Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 85

It's been a few days since Rafe finally decided I was okay and let me leave the bed, and things have been... different. Rafe's been hovering, more protective than usual, which isn't new, but something feels off. He's tense. There's something in his eyes, something that wasn't there before, and it's like he's carrying a weight I can't see.

I sit at the kitchen table, watching him move around the house, pacing, talking to Ward in low voices whenever they think I'm not listening. The way Ward looks at me, the way Rafe avoids certain questions—it's like they're hiding something. But I can't figure out what.

"Rafe," I call out softly, watching as he turns from his conversation with Ward, his eyes snapping to mine. "Is everything okay?"

He blinks, nodding too quickly. "Yeah, of course. Just... business stuff," he says, brushing it off like it's nothing, but I see the tightness in his jaw.

I want to believe him. I want to think that everything is fine, that I'm just being paranoid. But deep down, something doesn't feel right. It's like there's a shadow hanging over us, one that's getting harder to ignore.

Later that night, when we're lying in bed, I catch him staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. "Rafe," I whisper, turning on my side to face him. "You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?"

He looks at me, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he forces a smile. "Of course, baby. You know I would."

But the lie slips too easily from his lips, and I feel a knot tighten in my stomach. Something is definitely wrong. And I'm going to figure out what.

-

The days drag on, and the tension between us only grows thicker. Rafe keeps insisting that everything is fine, but I know better. I see it in the way he flinches every time I ask about Limbrey or anything related to what happened. The distance between us isn't physical, but it feels like an invisible wall has been built up.

I sit in the living room, pretending to read, but my eyes are glued to Rafe and Ward as they talk in hushed tones near the stairs. Their voices are too low for me to catch every word, but the way Ward glances over at me, and the way Rafe's shoulders tense, tells me that they're talking about me.

I shift in my seat, pretending not to notice, but I'm listening as carefully as I can.

"... you're lucky we're not cleaning up more of your mess," I hear Ward mutter, his voice cold.

Rafe's voice follows, sharper than I've heard it in days. "I didn't have a choice."

Ward's response is muffled, but I hear something about "keeping it quiet" and "don't let her find out." My pulse quickens, and I have to force myself to stay still, not to give away that I'm listening. What the hell are they talking about?

"You killed her, Rafe. We can't just pretend that didn't happen."

My blood runs cold. Killed her? My mind races. They have to be talking about Limbrey. I feel my breath catch in my throat, frozen in place as the realization slams into me.

Rafe's voice comes next, defensive and angry. "What was I supposed to do, huh? She poisoned Teresa. You expect me to just let her live after that?"

The air feels thick, suffocating. The room starts spinning around me as I try to process what I'm hearing. Rafe killed Limbrey? The woman who poisoned me—he murdered her. And he never told me.

I can barely think straight, my thoughts a mess of shock and disbelief. He did this for me? To protect me? But he lied—he looked me in the eyes and told me he let it go. He didn't let it go. He killed her.

My hands are shaking, and before I can stop myself, I push open the door.

Rafe and Ward freeze, both of their eyes snapping to me. I don't need to say anything—they can see it on my face. I heard everything.

"Teresa..." Rafe starts, his voice soft but panicked. He steps toward me, but I step back, the distance between us feeling like a chasm.

"You killed her," I whisper, my voice trembling. "You killed her, and you lied to me about it."

His face twists in pain, and for a moment, I see the guilt written all over him. "Teresa, please, I did it for you. I had to. I couldn't let her hurt you again."

My mind is spinning, a storm of emotions crashing over me all at once. Anger, fear, sadness—it's all there. But underneath it all is something else. Understanding. He did it because he thought he had no other choice. But still... he lied.

"How could you keep this from me?" I whisper, my voice breaking.

"I didn't want you to hate me," he says quietly, taking another step closer, his eyes pleading. "I couldn't lose you."

Rafe's POV

The look on her face—it guts me. I see the shock, the anger, the hurt, and it kills me knowing that I'm the one who put it there. I took a life for her, and instead of relief, all I see is pain in her eyes.

"I did it for you," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. It sounds hollow now, even to me. What am I supposed to say? That killing Limbrey was easy? That I didn't lose sleep over it?

But I can't let her go. I won't let her go.

"Please," I beg, stepping forward again, reaching for her hand. She doesn't pull away this time, but she doesn't grab my hand either. Her fingers hang limp in mine, and that small distance between us feels like miles.

She looks at me, her eyes glassy, and the silence stretches out so long it feels like it's swallowing me whole. Finally, she takes a breath and looks up at me.

"I understand why you did it, Rafe," she whispers, her voice barely holding together. "But I need time. I can't... I can't process this right now."

"As long as you take that time here," I whisper, my voice tight with desperation, "it's okay. Just... stay with me."

I'll give her all the time she needs—as long as she stays. I'll do anything.

She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I think she might pull away completely, walk out the door and never come back. The thought makes my chest ache, my whole body tense.

But then she nods, just barely, and my breath catches in my throat. "I'll stay," she whispers, her voice soft but certain.

Relief floods through me so fast it almost knocks me over. I didn't realize how scared I was that she'd leave until she said those words. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close, but she's stiff, like she's still processing everything.

"I'll give you time," I murmur into her hair, holding her tightly. "I promise. I won't push. Just... stay with me. That's all I need."

She doesn't hug me back, but she doesn't pull away either. That's enough for now.