‘All right. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, for now. But if I find out you’re lying to me, or if you’re involved in any way—’
‘I promise, I only want to help. I want to keep Lauren safe, and I want to get my sister out of this mess.’
Sydney nodded, a look of grim determination settling over her features. She leaned forward, her elbows on the desk, her eyes locked on Rain’s. ‘So, what’s your plan?’
Rain hesitated, the realisation hitting her that she didn’t really have one, not yet. ‘I’m not sure, to be honest. I was hoping you might have some ideas, some insights. You know the people that work here better than anyone.’
Sydney thought for a moment, tapping her pen against her lip, her brow furrowed in concentration. ‘I do. Okay, let me have a think about it?’
‘Great. I will help in any way I can.’
‘Okay. I’ll be in touch soon … and Rain? I think it’s best you tell Lauren the truth yourself about Fay. I’m telling you where she is because you’re right, I would do anything for my sister, except lie or keep secrets from her,’ Sydney said, scribbling something on a piece of paper.
Rain took the piece of paper Sydney held out to her, her heart swelling with gratitude. ‘Thank you for believing me and giving me a chance to make this right.’
As Rain left Sydney’s office, the piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand, she felt a renewed sense of purpose.
Sydney’s expression softened, just a fraction. ‘I don’t know if I believe you yet. Don’t make me regret it.’
‘I won’t.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Rain sat in an empty carriage, watching the countryside whizz by in a blur of green and gold. Her brain was working overtime, trying to figure out how the hell she was going to break the news to Lauren. How was she going to tell the woman she was crazy about that her own sister was mixed up in some seriously shady business.
As the train pulled into the station, Rain grabbed her backpack and hopped off, flagging down the first taxi she saw. The driver, a chatty old guy with a shock of white hair, kept trying to make small talk, but Rain was too lost in her own thoughts to pay much attention.
‘You all right there, miss?’ the driver asked, glancing at her in the rear-view mirror. ‘You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.’
Rain forced a smile, shaking her head. ‘Just got a lot on my mind, that’s all.’
The driver nodded sagely. ‘Ah, I know that feeling. But you know what they say – a problem shared is a problem halved. Sometimes it helps to talk it out.’
Rain chewed on her lip, considering his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe if she practised what she was going to say to Lauren, it wouldn’t feel quite so daunting.
She started to talk, the words tumbling out in a rush. She told the driver about Fay, about the drugs, about the danger they were all in. She even told him about her feelings for Lauren, how she was terrified of losing her just when they were starting to get close.
The driver listened intently, nodding along and making sympathetic noises in all the right places. When Rain finally ran out of steam, he let out a low whistle.
‘Sounds like you’ve got yourself in quite a pickle there. But you know what I think? I think you’re doing the right thing. Honesty is always the best policy, especially when it comes to the people we care about.’
Rain felt a sudden rush of gratitude towards the kind stranger. ‘Thanks,’ she said softly. ‘I needed to hear that.’
The taxi pulled up outside Lauren’s cottage, and Rain paid the fare with shaking hands. As she walked up the path, her heart hammered so hard she thought it might burst right out of her chest.
She raised her fist to knock, but before she could make contact, the door swung open. Lauren stood there, her eyes wide with surprise and something else Rain couldn’t quite read.
‘Hi, your sister—’
But before Lauren could finish her sentence, she pulled Rain into a tight embrace, Lauren’s lips crashing against hers in a desperate, hungry kiss.
Rain froze for a split second, caught off guard, but then she melted into the kiss, her arms coming up to wrap around Lauren’s waist, pulling her closer.
The world around them faded away as they lost themselves in each other, weeks of pent-up longing and desire pouring out in a tangle of lips and tongues and roaming hands.
When they finally broke apart, both breathless and flushed, Lauren rested her forehead against Rain’s, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
‘I wasn’t expecting that,’ Rain murmured, her voice husky.
Lauren laughed softly, nuzzling her nose against Rain’s. ‘I couldn’t help myself. I’ve been thinking about you non-stop since I left.’
Rain’s heart swelled at the admission, but then reality came crashing back in. She pulled away slightly, her expression turning serious.
‘Lauren, there’s something I need to tell you. Something important.’
Lauren’s brow furrowed in concern, but she nodded, stepping aside to let Rain into the cottage.
As the door closed behind them, Rain took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation to come. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but she also knew that Lauren deserved the truth.
No matter how painful it might be to hear.
‘It will have to wait,’ Lauren said, taking her hand and leading her into the living room.
Rain followed Lauren into the cosy space, her heart pounding with nerves and anticipation. The cottage was warm and inviting, with a fire crackling in the hearth and soft music playing in the background.
Lauren turned to face her, a tender smile on her face as she reached out, her fingertips grazing Rain’s cheek with a feather-light touch. Rain’s breath caught in her throat at the contact, her skin tingling where Lauren’s fingers had been.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, Lauren leaned in, her lips brushing against Rain’s in a whisper of a kiss. Rain’s eyes fluttered closed, savouring the softness, the sweetness of the moment.
