ALWAYS || RAFE CAMERON

70

the house was a mess.

Rafe and i surveyed the damage the next morning, our surprise growing with every room we entered.

after we had completed our patrol, i took a shower and wrapped myself in a dressing gown.

as i sat down at the vanity i spotted Rafe stood on the balcony, looking out at the garden.

"hey, you're the man, Rafe." a boy who's name i didn't know called as he walked across the lawn with a girl.

"it's gonna stay that way too," he replied.

he backed away from the balcony and came into the bedroom.

i watched in the mirror as he hunted through the drawers and eventually found what he was looking for.

a gun, which he tucked into his waistband.

"what are you doing with that?" i asked.

"i've got some business to take care of."

"are you going somewhere?"

"yeah. you just stay here, alright? i'll be back later."

"where are you going?"

"i said i have stuff to take care of, okay?"

"i'll come," i hopped up and pulled a t-shirt and shorts on.

"Juno-"

"i can help."

"you-"

"-can drive." i finished his sentence, tossing him his keys.

he moaned and grumbled as we walked out to his car.

we drove towards the cut, stopping just at the edge and pulling onto a dirt track.

it led to a little shack by the water, the surroundings overgrown with reeds.

"what are we doing here?" i asked.

"you're about to find out," he said, pushing open the door.

"Rafe," Ward stood with the help of his cane. "and Juno, you're here too."

"hi," i said awkwardly.

"how are you doing?"

"i'm-"

"look, i didn't come here for small talk, can we cut to the chase." Rafe interrupted.

"fine," Ward conceded. "you go right ahead."

"i'm taking care of the business, alright? i'm laying groundwork, i'm making connections. i'm trying to plant my flag here, okay? so you just need to go back to your island where it's safe and you need to stop jamming me up, okay? if you get caught here, it ruins everything."

Ward considered his son's words as he rifled around in a fishing box on his desk.

"i figured you'd know where to find me, of all people. i'm glad you did," he said after a while. "i think it's clear from what happened yesterday... i was right. you're on a very bad path, Rafe."

"your opinion, not mine. okay?" Rafe scoffed. "i'm good."

"you're making the same mistakes again and again—the same ones i did, okay?"

"yeah, right." Rafe pulled a face.

"i'm going to help you, son. i decided to make some changes."

"what are those?"

"i'm taking control of the company away from you."

"what?" Rafe missed a beat.

"you're not in charge anymore, Rafe."