Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 80

Rafe's POV

I come back into the kitchen, my phone still buzzing in my hand from the call I made to Limbrey. Time's running out. The Pogues are going to move the Cross soon, and I have to get there before they do. Every second counts. But when I see Teresa standing there, a look of worry on her face, I feel the frustration building up again.

"I have to go before they remove it," I say, my voice tight. "You stay here, you hear me? I fucking mean it this time."

Teresa's eyes flicker with something—maybe shock, maybe hurt—but I'm too keyed up to really focus on it. I run a hand through my hair, my mind racing, and I can't hold it back any longer. "God damn it, you don't need to be in the center of everything, Teresa! Every damn time, you have to get involved—do you have any idea how much harder you make this? You think I don't worry every time you go behind my back?"

Her expression tightens, and I can see the hurt flashing across her face. But I'm too fired up, too deep in it to stop.

"I've got enough on my plate," I snap, slamming my hand down on the counter. "I can't deal with worrying about you on top of everything else! You always think you need to do something, need to be involved—but you're just making it worse!"

Her lips tremble slightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She's trying to hold it together, but I see the cracks forming, the way her face is shifting, fighting back the emotions.

"Fuck, baby, I didn't mean it like that," I mutter when I notice her eyes getting watery, stepping forward, trying to reach for her, but she steps back, her arms crossing tighter around herself.

"It's fine," she whispers, but her voice is shaky, and the fake smile she's giving me makes my chest hurt. "Just go, Rafe."

"Teresa—" I try again, but she cuts me off, her voice barely holding together.

"We'll talk later," she says softly, her eyes dropping to the floor. "It's fine. Really."

I stand there for a second, my hand still hovering in the air, unsure if I should push more or just leave. But the look on her face tells me all I need to know. I messed up. Again.

With a heavy heart, I nod, stepping back. "I'll be back soon," I mutter before heading for the door, the weight of what just happened hanging over me like a storm cloud.

Before I walk out, I pause, my heart tugging painfully as I look back at Teresa. She's standing there, her arms wrapped around herself, that fake smile still in place. I can't leave her like this, not without at least trying to make things right.

I step closer, gently taking her face in my hands and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Stay here, okay, baby?" I murmur, my voice softer now. "Please. Just stay."

She nods slowly, not saying a word, and for a moment, I just stand there, my forehead pressed against hers. I want to fix this, to make her understand that I'm doing this to protect her, but there's no time.

"Be careful," she whispers softly as I pull away.

"I will," I promise.

---

I'm standing at the edge of the dimly lit basement, the tension thick in the air as Limbrey and Renfield move around the room, their eyes fixed on the Cross of Santo Domingo. It sits there, massive and gleaming, its gold surface catching the faint light that filters in from the single exposed bulb above us. For a moment, I feel a surge of excitement—it's right here, the thing we've been after. The thing everyone's been after.