STRANGE LOVE | RAFE CAMERON |

CHAPTER 13: | BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM |

As the sunset bathed the balcony in a warm, golden hue, Allison was surrounded by her friends, Jessica, Kelce, and Brandon. The table was strewn with the remnants of their escapism—bottles of alcohol, half-smoked joints, and a small bag of cocaine that Brandon had nonchalantly tossed onto the table. Their laughter and idle chatter served as a temporary shield, a flimsy barrier against the chaos that always seemed to loom just out of sight.

Allison leaned back in her chair, letting the evening breeze tousle her hair. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch forever. Despite the carefree atmosphere, a gnawing unease settled in her chest—a feeling that something was about to tip the balance.

Her worries found substance when Rafe and Topper finally returned. The moment Rafe stepped onto the balcony, Allison could see the tension radiating off him. His jaw was clenched, and the usually confident swagger in his step was gone, replaced by a heaviness that hadn't been there before.

Without a word, Allison stood up and reached for the small bag of cocaine. She caught Rafe's unburned wrist just as he was about to collapse onto a chair, pulling him back into the house before he could sit down.

"What happened?" Allison's voice was gentle but laced with concern, her eyes searching his face for answers.

Rafe's gaze was hard, a storm brewing in those piercing blue eyes. "Sarah and those fucking Pogues are idiots," he snapped, his frustration evident. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but the anger was bubbling too close to the surface. "You shouldn't have defended me earlier," he added, his tone softer but still edged with something sharp.

Allison met his gaze head-on, her voice unwavering. "I'm not afraid of Barry, Rafe."

Rafe's eyes darkened, and he shook his head, his expression a mix of anger and fear. "Maybe you should be," he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You know what he did to me, and I can't bear the thought of him doing something to you."

Allison's heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice. She reached up, her thumb gently brushing the back of his hand in a soothing gesture. "I know you won't let anything like that happen to me."

Rafe's grip tightened around her hand as if he needed to hold onto her to stay grounded. "Damn right, I won't," he replied, his voice filled with determination. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "One day I'll be running the show, and Sarah and everyone else will wish they were nicer to me."

Allison wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "I'm sure they will."

"But you'll be by my side, yeah?" Rafe needed reassurance, his eyes softened as he looked at her, the weight of his earlier anger starting to lift.

"Always," Allison said without hesitation, her lips brushing against his ear.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Rafe's mouth. "Then they'll wish they were nicer to us."

Allison returned his smile, a warmth spreading through her chest. "Yes, they will."

Rafe's response was wordless, a deep, hungry kiss that silenced any further conversation. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her flush against him. Their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly as if they were two halves of the same whole. The kiss deepened, their breath mingling, the tension between them shifting from anger to something far more primal.

As their kiss grew more heated, Rafe hooked one of her legs around his waist, his hand moving up her thigh, igniting a trail of fire in its wake. Allison moaned softly into his mouth, the sound sending a jolt of electricity through him. Seizing the moment, Rafe wrapped her other leg around him, his hands gripping her butt firmly. The sensation of his rough hands on her skin sent a shiver down her spine.