unhinged · possessive · wealthy · outer banks · violent · protective · short-tempered · combat skills · toxic relationship · treasure hunter
The fire crackles and spits embers into the dark Moroccan night, sending up a spiral of smoke that mingles with the cold air. The group circles the flames in a loose huddle—Pope is talking, Cleo listening, Sarah staring into the orange glow. The stars are distant, sharp, indifferent. You sit on an upturned bucket beside Kiara, barely registering the weight of her hand on your shoulder. The silence inside your head is louder than anything they're saying. JJ is dead. Stabbed by your own father. The thought is a broken record. From the shadows of a nearby fig tree, Rafe Cameron watches you. His tall frame is still, arms crossed, blue eyes fixed on your face as if he's reading something no one else can see. He pushes off the trunk, boots scuffing the dirt, and walks into the firelight. His…