Chapter 2

RAINE

By the time I got back home to my father's mansion that evening, I was greasy all over. I didn’t even bother to shower first; I just wanted food. Throughout the whole bike ride back, my brain was still replaying my dad’s voice, that condescending tone that made me want to throw a hammer at his head. He really thought he could talk to me like this, instead of like his daughter. His heir, technically. Not that he’d ever call me that out loud.

“Wash your hands before touching anything,” my younger sister Isla said without turning around as I stepped into the large kitchen. She was at the stove, with her wavy auburn hair up in a messy bun, swaying to whatever love song was playing on the radio.

I grinned. “Yes, Mom.”

“Don’t start with me, Raine!" she warned, pointing the spatula behind her without looking. “You always ‘taste test’ half the food before I even plate it.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I mumbled, already reaching for a chicken nugget on the counter. She turned, caught me mid-bite and gasped like I’d committed a crime.

“You’re disgusting!” She shrieked. “Go and shower before dinner, you stink!”

“Wow. Harsh.” I grinned, dodging the spoon she tried to throw at me. “I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving.”

“That’s because you actually cook. Unlike Dad, who thinks whiskey counts as actual food.”

Her laugh died down, and the kitchen felt quiet again. We didn’t talk about Dad much when we were alone, it always ruined the mood. I grabbed a seat on the counter, pretending to scroll through my phone just so I wouldn’t have to look at her face.

Then my phone buzzed and notification popped up at the top.

BANK ALERT: Credit of $10,000.

DESCRIPTION: debt clearance — Iron Serpents. FROM: Cole Maddox.

“What the hell?” I muttered, straightening up.

“What?” Isla came over and peeked over my shoulder. Her eyes went wide. “Raine, who the hell is Cole Maddox?”

“Hell if I know. And what kind of psycho pays ten thousand dollars to cover a seven hundred-dollar debt?”

“Wait.... this is about those guys from Dad’s crew, right?”

“Yeah. But none of their names is Cole anything.” I turned the phone around, still staring at the screen like maybe this was a funny dream. “This has to be a mistake.”

“Or maybe someone finally realized your work is worth more than they pay you, which it is.” Isla teased, bumping her hip into mine. “Girl, maybe the universe is giving you a raise.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, right. The universe owes me a vacation and a new life, not extra zeros in my account.”

Isla sighed and placed her hands on her hips, then pursed her lips in thought. “You know, I think I’ve heard that name before. Cole Maddox… sounds familiar.”

I groaned. “Please, don’t start your gossip column crap again.”

“Oh come on, you never let me have any fun!”

“That’s because your idea of fun is sticking your nose into other people’s business.” I shoved another chicken nugget into my mouth before she could grab the plate away. “I’m serious, Isla. Drop it.”

She crossed her arms, smirking. “You know what? If a hot biker named Cole Maddox shows up at the door looking for you, I’m absolutely telling everyone you’re secretly dating him.”

“I am not—” I stopped mid-sentence, glaring at my sister. “You’re such an idiot.”

She laughed. “Raine, you can’t stay an old maid forever.”

“Old maid? I’m twenty-three!”

“Exactly. Practically ancient in biker years. Dad is probably planning to marry you off to a leather-wearing lunatic soon.”

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “Can you not?”

“What?” she said, grin growing wider. “You’re the one who hasn’t even been kissed.”

I almost choked. “What the... Is that what we’re doing now? Publicly shaming me for my virginity?”

“I’m just saying! Maybe Mr. Ten-Thousand-Dollars is trying to buy his way into your—”

“Stop right there.” I pointed a greasy finger at her. “Finish that sentence and I swear I’ll throw you out the window!”

She laughed so hard she had to lean against the counter. “You’re so easy to mess with. Jesus Christ!”

“You’re impossible,” I muttered, hopping off the counter. “I’m not eating anymore. You ruined my appetite.”

“Good, more for meeee!"

I stomped toward the hallway, but she called after me, still laughing. “Goodnight, virgin queen!”

“Go to hell!” I shouted back, flipping her off over my shoulder.

I slammed my bedroom door and stared at my phone again. The numbers hadn’t changed. Ten thousand dollars.

I kicked off my boots, threw my phone on the nightstand and flopped onto the bed face-first. The sheets smelled just like me, which was kind of comforting in a weird way. My brain was still stuck between ten thousand freaking dollars and who the hell is Cole Maddox?

I rolled over and stared at the ceiling. “It’s probably a scam,” I muttered to no one. “A really stupid scam.”

My phone dinged again on the nightstand and I sat up, reaching for it, expecting another spam message about winning a free cruise or something. But it wasn’t that.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: I hope that money made you happy.

My heart did a funny little jump. The contact name was just a number, no photo, no bio, nothing. Just that message sitting there and very unsettling.

“What the hell…” I whispered, sitting up. I read it again. I hope that money made you happy.

The hairs on my arms stood up when I received another text

UNKNOWN NUMBER: You deserved more.

I sat there in total silence, heart thudding in my ears. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I tried to figure out what to say.

Who is this? I typed, deleted it and typed again: How do you know me?

Before I could send it, the typing bubbles popped up and then disappeared.

“Great,” I muttered, throwing the phone back on the nightstand. “Mysterious stranger with too much money. Exactly what I needed.”

I turned off the lamp, but my eyes stayed open in the dark, staring at the faint glow of my phone screen. Cole Maddox, whoever the hell that was. I didn’t know whether to be freaked out or thankful.