Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 28

Rafe's POV

The next morning, Teresa stood a few feet away, her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze fixed on the horizon. I could see the way her shoulders were tense, the way she bit her lip, as if she was holding back a thousand things she wanted to say but didn't know how to.

I swallowed hard, taking a tentative step closer. The words were stuck in my throat, tangled up with the fear that I was going to say the wrong thing, that I was going to push her further away.

"Teresa," I whispered, my voice breaking the silence.

She turned slowly, her eyes meeting mine. They were red-rimmed and puffy, the evidence of last night's tears still painfully clear. Seeing her like this—seeing what I'd done to her—felt like a punch to the gut. But I deserved it. Deserved every bit of pain and guilt clawing at my chest.

"Rafe," she murmured quietly, her voice soft. "I love you, but what happened last night... it can't happen again. I can't live like that—always wondering if you're going to lose control. I need to feel safe with you, and last night... I didn't."

The words were like a dagger straight to the heart. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. What could I say? That I was sorry? That I'd never do it again? It all felt hollow, empty, compared to the damage I'd done.

"I know, Teresa," I finally managed, my voice barely more than a whisper. "And I'm going to do whatever it takes to make you feel safe again. I don't want to be that guy—the one who scares you. I just..." I took a deep breath, struggling to keep my voice steady. "I love you so much, and the thought of losing you... it makes me crazy. But I'm going to change. I'll get help if I have to. Just... please, don't leave me."

Her gaze softened, and I saw a flicker of hope—or maybe it was doubt—cross her face. She looked down at our hands, at the way I was holding hers so tightly, like I was afraid she might slip away. I loosened my grip slightly, brushing my thumb gently over her knuckles.

"I'm not leaving, Rafe," she murmured, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice that made my chest tighten painfully. "But things have to change. I need you to work on this, to really work on it. We can't keep going like this."

Relief flooded through me, so strong it almost made my knees buckle. She wasn't leaving. She wasn't giving up on me—on us.

"I will, Teresa," I promised, my voice fierce with determination. "I'll do whatever it takes. I can't lose you—I won't."

She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine, as if she was trying to find some sign that I was telling the truth. I wanted her to see it—to see how much I meant every word, how much I needed her to believe me.

"Okay," she murmured softly, a small, tentative smile tugging at her lips. "We'll take it one step at a time. But you have to promise me... no more violence. No more losing control."

I squeezed her hand gently, my heart swelling with a mix of hope and fear. "I promise, Teresa," I whispered, my voice low and serious. "No more violence. I'll be better. For you, for us."

She nodded slowly, her smile growing a little wider. It was still tinged with sadness, still hesitant, but it was there. And that was enough. That was something.

"Okay," she said softly. "Let's see where we go from here."

I nodded, a small smile of my own breaking through the darkness that had been clouding my mind. I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, holding her close for a moment, savoring the feel of her in my arms.

"I love you, Teresa," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "More than anything."

She closed her eyes, leaning into me, her breath warm against my chest. "I love you too, Rafe," she murmured, the words like a balm to my battered soul. "But there can't be secrets between us. Not anymore. If you're hiding something—if there's something you're not telling me—then I need to know. Now."