Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 37

Rafe's POV

Fucking Sarah.

The thought roars through my head, over and over, like a freight train I can't derail. I grip the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turn white, my heart pounding with a mixture of rage and fear. She almost ruined everything back there. Her and JJ—they just can't leave things alone, can they?

It's like they're determined to mess with Teresa's head, to turn her against me. They don't know when to stop. And every time I think I've got her back, that she's finally on my side, they show up with more lies. More bullshit.

And it's getting to her. I could see it in her eyes, the way she hesitated, the way she looked at me like she wasn't sure what to believe. It's all because of them. They're planting doubts in her head, whispering poison into her ear, making her question me—us.

My jaw clenches so hard it aches, and I barely register the red lights, the cars passing by. My thoughts are a dark, tangled mess, one part fury, one part fear, and all of it's directed at them. Sarah and JJ.

They need to be stopped.

They think they can just walk all over me, like I'm some kind of pushover. Like I won't do anything about it. But I'm done letting them get in the way. They keep messing with Teresa's head, and it's only a matter of time before—

I slam on the brakes, skidding to a stop just outside Barry's place. My breath comes in short, ragged bursts, and I run a hand through my hair, trying to steady myself. I have to do something. I have to show them I'm not someone they can fuck with.

I step out of the car, slamming the door behind me as I make my way up to Barry's door. It's late—way too late for a visit like this, but I don't care. I bang on the door, not bothering to keep it down. I need this. I need to feel like I have control again.

"Barry!" I shout, my voice echoing in the quiet night. "Open up!"

A few moments later, the door swings open, and Barry stands there, looking like he just rolled out of bed. He's in a ratty old T-shirt and boxers, and his eyes narrow when he sees me standing there, seething with barely controlled rage.

"Rafe?" he grumbles, rubbing a hand over his face. "The hell are you doing here, man? It's almost midnight."

"I need a favor," I grit out, pushing past him into the dimly lit living room. The place smells like stale cigarettes and cheap liquor, but I barely notice. My mind's too focused, too caught up in the whirlwind of my own thoughts. "I need a gun."

Barry raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he leans back against the wall. "A gun? What, you planning to go all Rambo on someone? What's got you so wound up, huh?"

"Sarah," I snap, pacing the room like a caged animal. "She's trying to fuck everything up, man. Keeps putting ideas in Teresa's head. Making her doubt me. And JJ... he's just as bad. They're both trying to turn her against me."

Barry whistles low, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "Damn, man. That's some soap opera shit right there. So what, you want to scare them off? Get 'em to back the hell off?"

I turn to face him, my eyes blazing with anger. "Yeah, exactly. Just a warning. I'm not looking to kill anyone. But I need them to know I'm serious. That I'm not someone they can mess with."

Barry looks at me for a long moment, then shrugs, pushing off the wall as he heads toward the back room. "Sure, I can get you something. Just don't go doing anything stupid, alright? Wouldn't want that pretty girlfriend of yours seeing you carted off to jail."