Mastering Rayne (Club Zodiac Book 4)

by Becca Jameson

  From a young age, Rayne had been mature beyond her years. She’d needed to be. She’d also frequently been her father’s plus-one for events. By the time she was in her early teens, she’d been poised like a much older woman, hair and makeup just right.

  On a rare occasion her mother had helped, giving her tips. As Rayne picked up the hairdryer and began to brush her hair into its usual long silky straight locks, she remembered the one and only time her mother had been of a mind to play dress up with her.

  That day was one of the best memories of Rayne’s life. Her mother had been able to hang on to the good mood for several hours, during which time she and Rayne tried on dozens of outfits, did each other’s makeup, and combed each other’s hair until it shone.

  When her father had come home to find them in the master bathroom giggling, he’d stood in the doorway and smiled for a long time.

  Those were four of the best hours of Rayne’s life. She’d even managed to ignore the fact that she rarely saw that side of her mother, the one who played with her all afternoon. Though she’d wished for a real mother who did this every day.

  The bubble had burst by the time dinner was ready, and Rayne had reluctantly left her exhausted mother sleeping for the rest of the evening.

  Later, the thousands of times Rayne thought back on that afternoon, she wondered if she was better for having experienced it or worse for the reminder that her life was not like other kids’. It infrequently looked anything like that day, and as the months and years went by, it happened less and less often.

  Shaking herself back to the present, she set the dryer down and picked up her mascara. Ten minutes later, she was presentable to the public.

  When she wandered downstairs, she didn’t see Colin. Eventually, she found him in the library, standing next to the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a volume in his hands. He didn’t notice her at first, which gave her a few moments to stare at him so intent on the book.

  His body was turned at an angle so that she barely saw his profile, but she did get to admire his broad shoulders and the way his jeans hung low on his hips. He too wore a long-sleeved, black T-shirt. They matched.

  Eventually, he noticed her in the doorway and turned to face her, smile growing. His gaze wandered up and down her frame as he set the book back on the shelf, finally coming to rest on her face. “You have so many books. Thousands.”

  “Yeah. My father believed everyone should be well-read.”

  “And your mother?” He sauntered toward her slowly. “Did she read too?”

  She cringed at the mention of her mother. “Yes. Not as much as my father, but he bought her every book he could get his hands on anyway.”

  Colin glanced around the room. “It would seem. The variety is startling. Everything from children’s books to horror to mysteries to romance.”

  Rayne set her hands on his chest when he reached her. “Yep. No stone unturned. You ready to go? Sorry I took so long,” she stated, hoping to change the subject. She’d given him so very little, but it was a huge step for her, and she wasn’t ready to venture further down that road yet.

  He pulled her close and kissed her lips in a way that made her feel like they were a couple. “Yes. Starving.” Were they a couple? That was too much for her to ponder yet. She wasn’t ready to consider the option. Was she leading him on?

  Once they were inside his black Tahoe, she took several breaths and tried to calm herself. It was just lunch. Just sex. Just spending the day together. Just submitting to him. Just revealing pieces of her she’d never shared. The pile of justs was adding up, leaving her uncertain and nervous.

  It was too fast. She needed to slow down.

  He took her to a local burger joint. She’d never been there before, even though it was family-owned and the plaque on the front indicated it was older than she was.

  Colin, on the other hand, who’d only been in town a few months, had eaten there before. And he’d made a fantastic choice. The burger was huge and tasted divine. She had trouble getting her mouth around it and only managed to eat about half of it.

  He kept the conversation light and easy while they ate, and then they got back in his car. Moments after he started the engine, his phone pinged with an incoming text and the screen on the dashboard both showed and read the text out loud in the singsongy voice of Siri.

  “Hey, honey, this is Sylvia. We still on for tomorrow morning? Looking forward to seeing you at ten.”

  Rayne froze. The words sounded ridiculous in Siri’s voice, but she could picture some sexy rich woman leaning into Colin as she spoke. It didn’t even matter that Rayne herself was essentially also a young rich client of his, she still didn’t like hearing another woman beckoning him.

  She turned her face toward the window so he wouldn’t see her expression or the rising flush she felt. It was also impossible not to fist her hands in her lap and draw into herself.

  After working out with him two times, she couldn’t shake the visual of his hands all over her body as he positioned her where he wanted her. The way he whispered in her ear to instruct her. The way she remained aroused in his presence during the entire workout.

  Did other women get the same treatment? He’d said he didn’t dominate them, but that didn’t mean he didn’t touch them. Why hadn’t she thought of that? He was a personal trainer. For mostly rich people. Somehow he’d amassed quite a few clients in just a short time. Did he have a reputation?

  She shuddered and wrapped her arms around her body.

  He either didn’t notice or he was too embarrassed to speak because he said nothing.

  Then it grew even worse when she remembered what they’d done that very morning on her weight bench. He’d dominated her masterfully, making her body hum like an expert. How many women had he fucked on a workout bench?

  She never should have shared so much about her personal life. She’d been under his spell, the spell of a Dom who easily controlled her and brought her to her knees. Or in this case, her back.

  When he pulled up to the front of her house, he put the Tahoe in park and sighed loudly. “Rayne, look at me.”

  She squeezed her eyes closed for a moment and then released them, took a breath, and faced him.

  His eyes rolled to the roof. “Jesus.” He must have read her expression. She could easily imagine what her face looked like.

  “Do all your female clients call you honey?” she asked. “Is being a Dom trainer lucrative?”

  He groaned, leaning his head against the headrest. “Are you kidding me with this? I don’t know what you want from me, Rayne. It’s two steps forward and three steps back with you. I thought we’d made headway this morning, and now you’re overreacting and being downright mean. Jealous even.”

  She gasped, not believing the sharpness in his voice. She had every right to question his relationship with his clients if they spoke to him like that. Who wouldn’t?

  He turned his head to face her. “You’re wrong, but I’m not even going to try to explain myself because I shouldn’t have to, and I’m too frustrated right now to have a calm conversation with you. Another day. Not today.” He yanked open his door and climbed down from the SUV.

  Her hands were shaking as she extracted her seat belt. Before she was finished, he had her door open. He took her hand and helped her down without looking at her. He also walked her to her door with a hand on the small of her back, but he didn’t say anything.

  At the door, he waited for her to get it unlocked with still shaky fingers, and then he sighed. “I know we’ve only crossed into this territory together recently, and you don’t really know me well enough to trust me fully, but I would prefer you give me the benefit of the doubt without jumping to conclusions.”

  “I—”

  He held up a hand to stop her, which was just as well since she didn’t know what she wanted to say. “Don’t. I’ll call you in a few days. Lock the door behind you.”

  She felt sick to her stomach as he walked away, leaving her on th
e stoop. He didn’t look back. A rush of emotions washed through her. Was she judging him?

  She couldn’t shake that fake voice from her head, though. Hey, honey, this is Sylvia. We still on for tomorrow morning? Looking forward to seeing you at ten.

  If that was how all his clients spoke to him, she needed to extricate herself from this burgeoning relationship fast. She might not have a lot of experience making things work with men, but she knew for certain she wouldn’t share. Ever.

  CHAPTER 13

  By Wednesday night, Rayne was exhausted. She hadn’t slept well since Colin had left her Sunday afternoon. No matter how many times she went over the scenario in her mind, she ended up confused and pissed.

  It seemed unreasonable that after listening to that text, he would be mad at her. She wasn’t the one meeting another woman the next morning at ten, a woman who couldn’t wait to see him. In her mind the woman had crooned at him in a sultry voice.

  Okay, she was embellishing things a little, but what did he expect?

  It was nine thirty. She’d spent three hours at St. Joseph’s with a woman named Josephine, a woman in her eighties who had loads of advice and talked nonstop. She was pleasant, though.

  Now, Rayne was back at home, but she was pacing. She hadn’t spoken to Colin since Sunday. He hadn’t even texted her, which was unlike him. Obviously, he was angry. Perhaps she had jumped to conclusions. And she probably should have asked him about it in a different way. Ugh.

  Still dressed as she’d been all day in a gray pencil skirt, navy silk blouse, and navy heels, she was running her hand through her hair when her phone rang.

  She lurched to grab the cell from the end table, hoping the call would be from Colin. It was from London. She answered it quickly. “London?”

  A thin voice came through the connection. “Rayne? Oh God. Are you there? Can you hear me?”

  The hairs on Rayne’s arms stood on end. “Yes. I can hear you. Are you okay?”

  “Oh God. Rayne. He’s here. Outside. He’s banging on all the doors and rattling the windows.”

  Fuck. “Did you call the police?”

  “Yes. I have them on the house phone. They’re sending a car now. But I’m scared. Can you just stay on the line with me? I’m afraid he’ll break in and kill me, and I won’t even have the chance to tell my brother how sorry I am.”

  “I’m right here, sweetie. I won’t hang up.” Rayne did, however, put her on speaker while she sent a text to Detective Pierce Titus. She knew him. Maybe he could help or at least expedite things.

  Meanwhile, Rayne grabbed her keys and rushed back out the door. “Where is Colin?” she asked London.

  “At the club. He didn’t want to leave me here at night, but I told him I would be fine. He’s going to be so mad at himself. I can’t reach him.” She sobbed. “It’s not his fault. Please make sure he knows it’s not his fault. Please, Rayne, can you tell him?”

  At the club… “Of course, sweetie, but you can tell him yourself. You’re going to be fine. The police will be there soon.” Rayne had no way to be sure that was true. Nor did she know the mental state of Louis, London’s husband. She backed her car out of the garage and turned onto the street, driving as fast as she could as her phone switched to Bluetooth. “Hang tight. Are you hiding?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was softer. She was sobbing quietly. “I’m in Colin’s closet. It’s such a mess that I figured I might be able to buy a few moments buried under his clothes.”

  Rayne nodded at no one. “Smart thinking. It will work. What can you hear now?”

  “More banging. He’s pounding on the doors, back and forth, the front and then the back. He’s probably drunk. I can hear him shouting.” Her words slurred together, difficult to understand.

  Rayne had never been to Colin’s house, but she had the address in her GPS and she was driving as fast as she could. Damn the consequences. If someone tried to pull her over, she would likely keep driving in the hopes they would become useful upon arrival. Her brain was that out of whack.

  London screamed.

  Rayne drove faster. “London? What happened? Are you okay?” She took the next turn too fast.

  “I heard glass breaking.” She was crying now.

  “Okay. The police are surely almost there. Can you try to stay quiet?”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “Are you still on the phone with 911?”

  “Mm-hmm. She says they are close,” London whispered.

  Rayne was still seven minutes away according to her GPS. “I’m right behind them. Try to stay quiet.”

  London was whimpering.

  A shot rang out, clear as day even through the phone. Rayne jumped in her seat, her heart pounding, her adrenaline racing so hard she could probably get there faster on foot. Five more minutes. Too far. “London?”

  Heavy breathing. That was all Rayne got. It was enough.

  “That’s it, sweetie. Stay quiet. Don’t make a sound. I can hear you.”

  Another shot. Shouting.

  Dammit. Why did Colin’s house have to be so far from Rayne’s?

  Male voices. Good. That meant the police were there.

  Another shot. And then three more.

  Fuck.

  Rayne rounded the last corner, her tires squealing. She could see the flashing lights from two squad cars. Another car pulled up just as she parked in the street, turned off her engine, and jumped to the ground. She ran on her heels toward the house.

  Someone grabbed her around the waist to stop her.

  She struggled, unsure who was delaying her, but hell-bent on making sure London was okay.

  “Rayne, slow down. You can’t go closer yet.”

  She twisted her head to find Pierce. Thank God. She stopped struggling and turned to face him. “You got my message.”

  He nodded. “Yes. There are four officers inside. Hang tight.”

  Rayne realized she’d left her cell in the car attached to the dash. What had she been thinking? What if London was still trying to speak to her? She turned and ran back toward the car, grabbed her phone, and pulled it to her ear. The line was dead.

  “You okay?” Pierce asked. He’d followed her.

  “Just stupid. I had London on the phone.”

  “Is this one of your clients?” he asked.

  “Yes and no. I know her brother. We were friends in Miami. He moved here to help his sister. She just left an abusive husband. Apparently, the guy didn’t intend to let her walk away.”

  Pierce nodded. “Got it. Well, this is a crime scene now, so I need to get my partner to meet me here. Come with me. Don’t get all cocky and head inside.” He rolled his eyes.

  She blew out a long breath as she followed him, her eyes on the house. There were no more gunshots. That was a good sign, right?

  Pierce stopped at his car and reached inside to grab a phone. It seemed like he had about three on him. He sent off a quick text and then turned toward Rayne again.

  She was wringing her hands. “Please see if you can find out anything.” There were two officers on the porch now.

  Pierce sent her a hard look and grabbed her arm. “Do not move from this spot, understood?” He sounded like Colin when he spoke.

  “Yes,” she agreed.

  Pierce left her there. She leaned against the side of his car, scared out of her mind. Please, God. If Colin came home to find his sister dead, Rayne wasn’t sure what she would do.

  Pierce approached, stopping a few feet from the porch. He spoke to the two officers, but Rayne couldn’t hear what they were saying. Suddenly, he turned around and motioned toward Rayne.

  She rushed forward. When she reached him, he explained, “Your friend is fine. She wasn’t injured. Her husband was killed. She won’t come out of the closet. Maybe you could speak to her with me? I’m going to need to ask her several questions, but it might help if she has a familiar face.”

  “Of course.”

  One of the officers led Rayne and Pierce through the house. Sh
e had never been there, and she wasn’t paying attention now. All she knew was that a scared woman was hovering in a closet, probably traumatized.

  A body Rayne assumed was Louis’s lay covered at the entrance to the hallway. Two officers were leaning over it. If there were four officers altogether, then she’d seen them all. None of them had been shot.

  She knew she was in Colin’s room the instant they entered. His scent was stronger than the rest of the house. She would have been shocked to find out how messy he was if London hadn’t already hinted at it on the phone. Clothes and shoes and jackets were all over the floor and every surface.

  She could hear crying as she approached the closet, jerking her attention to the open door. The lights were on, both in the room and inside the closet. It was bright in there.

  The officer stepped back and let Rayne pass. She grabbed the doorframe and leaned inside. “London?” It took a few moments of scanning to find London in the back corner. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, and she was rocking back and forth.

  She lifted her gaze and let her shoulders drop. “Rayne…”

  Rayne dropped to her knees and crawled into the closet. “I’m here. You okay?”

  “I think so,” she murmured. “I need a few more minutes. I can’t seem to get my legs to unbend.”

  “That’s understandable. I’ll stay here with you.”

  London reached out a hand and grabbed Rayne’s. Her eyes were bloodshot and wide. “Thank you for coming. I didn’t mean to mess up your evening.”

  Rayne chuckled. “No matter what I had been doing, this would be more important, sweetie.” She squeezed London’s hand. The woman wasn’t catatonic or anything. She just needed a moment to process.

  “I was afraid maybe you were with Colin, and I wouldn’t be able to reach either of you.”

  That was odd. Why would London expect her to be with Colin?

  “Is Louis…dead? Did he kill anyone? There were a lot of shots.”

  “He’s dead, sweetie.”

  London nodded slowly. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes. I passed his body on the way down the hallway. I don’t know how many of the shots were his, but he apparently missed.”