Becoming Rain (Burying Water #2)(45)

“Only if they come with a noose.”

Finally . . . his face breaks out in a wide smile, displaying a gap between his middle front teeth. “Okay, okay.” Rolling over to a wall panel, he punches in a few buttons and a lock pop sounds. Pushing open a hidden display case full of gold and diamonds, he says, “How about a piece of jewelry for a lovely woman? You must have one. Or two.”

This guy is unreal. Is this what he does while waiting for drops to take place? I open my mouth to decline his offer when a particular piece catches my eyes.

“Ahh . . . of course.” How he knows exactly what I’m eyeing I have no idea, but the little man stands—and he truly is little; I’m guessing five-foot-two—and seizes the necklace from its hook. “One flawless carat in each. White gold, rhodium-plated.”

The mention of rhodium reminds me of the pile of catalytic converters back at the warehouse. I know it’s worth a lot. Rosenthal dangles the necklace in front of me, letting it sway back and forth, the sparkling raindrops almost hypnotic.

I’m picturing it around Rain’s slender neck. “How much?”

“Ten.”

I laugh. “What’s that, a five hundred percent markup?” Rust filled me in on this guy before I got here. While he runs a legit wholesaler’s business, that doesn’t mean he buys completely legit. A good chunk of his stock is coming from smuggled inventory at 50 percent less than what’s considered market standard.

“What are you saying? That I’m trying to rip you off?” That sour look has returned.

Trying to rip me off is exactly what he’s doing, but I need to be careful. He’s still holding our money. “No, I’m saying that I didn’t come in here to spend ten grand for a necklace.”

He hangs the necklace back up, but I know he’s going to come back with a lower offer. This is all negotiation 101. Before he does, we’re interrupted with ringing. He’s on the phone for all of three seconds, long enough to say, “Hello . . . Okay.” Punching a code into a safe behind his desk, he pulls out an overstuffed manila envelope and drops it on the desk, sliding it across. Stacks of money sit inside. Stacks that will earn Dmitri’s wide grin, no doubt.

Hell, I’m grinning because some of this is mine. Handler’s fee, Rust calls it. I glance at the necklace again, hung so intentionally front and center. I wonder how Rain would react to that? She’d probably tell me I’m f*cking crazy. I’ve known her for only a few weeks. We’ve barely kissed. But it’d be a good gift down the road, maybe. “How much are you really going to sell that to me for?”

He twists his mouth tight. And then smirks. “Only because you’re a good friend of Aref . . . two.”

I dig the cash out and slap it on the table. “Now that’s more reasonable.”

He has the jewelry wrapped and packaged in under a minute, certificate of authenticity and everything. When I walk out of there, it’s with a smile and a handshake and an “until next time.” I make it all the way past the last security door before my smile falls off abruptly.

Vlad is here.

His eyes widen in surprise, and then narrow as they drop to the messenger bag hanging over my hip, where I’ve tucked away a shitload of cash. “What are you doing here?”

I should probably bite my tongue, but I don’t like the way he’s talking to me. It makes my brass balls come out. “None of your f*cking business.” What am I doing here? What is he doing here!

He takes a step closer, the smell of black coffee and salmon assaulting my nose. “Why are you here?”

I decide that starting a pissing contest with this guy isn’t the best idea. “Buying my girlfriend a necklace.” I pull the long, slender box out of my jacket pocket and hold it up as proof.

The way he pushes his tongue over his teeth, he doesn’t seem too impressed with my explanation. “How’s the Ferrari?”

Shit. Has he truly figured out that we went through Aref to move it? “Don’t know what Ferrari you’re talking about. I have a Porsche. And it’s awesome.” I stroll past him, out the door.

Feeling his eyes on my back the entire time.

I don’t trust that guy at all.

Chapter 22

CLARA

An incoming text message wakes me up. I paw at my nightstand, squinting to read my screen through one eye.

What are you doing today?

It’s Luke. Suddenly I’m wide awake and sitting up.

Gym. Shopping. No big plans. Why?

Road trip?

I smile.

Where?

Into the mountains.

My glee gives way to wariness. Into the mountains? Kind of random. Unless . . . Knots begin to form in my stomach. Has someone tipped him off? Will this end with a bullet in my head? Things a normal person doesn’t have to worry about, but I have to make sure that I don’t ever forget. Not for a minute.

I’ll need some more information about these mountains of yours.

I have to check out a car.

To buy?

To sell.

My sheets fall away from my body as I crawl out of bed, frowning at my phone. To make sure I’m reading it right. What? Does he mean . . . Could he be this stupid? This trusting of me? A slow, sinking burn ignites in my chest. It’s not curiosity or excitement, like what I normally feel when I’m about to nail someone to the wall.