Back to the hotel…

Rhi POV

As we start walking toward the door leading to the Strip Ana, Kate and I are full of giggles and excitement while the guys are quiet and a little reserved. We're like polar opposites. Maybe it's because we're here on vacation and they live here and just got done working. Whatever the reason is, I'm ok with it, though Kate and Ana seem to be more concerned about it.

"Hey guys, what's up with the solemnity?" Ana inquires.

"Yeah, what gives?" Kate adds.

And of course I have to toss in, "Yeah guys, why so serious?!" in my version of the Joker's voice and trying to look crazy. I catch a few "What the Fuck?" looks from the guys and can't help laughing wickedly.

Jack smiles, "No reason. We were just talking about the show and walk back to your hotel. It was a good show and we're just waiting for the adrenalin to wear off. Taking a walk should calm the nerves a bit and we should be able to sleep when we get back."

"Aww guys, if you're tired you don't have to come with. We'll be ok." Kate replies and Ana nods.

I'm silent for a moment. I'm not sure what I want to do at this point. As a group it'll be fun but only if we make it that way. Otherwise it'll be an awkward walk. I'm caught up in my thoughts when I feel a tug on my hand and looking down I see Alex holding it. When I look back up I see everyone else is looking at me and I think they might have asked me a question but I have no idea what it was.

"Sorry guys, what'd I miss?" I laugh and see Kate and Ana rolling their eyes, which makes me laugh harder. "What?" I ask innocently.

With yet another dramatic eye roll, Ana sighs, "Really Rhi? Do you ever pay attention?"

"Yes, I just get caught up in my thoughts sometimes. I figured you guys would decide if you were walking with us or staying here." I reply. "See? I pay attention. Just because I'm not staring or making head movements at you guys or acknowledging by making noise doesn't mean I'm not listening." Jeeze guys, I'm not 12.

I roll my eyes with a huff. Fuck. It's always the same thing with them. I feel like I'm being scolded like an errant child. I laugh so they don't get upset because to be honest, I do sound and act like I'm 12 sometimes.

Kate seems to find it more amusing than Ana when she laughs and says, "God you're such a pain in the ass sometimes!" She pauses to catch her breath, "Who am I kidding? You're always a pain in the ass!"

Anna shakes her head and I respond, "That may very well be true but you still love me!"

"Yes, Rhi, we still love you but fuck you're frustrating sometimes. "

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. So are you guys going with us or not?" I ask with a cheeky grin as I look up at Alex, who has a confused yet amused look on his face. They're actually amazing eyes, but God the intensity!

Alex and Jack look at each other, then at Nick and Collin, "You guys up for the walk?"

They all nod and Jack says, "Well that's settled. Let's get going."

We all turn and walk toward the door leading to Las Vegas Blvd.

Alex is holding my hand as we walk silently toward the moving sidewalk leading to the Strip. I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched again and it's really getting to me but this time I decide that I'm going to try to ignore it. Every time I've searched out where it is coming from I come up empty handed, with no answers. Besides, I've got the girls, Alex and the other guys distract me. However, I do feel a little unprepared for a conflict, in a mini dress and heels, but I can take care of myself when needed.

It's actually quite the walk all the way back to the hotel, and it's slow going in heels, but it is a nice warm night out and we're in good company. Walking down the street I feel so strange and I feel like I'm standing out because I'm so short. Everyone is walking faster than me and I either have to take more steps or longer strides, and either way my legs are going to be tired as hell by the time we get back. This may have been a bad idea.

"What the fuck guys! Can ya'll slow it down a notch or two? Us people with short legs can't exactly run very well in heels! I feel like a little kid trying to keep up with their parents! You might as well hold both my hands and swing me!" I laugh.

Kate and Ana look at me and laugh when Kate throws, "Sorry Rhi, we forgot you weren't full size and shrank in the dryer. I guess when it says, 'Dry clean only' they really mean it!"

My eyes widen and my mouth drops open. "What. The. Fuck? That's a new one I haven't heard yet! Nice!"

I reach over and fist bump her and I have to stop because I'm laughing so hard and I don't want to lose my balance and fall, that would be a classy move.

I step to the side to get out of the way of the people walking by and notice there is a group of guys leaning on a decorative fence watching us. They just stare at us, expressionless and not moving and I tense up. Kate and Ana are watching how I will react. I glare at them and open my mouth to say something, but before I can Ana stops me.

She's looking at me sternly, "Rhi, stop. Let it go. The trouble it could cause isn't worth it."

Alex steps closer and wraps his arm around me and we turn to head back up the street.

Fuck, I think the stress from everything is making me testy. 'Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Let it go…' I'm chanting in my head, taking a deep breath I try to calm myself and regain my control. Suddenly, I feel an urge similar to the one when we were checking into the hotel.

I start singing at the top of my lungs, a part of the song 'Let it Go' from the movie Frozen. "Let it go, Let it go…. Can't hold it back anymore…. Let it go, Let it go…. Something, something, something…. The cold never bothered me anyway." I start laughing because I don't know the correct lyrics but I don't care because it did its job.

Kate and Ana shake their heads and roll their eyes, "You had to do it didn't you? You couldn't choose another song?"

I laugh, "Nope!" Short and sweet.

"You ok?" Alex asks, looking down at me, concern in his eyes.

I look up at him and smile, "Yep! Perfectly fine! Let's get a move on! Or shall I sing another show tune?"

Kate and Ana groan, "Please God, no! Haven't we suffered enough?"

Laughing I smirk, "Fine, but you know you love it when I serenade you!"

Alex looks down at me, shakes his head and suddenly bends down and gently kisses me. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. You're so beautiful. I hope it was ok that I did that?" He smiles giving me a sheepish apologetical look.

I feel my face heat up for some reason and I smile at him. "Yes, it's ok." I can't think of anything else to say that would be appropriate so I just stay quiet.

He has his arm around me but it's a little difficult walking because he's so tall so he unwraps his arm from me and reaches for my hand again. Finally, everyone slows down and we move at a more leisurely pace.

Ryan and Reynolds POV

"Well, this should be interesting. Luke is going to go crazy when we update him. You can tell by the way he's been acting that he's attracted to this Rhiann girl. I've never seen him act so jealous about anyone before, and to be honest, he has no right to be either. I mean, she doesn't belong to him."

Reynolds thinks it over for a moment, "You're right. Are you going to call him or just send a text?"

It doesn't take me longer that a second to answer, "I'm thinking text would be easier. A lot less yelling."

He laughs as I pull out my phone and send a message to Luke.

Ry: Update, they've left the Excalibur and it looks like they are walking back toward their hotel. Four of the strippers are with them. It looks like they should be safe and protected. From the looks of it, they've slowed their pace and are taking their time. Probably because the girls are wearing heels.

It takes only a few seconds for him to respond. Jeeze, is he sitting on his phone staring at it? Fuck dude, relax…

L: I wonder why they are walking? Does it look like they are having a good time? Do they look like they've been drinking a lot? What are the girls doing? What are the guys doing?

I exhale harshly, "Fuck it's like twenty questions."

Reynolds looks at me, "What's up? What did he say?"

I list off everything he's asked and roll my eyes.

"Jesus, what the fuck is his deal? It's not like we're walking with them. Hell we're not even walking near enough to them to even hear them. Fuck, I have a bad feeling about this." Reynolds comments and I totally agree with him.

Reynolds asks, "What are you going to tell him?"

I think about it for a minute, "Only what we know. I'm not going out of my way to find out what they're doing. It's really none of our business. I thought Grey was bad with Ana. Fuck, I'm starting to think Luke is worse."

Ry: I don't know Luke it just looks like they're walking back to the hotel. Maybe enjoying the night? We're not included in their group so your guess is as good as ours

L: Ok thanks keep me updated

I'm surprised he didn't press for more information. "That went better than expected." I look at Reynolds, "I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can feel impending doom forming on the horizon."

Reynolds laughs loudly, "Maybe he's been drinking and has mellowed out?"

"Ha! There's no way in hell he's mellowed out. He's almost as jealous as Grey is with Ana. We'll just have to wait and see what happens." I respond.

We're following the group, hanging back a little more than we have been as a precaution. Rhiann seems to have a strong sixth sense and can detect any unease. It's uncanny, I don't even think we're that good at detecting things.

Luke POV

I'm so pissed Taylor pulled me off surveillance and has me sitting around waiting for updates from Ryan and Reynolds. It takes longer to get the information from the guys when I could be seeing with my own eyes. Now I have no answers to all the questions running through my mind. I know the guys aren't actually walking with them and they are staying in the background but that still doesn't help my need to know. I know I have no right to be this insistent on control but I can't help myself. I need to get to know her and talk to her and see if I can make something happen with her. I'm curious why Ana and Kate have kept her hidden from everyone and how even Welch couldn't find any information on her. I hope to find out more about her by talking to her directly and this would be so much easier back home.

I can't believe she's been hanging out with those strippers. What's the point in that? Hah! Strippers. Now THERE'S a stable respectable job. I wonder why they are walking? And why are those guys walking with them? At least they're headed back here. I just hope those guys don't stay with them. I mean, Kate has Elliot and Ana is with Grey in whatever fucked up relationship they have. I can tell he's in love with her he just won't admit it to himself. That one guy seems to be all over Rhiann and I'm sure there's only one thing he's interested in. He probably has so many notches on his bedpost it looks like termites are eating it. Ok, I'm not much better but still, I know a little more about her than this guy. Fuck! My thoughts are all over the place and I have no answers. I decide to fix myself a drink and sit down to try to get my mind off her. This is going to be harder than I thought.