STRANGE LOVE | RAFE CAMERON |

CHAPTER 16: | DON'T TALK TO HER, BITCH |

The mood at Sheriff Peterkin's funeral was oppressively heavy, thick with grief and tension. The bright, cloudless sky above seemed almost mocking in its clarity, a stark contrast to the sorrow that hung over the gathering like a shroud. The Cameron family stood among the mourners, a picture of stoic composure. Allison was by Rafe's side, her hand gripping his tightly, as though it were the only thing keeping her tethered to earth. Her knuckles were white, the desperation in her hold betraying the turmoil rolling beneath her composed exterior.

Allison's eyes roved over the crowd, skimming over faces she recognized and those she didn't until they landed on the pogues standing at a distance. The air around them seemed to vibrate with a different kind of tension- a mixture of anger, pain, and something darker, more menacing. When Allison's gaze met Kie's, her breath caught in her throat. The raw, unfiltered anger in Kie's eyes was like a punch to the gut, a silent accusation that made Allison's heart race with dread. Quickly, she looked away, her heart pounding in her chest as she tightened her grip on Rafe's hand, seeking solace in his presence.

Behind Kie, Jordan leaned in close, his voice a low whisper that Allison couldn't hear, but the intensity of his gaze made her shiver, "Do you think she knows?" he asked, his tone urgent.

Kie's eyes flickered with uncertainty as she glanced back at Allison,"I don't know." she muttered, her voice laced with doubt.

Jordan's gaze shifted between Allison and Rafe, his brow furrowed in concern, "You think she would stay with him if she knew?"

Kie's expression darkened, her mind racing with thoughts she didn't want to entertain, "At this point, I'm not sure." she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. The thought of how deeply Rafe had dragged Allison into his world, how down the rabbit hole she had fallen, made Kie's heartache with a mix of frustration and helplessness. "Who knows what that psycho told her." she spat, her voice filled with venom.

Jordan's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching with determination, "We should tell her," Jordan suggested, he urged, his tone insistent, almost desperate.

Kie's frustration bubbled over as she shook her head, "I wish we could," she said, her voice thick with regret, "But there's no way he's letting her out of his sight, and she blocked all of our numbers. Even if we could get to her, do you really think she'd believe us?" The defeat in her voice was palpable, the weight of the situation pressing down on her like a boulder.

The two of them fell into a heavy silence, watching as the funeral continued, the weight of unspoken truths hanging between them like a dark cloud.

・ • ・ • ・

Nearly two weeks had passed since the news broke that Sarah and John B were presumed dead, lost at sea. The police had conducted several searches, but the storm had likely carried their bodies far away. In the midst of it all Allison had grown closer to Wheezie. She knew she could never replace Sarah, but Wheezie seemed to genuinely like her, and it was comforting to have someone to talk to.

Early one morning, Rafe woke up after a night of restless tossing and turning. The first thing he felt was the warmth of Allison's body pressed against his back, her breathing soft and even, a small anchor in the chaos of his mind. Careful, not to disturb her, he slipped out of bed, pulling on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before grabbing a blunt from the nightstand. The air was cool when he stepped out onto the balcony, and the early light of dawn cast long shadows across the yard. Lighting the blunt, Rafe took a deep drag, hoping it would calm the gnawing unease in his chest. He hadn't had any cocaine in days, and the craving was eating away at him, making him jittery, his nerves frayed and on edge.

As he smoked, his eyes scanned the yard out of habit, his gaze narrowing when he caught a flicker of movement near the fence. He squinted, his heart skipping a beat when he recognized the figures of Kie and Pope on the other side. The moment Pope saw him, Kie's voice rang out in the early morning silence, sharp and filled with hatred, "We know what you did. MURDERS!"