Alex shook her head, a pleading look on her face.
‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered. ‘I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.’
He leaned in closer, his breath hot against her cheek. ‘One more mistake and I won’t hesitate to throw you to the wolves to save myself. Do you understand?’
Alex nodded meekly.
‘Good.’ He released her, stepping back as she slumped against the sink, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. He straightened his jacket and took a deep breath to compose himself.
‘Clean yourself up,’ he spat. ‘And don’t forget what I said. You’re walking on thin ice, Alex. Don’t make me regret trusting you.’
Outside the bathroom, he paused for a moment, his hand resting on the door handle. He could hear her muffled sobs from inside, and for a brief moment, he felt a flicker of remorse. But he quickly pushed it aside. There was no room for weakness in this business, no room for second chances.
And if that meant being a ruthless bastard.
So be it.
Chapter Nineteen
Rain pressed her finger against her lips and closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift into the memory – the lingering scent of Lauren’s perfume, the tender pressure of Lauren’s lips against her own. Though it stirred desire, there was also deep regret. After tonight, there was no going back. She could explain away one incident of not telling Lauren the truth about Alex by playing ignorant. At the time, she wasn’t sure if the man’s condition was due to drugs or his heart. But now that she actually knew the real cause and Lauren had specifically told her, there was no way she could backtrack. What explanation could she offer up as to why she’d said nothing? And what if the man died? That would take things to another level altogether.
Rain returned home feeling drained and mentally exhausted. After a quick shower, she slipped under the covers and fell straight asleep, only to jolt wide awake the next morning, her heart racing as the remnants of a nightmare lingered.
The thought of Alex peddling potentially lethal drugs to unsuspecting victims made her stomach churn. She grabbed her phone and called her mum, who answered almost instantly, panic-stricken. ‘What’s wrong? Have you found her?’
‘Calm down, Mum. Nothing’s wrong, and no, I haven’t found her yet.’
‘It’s six in the morning. What are you doing up so early?’
‘I’ve got a bit of a problem.’ Rain slid out of bed and made her way to the kitchen as she spoke.
‘What sort of problem?’
Rain switched on the coffee machine and put a cup under the nozzle. She was going to need a lot of caffeine to get her through the day. ‘I saw a member of staff at the hotel selling drugs yesterday.’
‘What’s that got to do with you?’
‘The guest she sold them to is in hospital.’
‘Oh, that isn’t good.’
‘No, it’s not.’ Rain sipped her coffee. ‘That’s why I called you. What do you think I should do?’
‘What do you mean? Haven’t you told someone already?’
‘Well, no.’
‘Why not? Rain, if someone’s selling drugs that have already put someone in hospital, it’s your responsibility to stop them from doing it again and killing someone.’
‘I know, but if I say something, I’ll have to give a statement to the police, and then the hotel will know my true identity.’
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone. Rain thought about telling her mum about Lauren and the fact that she had lied to her but didn’t have time.
‘That’s the risk you’ll have to take. The next person might not survive. Do you really want that on your conscience?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘And neither do I. Do what’s right, and do it today. If the hotel lets you go, so be it. We’ll find another way to get information.’
‘What if I have a word with the person in question? If she knows I saw her, she might agree to stop selling drugs.’
‘You really think that would work?’
‘I can give it a try. If she refuses, I’ll report her.’
***
Rain sat down and stirred her coffee before taking a sip, contemplating the best approach to the delicate conversation she was about to initiate.
‘Did you hear about the guest who was rushed to the hospital yesterday?’ Rain asked, her tone measured and cautious.
Alex glanced up from her newspaper, her expression unreadable. ‘Yeah, I heard. Hope the poor guy pulls through.’
‘Mmm. Turns out there were drugs involved,’ Rain said, watching Alex closely for any reaction.
Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘Drugs? I thought it was a heart attack.’
Rain shook her head. ‘No, definitely drugs.’
