Becoming Rain: A Novel

Bill looks good in a Coast Guard’s vest, I’ll give him that.

But what the hell is he doing here and how on earth did he finagle a spot on the Coast Guard ship? This has Warner written all over it. He’s worried about me; I get it. Fine. But at the risk of blowing my cover? Jesus.

“What’s wrong?” Luke asks, worried eyes on me.

I take a deep breath as I watch the small army of men and two women climb onboard, armed with assault rifles and emotionless faces, and I expel my frustration and anger—because there’s no reason for Rain Martines to be experiencing either—and give him the broadest smile. “I hate interruptions.”

And, deep down, I do hate that we were interrupted. Because in that hazy moment, I was fully Rain and there was no taint of right or wrong, no little Sinclair and Warner sitting on my shoulder whispering orders and warnings.

Luke’s blue eyes sparkle, dropping down to my mouth at the same time that his hand grips my side, squeezing gently. An edge of guilt washes over me. Not because I didn’t enjoy every touch, every kiss, every feel of him against me.

Because I did.

“Sir, Ma’am . . . any contraband onboard that you would like us to be made aware of? Telling us now will lessen repercussions when we find something in your belongings.”

Oh hell. He said “when.” Now I know what’s going on. I bet a million bucks that Bill’s got an eight-ball of cocaine or something else that gives him the excuse to pull me off this yacht. To “rescue” me out of a situation he doesn’t want me to be in.

He can’t do this to me. Not now.

Not after I just told Aref that I’m clean. That’ll give him—and Luke—a reason to cut me off completely.

“No, we’re just here to enjoy a night with our friends, and we’d like to get back to that as quickly as possible,” I say slowly, clearly, shooting a very brief but cutting glare of warning.

Bill turns on his heels and heads toward the stairs that lead into the cabins. Please don’t do this.

Luke rubs my back. “Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon. Can I get you a drink?”

“Yes!” I answer, a tad too eager. “Another glass of Cristal.”

He smiles and strolls toward a waiter. Quickly glancing around to make sure everyone’s distracted, I spin to face the sea, my hiss low but enunciated. “Don’t do it, guys. If I get busted on here, I’ll never get invited back. I’ll be the idiot who didn’t ditch her stash and lied to Aref. You can kiss this cover goodbye.” That’s all I can manage before Luke returns, handing me a drink. I suck it back quickly.

And I watch.

For almost an hour, the guards tear around the yacht in search of some reason to end this party. I grit my teeth, preparing myself for the inevitability that I will be that reason.

One . . . two . . . three . . . one after another, the guards appear from decks below, unsuccessful in their treasure hunt.

Bill is the last to come out.

His hands empty.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” one guy offers to Aref, and then hops off.

I fall into Luke’s shoulder with relief while the other guests rush down to their rooms to check the upheaval. The wait staff sweep in to collect empty glasses and plates, and I get the impression that the party is coming to a close.

“See?” Aref’s hands spread out, visibly more relaxed himself. “No worries.”

“I’d be pissed if I were you,” Luke mutters.

Aref waves a hand, acting like he doesn’t care. “Fuck them. It’s over. Come on.” He nods his head toward the stairs. “We should talk.”

I don’t get more than two steps in before Elmira appears. “Rain. Let me show you to your room.” Her lithe arm stretches out, beckoning.

“I’m sure I can find my way.” I glance over at Luke, hoping he’ll ask me to stay.

He leans in and kisses me quickly. “I’ll come find you when we’re done.”

With a forced smile, I follow Elmira down the winding staircase to the first floor where the cabins are. “You are worried about him, aren’t you?” she says softly, stopping in front of a door.

“What makes you say that?”

She peers up at me with knowing eyes. Her diminutive, childlike appearance is a good cover for a very smart, very manipulative woman. “Because of what I said. Because you like him and . . .” She leans casually against the lacquered wall. “ . . . because you are smart enough to understand what kind of business our men are involved in.”

I mimic her stance, though inside warning flares are going off. What does she know? “He doesn’t talk to me about that stuff.”

“Aref was like that with me for a long time. It’s normal.” She sighs, glancing between the cabin doors. I’m assuming the one across from me is Luke’s. “But eventually his walls started coming down. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing a bed, if you really want him to trust you. To treat you like a partner.” Her dark red lips curl into a sly smile. “Have a good night.”

I wander into my room—a small but elegant cabin with just enough space for a bed and nightstand on either side—and find my overnight bag ransacked by the Coast Guard. At least, I assume it was by the Coast Guard. I don’t really care. There was nothing of value in there, and nothing that could identify me for what I am. I focus on folding my clothes up and pulling out my night things, while replaying all of Elmira’s words.

Her warning about Luke. Is she working with Aref by telling me this, or against him? Is it a test? Are they seeing if he has the guts to stick around? If I do? A glance down at the four-inch scar along the inside of my elbow reminds me of the last time I dealt with a husband and wife. I was still in uniform and answering a domestic abuse call. While my partner was handcuffing the drunk husband for punching out his wife, she had a change of heart and took a swipe at me with a paring knife.

Aref and Elmira don’t seem like the drunken knife-wielding type. They’re more calculating than that. Perhaps they’re the type to pay a late-night visit to my room. Or pay Luke a visit to his room. Is that what Elmira was warning me about?

I can’t even call Warner to see what he thinks because, for all I know, this room is bugged.

I know I can’t just sit here and wait. So I venture out of my room, more intent on keeping Luke out of trouble than catching him as he gets himself deeper into it.