Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 44

Rafe's POV

I spot her in the dim moonlight, standing by the grave, where I knew she'd be, her shoulders hunched and shaking with the force of her sobs. My heart aches at the sight of her like this, so broken, and it's all my fault. Every tear she sheds is because of me, and I hate myself for it.

"Teresa," I whisper, my voice barely carrying through the still night air. She flinches at the sound of my voice, turning slowly to face me.

"I hate you," she whispers, her voice shaking, but there's no strength behind the words. Only heartbreak. "I hate you, Rafe."

I take a hesitant step forward, my heart aching. "I know. I know you do, Teresa. I'm so sorry—"

"Stop," she snaps, holding up a trembling hand. "Just... stop. I don't want to hear it. None of it matters. Nothing you say can change what you did."

"I can't go to the cops," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I won't go to the cops. Do you know why? Because I love you. Because you made me love you."

Hearing her say it—hearing her admit how much she loves me—makes something in my chest tighten in a sick way. I should feel ashamed, but all I can think about is how much she loves me. How, despite everything I've done, she still can't let me go.

The realization is twisted and sick, but a small, desperate part of me can't help but feel a twisted, hollow happiness. She loves me enough to betray everything she believes in. Enough to let go of justice—for me.

I take a step toward her, but she recoils, her eyes blazing with a mixture of fury and heartbreak.

"This is what you wanted, right?" she demands, her voice trembling. "Make me fall for you so that when I found out, I wouldn't be able to turn you in. Is that it, Rafe? Was this all just some sick, twisted game to you?"

"No!" I choke out, shaking my head furiously. "No, Teresa, I swear it wasn't like that."

But she's not listening. She steps forward, her fists clenched at her sides, her whole body shaking with the force of her emotions.

"You lied to me." she spits, her voice breaking with each word. "You used me, betrayed me, played me. And now... now I'm betraying her because I can't even bring myself to turn you in."

She swallows hard, the tears streaming down her face, and I want to die at the sight of her like this—so broken, so lost.

"Teresa, no..." I croak, my voice barely audible. "I know it seems that way, but I swear... I swear it was never a game. I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you so many times, but I was afraid... afraid you'd never forgive me. I meant it when I said I love you. I still do."

She shakes her head, a sob escaping her lips as she turns away from me, burying her face in her hands. I step closer, reaching out, but I freeze, my heart breaking at the sight of her sobbing so desperately.

"I'll turn myself in," I say, my voice trembling. "I meant it before, and I mean it now. I'll do it, I swear. I'll make this right."

She lifts her head, staring at me with red-rimmed eyes filled with a pain so deep, it feels like it's crushing me from the inside out.

"What will that change?" she whispers, her voice barely audible. "You'll go to prison, and I'll still be here, hating myself for loving you. God, I'm such an idiot."

"No, you're not," I choke out, my voice breaking. "You're not an idiot, baby. I'm the one who's fucked up. I should have told you the truth... I should have—"