WILD RIDE (Rafe Cameron x OC) *COMPLETE*

Chapter Eighty-Seven (Alana)

CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN

Alana

When I was eleven years old John B and I were messing around the house. It was pouring rain outside and Big John was in his office. Locked in there like always but he was working away. Obviously now it was on the Royal Merchant and El Dorado shit.

He told us if we were going to be rowdy to take it outside and go get our energy out. "Run around a tree!" Is exactly what he'd say. "Run around a tree and get that energy out then you can come back inside!"

So we did. We ran. And we ran. And we ran. Little did we know that "Run around a tree" meant "Fuck off" in adult.

Coming back into the house were soaked from head to toe. I had made it all the way to the top of the stairs before I slipped and fell all the way back down the hardwood stairs. My ankle was busted. My lip was bleeding. My wrist twisted in another direction.

Even at eleven years old, that pain still is nothing compared to the pain I feel right now in my lower stomach and my hip.

I didn't want to tell Rafe that I got hurt on the boat. Not once but twice. I didn't want to tell him that I'm pretty sure I've got some shards of glass in my hip as well which might be why I'm bleeding the way I am.

I didn't want to scare him more than he already was.

Pope and Cleo take off in one direction to fight off the mercenaries. What's left of them that is. We somehow end up in this enclosed room. John B, Sarah, Kie, and JJ surround me and Rafe. Begging for the scroll.

JJ steps toward Rafe and Rafe takes a step back. "Don't come near me." Rare warns JJ. "Don't do it, man. You- you're the last person I ever want to talk to. Last person I ever want to look at."

"None of that shit matters anymore, man. You won." JJ throws his hands up over his hair and laughs with a scoff. "You won, Rafe... You got everything I thought I had. And you grew with it. You took that girl and made her fall in love. You made a family.. You.. You did it all in less time than I did. You won."

"It's not a competition." I tell JJ then I turn to Rafe. "Give them the scroll and the amulet.. Please."

Rafe shakes his head. "I'm not giving it to JJ. No fucking way."

"Then give it to Sarah." I grit through my teeth. "Give it to me and I'll-"

"No." Rafe argues. "No.. No fucking way." He turns back to JJ. "We're all in this mess because of you. You fucked my sister over on her share of the gold you all got from El Dorado. You lost it at the race. Topper's face when he realized what he got as part of his wins? I knew that chunk of gold was from your dumb ass. JJ, I can't forgive you. Groff fucked me over and tried to kill me and my wife!"

"That's not my fault! I didn't ask to be born!"

Rafe grunts loudly. "No! But when you've seen what fucked up fathers are capable of- especially ones who play hide and seek? You should have been more cautious. But you weren't. You put everyone in danger. Look at all of us now!"

"Rafe." JJ steps closer. "You know this isn't about me putting anyone in danger. You know exactly what this is about and right now? Now we need to squash it. Right here."

"We don't have time for this," I say looking around. "Rafe just hand him the shit and we can go. I need to sit; Sarah needs to sit and be kept safe-"

"In a minute!" Rafe and JJ shout at the same time.

Rafe glares at JJ. "So, tell me what it's about. Lay it down for me, Maybank."