Into the Smoke🤍

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The tension in the Cameron household was palpable, like a storm brewing just beyond the horizon. You could hear Ward's raised voice from the study, the sharp edge of his tone cutting through the otherwise quiet evening. Rose's attempts to mediate were met with curt replies, and the whole atmosphere felt on the verge of snapping.

You sat outside on the patio, your knees pulled to your chest, the humid air clinging to your skin as you watched the marsh in the distance. Normally, the serene view brought you peace, but tonight, it only mirrored the unease knotting in your stomach. Rafe had been in and out all day, restless and distant, his mood darker than usual.

The creak of the screen door behind you broke your thoughts. You turned to see Rafe stepping out, his shoulders stiff, his hands shoved into his pockets. His blonde hair was messier than usual, and his jaw was clenched so tightly you worried he might crack a tooth.

"Hey," you said softly, standing as he approached. "You okay?"

He didn't answer right away, brushing past you to lean against the railing. He stared out at the marsh, his blue eyes distant and unfocused. You could feel the weight of whatever was on his mind pressing down on him.

"Rafe," you tried again, stepping closer. "What's going on? You've been like this all day."

He finally turned to you, his expression a mix of frustration and something more vulnerable, something he was trying desperately to hide. "It's my dad," he said, his voice low and tight.

You frowned, reaching out to touch his arm. "What about him?"

Rafe hesitated, as if weighing whether to tell you, then let out a bitter laugh. "He's planning something. Something big. He's gonna fake his death."

Your eyes widened, and you instinctively took a step closer. "What? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "He's gonna blow up the boat, make it look like an accident, and disappear. All to get away clean."

The words hit you like a punch to the gut. You knew Ward Cameron was capable of a lot, but this... this was another level. "And you're okay with this?" you asked cautiously.

"Doesn't matter if I'm okay with it," Rafe snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. "It's happening. He's already made up his mind, and guess who gets to clean up the mess?"

"Rafe..." You reached for him, but he pulled away, pacing like a caged animal.

"You don't get it, Y/N," he said, his voice rising. "I've been trying my whole life to prove to him I'm not a screw-up. That I can handle this. And now, when he finally needs me, I can't afford to mess it up."

His words stung, not because they were directed at you, but because of how deeply he believed them. "You're not a screw-up," you said firmly. "You don't have to do this just to make him proud."

Rafe stopped pacing, his hands on his hips as he looked at you. "Yeah? Then who else is gonna step up? Sarah? She doesn't give a damn about this family anymore. It's all on me."

You took a deep breath, trying to steady your racing heart. "This isn't on you, Rafe. Ward made his choices. He's dragging you into something dangerous, and you don't have to go along with it."

Before he could respond, a loud explosion ripped through the air, shaking the ground beneath your feet. You both froze, your eyes widening as smoke billowed up from the marsh in the distance.

"Oh my god," you whispered, your hands flying to your mouth. "He actually did it."

Rafe didn't say anything at first, his chest heaving as he stared at the plume of smoke. "He's gone," he said finally, his voice hollow. "My dad's gone."

You turned to him, grabbing his arms and forcing him to face you. "No, he's not," you said firmly. "He planned this, remember? He's alive, Rafe."

Rafe's eyes met yours, and for a moment, you saw the raw pain beneath his anger—the pain of a son who had been abandoned in the worst possible way. "He left me to clean up his mess," he muttered, his voice breaking. "He always leaves me to clean it up."

Your heart ached for him, and you pulled him into a hug. He resisted at first, but then his arms wrapped around you tightly, his head burying in your shoulder. "You're not alone in this," you said softly. "I'm here, Rafe. I'll always be here."

He held onto you like a lifeline, his body trembling slightly as the weight of everything hit him. But the moment didn't last long. The sound of sirens in the distance shattered the quiet, and Rafe pulled back, his face hardening once again.

"I have to go," he said, his voice steady but distant.

"Rafe—"

"I'll be fine," he said quickly, brushing past you. "I'll see you later."

You watched him disappear into the house, your heart sinking as the reality of the situation settled over you. Rafe was in deeper than ever, and no matter how much you wanted to protect him, you couldn't pull him out of it.

But you weren't giving up on him. Not now, not ever.

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