After the Rain

by Karen-Anne Stewart

  Kas watches his wife stiffen but not lose her composure. His regret of allowing her near the evil trafficker again reaches monumental heights as he closely watches through the mirror, his back rigid and his hands clenched into tight fists.

  “You can call any lawyer you want, that’s your right,” Raina replies calmly, forcing herself to show no emotion.

  Evan leans back, a twisted appreciation joining his amusement. “Then again, I heard his partner was arrested for child pornography. There are also rumors that he covered up the rape of his own daughter, who I heard he recently beat the hell out of. Maybe that’s not such a good image for someone who represents me, especially since his daughter was a minor at the time of the sexual assault. Yeah, on second thought, due to you accusing me of the same heinous crimes, maybe I don’t need a lawyer with such a tainted history.”

  Kas leaps to his feet; the force of his movement knocks his chair back several feet. Chase steps in front of the door, “She’s handling it, Kas.”

  Lawson’s confused gaze darts between the two men and the interrogation room.

  Kas glares through the two-way, “He’s passed a line that I’m not willing to let Raina cross.”

  “She’s holding her own, if you pull her out, you will be crossing a line, and she’s already made it clear that she doesn’t like her lines messed with.”

  The flaming look in Kas’ eyes is unmistakable and is now directed at his best friend, “He’s taunting her.”

  “Of course he is, and he would be doing the same thing to anyone else. Let her handle this.”

  Lawson’s trying to catch up to where everyone else seems to be.

  Shifting his gaze to Raina, Kas considers Chase’s advice. It takes less than two seconds to discard it. Yanking open the door, he storms towards interrogation.

  Chase steps into the hall behind him, “You’re going to do her more harm by pulling her out of there!”

  Kas stops, his shoulders stiff and fists clenched. Chase knows he’s trying to calm down before turning around. “You know I’m right,” he offers calmly, “give her a chance, she’s strong enough.”

  Spinning around, his eyes burn with scorching intensity, “You don’t have to tell me how strong Raina is, I know her strength better than anyone!” Hanging his head, he presses his hands against the wall, desperately trying to tame his fury, “He’s looking for her weakness.”

  “She won’t give it to him, not after earlier.”

  Lawson steps into the hall, fed up with being left in the dark, “You going to fill me in here?”

  The agonizing look on Kas’ face is clue enough when Lawson meets his gaze. Dropping his head, he lets out a long breath, the pieces finally fitting together. “Pierce, I’m sorry,” he mumbles, not knowing anything else to say. He makes his way back into the viewing room and steps next to Frank.

  “She’s had a taste of hell,” Frank begins, never taking his eyes off the infuriating banter in the next room, “she’ll do whatever it takes to keep others from experiencing the same inferno.”

  Lawson remains silent, his eyes glued to the woman in the next room. He watches how she stands her ground, never flinching when Parker throws all he’s got at her. His respect just multiplied.

  It’s been almost an hour. Raina’s emotional exhaustion fuels Evan’s degenerate temperament. He wants to dance, laugh out loud with pure glee, at the tenacious determination from the extraordinary woman in front of him. She’s good, remarkable even, matching his wit closer than anyone ever has, and he’s never enjoyed himself more.

  “Do you like Chess, Raina?” Evan inquires casually, leaning back in his chair and folding one ankle over the other.

  Raina softly nods.

  “I do as well, it’s such an intriguing game, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, I do,” she replies as a small smile tilts the corners of her mouth, “and it’s a game I never lose.”

  “Never?”

  “Never,” she affirms, leaning a little closer, some of the snuffed light shining brightly in her eyes again now that the daunting conversation has turned to a topic in which she can hold her own.

  “I’m impressed. I’ve never lost, myself. What’re the odds of having two Grandmaster’s in the same room?” he licks his lips again, leaning towards her, “I have so many moves that I love, it’s hard to say which is my favorite, but do you know what really gets me every time?”

  Not wanting to know, Raina asks what it is anyway.

  “Going after the king. When I lay that piece down at the end, it fills me with the greatest satisfaction.” His eyes sparkle as he looks at her, studying her reaction, “Man, I absolutely love that part!”

  Raina leans close to Parker, and Jake steps towards her. Returning his chilling smile, her jade eyes glint dangerously, fully aware of his intended meaning, “There’s something you need to know. I’m a very good, very aggressive player. If someone threatens my king, I take out their pathetic ass, one by one, until there’s nothing left on the board. I turn into one extremely determined opponent, relentless to the end, and viciously ruthless, I don’t hesitate to go for the kill by whatever means necessary.”

  Evan’s aroused laugh fills the room, “I like how you play.” His need to touch her is unbearable; he would kill for just one minute to feel her in his hands. He wants to tame her, break her to his will so badly he can taste the potent desire bursting on his tongue. Forcing himself to regain control, he lets out a commending chuckle, “The way the queen protects her king, there’s just something hopelessly poetic about that.”

  Kas’ grip on the windowsill tightens furiously until all of his knuckles turn white. He’s a toxic mix of pride and rage as he watches his wife throw Parker’s threat to harm him back in his pretentious face. Sheer terror joins the poison seeping through his veins at the thought of what Parker will try to do to Raina if he thinks he might actually lose.

  Evan slides his fingertips to where they make the slightest brush against hers, his dark eyes brimming with the savagery of untold sins. “You love to hate me don’t you? It’s a very complicated thing we have here isn’t it, Raina? I would enjoy playing with you very much,” he whispers, “there are so many moves I could introduce you to.”

  Jake grabs the back of Parker’s chair and roughly jerks it backwards as Kas uses all his willpower to not shatter the mirror and rip Parker to shreds. Evan throws his head back in pleased laughter. Taking his time to compose himself, his salacious smile penetrates Raina to the core, “It seems like the queen is carefully protected as well.” Raising his cruel eyes to the mirror, his lips curve as he winks.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Thunder claps loudly as Kas and Raina race to the jeep to beat the impending storm brewing in the black night sky. Lightning flashes causing a brilliant streak of light to crackle in radiant branches to the ground, and Raina quickly closes her door. Just great, another thing I’m afraid of. She jumps when the thunder roars again, and she buckles her seat belt before staring broodingly out the window.

  Cranking the ignition to life, Kas glances at his wife. He remains quiet for a few minutes as he drives before taking her hand, gently tugging on it. When her gaze meets his, the storm in her eyes is just as turbulent as the raging weather outside, “Want to talk about it?”

  “I’m just in a terrible mood, I’ll get over it,” Raina responds, giving him a small smile.

  “So you’re not sitting over there right now, silently berating yourself?” he softly chastises.

  “No,” she lies.

  “Prove me wrong,” he challenges.

  “Are you trying to start a fight?”

  “No, Raina, I’m trying to end one!” Kas snaps, his voice booming through the jeep.

  Another streak of light illuminates the charged air as her eyes flash in anger.

  “It’s impossible to win a battle you’ve waged against yourself, don’t you see that?” Kas almost yells.

  “What are you talking about?”

&nbs
p; “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Raina. You’ve come too far from the grasp of those bastards to just take over where they left off.” Kas yanks the steering wheel, jerking the jeep to a halt on the side of the road. The thunder rumbles angrily as he unbuckles her seat belt and pulls her towards him, “This wasn’t your fault!”

  “I don’t understand why we had to let him go!” Raina screams. Her face is ashen, her expression anguished, as her body trembles from the strength behind her emotions.

  “There’s no legal way to keep him detained,” Kas explains, his anger boiling at that fact, “like he so eloquently pointed out, we have no concrete damning evidence tying him to anything.”

  He runs his hands down Raina’s arms, abhorring the way she is silently berating herself that they had to let Parker leave, “Him walking has nothing to do with anything you did or didn’t do. You were amazing in there, darlin’, you completely unnerved him.”

  “He didn’t look unnerved to me, he looked like he was having the time of his life,” Raina shoots back, disgusted.

  “Oh, he was unnerved alright,” Kas assures her, “that show was just a very good act. He knows it’s just a matter of time.”

  Anger flashes through her eyes again as she yells, “We don’t have time! Those girls sure as hell don’t have time! Every minute he’s free is another minute he uses to hurt someone else!”

  Needing to release the infuriating frustration, Kas takes a deep breath. He squeezes the steering wheel, tempted to rip it off at her condemning self-blame, but he maintains his control, not wanting to do anything that might scare her. Turning back towards her, his eyes are pleading, “Stop, please, just stop. I can’t take it.”

  The depth of pain in his voice breaks her, and tears roll down her face as her voice trembles, “I don’t know how.”

  Kas takes her face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. The love in his voice exalts her, “There’s nothing I’ve seen that you can’t do, baby girl. Please, let me help you.” His fingers caress her skin as his lips soothe her, taming the self-vacillation.

  For the first time, she fully understands how her guilt not only hurts her, it tortures her husband. The storm rages around them, rain pelting punishingly against the window, thunder roaring, and lightning streaking angrily through the dark sky. Turning away, Raina stares out the window at nature’s fury for several minutes. Kas gives her time to think, continuing to hold her hand, fervently praying she will let go.

  Memories flash as fast and furious as the lightening outside as Raina soaks in Kas’ words, his devotion and faith in her. When she turns around, her newly enlightened eyes lock on his, making a silent vow that she will break away from that last bind, and it’s the intensity of his relief that finally frees her.

  Chase and Sara arrive a few minutes after they do with Chinese takeout filling their arms. When Raina takes the cartons out of Sara’s arms, she almost drops them on the kitchen floor when she spots Sara’s finger. Her hand flies to her mouth, her eyes wide with excitement. Sara grins, her entire face beaming as she nods excitedly at Raina’s eliciting expression. Throwing her arms around Sara, Raina lets out a delighted squeal, practically jumping up and down with Sara.

  “Congratulations,” Raina exclaims, grabbing Chase and wrapping her arms around him, “I’m so happy for both of you.”

  Kas gives Sara a hug, “I’m happy for you guys, too. If he starts using his psychobabble too much with you just threaten to fill his tank with the low-grade fuel; that will shut him right up.”

  “I heard that,” Chase laughs.

  “You were meant to,” Kas cracks, stepping behind Raina and wrapping his arms around her waist.

  The girls talk about dates, dresses, and honeymoon locations as they get the plates and glasses.

  Kas slaps Chase on the shoulder, “It sounds like you’re going to have to rent out the stadium if they keep coming up with more people to invite.”

  “That’s nothing, you should see her mother’s and my mother’s lists,” Chase laughs, his happiness evident as he watches his fiancée.

  Kas watches his own girl, not being able to keep the smile off his face at her excitement.

  “She seems to be handling Parker’s release well.”

  Kas slowly nods, his smile widening, “She is now.”

  Raina can feel Chase’s eyes on her as they eat, and the look shared between he and Kas is nothing short of life affirming. Kas wraps his arm around Raina’s shoulders, his solace contagious. Chase’s eyes shine proudly when he turns towards Raina, and his approving smile of her breaking free of her last restraint to the past fills her with warmth. Feeling truly blessed to have Kas, Raina is beyond happy that Sara has Chase, another remarkable man.

  The friends laugh and talk through dinner, and everyone except for Raina sips on wine as they move to the living room after dessert. A movie plays in front of them, but Raina’s concentration is everywhere else.

  “C’mon, sweetheart, let’s go to bed,” Kas offers, pulling her into his arms.

  Sara takes her friends hand, “Kas is right, you’re exhausted, everyone’s exhausted.”

  Too tired to think, she numbly nods, giving Sara a quick hug before letting Kas lead her to Chase’s guest bedroom. He can see her resolve for absolution, but it doesn’t change how Parker is still out there, free, able to hurt and mar more lives.

  Some of Kas’ earlier tension returns when he looks at his wife and the pale color of her skin. “Are you okay?” he asks, knowing she isn’t.

  “Just make me forget him, just for a little while, please,” she begs, causing a sharp, sad ache clenching his chest.

  “I’ll do whatever you need me to do,” he promises, gently caressing her cheek. His lips touch hers, giving her as much of him in the kiss as humanly possible. Being painstakingly tender, he makes love to her until she falls asleep held tightly, lovingly, in his arms.

  Harlem Craig paces impatiently outside. Not waiting for an invitation, he barges inside when one of Parker’s guards opens the door. “Where is he?” he demands, walking past Terrance.

  “He’s in the study, Sir. Have a seat, and I’ll let him know you’re here.”

  “I’ll let him know that I’m here,” he tells him, his words swimming in petulance.

  Terrance follows Secretary of State Craig, calling Max as they rapidly make their way through the mansion, not stopping at the closed, heavy oak door to the study. His fearful, apologetic gaze meets his boss’ fury-filled one, and he knows his night will not end well.

  “David’s been taken into custody,” Craig spats accusingly, his furious glare fixated on Evan.

  “Will he talk?” Evan asks calmly, ready to take care of the liaison if the answer is yes.

  “No, he’s loyal. But, if they have him, it won’t be long before they have me. Your little explosion didn’t do the trick, neither did you’re pathetic attempt to get Raina arrested. Take care of it now, Parker. It’s your men who allowed themselves to be caught. It’s their computers that little bitch is hacking to find all the incriminating information. I want her gone!”

  “What exactly is it that you expect me to do? She’s being guarded. Pierce is making sure she’s never alone,” Evan barks.

  Craig slams his hands against the desk, “I don’t want to hear excuses! I don’t give a damn how you do it, just take her out. She’ll have it all pieced together if you don’t handle this, now.”

  Parker slowly crosses his arms, his gaze staring into nothing as he is lost in thought.

  “You don’t want to take care of her do you? You’re having too much fun playing with her!” Craig storms towards him, his reddened face twitching from fury and fear, “Take her then, have your fill of fun with her, then kill her, but just do it now! If I go down, Parker, I swear I’ll take you to hell with me!”

  Parker waits until Craig leaves, then angrily swipes his arm against his desk, causing all its contents to fly through the room before crashing to the floor. His w
rath is barely contained as he yells at Max, “Call Drevor, he owes me. Tell him to stay on Raina. He knows what’s at stake if he doesn’t deliver.” Turning around, fury blazes through the evil in his eyes, “You all do!”

  Max’s sympathetic gaze briefly falls on Terrance as he makes the ordered call on his way out the door, not wanting to be around to witness how far his boss will take his anger this time when he commands Terrance to stay.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The alarm blares at 6:00 a.m., and Kas leans over Raina’s sleeping body to cut if off. Amazed at how she could sleep through the annoying contraption, he gently shakes her. Her skin feels a little too warm to the touch, and he presses his lips against her forehead as he shakes her again, “Rain, wake up.”

  Her body protests as she rolls over.

  “Are you feeling alright, darlin’?” Kas asks, placing his hand where his lips just left, “you feel hot.”

  Just as she nods her head, a cough erupts, giving her away.

  “You need to stay here and rest if you’re getting sick,” he tells her, reaching for his phone.

  “It’s just a little cold, I’m fine,” she assures him, slipping out of bed.

  Grinding his teeth, he is torn between making her get her much needed sleep and giving her one more day to finish with the last of the equipment recovered, “You’ll be done by lunch.”

  “Yeah, I should be,” she answers.

  “That wasn’t a question, sweetheart,” he informs her, “You will be done by lunch, then we’re coming back here, you need to rest.”

  “So do you,” she replies, smiling at his determined expression.

  “I’m not the one coming down with something,” he retorts, leaning in for a kiss.

  Placing her hand over his mouth, she shakes her head, “You will be if you do that.”