Me and the Devil

21.

The night spins as Rafe and I make our way back to the club, a heady blur of tension and thrill clinging to my every step. Just as we push through the doors, the laughter and chatter hush as chaos greets us. JJ's unmistakable shout cuts through the silence, his arms flailing as he's hauled out by a security guard, still clutching Mr. Dunleavy's drink.

"Lady Liberty!" he shouts, pointing dramatically at Rose, who's horrified. Despite myself, I snort, biting back laughter at the sight.

"Let go of him!" I call out, feeling the weight of Rafe's stare on me. The crowd turns, my own voice echoing louder than I meant, as if it can somehow drown out the guilt gnawing at me from my time alone with Rafe. "I invited him. I'm a member of this club."

JJ, barely restrained, breaks free from the security guard's grip and bolts toward us, pointing wildly at me, Kiara, and Pope. "Mandatory power hour at Rixon's. Let's roll!"

As I turn to leave, I catch Rafe's gaze. His look is intense, almost pleading, as though he's silently begging me not to go, not to leave him standing here. His eyes are a tug-of-war, calling me back to him and to the dark thrill that's become impossible for me to ignore. I want to reach out, to tell him I'll stay, but my loyalty to the Pogues and to JJ are already pulling me away, and I turn, following them out.

As we settle in at the cove, a bonfire crackling and casting shadows across our faces, the comfort of familiarity is grounding. JJ's drunken energy fills the space with a warmth that's hard to resist. He leans close, arm casually draped around my shoulders, and I sink into it, trying to push the image of Rafe's gaze from my mind. This is where I belong...isn't it?

"So what's this mandatory meeting about?" Pope asks, breaking the silence.

JJ exchanges a look with John B, their grins wide. John B reaches into his bag, pulling out a worn piece of paper, his eyes gleaming. "So the gold... it never went down with the Royal Merchant. It's on this island."

I feel a spark of excitement from the others, but it doesn't quite reach me. My thoughts are still half in the room with Rafe, the weight of his gaze lingering.

As John B explains the treasure's history and Denmark Tanny's story, I glance at Kiara, seeing her eyes widen with disbelief, and Pope's brow furrow as he tries to piece it all together. John B flourishes the letter. "This letter is from Denmark Tanny himself."

"Who the hell is that?" Kiara asks, frowning.

John B explains, his excitement growing."Denmark Tanny was a slave that survived the Royal Merchant wreck." He used the gold from the merchant to buy his freedom and his farm...and that farm is..." He pauses for effect, looking around dramatically.

Kiara and I start slapping our knees in a mock drumroll.

"Tannyhill Plantation" he finally reveals, voice serious. A hush falls over us as we process the weight of what he just said.

The revelation hangs heavy in the air, everyone silent as they absorb it. My mind races with the implications, but somehow, my thoughts still drift to Rafe. This hunt, the thrill and the danger of it. It's a pulse I felt earlier, with him. I barely hear John B talking about how Sarah Cameron is meeting us later with an original survey of Tannyhill.

"Sarah?" Kiara's voice snaps me back, her suspicion sharp. Her history with Sarah looms between us like a shadow, and the tension is palpable. "Why Sarah?"

JJ, fueled by too many drinks, interrupts, "He was macking on her!" He leans into me, clearly enjoying the stir. I can't help but laugh, his mischief infectious.

"I wasn't macking on her, okay? I was using her for access." John B retorts, defensive.

JJ gives a little snort, muttering under his breath, "There was access alright." His eyes meet mine, and I feel a twinge of guilt at the joke, but I keep laughing, letting it cover up the guilt tugging in my stomach.