightly.

Which earned a laugh from Gia, "What? You're going to be sister-in-law if you and my sister can get your shit together," she pointed out, shaking her head at me, "And I'm a little offended that you haven't filled me in on anything," she purposely twisted my words back to me.

Which made me roll my eyes, "It's a lot honestly," I determined, knowing there were a multitude of reasons why we couldn't be together.

And if she knew Gia and I even locked lips she would probably never speak to me again.

Which I can't even blame her for—Gia is her sister and...

Fuck this is so messy.

"Well it clearly can't be too much since you said you loved her last night," Gia pointed out, and almost immediately I froze, recalling the three words I let slip only three shots into the night.

And then the rest was a blur.

But I remember being on the phone with Tazmin and Gia saying—

"Fuck," I suddenly whispered, immediately laying up from the bed that was completely messed up.

And I quickly recalled the snow angels Gia had been making in the bed prior to us making the worst decision we could've ever made.

"What is it?" Gia asked as I stumbled onto my aching feet.

Where my heels went I will never know, but all I needed was my phone.

Because if I recall everything correctly, I think Gia told Tazmin about the three words I said.

And I didn't deny them.

I quickly grabbed my phone as soon as I spotted it in my Chanel purse, "I just need to see if Tazmin texted—"

I cut myself short as soon as I noticed the two new messages from her.

Tazmin: When you're awake I need a confirmation that you're okay.

Tazmin: And give me the hotel location so I can send up breakfast, you need food on your stomach.

And almost immediately I felt relieved as I read her messages—which luckily didn't involve anything whatsoever about the three words I said.

I quickly texted her back, confirming that I was good, and then I sent her another text with the hotel details.

I just left out the minor details of what happened with Gia last night.

"We can't tell Tazmin," I suddenly said, glancing up from my phone to meet Gia's dark eyes, "It was just a drunken kiss that we both don't remember and I'm not with Tazmin so—"

"But I'm her sister, Lena," Gia gently cut me short, "She might be mad but I think it's better if we tell her now."

I pursed my lips for a moment, genuinely contemplating how we move forward from this.

Or how we would even tell Tazmin.

I don't even want to imagine the look on her face.

There's already enough damage burning between us. 

"I really don't want to," I whispered as I walked over to Gia, "We both know where we stand as friends and it was entirely meaningless to us both."

Gia immediately nodded, "And I agree, but I don't want her to find out another way," she admitted, nervously playing with her hands in her lap.

"She won't—I will seriously take this to the grave," I quickly assured her, knowing I would scrub my brain clean of remembering these events.

I could forget it all, and clearly, Gia and I will be fine with moving forward.

Luckily.

It would've been really fucking worse if it went further.

Now that's something you don't come back from. 

Gia suddenly sighed, "I... I guess we can keep it between us?" she whispered, meeting my stare, "It might be better that way?"

I nodded a few times, almost wanting to let out a breath of relief.

"So much better—I'm not sure how she would react," I admitted, which earned a few nods from Gia.

"Okay, yeah," she said, suddenly standing to her feet, "We'll just pull a what happens in Vegas card," she offered, tilting her head slightly.

And it was clear she was still hesitant—but what Tazmin doesn't know won't hurt her.

"Yeah let's do that," I agreed with her idea.

Gia smiled slightly, "And a spa day—everything is free so we really need to rack up a bill," she determined, walking over to her purse and grabbing her phone.

"First we need breakfast—Tazmin said she's ordering it up to our room," I said, glancing down at my phone as I read Tazmin's recent text.

Tazmin: They should have it up in the next hour
Tazmin: Don't forget to drink water today

Reading the texts almost sent me back to a time that felt so long ago.

A time that was simpler until it felt like I had complicated it all.

But I genuinely prefer isolation.

It feels safer that way.

It is safer that way.

Gia raised a brow, "Am I allowed to get excited that you and my sister are actually texting?" she asked.

I jokingly rolled my eyes, "No, she was just checking in," I shut any assumptions she had down, thumbing up both of Tazmin's texts she sent me, "Besides I definitely can't be with her after our... Vegas situation," I hesitantly settled on the term.

Gia gave me a narrowed look, "Then we should tell her so you can move past that mindset," she determined as she began opening her suitcase.

I shook my head, "It's not even just our situation Gia—there's so much more to it," I sighed as I plopped down onto the bed.

Gia glanced away from her suitcase to me, "Well I need to hear it all then," she determined as she pulled some of her clothes out.

I pursed my lips, "It's a really long story," I said, clearly hesitant to share the details with her.

Gia shook her head, "Explain over breakfast—or our spa day," she offered as she stood up from her seated position.

I let out a dramatic sigh, "Fine," I mumbled, standing up to grab my own suitcase so I could pick out my clothes for today.

Which I planned to pull on after our spa day since we apparently wear robes down in the spa.

But aside from my reluctance to get pampered with a full body massage, a facial, and different variations of steam rooms—I had one of the most relaxing days of my life.

Especially as I spilled everything that happened with Tazmin to Gia.

Who for once didn't feel like Tazmin's sister.

Instead, I saw her in the same light as Marie.

Which I felt so fucking thankful for. 

I'm just happy we could move past the entire situation of last night.

♤

After a long relaxing spa day with Gia, I headed home to sleep off any remnants of my hangover.

And for the first time in days, I slept in my bed without a worry in the world.

I actually slept so good that I woke up late for the Christmas festivities planned at my sister's house.

I literally pulled on the first thing I could match together—light-wash jeans and a black Dior t-shirt, not bothering to put on makeup as I kept my hair down. 

Tonight wouldn't be anything crazy, just making cookies for Santa and drinking hot chocolate.

Nadia would also get to open one of her Christmas gifts tonight too.

I let out a content sigh as I slid out of my Mercedes, walking towards the familiar house—where my sister immediately greeted me at the door.

"We have everything ready for the cookies now," Zane said as soon as I walked into the open living area with my sister, "The hot chocolate is also ready too."

I jokingly rolled my eyes, "I get it—I'm late," I retorted which made an amused smile grow on Zane's lips, "Where is Nadi?" I asked, curiously glancing around.

"Over on the couch," Morana said, motioning over to the sectional, "She's been dead silent since Tazmin got her that Nintendo Switch."

I furrowed my brows, halting my steps toward my quiet niece, "Tazmin got her that?" I asked in confusion, "When did that happen?"

My sister pursed her lips, "A couple of days ago she came over to apologize for how everything played out in St. Moritz," she explained.

Zane nodded as he poured the steaming hot chocolate into the mugs, "Yeah, she got me this bourbon that was aged almost—"

"Zane," Morana cut him short with a blank look, clearly noticing how I was visibly processing all of this.

But it's good that she made amends.

Especially with Nadia.

I'm sure that made her so happy.

"I'm glad she apologized," I said with a forced smile, suddenly walking past Morana before we could discuss Tazmin further, "Nadi," I said as I approached my niece.

And I swear I have never seen her so invested in something before.

Much less this quiet as she focused on whatever she was playing.

"Hey bee," Nadia smiled, not once glancing up from the bright screen as I sat down beside her.

"I missed you," I said as I watched her play what looked like Mario Kart.

"I missed you too," Nadia said, leaning slightly as she steered the car on the screen, "So much," she added.

Which made an amused smile grow on my face—I really have never seen her this invested before.

Tazmin made a really good choice by getting her this.

"Nadi it's time for cookies," Zane called out from the kitchen.

Nadia leaned back toward me, steering her car right past the finish line, "One more game—"

"You're not opening a present tonight if you do one more game," Morana cut her short with her mom tone slowly coming out.

And almost immediately, Nadia glanced up from her Nintendo Switch.

"I meant one more game after we do cookies," Nadia quickly corrected herself, smiling slightly when my sister raised a brow at her, "I've been so excited for this all day."

I smiled in amusement, "Okay suck up," I whispered, nudging Nadia who nudged me back.

"Gotta do what you gotta do sometimes," Nadia whispered back to me as we stood up from the couch.

And almost as soon as we were standing, Nadia hugged me—which I immediately reciprocated back, feeling so warm with her small arms around me. 

"Sorry I was wrapped up in the game, Mel," Nadia said as she squeezed me tighter.

My smile grew soft, "You had to win the race, so I get it," I immediately assured her, running my hands up her back.

"You saw how fast I went past the finish line?" Nadia asked as we pulled back from our hug.

"Oh yeah, you were flying," I said, walking with her over to the kitchen where everyone stood.

"Right? I'm already a natural," Nadia said as we got seated in our chairs, ready to begin making the cookies.

Which we did all from scratch.

We made cut-outs in the homemade dough using cookie cutters while Zane would continuously pop the different cookies into the oven for us.

And while Christmas music played softly around us, we focused on decorating the cookies with icing and sprinkles—drinking our homemade hot chocolate that Zane had made exquisitely.

Halfway through it all, Nadia convinced my sister to let her open her gift instead of waiting until we finished making cookies.

Which my sister eventually agreed to—after a lot of pleading and convincing.

Zane and I even agreed that she should open it now since it would only be a thirty-minute difference by the time we finish up with cookies.

And I swear it was so heartwarming to witness Nadia's face light up as she opened her present.

Which was a Barbie speedboat to add to her enormous toy collection.

"I can't wait for tomorrow," Nadia said as we focused on icing the rest of the cookies.

I smiled slightly, "Santa is going to love these cookies," I told her as I drew ornaments on my
tree-shaped cookie.

Nadia nodded, "I think he'll give me a ton more presents since I stepped up my cookie game from last year," she said, grabbing a different icing color.

I shook my head in amusement, but before I could say anything else—my phone suddenly buzzed with a text.

Which made me lower my icing, quickly grabbing my phone face-down on the counter.

My brows furrowed as soon as I read the unknown number on the bright screen, unlocking my phone to see who it was or what it could involve.

The first thing I noticed was a sent location and then a message right below it that read—

You have an hour. Come alone.

I furrowed my brows as I read over the location that appeared to be at least thirty minutes out of the city.

Until I suddenly decided to text back and say—

Who is this?

Everything felt like it had faded around me—Nadia talking about all the instances she had been good this year, my half-iced cookie, and the echoey Christmas music.

Until the person began typing on the other end and finally sent a text that read—

A.

And that was it?

They didn't send anything else.

Or should I say she?

I know it's Adriana—she's the only person whose name starts with an A.

I suddenly glanced back down when my phone buzzed again with a different text that read—

One hour or I harm your family.

I immediately stood from my chair before I could think it through—which made everyone's attention snap to me.

"Is everything okay?" Morana asked, noticing me dusting my hands off.

I nodded a few times, "Yeah I just—Marie said she really needed to see me," I quickly lied as I backed away from the kitchen island, "You don't mind if I go check in with her right?" I asked them.

And I knew it was really fucking stupid to spring into action without more information, but it was never worth putting my family in harm's way.

"Not at all, we only have five cookies left anyways," Zane said as I pulled Nadia into a side hug.

"Merry almost Christmas honey," I told her as I kissed the top of her head, "I love you."

Nadia smiled as she leaned into the side hug, "I love you more bee," she said, which immediately made me smile.

"Not possible," I determined as we pulled back from our brief hug.

And after hugging my sister and Zane goodbye, I nearly rushed out of the house and headed to my car.

The unfamiliar location was a little over forty-five minutes away and the further I drove out of the city, the more nervous I could feel myself getting.

Part of me wanted to text someone and inform them of the current situation.

But I just couldn't bring myself to do it, especially since Adriana specified to come alone.

Compliance feels like the best idea in this situation—considering she's threatening the people I love. 

I'm just not sure what to expect from this discussion.

Except for the fact that it will definitely revolve around Tazmin.