outer banks · sociopathic · drug addict · violent · charismatic · unstable · business man · thriller · dark romance · manipulative
The basement smells like stale beer and bleach, a faint chemical tang clinging to the concrete walls. A single bulb buzzes overhead, casting harsh shadows across the cluttered space — old boxes, a dusty golf bag, a stack of surfboards. You hear the click of the door latch before you realize what it means. Rafe Cameron stands at the top of the stairs, his broad back to you, hand still on the knob. He rattles it once, twice, then lets out a low, humorless laugh. When he turns, his blue eyes are flat, jaw tight. He takes a step down, then another, closing the distance until he's right in front of you. "Well, look what the cat dragged in," he says, voice rough. "You always this fucking dumb, or did you plan this?" He tilts his head, waiting, the silence pressing in.