𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃─𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬

one hundred thirty three.

─☼☼☼─

"ARE YOU FUCKING kidding me?" Charlotte demanded, jaw slack as she watched Rafe pull a wad of cash and a passport from a hidden money belt. It was the first thing he'd done after ensuring she was okay when they had been let go. "What's wrong with you?"

Rafe looked over at her, brows raised. "What?"

"What do you mean what?" Charlotte snapped, taking a few extra steps so she could keep up with him. "Your sister was just starving and we had to resort to theft, which if I need to remind you did not go well, and now you're deciding to reveal that?"

Rafe grinned at her as if it was amusing. "My sweet Lottie, do you really think I was going to let your friends get a hold of any of this? Need I remind you that they kept me locked in a room for the past two weeks?"

Touché.

"We're going back for them," she declared, deciding against admitting her had a point. "We have to make sure they got away."

She had just turned to follow in the direction her friends had gone when Rafe caught her wrist, preventing her from moving any further. "No," he argued, gently tugging her so she turned to face him. "We're screwed if we go after them."

Charlotte furrowed her brows, face crinkling in desperation. "I know you don't have a problem doing so, but I can't just abandon them."

Rafe softened his voice as he spoke, as if he knew outright arguing with her would get them nowhere. "Look, Lottie, I get it, okay? But we go back there and we're just as guilty as them. They'll arrest us in a heartbeat. You don't have a passport, and I'm not letting you get caught up in that, alright? You and I find Groff, and then we'll find them. If it means that much to you, we'll find them."

Charlotte knew by the look on his face, the tone of his voice, that he didn't want to make the same mistakes he had made years ago after the Coastal Adventure. When he had kept her from her friends and sister and she had spent almost every moment thinking of them, trying to get to them.

Shocking both of them, Charlotte finally nodded. "Fine," she agreed. "But the minute you have what you need from Groff, we're finding them. I'm not playing any fucking games."

Rafe looked like a child on Christmas morning. Finally they were on the same page. No arguing, no convincing, just them working together.

"Alright, stay right next to me," he ordered, intertwining their hands. "Do not leave my side for any reason, got it? If we get split up, meet back at the city walls, okay?"

Charlotte mock saluted him with her free hand. "Got it, boss."

─☼☼☼─

Walking through the streets of Essaouira when it was just the two of them was a lot easier than when it was eight of them. Rafe seemed to tower over the locals, easily navigating the two of them through the busy streets. Charlotte couldn't lie, something about the two of them walking hand-in-hand was nice, almost comforting.

They made various stops to stock up on what they would need; Rafe bought each of them a phone, being sure to swap numbers in case of emergencies, new outfits to help them blend in, and a knife. The old Charlotte would have been uneasy about him carrying a weapon, but the current Charlotte was relieved to know they'd have protection if needed.