JJ's biggest flaw was his recklessness, and his bad ideas. Honestly, that didn't seem that bad to Bexley.
Rafe's biggest flaw? Jealousy. Pure, uncontrolled jealousy.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
tw: SMUT, drug usage, gun violence, manipulation, toxicity
"Rafe, I don't want to be gated into my own home," Bexley said. She shook her head. She faced the front window as she washed the dishes in the kitchen sink. She looked at the spot Rafe suggested adding a metal gate. It was a pretty area, she didn't want any gate taking away the natural beauty. She insisted, "It's not happening."
"You're not gonna be gated in. It's gonna keep other people out." Rafe came up to lean against the counter, watching her. "It's a safety precaution."
Honestly, Rafe was scared. His father had already showed up unannounced. Who else would? He wasn't gonna risk any pogue getting near Bexley. She was everything to him, and the pogues only planned to tear them apart. He'd do anything to keep that from happening.
Obviously, he was willing to kill for the people he loved. If JJ showed up, or any of John B's friends, he'd gladly kill again.
"The view is the best part of this place," she told him, a slight whine to her voice. "I can see maybe wanting a wooden fence, but you want us to put up a steel gate?" She shook her head again, scrubbing hard at the dish in her hand. He noticed that she wasn't making eye contact. He recognized that she was getting annoyed with the topic. But he refused to drop it. A gate was needed.
"Any pogue can break wood, not steal," he explained.
She ignored him, obviously trying to pretend the conversation was over.
"Be real," he told her. "Those thugs vandalized our house a dozen times, what do you think they're gonna do to us when they realize we're back?"
Honestly, she didn't think they would do anything to her. She thought the vandalism of the Cameron's house was cruel, but it made sense that they hated Mr. Cameron, at least if they truly thought he purposely led John B into that storm. It was irrational hatred, but she understood they might have gotten confused in all the rumors flying around. But she didn't do anything to them. They did stuff to her. They helped John B kidnap her. They had no reason to be angry at Bexley. "You got a gun," she whispered. "Leave my view alone."
"They might try to do more than spray paint some walls," he kept on. "They might hurt you. What if I go to the store? Bex, you could get-"
She shook her head. "No."
Rafe realized she wasn't buying it. So he flipped to a different approach. One that might scared her more. "Look, forget the pogues. What about the men that could show up looking for your mom?"
Bexley hesitated, pausing in movement. She stared at the running water.
"She was a prostitute," Rafe reminded her, even though he didn't need to. "Anyone could walk in the house, looking for that. At the very least, the gate would show them that the house has new owners."
