Vegas
47
I’d never been so happy to step foot on a plane. We were in Texas for less than twenty-four hours, but it was still too long. All I wanted to do was take my son home, shower, eat one of my mom’s home-cooked meals and get into bed.
As soon as I entered the jet cabin, the eyes of my sister, cousin, son, and his friend were on me. I could sense the anxiety and anticipation.
At that moment, Junior entered, carrying Kia’s sister, who was so weak that she could barely walk.
“Kia.” The girl’s voice was weak.
“Oh my God, you found her!” Kia jumped up and ran to her. She tried to hug her sister in Junior’s arms, but the girl didn’t even have the strength to hug her back.
Kia stepped back, looking scared. “What’s wrong with her? Is she sick?”
“It appears so. This is how they gave her to us. Don’t worry,” Pop said. “We’ll make sure she gets some medical attention when we land. But right now, we’ve gotta get the hell out of here. Sit down, buckle up, and let’s go.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I made my way to the back of the plane and sat in one of the leather seats. I looked up and saw Nevada hugging my father.
“Thanks again, Grandpa,” he said.
“You’re welcome, Nevada. We’re still gonna have a little chat when we get home, though.”
I should’ve warned my son that it was probably not going to be a cheerful conversation, but Nevada was smart. He would figure that out soon enough.
Kia and Nevada got settled into their seats, and Junior placed her sister in the seat next to her sister. Then he came to the back of the plane with Pop. Within minutes, we were in the air.
“Pop, I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” Junior said about fifteen minutes into the flight, “but I got a call right before we took off. We have another problem.” Junior kept his voice low so that the kids wouldn’t hear him.
“Of course we do.” Pop groaned, pouring himself a drink. “What now?”
“Lex is dead,” Junior said.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Lex the fence?” I asked.
“Yes.” Pop looked over at me. “I hired him to find out what KD was doing. He was supposed to hijack his truck. What the hell happened to him?”
“He was found dead, shot execution style.”
“By who?” I asked.
“Nobody knows who the shooter was, but I have an idea who was behind it,” Junior replied.
“KD,” Pop and I said at the same time.
“The crazy thing is that his body was found along with the bodies of three women,” Junior explained.
“What about the truck?” Dad asked.
Junior looked at my Dad seriously. “There was no truck, Pop.”
“They killed four people and then took the truck? What the hell was in the truck?” I asked.
Junior shrugged, and Pop went into deep thought for a second. Then he turned to me and said, “You think Johnny could have been the person driving that truck when it was stolen?”
“I don’t know. It’s possible.”
“As soon as this plane lands, I’m gonna need you to find Johnny Brooks.”
“I’m on it. Let’s just hope he’s still alive when I find him.”
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Pop said.
I settled back in my seat to take the nap I knew I’d need. Being a Duncan sure didn’t make for a restful, easy life.
I slept for the majority of the flight home. When we arrived, my mother was there, waiting along with Consuela.
“Grandma.” Nevada hugged my mother first. It made sense since she was the only one with a friendly face. Consuela didn’t look too pleased as we descended from the plane. No doubt she was ready to whip Nevada’s ass for disappearing like he did.
“We were so worried about you. I’m glad you’re safe,” Mom told him.
“Me too,” he said.
My father walked over to my mother and gave her a big kiss. “I missed you.”
“Is there something you want to say to your mother?” I said to Nevada, motioning toward Consuela, who stood nearby, watching the family reunion.
Nevada’s head hung low as he walked over to her. “I’m sorry I ran away, Mom.”
Consuela pulled him to her and held him tight. “Mi amor. Thank God you’re okay. Estaba tan preocupada por ti, hijo mío.”
Nevada wiped the tears from her eyes and said, “I love you too, Mama. I’m sorry you were worried.”
“Duncan family, let’s go home,” Pop announced.
Nevada looked around and asked, “Where’s Uncle Rio?”
I hadn’t even noticed my baby brother’s absence until then. It was odd, because he and Nevada were so close. I would’ve expected him to be waiting with my mother and Consuela.
“I tried calling him when I found out you all were on the way home, but I couldn’t reach him. He should be at the house by the time we get there,” Mom said.
We all headed toward the various vehicles waiting to take us home. Consuela kept staring at Kia and her sister, who was being carried by Junior.
I walked over to her SUV.
“That’s the girl who caused all of this?” she asked me.
“Yes, that’s her. But it’s not her fault.”
“It’s not?”
“How about I explain it all to you tomorrow night over dinner?” I asked.
She looked surprised by my invitation. “Dinner?”
“Yes, just the two of us. How about Tavern on the Green? We have a lot to discuss. What do you say?”
“I say yes, I’d like that.” Consuela smiled. “And, Vegas, thank you for bringing my son home.”
“Our son,” I reminded her with a smile. Then I turned and called out, “Nevada!”
He ran over to me. “Yeah, Dad.”
“Ride home with your mother.”
“But I was gonna go over to the hospital with—”
“No, Uncle Junior and Aunt Paris will make sure she’s good. You need to go with your mom,” I told him, reading the disappointment on his face. “Listen, I’m proud of you, son. You did the right thing and handled it like a Duncan.”
“Thanks, Dad. Are you
