“I can’t. Not right now,” Olivia protested.
“Come on, Grace!” Cammie squealed. “You’re in Vegas! Live a little! Come on everybody Grace was one of the original Dolls but I think she forgot how to party!”
“Grace . . . Grace . . . Grace . . .” The increasingly rowdy crowd chanted.
“One shot.” Olivia consented. She had to stay in character. Hell Grace would have drained the bottle by now but that was ten years ago. This Grace was more grown up she told herself. Olivia took the shot and downed it. Fuck. Tequila. Oh it burned every millimeter of her recently intubated throat.
One of the Dolls started dancing and swung around one of the two floor to ceiling stripper poles. Olivia had never in her life seen a bus like this. As the party rolled on toward The Strip and Harrah’s Cammie handed her another shot. “This one’s a little smoother,” she cooed.
This time Olivia didn’t protest. It was smoother. The sweet familiar liquid took her back in time. “Mmmm now that’s good.”
“It’s a Doll favorite!” Cammie exclaimed. “We call it . . .”
“All In.” Olivia finished. Grace’s drink. Was this demented party her sister’s legacy? Olivia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Yeah you know it? Wait of course you do! You were probably there back when it was invented. Shit this is amazing!” Cammie cheered and poured her another.
And you were probably wearing pigtails and playing with Barbie’s. Olivia felt suddenly old and downed the next drink without thinking twice. It was just getting dark when the party bus pulled onto The Strip. The entire place was lit up like Christmas on acid. Olivia wondered what this place looked like from space and if the sun ever got jealous. Every manor of human and questionably human walked down the packed street. It was like one giant night club where the party never ended.
They pulled into the grand entrance of Harrah’s which looked like a great swan Mardi Gras float with the King of Mardi Gras beckoning her to enter. The party bus stopped and everyone got out. Immediately, valet workers descended upon the vehicle and started unloading luggage.
“Whatever bags you have will be delivered to your room,” Cammie instructed as she ushered the patrons to a special VIP desk to register and get their room keys. “Grace, do you have a reservation? They can get you here at the VIP desk as well.”
“No, I don’t have a reservation. This was a last-minute trip,” Olivia replied. She stepped up to the desk. “I need a room for one.”
“Any preferences?” the woman in a dark suit jacket and white blouse asked.
“No any room will be fine.” Olivia tapped nervously on her purse. If she had to pay for the room with her credit card she would have to give her real name. Shit, she hadn’t thought this through.
“Name?” the clerk asked poised in front of the computer ready to key in her information.
“Grace Wilson.” Olivia answered hesitantly.
The woman typed her name in the computer. “I’ll just need your ID,” she said and hit enter. Olivia started to sweat. Shit what was she going to do? Almost immediately the phone at the desk rang.
“Yes, sir,” the woman said and her eyes widened. “Yes, yes, sir . . . I will, sir.” She hung up the phone and promptly started processing room keys. “Your favorite suite is ready, Ms. Wilson. I’m very sorry for any inconvenience. Here are your keys.”
Olivia looked from the woman to Cammie puzzled, as she took the keys. “Thank you, no problem at all,” she answered. The alcohol was starting to swim through her bloodstream. Olivia wanted to get to her room and figure out her next step. She walked with Cammie toward the bank of elevators. As soon as they stepped in the elevator Olivia opened the key card envelope praying the woman wrote down the room number to her “favorite” suite.
“All of the suites in the Valley Tower have been remodeled,” Cammie instructed, “So don’t freak out if you don’t recognize it. They are absolutely beautiful now! The girls and I stay in them with high rollers as often as possible.”
Olivia wanted to caution her about using protection but stopped. Tonight she was Grace Wilson, carefree explorer of all things dark and dirty. While Cammie was rambling on about the modifications to the hotel Olivia closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall. This was her first trip to Vegas but she couldn’t help feeling like she had been here before. They reached the twenty-fourth floor on the express elevator in a little over a minute. Olivia opened her eyes as the doors opened. She stepped into the long hallway. Whew. Either the speed of the elevator or the vodka made the swirl pattern in the hall carpet swim. She reached her room, there were small nameplates outside the room on either side. One read 24012 the other read Grace Amore Executive Suite.
“Whoa,” Cammie said quietly. “It’s actually named after you. Can I come in and see it?”
“Sure, why not. Knock yourself out.” Olivia swiped the key and held the door for Cammie. “Since they have remodeled it probably looks like all the others.” Olivia walked into the room and her heart shattered into a million pieces. Everything about the room screamed Grace. The whole room from the gold drapes and stark white walls to the GW pattern in the white carpet were a tribute to her sister.
The room had been redecorated but Olivia knew she had been here before. She had stood in this very room. She had fought with Grace in this spot. The words still hung thick in the air and cut her to ribbons. How could she have forgotten being here? The exquisite room spun around her and transported her back to that fateful night. Olivia had found out about Grace’s double life and followed her out here. Grace was working as a roulette dealer here in Vegas. She was a fucking escort. All that money. Shit, Olivia remembered calling her a whore. Grace had slapped her. Olivia stepped back and told her she hated her and wished she was fucking dead.
“Wow!” Cammie was almost reverent as she slowly walked through the space like a tourist at Madame Tussauds. Her words pulled Olivia back to the posh suite. “None of the other suites look like this.” Olivia followed her. No this was all Grace. The living area contained a bright red Persian style couch with gold accents and pillows. There were two contrasting chairs equally as exquisite and over the top. The couch legs, the coffee tables and even the bar were all done in mahogany so dark it was almost black. A large filigree mirror and side table were a brilliant gold that must have come straight from a castle in France. Fresh red roses were everywhere. There was one deep red accent wall that contained a white wooden fireplace with black onyx inset and gold trim. Above it was a huge black and white photo of Grace laughing, holding a vivid red rose.
Olivia couldn’t take her eyes off her. God, what she would give to see her again, to hear that laugh. Cammie was still walking through the suite oohing and ahhing over the crystal chandelier in the red bathroom but Olivia couldn’t move, standing here in this space was too much. Her sister was all around her. It was as if whoever created this shrine transformed parts of her sister into each element. It couldn’t be more Grace if she had designed it herself. Olivia brought trembling fingers up to her face and started to cry. Grace, I’m so sorry.
The phone began to ring but Olivia ignored it. Cammie came in from the bathroom and picked it up. “Grace Wilson’s room!” she answered with the excitement of a star struck teenager. Then her voice dropped. “Yes, sir.”
“Grace, it’s for you. It’s Luca.” Cammie held out the vintage French Victorian rotary phone. Olivia turned and almost laughed. Her sister had wanted one of those for most of their childhood. Olivia wiped tears that would not stop and picked up the phone.
“Where have you been, love?” he asked in a British baritone that was smooth and clear and rolled through her like a breeze through the mountaintops.
“What is all this?” Olivia fought back the tears. There was something so familiar about his voice, something she couldn’t place. Olivia was sure she didn’t know anyone from Britain. At least not anyone who sounded like that.
“I knew you would return to me. I kept
everything just as you left it.” His eagerness for her approval poured through every word.
“I . . .” Olivia struggled for words. How could she tell him, she wasn’t who he thought she was. She wasn’t the love he longed for.
“Come to me, Grace. Meet me by the roulette table where we first met,” he implored her and though she didn’t know him in the least his longing and emptiness mirrored her own. He knew the painful silence without Grace’s laughter in the room.
A shiver ran through her. Was he toying with her? Did he know her sister had died? If he loved her so much how could he not know? They called him the Devil. Would she really walk into his lair? Is that not what she came for? Olivia had left everything of herself behind and walked in unarmed. What else had she forgotten? Perhaps she knew all along on some unconscious level this was where she was going.
“I’m on my way.” She hung up the phone before he could say another word and turned to Cammie. She realized he could see everything she did. She wondered if he could hear her too?
“Cammie, would you like to take a walk with me?” Olivia asked. Before she walked blindly into the darkness she had a few things she needed to do.
“Sure. Grace this room is amazing. I had no idea you knew Luca Carlisle. I mean look at this room! You’re the girl who broke his heart aren’t you? You are a legend. You started The Dolls.” Cammie was as wide-eyed as a child. “Here I was explaining how it all works to you. I feel so stupid.”
“Not at all. I’ve been gone so long it’s all foreign to me,” Olivia answered as they walked back to the elevator. She didn’t have any idea where this was going and it scared the hell out of her. Why couldn’t she remember more? She knew fighting with her sister wasn’t a hallucination. It was a dream she had too many times in the last ten years. Walking into that room she knew it was real. Going down the elevator Olivia stared at Grace and searched for answers. I miss you more than any breath I take. What happened to us?
When they reached the ground floor and stepped into the noisy lobby she turned to Cammie and asked, “May I use your phone? I must have left mine on the plane.”
“Sure,” Cammie replied and handed it to her and pointed to a group of Dolls by the casino entrance. “I’ll be right over there.”
“Thanks,” Olivia answered and looked at the phone. She had to have answers. Piper had been her best friend at the time. There had to be more than what she could remember.
“Piper,” Olivia started and her voice broke. “Did you know about Vegas?”
“Oh, honey.” The fall in Piper’s voice said more than her words ever could. “Hang tight. I’m on my way, okay.”
“To Vegas? What the hell?” Olivia struggled to breath. What the fuck was going on?
“I got a flight when I talked to you before. I’m just about to board the plane. I’ll be there soon. Where are you?” The concern in Piper’s voice frightened her.
“I’m staying at Harrah’s. What aren’t you telling me, Piper? What the fuck don’t I remember? What the hell happened here?” Olivia was trying not to yell. She felt like she was losing her mind.
“Oh, Jesus. Just stay in your room and don’t talk to anyone. There is a lot about your sister you just blocked out. When your mom was alive she said the doctor called it selective amnesia. Just stay put, okay. I’ll be there in just a few hours. Try to take a nap and I’ll be there when you wake up,” Piper instructed. “You need to call and check in with Dominic. He is losing his mind looking for you.”
“Not now. There are some things I have to do,” she told Piper. “My room is 24012.”
“Fuck, Olivia. Don’t stay there. Just . . . listen to me.” Piper was still talking when Olivia hung up. She needed to know what the hell was going on. What were they protecting her from? Olivia was done hiding behind her kid gloves. She was about to walk into hell and dine with the devil himself but she needed to know everything.
OLIVIA DECIDED TO try Dominic. She only reached his voicemail. She started to hang up but decided to leave a message. She walked over to the group of girls and handed Cammie back her phone. “I’ll check in with you ladies a little later. I have some business to take care of.”
“Good luck,” Cammie said smiling. She knew nothing of the dark side of the business she was involved in. Olivia wanted to send Cammie home to the protected world of her family but she knew better. Looking at Cammie she saw her sister. Ten years ago, the young and beautiful girl was still carefree and embraced every opportunity. Now Grace lay six feet under along with Gwen and Rebecca. How many more women were involved?
“Thanks, you too,” Olivia replied knowing the girl would need it.
She turned and walked into the lively casino. The bells and whistles of gaming machines along with the voices of the crowd created an excited rumble. The room was well ventilated but still smelled of smoke and whiskey. She wandered through the players until she found the table games. There it was, the roulette table. She stood frozen watching the movie play from her twisted memories. She saw her sister running the table. A broad man in a dark suit stood watching her with a brandy in his hand. He moved a giant stack of chips on to lucky seven. When all the bets were in her delicate hand spun the wheel. The little bouncing ball flung through the air, rolled and then bounced from one spot to the next. When it came to rest on seven the crowd gave a cheer. The man pulled Grace to him and kissed her hard on the mouth. To Olivia’s horror her sister had kissed him back.
“Grace.” The heavy British voice startled her. The broad man was standing behind her. She turned around to face the giant of a man. The Devil. “My darling,” he said taking her in his arms and kissed her deeply. Olivia sputtered shocked by the sudden taste of cigars and brandy. He set her down and stared at her quizzically. “Grace?” He stepped back staring at her searching for an answer. “You’re not her, are you? What’s going on here?”
Olivia’s heart stopped. How did he know from just one kiss? She looked up at him helplessly. “No, I’m not.”
“But you look . . . just like her,” he said softly and then pain and anger flashed across his face. His eyes darkened and he looked at her as if she had betrayed him in the most cruel way. “Who are you then and what are you doing here? Where is Grace?”
“My name is Olivia. Grace was my sister. She died and I am trying to piece together what happened to her.” She realized there was no point in lying now. If he knew her sister well enough to tell them apart by one kiss lying wasn’t going to help her. “I don’t want to cause any trouble. I’m just looking for answers.”
“She what?” He paled and took a step back. “Come with me.” He took her by the arm and half drug her to a private room off the side of the main casino floor. Once they were alone he asked again. “What happened to Grace?”
Olivia looked around. She was alone with the gorilla of a man. She swallowed hard. “Grace died, she was murdered.” As she spoke the color fully drained from his face and he slumped into a chair.
“When . . .” He was staring at the ceiling. “How?”
“Ten years ago,” Olivia blurted. “She was brutally murdered when we were in college. She’s been gone ten years.” How could he have loved her as much as he seemed to and not know.
“That’s impossible.” He cocked his head and looked at her as if she was either completely crazy or trying to pull something over on him. “Grace is mine. We have an arrangement of sorts but she went missing four months ago and I would give anything to get her back.”
“You are lying. I saw my sister’s body ten years ago. She was murdered,” Olivia cried and stepped back. “I still see it every time I close my eyes.” Olivia was shaking. He was lying. He had to be lying. There was some kind of mistake.
“I never knew Grace even had a sister let alone an identical twin. My God you could be the same girl. Your skin is clammy are you sure you are okay? Did you hit your head or something? Maybe I should call the doctor.” His brows knitted in concern. His look reminded her of Shaver’s when s
he was doing something foolish.
“I don’t need a doctor I need to find out what happened to my sister. I think she was involved with a group that transported high rollers here via charter plane.” Olivia was careful not to mention the drugs or the prostitution. If he was involved the last thing she wanted to do was to make him think he was under investigation.
“The Dolls,” he said laughing “I don’t think she’s been directly involved with them in years. That’s how I met your sister.” He sat back lit a cigar and motioned for her to have a seat. Olivia pulled up a chair. She knew better than to believe anything this man told her but maybe he would say something that could help her figure out what happened.
“I was thirty-one at the time,” he began, “and I had just taken over here at Harrah’s. The first time I saw Grace, she was operating the roulette table. I was compelled to play. Now as an owner I couldn’t keep anything I won, nor did I need to. I just wanted to be near her. The way she moved. Her subtle knowing smile.” He took a deep breath. “You are so much like her. Looking at you I can’t help feeling I am talking to her. She was the most beautiful girl that ever walked into my life. The sun shone for her alone. The moon worshiped her jealously. I fell hopelessly in love with her.”
Olivia closed her eyes. She recalled his voice. She could see the roulette wheel spin and hear her sister’s laughter. For a brief moment Olivia had a memory of working the table. She remembered calling that all bets were in and spinning the wheel. That was so long ago. She shook her head. Was she just imagining that?
“Night after night I came to watch her work. The magical way she pulled every player at her table under her spell has never been matched. They were drawn back no matter how much they lost. Like moths to her flame she was the most addictive drug. Over time my jealousy became a monster that I could not control. I didn’t want her out on the floor for all to see. I wanted her to be only mine, to love only me. I begged her to love me. I took her around the world. I gave her a thousand sunrises and a thousand sunsets. She was a perfect light and all the darkness wrapped up in one.” He closed his eyes and tilted his head up as if he could still feel the warm light of her presence on his face. When he opened his eyes Olivia could see him fighting back tears. “No matter how I tried to keep her she was a flame that I couldn’t hold onto. She could never be happy with just one man, one life.”
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