The Check In Continued…

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me!

Luke POV

"I can't believe they are going into that place! What the fuck?" I exclaim as my eyes widen in shock.

"Wow" Reynolds says. "That's unexpected."

We stop in our tracks and watch the girls approach the front desk of the Thunder from Down Under showroom. There are tons of other ladies milling about talking animatedly, smiling and laughing. There are two people at the desk, and it looks like they are getting the girls' names for a reservation or something. I don't see them exchange tickets, so I wonder what's going on. Just then, a big muscular guy with a beard comes out from behind the curtain and walks up to Kate, Ana and Rhiann with a huge smile on his face. We can't hear what is being said but the girls are laughing, and it looks like they are truly enjoying the conversation. He puts his arm out to allow the girls to go inside in front of him and puts his hand on Rhiann's lower back, lingering a little too long for my taste. She looks up at him, he towers over her almost as much as I do and gives him a shy smile. I tense up immediately, absolutely uncomfortable with the whole exchange. The other women continue to wait in line in disbelief and jealousy.

"I wonder why they are getting to go in so early?" Someone asks.

"Maybe it's a special occasion?" Someone replies.

"Well, whatever it is, they are super lucky" another voice says.

And finally, "Well, as beautiful as they are I'd be glad to let them in early. Wow."

Yeah ladies, I totally agree with you.

"Hey Ryan, I bet you a million dollars they won't let us in there. Too much competition!" Reynolds says laughing.

I let out a chuckle, "I wouldn't want to go in at all, it's nothing I haven't seen, and I don't think they need any competition." I say with a grin.

I've got to keep my sense of humor through this. This is almost worst-case scenario.

"Well, guys, let's find a place to sit to wait and watch the doors for them to come out. This is going to be a long night, considering the shows usually last about 2 hours and they've gone in at least 30 minutes early." Ryan sighs clearly frustrated.

As we find a place to sit, a few ladies approach us smiling.

"Well, well, well why aren't you guys in there getting ready for the show?" A brunette asks. The other girls smile and giggle.

"Look ladies, we're working and not interested. Go on and enjoy your show." Ryan says.

They huff and we just watch them walk away.

Reynolds says, "Geeze that would've been a guaranteed hookup if we weren't working. This job totally sucks sometimes."

"I agree," Ryan says, "But a job is a job. You know you can always quit but I guarantee you will regret that decision and you will miss the job. I'd rather have the job than some skank in Vegas that goes up to just any guy saying something like that. I mean look at them, they've gone over to a whole other set of guys in less than 5 minutes. Do you really want to be with someone like that? I mean, who knows what they have and where they've been?"

We look over and he's right, they've latched onto a group of guys walking out of the casino.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But it would be nice to be able to go out and at least talk to someone once in a while." Reynolds says.

The only thing we can do at this point is sit and wait for them to come out of the show. It'll be a couple of hours at least. I don't even want to imagine what they're doing in there so early with that guy who let them in. He was definitely interested in Rhiann. I could tell by the way he looked at her and the fact that he touched her on her lower back. I'd love to go in there and pull her out, but I can't. God this is frustrating!

Meanwhile, 30,000 feet in the sky…

Elliot POV

"Christian, chill out! They are fine and they will continue to be fine. You need to stay out of it and not ruin their vacation. You're not going to do anything but piss Ana off and she'll probably want nothing to do with you if that happens. Do you really want to risk that?" I say to him. I can't fucking believe him, acting so out of control. I see him thinking about what I'm saying. He seems to be fighting inner demons, which I have no idea where they came from. "Seriously bro, I don't understand what your deal is. She's been with you for how long now? If you push this on her, force her to come back with you and try to control her I swear you will lose her completely. Trust me." I say to him with a warning in my tone. I know exactly what she thinks about his controlling nature. "Do you really want to risk that? This is the most insane thing you have ever done and you're not using your head." I continue.

I wish I could tell him what I know, it would make things a lot easier, but I promised Ana and Kate that I wouldn't tell anyone, not even Christian. I'm not going to break that promise, for obvious reasons, first and foremost I love Kate and I plan on her being my wife someday. And second, Ana is a sweet person who has a big heart. She's protecting herself as well as Rhiann. Christian thinks that just because he has money he can own and control everyone. He doesn't realize there's consequences to his actions and that he can't buy off everyone. I'm dead serious if he confronts Ana and tries to make her go back to Seattle with him, she will walk away and not look back. "I just want the best for you and to protect you, from yourself it seems." I tell him.

"So, tell me Elliot, what exactly do you know and how long have you known it?" He asks.

I can tell he's pissed and to be honest, I don't blame him. But I can't do it.

"It's not up to me to tell you or anyone. You will have to talk to Kate and Ana about the whole thing. I'm not saying anything, other than you really need to not try to force the issue. Just let them handle things their own way. I am not saying anything. Period. So quit asking and tell Welch he needs to quit searching. He's wasting his time." I respond, matter of factly.

I get up and head to the bar and get another drink. I look at my watch to check the time and see that it's 7:00 pm in Vegas. The show is just starting, and I know the girls will have fun. I'm not super thrilled about Kate being at a male strip show, but she's been honest with me, and I trust her. I do wish they weren't hanging out with a few of the guys afterward, but I do know that they decided not to go anywhere with them. They will maybe have one drink after the show and that's it. I also know that Luke, Ryan and Reynolds are there watching them and will make sure that nothing happens. Besides, I know that a lot of the things they're doing are for Rhiann's sake. She's been through some rough shit and really needs to recharge herself. I don't know how Christian will handle it when he finds out everything, but I can tell you he and Rhiann will be battling about a lot of things. They have more in common than they know, considering they don't even know each other. Yet.

I look at Taylor who is just sitting there stoically. I can't read his face completely, but it looks like he's struggling to keep his opinions to himself. He's got a rough job, being around his boss who needs to know everything and knowing there's some things that need to be kept from him until it's time to tell him. I am sure he feels like I'm betraying my brother by keeping information secret, but he also knows that I'm not budging, and I'd not lie about anything.

My brother looks at me, raises his eyebrows and asks, "Just why should I tell Welch to quit searching?"

I look at him, "Because he won't find anything other than what is already known. Let it go for now. And seriously, unless you want to completely lose Ana, you need to not even consider forcing her to go with you. And just a suggestion, you may want to keep her from seeing you at all. I can guarantee she will not be happy to see you. At all. She will turn her back and never look back." I'm trying to warn him, and I hope he hears me and listens. He will regret it if he doesn't.

Christian POV

I can't believe this. I can't believe my brother has known this entire time, knows what's going on, and won't tell me. What exactly does he know? How does he know Welch won't find anything? I'm so angry right now and I feel betrayed a little that he's being loyal to Kate and not his own brother. I just don't get it. Maybe it's because no one has ever given me the opportunity for loyalty either to or from someone. Elena has always been there, but she always wanted something from me, so it felt fake. This is different. This is me having an opportunity to have Ana and he's doing nothing but blocking that. I know he doesn't know about my lifestyle, and maybe I should tell him sometime, but now is not the time. Right now, I need to find Ana and see if I can find out what the secrecy is all about. What is it that will make Ana leave? Why won't he just tell me?

"Taylor, do you know any more information than what welch has other than what we already know?" I ask.

If there's anyone that would know more information it's Taylor.

"Sir, no there is no update with more information at this time. I keep in touch with Welch, and he's come up empty handed." He replies.

"Fuck! How could a woman not have any information to dig up?" I exclaim.

If I wasn't in a plane 30,000 feet in the air I'd punch a wall, but I'd prefer to not crash because of a drop in pressure. I go over to the bar myself and pour myself a drink, scotch neat. I sit down, resigned to wait out the trip. When we land, I'll be able to get more information, of this I am sure.

Taylor POV

Elliot is really playing with fire by not telling anyone what's going on. I don't think he realizes what exactly Ana and his brother's relationship is like. But I do know that Ana has not given Grey an answer to if she's willing to be his sub. I certainly hope that for her sake, she decides against it. I can tell Grey is worried about her and I can also tell that he loves her, he just won't admit to himself. I haven't heard anything from Luke for about an hour now. I wonder what's going on? I ask myself. Hopefully it's quiet and simple handling but something tells me that it's not, considering Las Vegas is involved. Ugh, I've got a headache starting and the two Grey brothers are drinking. Someone has to keep a clear head.

I'd really like to see this Rhiann in person. I'm pretty good at profiling people so I bet I could tell what kind of person she is. She's beautiful. Maybe I can have an opportunity with her. I'd definitely fuck her. I'm sure Luke, Ryan and Reynolds are thinking the same thing. Hell, I bet half the guys in Vegas want to. This is going to be a nightmare. We don't know if she's a party girl or a quiet one or anything, I hope we can find out soon, it's crazy how Welch can't find any information on her at all other than what we have. I wonder why it's locked down, and who locked it down to begin with. Only time will tell, I guess.