Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 5

The sun was already blazing high in the sky by the time I arrived at the golf club the next day, the crisp uniform once again stiff against my skin. I tried to shake off the lingering tension from last night, focusing instead on making it through another day without causing any trouble.

But that resolve crumbled the moment I saw him.

"Deputy Shoupe?" I said, blinking in surprise as I rounded the corner of the main bar area. He stood by the edge of the patio, his gaze scanning the crowd like he was looking for someone. His uniform looked out of place among the white-collared shirts and linen dresses of the club's patrons.

"Hey there, Teresa," Shoupe greeted, offering me a nod. "Didn't expect to see you working here."

"Yeah, well, didn't expect to be back here, either," I replied with a half-smile, trying to keep my tone light. "What brings you to the golf club? I didn't think the sheriff's department was big on golfing."

He chuckled, glancing around before leaning in slightly, lowering his voice. "Just keeping an eye on things, you know? Figured I'd swing by, see if anything's out of the ordinary."

I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "Out of the ordinary how?"

"Just... making sure things stay quiet," he said vaguely, his gaze shifting away. He was hiding something, but before I could press him, his radio crackled to life, cutting through the air with a burst of static.

"Deputy Shoupe, we need you to check on a report at Milepost 12."

He sighed, reaching for his radio. "On my way," he replied, then turned back to me with a tight smile. "Duty calls. Stay out of trouble, okay?"

"Yeah, sure," I muttered as he turned and headed off.

I watched him go, a frown tugging at my lips. Something about his tone didn't sit right with me. Was he here for a reason, or was it just a routine patrol?

Before I could dwell on it, I felt a presence behind me. A chill ran down my spine, and I turned slowly, coming face-to-face with Rafe Cameron.

He stood just a few feet away, his expression strained and tight. His jaw was clenched, his eyes dark with something that looked a lot like... worry?

"What were you two talking about?" he demanded, his voice low but tense.

I blinked, taken aback by the intensity in his gaze. "Excuse me?"

Rafe took a step closer, his gaze boring into mine. "I said, what were you talking about?" His voice was sharper this time, a dangerous edge creeping into it.

I stared at him, struggling to understand what the hell was going on. "Why do you care?"

"Just answer the question," he snapped, his eyes narrowing. "What did Shoupe say to you?"

"None of your business, Rafe," I shot back, my annoyance flaring. I turned to walk away, but before I could take more than a step, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm in a vice-like grip.

The sudden jolt made me gasp, pain shooting through my arm as his fingers dug into my skin. I turned back to glare at him, trying to jerk my arm free, but he held on tight.

"Let go of me," I bit out, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. "What the hell is your problem?"

"Just tell me what he said," Rafe demanded, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. His face was close, too close, and I could see the strain in his expression—the wild, panicked look in his eyes. "Is he asking questions? Did he—"

"Are you out of your mind?" I hissed, cutting him off. "Why do you even care?"

Rafe's grip tightened, his jaw clenching so hard I could see the muscle twitch beneath his skin. "I care because I don't need people like you poking around where you shouldn't," he growled.