Chapter 38

Rainey

Michael’s good mood from earlier disappeared after receiving that envelope. He wouldn’t tell me what was inside. And from what I knew of his stubbornness, even if push came to shove he wouldn’t tell me. It was another added secret to the pile between us. While I still suspected his involvement with the mafia, I wondered how an envelope would have anything to do with that. His life was shrouded in mystery, and I found myself more confused than ever. Though I doubted anyone at the party noticed the shift in his mood. I was hyper aware of him at all times.

Instead of pissing him off even more by asking, I decided to take a quick break and check in on Tanner. As the event wound down to a close, I excused myself to the bathroom.

I hoped Michael would notice my absence and question it. If he knew how his attitude affected the beautiful night we’d experienced together, maybe he could get himself back into a good mood. At least until the event was officially over.

In the bathroom, I pulled out my phone and dialed Mom. I checked under the stalls to make sure no one else was in there. Having someone tell Michael about Tanner would be a big issue for me. Not that I knew anyone at the event outside of the hospital organizers. I doubted any of the other prestigious members of New York society and beyond would care about my family and me.

“Hey, Mom,” I said when she picked up.

“Rainey, how was your night?” she asked.

“It was great,” I said, forcing a smile to my face. “The nicest place I’ve ever been.” If she thought I was having a good time, she might not question how I felt on the inside. I’d tell her everything tomorrow, hopefully after I spoke with Michael.

“How is Tanner?” I asked, changing the subject.

“He’s fast asleep. I brought him down to the spare bedroom so you could have some peace and quiet in the morning.”

“Thank you,” I said. “Don’t wait up for me. I’m going to help with the final details of the night, so I will most likely be late.”

“I expected nothing less,” Mom said. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

I hung up the phone and checked my makeup in the mirror before going into the stall. Since I had so much to do with meeting patrons and dancing with Michael, I hadn’t had a break the whole night and with all that champagne, I needed to go.

As I finished up, the door to the bathroom opened.

“I can’t believe Michael,” someone said.

My entire body froze. I could have flushed the toilet to let them know someone else was in the room, but my curiosity got the best of me.

“What sort of people does he have in his life that would send a fake check for that amount of money? This is a charity, not some childish prank.”

My eyebrows furrowed. There was a fake check in the envelope? I took a step back from the stall door and closed my eyes to listen. It sounded like Rachel. But I never heard such scathing remarks come from her, especially not when talking about Michael. Apparently, I didn’t know her as well as I thought.

I leaned forward and peered through the space between the hinge and the stall wall. Rachel’s reflection in the mirror stared back at me.

“He looked pissed off,” the other woman said, I think her name was Dena. I met her once before other than tonight. “I don’t believe he expected someone to do that.”

“Probably not,” Rachel said. “From working with him over the years, I know he’s generous. Even with his links to the mafia.”

I pressed my lips together. Another confirmation of Michael’s involvement with the mob? Those doubts I had were quickly shoved away by this new evidence.

“What?” Dena said. “Rachel, how do you know that?”

Rachel paused before speaking. “My nephew is on the police force, and he told me that Michael’s family is bad news.”

“Are you sure the hospital should associate itself with someone like that?” Dena’s voice was low enough that I had to lean closer to the door to hear her.

“As long as the children benefit from his dirty money, who am I to refuse it? Besides, this event brings year-round patrons to hospital functions. I’d be an idiot to turn down free publicity like this.”

Dena said nothing.

In the silence, my heart started to race. I had a different picture of Rachel in my mind. She turned out to be nothing as I imagined. And her accusations of Michael having a double life was like her calling the kettle black. She’d always been cheery and kind to Michael and me, but now I knew there was manipulation behind that for her personal gain.

I was about to storm out of the stall until Rachel spoke again. For some reason, I wanted to hear more from her.

“Besides,” she said, “I’m not sure how much longer his money will last. Now that he has a new gold digger around.”

I sucked in a breath through my teeth. Now she’d crossed a line. I flushed the toilet, flipped open the lock and pulled the stall door open.

Rachel and Dena nearly jumped out of their heels when they saw me. I stood there for a moment, resting my eyes on each of them.

Neither were using the sinks, so I stepped between them to use one. I smiled at them through the mirror, holding back everything that I wanted to say to them. Even if Michael was involved with the mafia, they had no right to attack my character. I was a hard-working woman who earned her paycheck. Granted Michael and I were working through our relationship issues, but there was no need for name-calling. And with my silence, I knew they would feel worse than if I confronted them. It would turn out so different for Rachel than she ever imagined.

I scrubbed at my hands a little longer than necessary, wanting Rachel to feel as uncomfortable as possible. If she were alone, I’d have some choice words for her. But with Dena there, I didn’t want a witness to anything I said while red-hot anger ran through my veins.

I headed over to the forced air dryer and glanced at the mirror to see the woman’s faces pale even more. Neither knew what to say to me. It was painfully obvious I heard what they’d said to each other. I could almost hear Rachel’s mind turning back time to figure out exactly what I heard her say.

“Have a nice night, ladies,” I said on my way out of the room.

I opened the door and let out a breath. At least next year I wouldn’t have to be dealing with her for this event. It would be in her best interest to step down from the position, and I hoped she was smart enough to realize that. I’d hate to embarrass her by having Michael bring up her change in status for his event.

Walking back to the ballroom, I knew I had to speak with Michael about what transpired tonight. I wouldn’t tell him I heard about his ties to the mafia through Rachel since I wasn’t that terrible of a person. But I would bring it up again. He’d shot me down the last time I questioned him. Now I wouldn’t let it go until he told me the truth. A ripple of fear moved through my body at the thought of Michael’s involvement with a group that dangerous.

As his second-hand-woman, he’d linked me with whatever he did on the side outside of work. I’d heard enough on the news and seen enough movies to know that the mafia didn’t care who they used as leverage for any situation. I didn’t care as much for myself, but I didn’t want Tanner or my parents involved in any of this. It wasn’t their fault, and I wanted to keep them safe no matter what.

In his current mood, he wouldn’t be willing to give up much information, especially after someone had messed with his charity by sending a fake check. Maybe I could distract him with another line of questioning until he warmed up to me before I threw down the gauntlet. I could start by forcing him to tell me what was bothering him. He tried to shake me off before when I asked about the envelope. And with Rachel’s confirmation about what was inside, I could try and be the understanding friend for him to open up to.

Michael had been upset by the fake check. But why? And who had sent it?

He looked forward to this event every year. He shouldn’t be upset on the one day that reminded him of his deceased wife.

I felt a little sorry for deceiving him to get to the truth, but I wanted information almost as badly as I wanted him. I hated that I was so torn, but it had become a train of thought for me that I couldn’t derail.

The ballroom was mostly cleared out when I arrived. The staff worked quickly to break down the tables and decorations. Rachel would be in charge of the auction room and getting the prizes to the winners, which would be her last duty with this job, so Michael and I would be free to go.

Michael wasn’t anywhere in the ballroom. When I went back into the hallway, I spotted him by the front door. He was on his phone. At that moment, my phone started to ring.

His eyes lifted and fixed on mine. He strode over to me with wide steps. “I was calling you…”

“I know,” I said.

He was close enough to me that I doubted a sheet of paper could have slid between us. The heat from his body seared my soul. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes filled with something that I’d only seen a few times before.

What had changed since I left? He looked like he wanted to screw me right there in the middle of the room. Admittedly, I wanted the same. The magic from earlier came back full force.

“I’m sorry,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I shouldn’t have been upset with you.”

It was the perfect opening for me to start my line of questioning. Instead, all of those words jumbled in my brain then floated away.

Michael’s fierce expression brought back the rest of the evening when I was on his arm. His hands against my skin ignited a part of me that I’d hidden since breaking it off with Killian. My ex made me believe that I wasn’t worth much and it took a long time for me to build myself back up again.

And with Michael looking at me as if I were worthy of him, I’d be a fool to ruin a perfect evening with questioning it.

I could be a fool by not expressing my concerns about us, but the intense feeling of needing him close to me again won that argument.

“I think I know how you can make it up to me,” I said. As the words came out, I surprised myself with the smooth husky voice that accompanied the syllables.

Michael’s eyes flashed, and he grabbed my hand, pulling me to the door.

I skidded along on the balls of my feet to keep up with him. When we got outside, a blast of winter air stabbed my heated skin like icicles.

With one swift movement, Michael slipped his coat off and wrapped it around my torso. He held me against him with one arm while signaling for Constantine with the other.

The car pulled up. It wasn’t the sedan. Constantine came out of the limousine and rounded the vehicle to open our door.

I got into the limo and scooted over. The interior seats were smooth and buttery against my skin.

Michael said something to Constantine before getting into the car and closing the door. I shivered as the cold air was left outside.

“A limo?” I asked.

Michael indicated the champagne and glass flutes on the sidebar. “I thought we would celebrate the event.”

I wanted nothing more to celebrate with him. But not with alcohol. The buzz I got from him was much more satisfying than any drink. I reached for him, fisted the fabric of his shirt and brought him down to my lips.