‘Hey, you getting a head start?’ Rain slid into the seat across from her, all smiles.

  ‘Guilty. It’s been quite a day.’

  ‘To be honest, I’m shocked you’re not doing tequila shots after playing superhero.’

  ‘It was pure adrenaline. If I’d stopped to think, I would’ve frozen,’ Lauren said, pouring Rain a glass of wine.

  ‘Don’t sell yourself short. You saved that man’s life. It’s a good thing you’re impulsive.’

  Lauren laughed. ‘That’s not me. I’m the least impulsive person ever.’

  ‘Nope, not buying it,’ Rain said teasingly.

  ‘It’s true.’

  Rain took a sip of wine and sighed. ‘Just what the doctor ordered. Talking of doctors, have you heard anything from the hospital?’

  ‘Not a thing. No news is good news, as they say.’

  Rain set her glass down and leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. ‘So, how long did you debate asking me here tonight?’

  Lauren looked down, her fingers tracing the rim of her own glass. ‘Longer than I should have. I wasn’t sure if involving you in my complicated life was a good idea.’

  Rain leaned back in her chair and smiled. ‘Last I checked, we’re both adults. And you haven’t involved me in anything. Not yet at least.’

  Their eyes met, Rain’s gaze filled with understanding. Lauren relaxed a little.

  ‘So where do we go from here?’

  ‘There’s only one realistic path. The friend zone.’

  Lauren laughed, sharing the remaining wine between their glasses. ‘Ah, the dreaded graveyard where rejected beaus are sent.’

  ‘I’m not rejecting you, Lauren,’ Rain said, after a moment of contemplative silence. ‘It’s not easy, you know, doing the right thing. This is the first time something like this has happened to me . . . falling for a married woman.’

  Lauren searched Rain’s eyes, seeing a raw honesty that mirrored her own feelings.

  ‘I never imagined falling for a woman,’ Lauren said. ‘But here we are.’

  A loaded silence enveloped them as they both contemplated the situation. Lauren cleared her throat.

  ‘Another bottle?’

  ‘Sure, why not.’

  While getting their wine from the bar, Lauren decided to guide their conversation to lighter topics. They both needed a break from the emotional weight surrounding them.

  Returning to their table, Lauren smiled brightly as she set down the bottle and sat down.

  ‘I just realised how little I actually know about you, aside from your love of classic literature. Tell me about yourself.’

  Rain shrugged. ‘There’s not much to tell.’

  ‘Nonsense. What about family?’

  ‘My dad passed away a few years ago, but my mum’s doing well. And I have one sister. What about you?’

  ‘Well, I’ve got Sydney – my rock. I don’t know where I’d be without her. And of course, there’s my little guy, Ben.’

  Rain latched onto the new subject. ‘How old is he?’

  ‘Ten. The light of my life. Definitely keeps me on my toes!’ Lauren took a sip of wine. ‘What about you? Any kid-related skeletons in your closet?’ she joked.

  Rain chuckled. ‘No. Motherhood hasn’t been a priority for me.’

  ‘On the fence?’

  ‘More like . . . I don’t feel the need to have my own children, but I’m open to a partner who already has kids.’

  Relief washed over Lauren at Rain’s words. ‘That’s good to know.’

  Their conversation flowed easily, sharing family stories and laughter. However, when the topic turned to Lauren’s biological father, she found her mood dip.

  ‘I can’t remember a thing about him. He died when we were so young, I don’t even remember him.’

  ‘Sorry to hear that.’

  ‘It’s okay.’ Lauren poured more wine. ‘So how did your first day at work go?’

  ‘Despite seeing an unconscious man on the floor? Hmm, I’d say it was fifty-fifty. I’d forgotten how difficult super-king-sized bedding is to manoeuvre. It’s definitely a two-person job.’

  ‘I’ll make sure I inform the boss and see what she can do.’

  ‘Is that why the previous cleaner left,’ Rain said with a smile, ‘couldn’t handle the workload?’

  The smile faded from Lauren’s face, replaced by a sombre expression.

  ‘Oh, was she that bad?’ Rain pressed.

  Lauren shifted in her seat, her eyes narrowing slightly. ‘Yes, she was.’

  ‘She must have been some piece of work. I haven’t heard one nice thing said about her yet,’ Rain said.

  ‘Maybe there’s a reason for that.’

  Rain leaned forward, elbows on the table as she studied Lauren. ‘Such as?’

  ‘Nothing, it doesn’t matter,’ Lauren said, her tone making it clear that further questioning would not be welcomed.

  Rain rubbed the back of her neck, a pained expression on her face. ‘Look, there’s something I need to tell you . . . Something I should have mentioned earlier . . .’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘It’s about—’

  Before Rain could finish, Lauren’s phone rang. With an apologetic glance at Rain, she retrieved her phone from her pocket.

  ‘Sorry, I have to take this. It’s my sister.’ Lauren pressed the accept button and put the phone to her ear. ‘Syd, is everything okay?’

  Sydney’s tone informed her that things were far from okay.

  ‘The police are here,’ Sydney said, her voice strained with tension. ‘They’ve confirmed the guy had a drug overdose.’

  ‘Okay…’

  ‘His wife said he got the drugs from one of our employees.’

  A sense of dread settled over Lauren as she absorbed Sydney’s words.

  ‘Are you sure? I mean, who was it?’

  ‘She doesn’t know. He’s still unconscious, but she’s adamant he didn’t have any drugs on him when they arrived at the hotel.’

  Lauren released a deep breath. ‘This isn’t good.’

  ‘Tell me about it. The press are lurking around the lobby like vultures. Someone must have tipped them off.’

  Lauren ran her fingers through her hair, her mind racing with the implications of Sydney’s words.

  ‘This kind of publicity could ruin us. Listen, I’m on my way back. Make sure the staff don’t speak to anyone until I get there.’

  Lauren disconnected the call and rose to her feet.

  ‘I’m sorry, Rain, I have to go.’

  Rain mirrored Lauren’s movements, rising from her seat too.

  ‘What’s happened?’

  Lauren briefly explained the situation as they made their way to the exit.

  ‘And his wife doesn’t know who gave him the drugs?’ Rain said.

  ‘No, but I’m going to find out if it’s the last thing I do,’ Lauren said, determination in her voice.

  Stepping out into the cold night air, Lauren turned to Rain. ‘You were cleaning in the room a few doors down. Did you see anyone that looked out of place hanging around?’

  Rain frowned and slowly shook her head. ‘Um . . . no . . . I was too busy fighting with the duvet cover. Look, do you want me to come back to the hotel with you?’

  ‘No, I’ll be fine.’

  ‘Okay, I’m here if you need me,’ Rain said. ‘It was good to spend time with you tonight.’

  Before she could second-guess herself, Lauren closed the distance between them, her lips meeting Rain’s in a tender yet urgent kiss. It was a moment of connection, a brief respite from the chaos that seemed to constantly swirl around them.

  Lauren reluctantly pulled away. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.’

  Rain smiled. ‘I’m glad you did.’

  Lauren glanced at her phone, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. ‘I hate having to rush off like this. I’ll see you soon.’

  ‘You can count on it.’

  Lauren turned and walked back towards the hotel, a deep longing for Rain’s presence lingering in her heart. It was a bittersweet reminder that some moments, however fleeting, can change everything.

  Chapter Eighteen

  He followed Alex into the bathroom, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. She was too absorbed in her own thoughts to notice his presence behind her.

  As the door swung shut, he grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Alex let out a startled gasp, her eyes widening with fear as she realised it was him.

  ‘What the hell were you thinking?’ he demanded, his face inches from hers. ‘Drawing attention to our business? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?’

  Alex stammered, trying to find the words, but he didn’t give her a chance. He shoved her back against the sink, his hands gripping her arms tightly.

  ‘A hotel guest is in the hospital, Alex. The hospital! If he dies, that’s on you.’

  He ignored the tears welling in her eyes and the tremor in her top lip. She needed to understand the gravity of her actions.

  ‘And that’s not all,’ he continued. ‘Fay’s sister is snooping around, looking for her. If she finds her and Fay tells her about our operation, it’s all over. For both of us.’

  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.’

  ‘How do you know that?’ Alex asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into her voice.

  Rain hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much. ‘One of the journalists outside was asking about it.’

  Alex scoffed. ‘Typical. The press will say anything for a juicy headline.’ She turned back to her paper, seemingly unconcerned.

  Rain felt a surge of anger at Alex’s callousness. How could she be so indifferent when her actions had put someone’s life at risk?

  Unable to hold back any longer, Rain leaned in, her voice low and intense. ‘I know it was you, Alex. I saw you.’

  Alex’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Don’t lie to me,’ Rain said. ‘I saw you sell that guest drugs.’

  Alex’s face hardened. ‘Listen, I don’t know what you think you saw, but I’m not into anything shady. Got it?’

  Rain pressed on, undeterred. ‘I’m giving you a choice, Alex. Either you stop dealing, or I go straight to Lauren with what I know.’

  A smirk played at the corner of Alex’s mouth. ‘Is that so, Rae Rae?’

  The use of her childhood nickname caught Rain off guard. How could Alex possibly know?

  Alex leaned back in her chair, a triumphant gleam in her eye. ‘Oh, don’t look so surprised. I know all about you, little miss imposter. Fay told me everything. So, who do you think Lauren’s going to believe, huh? Her loyal employee of years, or some fraud pretending to be someone she’s not?’

  Rain’s mind reeled. Fay had betrayed her, painting a twisted picture of their childhood.

  ‘Fay said a lot of things,’ Alex continued, ‘but she never mentioned anything about you being a snitch.’

  Rain bristled at the accusation. ‘What you’re doing is wrong, Alex. People could die.’

  ‘Spare me the lecture. I’m not holding a gun to anyone’s head. They come to me. Simple supply and demand.’

  Rain felt trapped, backed into a corner. ‘Fine,’ she relented, ‘I’ll keep my mouth shut and you will too, but no more dealing at the hotel.’

  Alex considered for a moment, then shrugged. ‘All right, fair enough.’

  Rain stood, her chair scraping against the floor. ‘And just so we’re clear, if anything happens to that guest . . .’

  Alex leaned over and whispered in her ear. ‘I’d be very careful, Rain. You don’t know who you’re messing with. And I don’t mean me.’

  Alex straightened and walked away.

  Rain sank back into her chair. What the hell! Are they all singing from the same hymn sheet? That was exactly what Jack had alluded to. What did it all mean? Were they all veiled threats or a warning?

  And more importantly, why had she just agreed to keep her mouth shut?

  She knew why. She had no choice. She couldn’t risk losing her job. It was the only way to find out what happened to Fay. And then there was Lauren . . . the thought of losing her trust was unbearable.

  ‘Ah, there’s Rain Thomas.’

  The sound of her name snapped Rain out of her reverie. She looked up to see Sarah approaching with a serious-looking man in a well-tailored suit.

  ‘Rain, this is DS Moore. He’s talking to all the staff about the incident that happened yesterday.’

  Rain forced herself to maintain a composed façade. ‘Oh, right. To be honest, I don’t know how much help I’ll be.’

  ‘Why don’t I be the judge of that?’ DS Moore sat opposite and took out a notepad and pen. ‘I’ve been informed you were cleaning one of the rooms nearby to where the incident was. Did you see or hear anything unusual?’

  Rain shook her head, her heart hammering against her chest. The less she spoke, the less likely it was he’d hear the tremor in her voice. She was a crap liar.

  ‘Nothing at all? Not even the slightest noise that struck you as out of the ordinary? Anything at all?’

  ‘I . . . I’m sorry. I can’t think of anything,’ Rain stammered.

  DS Moore’s expression remained impassive, but there was a hint of frustration in his voice. ‘Are you sure about that, Miss Thomas? This is a serious matter, and any information you can provide could be crucial.’