Page 410 of The Sinner: James

“Rain??”

The man steps to the side, so I can see her.

“Who’s Rain?” he asks.

I lock eyes with my sister.

She ignores the man whose gaze moves quickly between the two of us.

“What are you doing here?” she asks brashly.

“I wanted to see if you were okay. You didn’t return my calls.”

I pause.

“May I come in?” I ask.

Pursing her lips, she ponders, her eyes hovering over my pink dress and silver flats.

To my surprise, she slides the door open all the way and lets me in.

I take a few steps in and stop in the middle of her apartment.

The place is welcoming and tastefully decorated.

“Do you want something to drink?” she asks coldly.

“No. I’m good.”

“Who is Rain, babe?” the man murmurs behind her.

“Rain Sexton is my sister,” she says without looking at him, intentionally emphasizing my last name.

The man walks around her and stretches out his hand to me.

“Raoul Mann,” he says, shaking my hand.

A friendly smile slides over his lips, and his expression is different than my sister’s.

“I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee while you two catch up,” he says, looking at me.

With a friendly gesture, he invites me to sit on the plush couch.

Slowly, I lower myself on the sofa, studying my sister.

She’s gained a few pounds, has dark circles under her eyes, her hair is tied in a bun, and she wears no makeup.

A flared top hides most of her silhouette, falling over a pair of gray sweatpants.

“Is everything okay with you?” I ask, not hinting at anything in particular.

“Yes. Why?” she asks suspiciously.

Her eyes drill deep into mine.

“You got us worried.”

“Us?”

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