Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 20

"I feel so lost," I whispered, the words trembling on my lips as I stared out at the dark, empty street. The pain and confusion twisted through me like a storm, leaving me breathless and aching. "We moved here three months ago, and ever since we did... everything's been going so wrong."

Rafe stayed silent beside me, his gaze locked onto mine, his hands still gently cradling my face. For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker behind his eyes—something almost like regret. But then it was gone, replaced by that familiar hardness, that mask he always wore when the world got too close.

"I mean, first my aunt—" My voice broke, a sob escaping my lips as I struggled to hold myself together. But I couldn't. The pain, the anger, the sheer wrongness of it all was too much, too heavy, pressing down on me until I thought I might break apart completely. "First my aunt, and now everything else..."

"Teresa," Rafe murmured softly, his voice tight and strained. "I'm—"

"I don't understand," I whispered, my breath hitching as I looked up at him, tears blurring my vision. "I don't understand why everything has to be so hard. Why everything keeps falling apart."

Rafe glanced away, his jaw clenching as he shifted uncomfortably, his hands dropping from my face. "I'm sorry," he muttered, the words barely audible.

"I just..." I swallowed hard, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. "I mean, I know things were complicated with my aunt. She was the sheriff, and there were a lot of things I didn't understand, but..."

He stiffened, his gaze flickering back to mine, something dark and wary settling in his eyes.

"But then the Pogues—JJ and Pope—they told me..." I hesitated, my chest tightening as I forced the words out, each one like a blade twisting through me. "They told me you shot my Aunt Susan."

Rafe's entire body went rigid, his eyes widening slightly, but he didn't say anything. Didn't move.

"I didn't believe them," I whispered, shaking my head slowly. "I couldn't believe them. But why would they lie? Why would they say something like that if it wasn't true?"

"Teresa—"

"But I have to ask," I cut him off, my voice breaking. "I have to know. I don't want to believe you did this, Rafe. I can't believe it. But I have to ask."

His jaw clenched, his gaze darting around like he was looking for an escape—like he was trapped and desperate to get out. I swallowed hard, the silence stretching between us, thick and suffocating, each second a painful reminder of everything I was afraid to hear.

"Tell me it's not true," I whispered softly, my voice trembling. "Please, Rafe. Tell me it's not true."

"I—" He broke off, his gaze locking onto mine, his eyes wide and frantic. "Of course not, Teresa. Everyone knows it was John B. They're just... they're just trying to protect him."

"Why?" I demanded, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. "Why would they protect him?"

"Because they're friends," he muttered, his voice tight and strained. "Because that's what they do. They protect each other, no matter what. But it wasn't me, Teresa. I wasn't even at the airstrip that day."

He swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out to grab mine, his fingers curling tightly around mine. "I was home. Rose and Wheezie—they're my witnesses. I have witnesses, Teresa. It wasn't me."

The words tumbled out too fast, his voice too high-pitched, too desperate. But there was something in his eyes—something raw and pleading—that made my chest tighten painfully.