𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 | 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 |
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞?

𝐈 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏, my hands still shaking as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My makeup, once perfect, was now slightly smudged from the night. I couldn't believe this was real. I couldn't believe l'd actually called him for help. But I didn't have time to regret it.
A loud knock echoed from the other side of the door, snapping me back to reality. "How long are you going to be in there?" the man's impatient voice demanded.

"Just a second!" I called back, trying to keep my voice steady, hoping he couldn't hear the tremor in it. My fingers clenched around the sink, and I tried to breathe through the fear.

It felt like an eternity in that tiny, cold bathroom, counting the seconds, hoping Rafe was fast. Part of me wondered if he'd even show up. Maybe he'd think it wasn't worth the hassle, that my problems weren't his to solve.

Suddenly, I heard a commotion from outside the door. Raised voices, then a deep, unmistakable one that sent a wave of relief through me.

"Where is she?" Rafe's voice was hard and edged, and I could imagine the look on his face.

"What's it to you?" the man sneered back. "I paid for my time."
Rafe didn't respond, but I heard a scuffle, then a loud thud. Heart racing, I pressed my ear to the bathroom door, the silence outside thick and tense. Finally, a knock-a single, quiet one.

"Catalina," he called, his voice low but gentle this time. "It's me. You're safe."

I opened the door, and there he was, standing just a few feet away.
His jaw was clenched, a faint bruise forming on his cheek, but his eyes softened when he saw me. I couldn't tell if it was relief, concern, or anger that flared in them, but in that moment, I didn't care. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, unable to stop myself.

Rafe stiffened for a moment, then his arms came around me, his grip firm and reassuring. He smelled like a mix of his cologne and something that was uniquely him, and I felt a strange comfort in his embrace. For the first time in forever, I felt... safe.

"You're okay," he murmured, his hand brushing against my hair. "It's over."

I pulled back, looking up at him, searching his face. "Thank you," I whispered, the words feeling heavy but true.

His gaze held mine, and he lifted a hand, brushing a tear off my cheek with his thumb. "Don't thank me," he said quietly. "You shouldn't have had to call me in the first place."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
"Yeah, well... this world doesn't exactly hand out heroes."

His expression softened even more now."You're not going home, are you?"

I hesitated, glancing down. Going home wasn't an option, not tonight.

"No," I murmured. "I can't go back.
Not tonight."

He nodded as if he understood, then took my hand, leading me out
to his car. The ride back to his house was silent, the city lights casting a soft glow through the windows. When we arrived at his home, he parked a few blocks away, and we walked up quietly, sneaking through a side entrance. Our footsteps were almost not audible as we walked through the hallway. I could feel the adrenaline slowly wearing off, leaving exhaustion in us.

Once we were in his room, he turned to me. "Do you want to shower?" he asked softly, his voice unusually gentle.

I nodded, and he handed me a fresh towel and some of his clothes—a soft white T-shirt and grey sweatpants that hung loosely when I put them on.
The shower was warm, calming, and though I felt lighter afterward, I was still in disbelief about everything that had happened.

As I was dressed in Rafe's oversized shirt and sweats, I stepped out of the bathroom, still feeling raw and exposed despite the fresh clothes. Rafe was sitting at the edge of his bed, arms crossed, watching me with that unreadable gaze of his. When I met his eyes, he raised a brow, clearly holding back questions that he'd been waiting to ask.

After a moment, he cleared his throat. "Catalina... you've done this before, right?" His voice was low, careful. "What made tonight different?"

I hesitated, glancing down at my hands. How could I even begin to explain it? "It's... complicated."

He didn't look away, and somehow his steady gaze encouraged me to keep going. "Yeah, I've done it before," I admitted, the words bitter on my tongue. "But tonight... tonight it was just too much.Like i couldn't.."

"Like you couldn't breathe," he finished for me quietly. I glanced up, surprised by the understanding in his eyes.

"Exactly," I whispered. "The guy that has been there for Adriana and me... he's changing. The way he controls us, threatens us if we don't do what he says. I used to think I had some kind of choice, but now... it's different. And tonight, it was like I couldn't push it down anymore."

Rafe's expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he absorbed my words. "So you feel trapped. And... scared?"

I nodded, biting my lip. "I thought I could handle it, but now... I don't know anymore. Tonight, I just panicked."

For a moment, he didn't respond. Then he reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder, the warmth of his touch grounding me in a way I hadn't expected. "Catalina," he said, his voice steady, "You need to get out of this."

I looked up, surprised by the intensity in his eyes. "But... I don't know how and I have no one, Rafe. Adriana's in this as deep as I am, and my parents...nobody can find out about this."

He shook his head, frustration flickering across his face. "Nobody will."

I let that sink in, feeling the weight of his words. Part of me wanted to believe it, but another part of me knew better. Still, the way he looked at me, so fiercely protective, gave me a strange sense of hope.

"Thank you," I said quietly, my voice barely a whisper.

He held my gaze, nodding slightly. "Get some rest. I'll be here if you need anything."

As he turned to leave, I called out, "Rafe?"

He stopped, looking back at me.

"Why are you doing this? Helping me, I mean?" The question hung heavy in the air.

He paused, as if he wasn't sure how to answer. Then he shrugged, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Believe me, I asked myself the same thing the entire drive over."

But before he completely left, he added"This won't change anything between us though...don't worry"

𝜗𝜚

Rafes POV

As I finally settled into bed, my thoughts spun with everything that had happened. Catalina's face kept flashing in my mind—those wide, uncertain eyes, the vulnerability she'd tried so hard to hide. I knew I should let it go, let her go. She was chaos, a storm I hadn't asked for but couldn't seem to avoid.

Just as I felt sleep pulling me under, the door burst open.

"Where is she?" Sofia's voice sliced through the darkness, sharp and unhinged. "Where's that bitch? Is she here, Rafe?"