𝔅𝔬𝔯𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔦𝔢 - Rafe Cameron

①③

...

Night had fallen over the Outer Banks. Rafe had dragged Jazmine onto a boat where Barry was already waiting.

Over the past few days, Rafe had noticed a change in Jazmine. She had become unusually quiet, her sharp remarks and rare smiles almost gone. More often than not, he found her alone on the deck, lost in thought, staring blankly into the distance. He thought they had built some kind of trust, but the truth was, he was desperate to talk to her, to reconnect.

As Rafe stepped away to take a call, Jazmine found herself alone with Barry on the upper deck. She watched the water ripple beneath the boat while Barry stood nearby, a beer in hand, eyes fixed on her.

"So, you and Country Club, did you have a fight?" Barry asked, breaking the silence.

"Not at all," Jazmine replied, not bothering to look at him.

Barry raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Then why the long face?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business, Barry," she shot back.

"I just don't like silence," he said, clearly enjoying her discomfort.

"I don't care," Jazmine said.

Barry's expression hardened as he stared at her. "You and Rafe, you make a good team. But just so you know, I don't trust you."

"Like I care".

"I know people like you," Barry said, leaning in slightly. "Let's be honest—Rafe's alone, he needs someone by his side, and you're just sticking around to take what you can before you leave him high and dry."

"Is that what you think?" Jazmine's voice was calm, but her eyes were sharp.

"I'm sure of it. It's in our DNA," Barry replied smugly.

"Our DNA?" Jazmine let out a dry laugh. "Barry, you and I are nothing alike."

"You turned poverty into a lifestyle," she continued. "I'm betting you came from a family just as rich as Rafe's, and they kicked you out the second they saw what a complete loser you are."

She didn't stop there. "You walk around acting like you're some gangster, but the truth is, the only people you scare are the spoiled brats who owe you for their coke stash."

Jazmine rested the back of her neck against the seat, letting out a quiet sigh as she settled in a bit more comfortably.

"So whatever you think," Jazmine finished with a smirk, "you can shove it."

Barry chuckled darkly. "And there she is—the bitch is back."

Rafe returned from his call, unaware of the tension in the air. "I'm done with the client call," he said, looking at them both. "Get ready; tomorrow, we'll have everything sold."

"Perfect," Barry replied, his smile never reaching his eyes.

Barry gave them a knowing look before turning away. "I'll leave you two alone. Seems like you've got a lot to talk about."

"Later, gorgeous," Barry said with a smirk as he walked off.

"Fuck off," Jazmine muttered. Rafe chuckled, taking a sip of his beer, clearly amused.As Barry disappeared, Rafe turned to Jazmine, a question already forming on his lips.

"Everything okay?" Rafe asked, his eyes scanning Jazmine's face, searching for any hint of what she was thinking.

"I'm fine. And you?" Jazmine replied, her voice steady but distant.