Page 97 of Raine

Shaking the irritation sliding through my body, I flip her off and walk to the front door, opening and closing it behind me. I check that it’s locked and walk to my car.

It’s almost two in the morning, and I know I should be asleep, but my mind is racing like it’s on a Formula One track. I leave the house, and my mind wanders to the beach house again and the tranquility that Serenity offered me and I know exactly what to do.

By the time I reach the beach house, it’s six in the morning. I only stopped off once to grab forty minutes of shut-eye and gas, then kept driving. Reaching for my phone, I dial Sandra’s number, and she answers on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Sandra, it’s Raine. Sorry it’s so early.”

“Raine? Oh Raine! No, no, I was up anyway. What can I help you with?”

“Well, it’s what you might be able to help me with.”

“Ok?”

“Would you be able to meet me at the beach house?”

“You’re back? You only left yesterday.”

“I know. Will you?”

“Of course.”

Half an hour later, Sandra arrives and we move to sit on the porch overlooking the water. After a couple minutes of silence, Sandra turns to me, confusion painted over her pretty face.

“What is it?”

“Are you still planning on selling Serenity?”

Her face falls, and she nods sadly. “I have no choice, unfortunately.”

“What if I purchased it off you? I’d pay you more than what it’s worth, and you would be welcome to stop over and visit whenever I’m in town. It won’t be a business for me, it’ll be my little safe haven.”

Sandra draws her lip into her mouth, and tears collect at the corners of her eyes. I turn away to give her a moment and look out to the water, hoping she will take my offer.

Five or so minutes pass before she says anything.

“Ok,” she whispers. “I really don’t want to, but I know you’ll look after her, and I can see how much Serenity already means to you.”

Elation floods within me, but I stomp it down because I don’t want to upset her any more than she already is. I grasp her hand in mine and look her square in the eye.

“I promise I’ll look after it. This place has already wedged itself underneath my skin and helped me so much.”

“I can see that. Let’s go inside and have a cup of tea until my lawyer is open, and we can finalize everything then.”

Within four hours, the deed has been signed, and I’m the proud owner of Serenity. Sandra drops me off, and I see the sadness linger in her eyes as she offers me a hug and gets back into her car.

I watch her drive off, my chest feeling light and airy for the first time in weeks, and when I move to open the door to my new home away from home, there is a skip in my step and a smile on my face.

The door slams behind me, and I move through the hallway unperturbed, grinning to myself until a hand snakes out from behind the kitchen wall and I’m plastered to the wall.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” the deep voice says into my ear, and the blood drains from my body, because I know that voice.

Before I have the chance to retaliate, something hard hits my temple, and I pass out, darkness consuming me completely.

Chapter32

Raine