I thought he was messing with us at first, but Victor swore up and down it was true. So, with no other leads and needing to get the hell out of Fairbanks, Las Vegas became our new destination. Our problem was that Victor didn't have an ID. Our friend at Buds Car Rentals provided the solution. He hadn't been thrilled when we returned the car but enough cash got him to stop his complaining. It was Victor who thought about the alternate plan and asked "is there a private airport nearby? With flights we might charter?"

"sure " said Bud "but it won't be cheap"

"That's not a problem. '' I said, "did you rob a bank or something? '' Bud asked, eyeing us suspiciously. No but we were packing a lot of currency. Lissa had a trust fund that doled her out monthly money till she was eighteen, as well as a high limit credit card. I had a card of my own, left over from when Adrien funded my adventures in Russia. I still kept it on hand, just for emergencies. I felt bad at the idea of using it, knowing everything he does for Raven. This however was an emergency so we used the card to pay for the private plane's cost.

"Robert doesn't live in Las Vegas proper"Victor explained "he has a small house-a cabin, I suppose- out by red rock Canyon, miles outside of the city" now that was what I expected. I felt unease filter through the bond and took Lissa's hand as a form of support. "So we'll go there?" I asked. Victor snorted "certainly not. Robert values his privacy. He wouldn't let strangers into his home. He'll come to the city if I ask him to " Lissa eyed me 'this could be a set up' Lissa said through the bond. "Im assuming you want him because of spirit" Victor said catching our attention again. "You have no right to know what we're doing," I replied sharply. Victors only response was a small smile.

When we finally landed we hailed a taxi. "Middle of the city right? The strip?'' I asked. Victor nodded. "The strip is a big place" said our driver "you got some place specific?" silence fell over us before Lissa spoke up "the witching hour?'' I considered it and then looked at Victor. It would be too risky to take him there.

"The Luxor" Eddie pipped up. I gave him an amused look. "It puts distance between us and the witching hour" he was right. We told the driver where to go and headed off. When we reached our destination I jumped straight to business "okay call him" I told Victor. Handing him my phone. He dialed and put the phone to his ear. "Robert" Victor said pleasantly "it's Victor"

He asked him to meet us at a hotel restaurant for dinner. He handed the phone back to me "four thirty" he said "good god, are we getting a senior citizen special?" I asked but he made a point about the day and the sun still being out then.

We got a room at the Luxor to prepare for our meeting and get Victor out of the street. Lissa laid down as far away from Victor as she could, and I sat beside her staying vigilant with Eddie. We were there for a few hours when a knock sounded at the door. I jumped up. Edie and I mirrored each other. Lissa sat up with a jolt ready to do what we needed if there was any danger. I felt no nausea as I approached the door however. I looked through the peephole. My face drained of color when I looked back at Eddie.

"It's Adrian," I said, swinging the door open.

"Did you really think you could go off on a party weekend without me? Especially here of all places-" he froze, looking past me and into the room. "Did you know" he started "that Victor Dashkov is sitting on your bed?"

"Yeah" I said, pulling him into the room. "And what are you doing here? Where the hell is Raven!? Adrian, I trusted you to watch and keep her safe!" I exclaimed, slamming the door behind me. "She is Rose, mom has her, and as for keeping her safe, why the fuck is the most wanted Moroi in the word with you? How the hell is that safe for her!?" he was pacing now running a hand through his hair. Eddie and Lissa shared a look as if to say 'lets stay out of this one' Victor however looked intrigued "who's Raven?" my little girls name coming out of his mouth made my blood boil. "No one that you need to be concerned with" I shot back.

Lissa told me to tell Adrian what was going on through the bond. I sighed looking over at Eddie "we'll be fine" he said giving me a small smile. I lead Adrian out of the room. Adrian pushed me august the wall, eyes dark. "You leave me with Raven saying Lissa needed a girls weekend, and instead I find you holed up with one of the most notorious criminals ever" the anger in his voice was prevalent. "How did you even find us?" I shot back.

"The credit card" he said. My eyes went wide. "You promised me when I got it that you wouldn't go snooping!" I exclaimed. "Well Rose you left me alone at home with a baby, no idea where you were, maybe I just wanted to know you were safe!" I sighed, running my hands through my hair. "Oh god" he continued "please tell me you guys didn't bust him out. They Are looking for two humans and a dhampir guy. The descriptions don't match…" he stared at me "but it was you wasn't it? God Rose, what about Raven? What if you get caught, then what? Daddy is busy on a killing spree somewhere mulling down humans, and Mommy is locked in prison? Is that what you want?" I could have slapped him for that. I felt tears building up in my eyes. "Why?" he asked breathlessly.

"Because…" I hesitated. How could I explain this to Adrian? Something that was supposed to be impossible. And how could I explain my goal to him? "Victor has access to information we need, or rather access to someone we need to talk to '' I told him looking away. "And what on earth could he possibly know that would make you want to do this?" I swallowed, I looked into Adrian's eyes, unable to lie to him. "Because there might be a way to save Strigoi. To turn them back to how they were. And Victor….knows someone who might have done it" Adrian stared at me for several seconds.

"Rose that's impossible"

"It might not be"

"If there was a way to do this, we'd know about it by now"

"It involves a spirit user. And we only just found out about them"

"That doesn't mean it-oh I see" his deep green eyes flashed, and this time, they were angry "it's about him, Dimitri, it's your last ditch crazy effort to get him back" he seethed.

"It's not just him!" I exclaimed "it could save all Strigoi" I finished "I thought this was over!" Adrian exclaimed "you told me it was over, you told me you could move on and be with me"

"I meant it" I said surprised at the desperate note in my voice "we just found out about it, we have to try '' I sounded weak. "And then what? What if your stupid fantasy works? You free Dimitri, and then you drop me like that. Get your perfect family, Daddy dearest in the picture who needs Adrian '' and snapped his fingers. I sighed "I don't know" I said wearily "we're just taking this one step at a time. I love being with you. You're amazing to Raven and love her. But I can't ignore this, if we can don't you think he deserves the chance to be a father? Don't you think Raven deserves the chance to know him?" His eyes were filled with so much pain. "Of course you can't give me a straight answer" then he turned from me "I need a drink"

Whatever pity I felt quickly turned to anger. "Oh, good. That will fix everything. I'm glad when the going gets rough that you have your old standbys'' I flinched at his glare. "What do you expect me to do?" He asked "you could...you could help us? You're here now and plus this guy is a spirit user too" Adrian's eyes didn't betray his thoughts "yes, that's exactly what I want. To help my girlfriend get her old boyfriend, and father of her child back. Sounds great Rose'' he turned away again, and I heard him mumble "I need two drinks" I sighed "four thirty" I called behind him "we meet at four thirty" he didn't grace me with a response, and instead got lost in the crowd. I returned to the room in a dark cloud that had to be obvious to everyone. Lissa and Eddie didn't ask questions, but Victor didn't get the memo. "Why Mr. Ivashkov isn't joining us? Gone home to this mysterious Raven?" He smirked "shit up" I told him.

The next couple hours dragged on, I hoped that Adrian would join us but with every minute that hope was dwindling. When four fifteen came we left to stake out a table. At the entrance of the restaurant Adrian stood. "Oh, hey" he said "so...I heard there was a party going on, mind if I join?" I gave him a weak, grateful smile. "Come on"

Our group was now up to five. We made our way inside to find Robert Doru. And maybe find the way to save Dimitri, and bring him home to our little girl.