Page 54 of Raine

Glancing down at my phone in my hand, I curse when I see the time. I need to get my shit together and get this day started.

Fog circles around me as I step out of the steaming hot shower, my hair falling in tendrils around my face after coming loose from the bun on my head.

I snatch a fluffy, lilac-colored towel off the black, intricately designed rack and wrap it around my body, then swipe my hand over the mirror to clear the condensation.

I stare back at my reflection, for God knows how long, with my hands on the black granite countertop, searching my eyes for answers to the conundrum that is my fucking life. I find nothing in my cobalt eyes — no answers, just an emptiness and hollowness that howls through and leaves me wanting… something more.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I fix my hair up, put some moisturizer on, and walk out of the bathroom to my bedroom. I grab a pair of black booty shorts and pair them with a teal tank.

Slipping on some flats, I grab my phone and dial Justyce. I need to get Kenzi out of the house, and I know sneaking her out isn’t the answer. He’ll send out a damn search party, and that’s not what any of us need.

“Rainey,” he drawls, and I roll my eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“Not much. Why?”

“No reason. I was hoping I could steal your girl for a few hours?”

“Why?” he asks, and I can hear the suspicion lacing his voice.

“I need to go shopping for an outfit to wear tonight. You kind of sprung this shit on me, remember?”

“Why Kenzi?”

“Do I have anyone else to ask, Justyce? My girls don’t go shopping with me, and even if they did, I wouldn’t ask them a few hours before a show when they should be rehearsing.” I snap sternly, and I hear him groan over the line.

“Alright. Let me ask her quickly.”

There is some shuffling over the line, and then I hear him ask her if she’d like to go shopping. It’s muffled, like he has his hand over the mouthpiece, but I can still make out what he says.

“You mean you’re going to let me out of this prison?” she snips, and I laugh. That girl.

“Kenzi,” he warns.

“Yeah, yeah. I get it.”

“It’s not a prison, baby. I just need to keep you safe. I have too many enemies out there that would love to get their filthy hands on you, and I won’t allow that to happen ever again,” he says, his voice breaking at the end, and I feel like I’m intruding.

Kenzi attempts to placate him, and I smile at her confidence.

“Babe, I’m going to be with one of the most badass women we know, not to mention I’ve been attending martial arts classes and you’ve been teaching me how to handle knives and guns.Wewill be fine.”

“Ok. Just be careful. I should send a bodyguard with you.”

“I’m sure Raine will have your nuts if you try. That woman is hell on wheels.”

He groans, and I smile, knowing he’s relented.

“Fine. Go get ready.”

I busy myself, making noises so he doesn’t think I was eavesdropping.

“You hear that?”

“Hear what?” I ask innocently.

“Liar,” he chuckles. “Pick her up in half an hour. I need to remind her who she belongs to.”