Blue | Rafe Cameron

xi

"I'm sorry, did you just say that you were chased through a swamp and shot at? With guns? And that you saw those two psychopaths again attacking Ms Lana?" I interrupted, my eyes wide in disbelief.

"Yeah, pretty much" Pope muttered, and I huffed, laughing in utter bewilderment as I looked from John B to a pacing JJ.

"And you didn't think that was important fucking information for me to know?" I scowled, my hands flailing wildly as I tried to comprehend what the hell I was hearing right now.

I sighed heavily as I shifted in the armchair, a knot of paranoia and discomfort tightening my chest. I focused on my breathing as I brought my knees up to my chest, trying to ease the tension building in me by focusing on the comfort of the familiar things around me.

John B's place was a shithole at best, but the Chateau was still the most serene and nostalgic place for us to be.

I looked up at Pope and JJ, rolling my eyes at their disgruntled faces.

"It seemed like a bad time to mention it," JJ shrugged helplessly, "You know with your visiting your dad and then that crap with Rafe..." He sneered at Rafe's name, and I groaned quietly into my knees at the look that John B and Kie shot at his words.

And in a reminder of every rollercoaster moment that has happened with Rafe.

"What the hell was Rafe doing there?" Kiara frowned.

"I said I would deal with him, didn't I?" I sighed, shrugging my shoulder dismissively "So, I got him to drive me, situation dealt with."

"How the hell did you manage to convince him to do that?" John B snorted and I watched in dread as JJ stormed forward, jaw locked and eyes furious with adrenaline lingering from the run-in with Rafe before.

"That guy is a fucking asshole, he was talking mad shit about Rory's dad and-"JJ began, sneering but I quickly snapped, cutting him off with a sharp tone.

"Forget it, it doesn't fucking matter."

The silence that loomed after my outburst was deafening and I sighed dejectedly, my hands coming to cup my face. Every emotion within me felt like an overwhelming tornado and struggled to keep it all in check.

"Rory?" JJ asked, and I could hear the heaviness in his voice.

"Fuck, I'm sorry" I gritted out, my eyes aching. I sniffed, gathering my wits before glancing back at my friends. They remained silent, small frowns marring their faces as they looked at me. "Look, forget Rafe and all of that bullshit. What did these guys want, and what the hell does that compass have to do with it?"

I looked down at the table before us, deflating further at the compass laying there.

The 'big win' turned out to be nothing more than a rusted, antique compass with one word scribbled inside: Redfield.

Which also means nothing, especially considering how that was the most common name in the country.

"The things a piece of shit. You couldn't pawn it off for five bucks," Pope said, veering into my subject change and I huffed out a relieved breath. Pope then looked to John B with a wince, "No offence, I know it's in your family- "

"The office," John B muttered, ignoring Pope's comment. I watched, brows raised as his eyes lit up and we all frowned at him when he suddenly jumped up from his seat.

"What?" Pope asked, his brows furrowed.

"My dad's office," John B said, a grin spreading across his face as he started rushing through the Chateau and towards the main door. Kie frowned at me, bewildered but I merely shrugged in response, none of us speaking as we all swiftly got up, following after him.