15. Rain
Chapter 15
Rain
M y vigilant brown eyes roved over the crowd at the Ito garden party that I’d been invited too. I recognized a few familiar faces including Cassie and Kenji’s parents and other family members. Even though I’d been reluctant, Kenji had persisted in twisting my arm until I’d given in. I had agreed on the condition that I could leave as early as I wanted.
As a waiter went by with a drink, I snagged a glass of champagne and moved into the shade by some rose bushes. Pulling the flute up to my lips, I noticed Kenji dressed in a suit heading towards me. He had a huge smile on his face, and I had no idea why.
He dropped a kiss on my mouth that I only halfway returned. “You look gorgeous in this dress.”
I was wearing a simple blue and white polka dotted wrap dress. I’d installed a twenty inch weave the night before and had it pulled into a sleek ponytail. “Thank you.”
Gently he ran his hand up the length of my arm and back down before whispering, “This dress would look even better decorating the floor of my bedroom.”
I looked away from his gaze that was raking my body up and down hungrily. The need to put distance between my body and his hand was immediate.
Should have stayed home, I thought.
Looking around him, I found Mr. and Mrs. Ito heading our way and I let out a breath of relief.
“Rain, it’s so good to see you,” Patricia Ito smiled and I gave a traditional bow.
“It’s good to see you both as well Mr. and Mrs. Ito,” I bit at my lip.
“Did my son drag you to this boring party,” William Ito asked next, looking between me and his son.
I grinned before stepping in and wrapping an arm around Kenji’s waist, the sudden need to run disappearing. “You know your son to well.”
“I’ve had a better time at museums,” the older man remarked looking around.
“Father,” Kenji groaned.
“Well, we’re just so happy he’s home,” Patricia stated patting her son’s chest. “And of course it’s good to see you too Rain, despite everything.”
Suddenly a commotion came over the crowd of people, and then it ceased. We all turned to look in the direction of the commotion and that was when I found my gaze locked on not just the FBI, but a very specific agent.
Matteo Fucking Zacharra’s ass was leading the charge and fast approaching. He had on a bullet proof vest and a scowl was planted deeply on his face.
William Ito was the first to respond as Matteo stopped dead in front of us. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Sir, this is a federal warrant for the arrest of Kenji Ito,” Matteo responded looking Kenji dead in his face.
His gaze never wavered to me and all I could do was stand there, and watch, my arm still wrapped around Kenji.
“Surely, there has been a mistake,” Mr. Ito said.
“There hasn’t,” Matteo snapped. “Kenji Ito, please turn around and put your hands behind your back. I’m placing you under arrest…”
It was as if my hearing was turned off and I was standing outside of my body watching everything happen. The world had slowed down and I didn’t come back to my senses until Kenji was cuffed and being led away by Matteo and at least a dozen other FBI agents.
Patricia Ito looked distraught as both she and her husband began to talk in their first language, and I could only catch a few phrases like lawyer and money.
The two of them left followed by their bodyguards and I became a mere after thought. I soon followed behind them and headed to my car because I had no idea what in the actual fuck had just happened.
Once I was in my car, I dialed up Nora who surprisingly was still at work.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“About to leave for the day,” she replied.
“Kenji just got arrested,” I told her.
“Cassie’s brother? I thought the two of you weren’t a thing…”
I sighed. “We’re not…I mean he wants more. I don’t and I wound up coming to this stupid ass party and I just want to go home.”
“I’m coming by,” she said suddenly.
“What?”
“Yep, you heard me. I’m going to bring ice cream. Vanilla for you, of course.”
“That actually sounds good,” I mused.
“Great, it’s settled. Give me about an hour to finish up some items. Sebastian has me running some analytics on a new program.”
“Love you,” I told her before hanging up.
Reversing out of the crowded parking spaces of the Ito’s residence, I headed towards my apartment. A million thoughts raced through my mind about what had just happened. Matteo hadn’t even given me a second glance. His focus had been solely on Kenji.
How long had the FBI been watching him?
Had they been watching me as well?
Was any of this connected to Cassie’s death?
As I pulled into my parking spot, I got out feeling kind of paranoid. It wasn’t until I was safely in my house that I let out the breath I’d been holding.
Changing into some sweats and a tank top, I picked up my cell phone and saw that I had a message from Brie Deluca.
Hair emergency, the text read.
That made me grin because I hadn’t done her hair in a while. Unfortunately for both of us, Brie loved playing in boxed hair die.
What’s wrong? I replied.
I have an interview at Windsor Academy, she replied.
Oh yes, babe, I can get your kitchen all the way together. When’s the interview?
She sent back the praying hand emojis. It’s scheduled for Thursday morning at 10 a.m.
I shot her a text back quickly. I have openings on Wednesday, can you be there early, say 9?
OMG! Yes, I’ll be there, Brie’s text appeared like lightening, and it was telling of her desperation.
I sat my phone down because Nora was knocking at the door. By the time I went down the steps and opened the door she was standing there grinning with a bag held up high.
“I bring hella fucking snacks, and I told Mason don’t fucking call,” my sister shrugged. “Unless it’s an emergency.”
Pulling her into a quick hug we ran back up the stairs. Sitting everything out on the table, I told her to pick a television show. Nora watched so many TV shows, she was always quick to recommend something.
“What kind of vibes do you want?” she asked with my remote control in her hand.
“Maybe something funny, cause like after all that shit,” I shook my head.
“Friends?”
I was already in my little kitchen grabbing spoons. “Were they really ever that funny…”
The two of us paused and said in unison, “Living Single is better!”
We burst into laughter and she started from episode one. Humming along to the theme song, we dug into our ice cream. By the end of episode one, I was nearly done with my pint Nora had brought and finally I had to put it away.
She paused the show halfway through episode two and we fell into a rhythm as we caught up with each other.
“My period was late…” Nora bit at her lip.
“Holy shit…” a gasp tore loose from my mouth, and I covered it in surprise.
“I’m not,” she shook her head, almost seeming sad.
“Wait, do you want to be pregnant?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“What about Mason. Does he want kids? I bet he’d make a great father.”
Nora’s brown eyes got sadder. “He has some family traumas to work through.”
“Is he treating you good?” I wanted to offer her all my support and pulled her into a hug.
“Mason treats me like a fucking princess. Honestly, sometimes we’re so into each other, I worry that neither one of us can breathe.”
“Aww,” I smiled finally. “You really are in love with him.”
Nora nodded. “I love Mason with everything in me.”
A little flutter of jealousy hit me. “At least someone’s love life is working out.”
“Speaking of your love life…Kenji, got arrested?”
Suddenly I was missing my ice cream that I’d put in the freezer. “Yeah, and Mason’s fucking brother was the one to arrest him.”
Nora winced and I searched her features.
“Oh my God, do you know something about this?”
I watched as my sister’s eyes darted away and then back at my face. “Okay look, I really don’t know all the details. But I overheard Mason on the phone talking with Matteo. I had no idea that Kenji was the one he was arresting.”
“Well, what did you hear?” I asked.
“Just something about federal drug trafficking and that Matteo was getting the warrant issued and was set to serve it later on today…”
Shaking my head, it just didn’t make any sense. Why would Matteo be talking to his brother about something sensitive like this.
“They don’t know I heard them,” Nora bit at her lip. “So, like…don’t go off on Matteo or anything. And he was just doing his job.”
Rolling my eyes, I picked up my remote and put the show back on. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s what he was doing.”
Nora winced again but eventually we settled back on the couch. At some point, my eyes started to get heavy, and I found myself dreaming.
It was as if I couldn’t stop myself from falling asleep.
In my dream I was wearing a white dress, and I was standing barefoot in a field beneath a black sky but… A full moon was rising fast…
He was there.
I could feel him.
“No, no, no. Not again!” I whispered.
His warm breath was on my neck. “You’ve come back, I see.”
“No,” I shook my head.
“You can try running now…but Rain…I’m going to catch you…and when I do. All bets are off.”
I didn’t wait to hear anymore. I started to run, knowing that he was going to find me. He was going to catch me.
He was going to fuck me.