I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 18

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 18

Jessie woke up to the sun on her face and a view of the ocean. She had to admit, the view from her room was breathtaking.

Her phone buzzed and she realized it was JJ calling.

"Good morning." Jessie said kindly.

"Good morning, muchacho." JJ exclaimed so loud that Jessie had to hold the phone away from her ear a little bit.

"Why're you so happy?" She laughed. "Someone get laid?" She joked.

"I wish, but it sounds like you did last night." JJ retorted back.

"What're you talking about?" Jessie scoffed.

"Don't act all slick, we heard your conversations last night. 'You're not a bad man, Rafe Cameron.'" JJ imitated in a girly voice. "He bought that shit hook line and sinker! You're a genius, Jess. I knew we could count on you." JJ explained.

Jessie just giggled through the phone. Deep down she knew that what she said last night wasn't for show, it was all true. Rafe wasn't a bad man, never was. Whether anyone else could see it or not, Jessie knew Rafe was truly a victim of circumstance, always rightfully provoked to do the next bad thing.

"Just glad I could help, little brother." Jessie responded with an eye roll that JJ could hear through the phone.

"So what're you going to do today." JJ inquired.

"Oh I don't know, probably lure Rafe in with my bedroom eyes and then kill him in his sleep, since that's apparently what I do now." Jessie sassed.

"That's actually one of your better ideas." JJ declared, a very serious tone evident in his words.

"Oh whatever, JJ. I don't know what we'll do today, but keep listening."

"Ok, well, we have a flight back for you tomorrow morning. Do you think it'll be enough time?" Jessie had to ponder that. Tomorrow morning, already? Truth is, she wasn't quite ready to leave Rafe. She didn't know if she would ever be able to leave Rafe again. She knew it would kill him. Who was she kidding? She had a daughter to think about, she wasn't here for Rafe... was she?

"Uh, I'll have to get back with you on that." Was all Jessie could come up with.

"What do you mean? It's an easy mission, Jess. He's getting the money right?" JJ asked with a tinge of worry.

"I'm not completely sure, he hasn't told me how he's doing it, but... I'm trying." She sighed. JJ believed her.

"Alright, well just let me know sis. We've got your back."

"Thanks." Jessie smiled, "I'll talk to you later."

"Love you, bye." JJ answered.

That phone call with JJ snapped Jessie back to reality. She had a daughter to get back to, and a whole different life to live. She left Rafe for a reason. He was still using, she was pretty sure. Although, she hadn't seen him use since she'd been there. He also didn't seem strung out at all. Surely she didn't think this could work out, right? She had to remember why she was here: to get the money for the pogues and get the hell out of dodge. But there was something about Rafe that she couldn't shake, no matter how many years had passed.

Jessie made her way down the stairs, this time not caring to sneak as she walked into Rafe cooking over the stove, shirtless of course. Well that wasn't really helping Jessie's prior conversation with herself. So much for sticking to her guns, how could she when his guns looked like that? Calm down, Jessie. She took a deep breath.

"Good morning, beautiful." Rafe said with a smile as he swung from the stove to the island with a pan of bacon in his hands. He looked so content, like a little boy who had never been bothered in his life. How untrue that was.

Jessie remembered a morning just like this.

***

"Good morning, beautiful." Rafe grinned as Jessie rolled out of bed and into the kitchen of their airbnb. Rafe was making bacon, eggs, and pancakes.

Since the fight happened with Luke a few days ago, Rafe thought it would be best to take Jessie on a small vacation, really just anywhere to get Jessie's mind off of things... and Rafe's too for that matter. Rafe knew they were both tired of sneaking around and constantly worrying about their next move, so he decided this would be a good change of pace for them. Rafe had been working all summer with his dad so he was getting a cut of some deals, not to mention, he had a very decent side hustle of selling coke for Barry at parties.

"Good morning, handsome." Jessie replied as she stretched in the island seat she was sitting in. "Whatcha cooking?" She asked.

"Bacon, eggs, and pancakes." Rafe replied as he was focused back on the stove. "Is that okay?" He asked, hoping she liked that.

"Absolutely, it sounds delicious. I could eat a horse." Jessie joked.

"I figured you were hungry after such a long night." Rafe smirked. Jessie knew exactly what he was referring to. They did... enjoy each other's company. Jessie just blushed and giggled and looked down at the island counter in front of her, tracing the marble with her fingers.

"You know what would make these pancakes better?" Jessie inquired as she made her way to one of the cabinets.

"You helping me make these without my shirt on." Rafe whispered as he snaked his hand up her torso and around her waist, pulling her into him.

"Nooooo," she joked, trying to block the incoming kisses to her neck by tucking her head in her shoulder. "Chocolate chips." She replied with the bag in her hand as she spun around.

"Anything you want, baby." Rafe smiled as he kissed her. He took the chocolate chips from her and put a few in each pancake.

"More." Jessie scolded as she watched him over the counter. Rafe didn't even look back, he just laughed and put more chips in the batter.

Breakfast was finally made and they sat down to eat together.

"Thank you for my food. It's delicious." Jessie declared with a mouthful.

"You're welcome, babe." Rafe replied flirtatiously as he leaned in closer to Jessie. Jessie was still eating like she hadn't seen food in weeks. Granted, she never had anyone make her food like this. "Are you gonna stop eating long enough to give me a kiss?" Rafe asked softly, his face still close to hers. Jessie realized what he was doing, chewed her food as fast as she could, and kissed him. Rafe couldn't help but laugh, he found it adorable. Jessie normally wasn't one to give off adorable vibes, but when she was with Rafe she was comfortable enough to do so. He loved every second of it.

"So what do you want to do today?" Rafe asked. "There's plenty to do in Charlotte."

Charlotte, North Carolina was filled with things to do. Jessie was overwhelmed with the possibilities when she looked online, she had never been on a vacation before, so she was easily impressed. Rafe secretly wished he could've taken her some place better, but with so little time Charlotte was the best he could do. Jessie was more than thrilled with the choice.

"Well, we could go to the Botanical gardens, or go shopping, or go to the museums, and- ooh, there's also the NASCAR hall of fame and-"

"Slow down there, slick. What excites you the most?" Rafe asked. Jessie really couldn't decide, she loved the idea of it all.

"Hmm." Jessie thought as she tapped her finger against her face, which was healing much better now. "I choose... the botanical gardens."

Flowers? That choice really surprised Rafe. Jessie wasn't one to stop and smell the roses- literally. Nonetheless, he didn't dare argue. This trip was about her, and whatever she wanted, she got.

"Well then let's get going." Rafe demanded as he stood up from his chair and took their plates.

***

Jessie loved that trip. She needed that trip. She had to pull herself out of her thoughts to actually respond to the shirtless man in front of her.

"Good morning, handsome." She flirted back. Nobody said she couldn't flirt, right? Her muscle memory almost took over as she fought the urge to go up to Rafe and plant one on him.

"Made your favorite." Rafe smiled as he slid the plate in front of her.

"You remembered." Jessie exclaimed softly, truly shocked by the act.

"How could I forget?" Rafe shrugged as if it was the most well known fact.

"Thank you, Mr. Cameron." Jessie joked as she began to eat her food.

"Anything for you, Mrs. Cameron." Rafe responded, although he wasn't joking at all. Jessie didn't know how to respond, all she could do was try to ignore the butterflies. She hadn't heard anyone call her that in a very long time. After all, it was only Rafe who even knew to call her that.

"What are you doing today?" Jessie asked, "Hopefully you're getting me what I'm owed." She threatened, clearly trying to remain on task. Rafe wasn't phased.

"Actually, I was hoping you and I could have a day out." Rafe hinted.

Jessie didn't look up from her plate, instead, she just played with her fork as she tried to figure out Rafe's motive. Was he just stalling from getting her money? Did he actually want to spend time with her?

"That's not a very proactive way to spend your time considering I'm flying out of here tomorrow morning." Jessie stated plainly, never once looking away from her breakfast.

Rafe's face fell.

"Yeah, well, I want to spend every second with you that I can." He said with sadness, clearly wishing Jessie would get the hint. She had to continue to resist.

"Whatever." Jessie shrugged with a sigh as she went back to shoving the pancakes in her mouth.

"Some things never change." Rafe chuckled. "You still eat that like it's the last thing you'll ever eat."

Jessie took notice and suddenly became embarrassed and slowed down.

"After breakfast why don't you get dressed and meet me down here. I'll show you the Bahamas. Wear a swimsuit just in case." Rafe stated.

Jessie didn't argue, she really didn't want to. Besides, she knew this would be good for her as long as he didn't mix business with pleasure.

— Nitya Prakash

I’ll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 20

When they finally got back to the house it was clear Rafe didn't want to talk. He walked straight to his room but before he could get there he heard Jessie's voice.

"Rafe." She commanded. Her voice always perked his ears. Some things never changed. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't ignore that sweet voice. Rafe stopped in his tracks, not daring to turn around and look at Jessie.

"Can we please not let it end like this." Jessie pleaded. She sounded on the verge of tears, maybe this really did tear her apart as much as it did him? He took notice of the desperation in her voice. Still, his heart hardened back like it did years ago.

"You've let things end way worse." Rafe spat, still looking at the floor in front of him as he tried to get his anger under control.

Jessie deserved that one. She couldn't argue, but she had to keep Rafe engaged. She convinced herself it was strictly for strategy. 

"Let's do something." Jessie hinted as she walked closer to him. "Let's... go find a party to crash or something... like we used to. Something to get our minds somewhere else." She whispered as she touched his shoulder to spin him around.

Rafe looked at Jessie with teary eyes and yet with so much rage. Jessie didn't flinch, she still knew Rafe better than anyone.

"Come on, Rafe. You know it'd be fun. It'd be good for us."

"You really think partying is good for us?" Rafe scoffed.

Jessie thought for a second. That is what got in the way of them in the first place, but it was also what brought them together.

"You always told me you wanted my freedom. You always said you appreciated my ability to just let go and have fun. Well now you have that freedom. Use it." Jessie whispered as she cupped the side of his face. Rafe couldn't help but calm down just a little when she did that. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"You've got 10 minutes to change and meet me back down here." Rafe commanded as he walked away.

Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. She was back in the game.

Jessie ran upstairs to find a cute dress in Sarah's summer closet. She opted for a short, satin, olive green dress with spaghetti straps and a loose v neckline. She wore her very old, very dirty converse, she knew Rafe would remember them.

Jessie slipped down the stairs, this time waiting on Rafe. Rafe came around the corner in a white button down shirt and some simple jeans. Rafe stopped when he saw Jessie, eyeing her up and down with lust in his eyes. He laughed when he checked out her shoes.

"You're still wearing those dirty old things?"

"You know I don't party without them." Jessie simply replied. Rafe knew she was right, she never was much for heels. Jessie extended her hand. "You ready to go?"

"I don't know where we're going but sure." Rafe exclaimed as he met his hand with Jessie's. Jessie tightened her grip and pulled Rafe out the door.

Neither one of them knew exactly where they'd end up, but they landed on a local hot spot, a hidden club down in the depths of the city.

Rafe and Jessie bellied up to the bar. Jessie secretly wanted her high noons, but she figured in a more upscale place like this, she better settle for an actual mixed drink. She decided on a Moscow mule, she did enjoy those from time to time.

"I'll have what she's having." Rafe said.

"Two Moscow mules please." Jessie asked kindly to the bartender. Rafe looked over at her inquisitively.

"What about your high noons? Not even a mai tai or..." Rafe furrowed his brows in confusion.

"This isn't exactly our old party scene, Rafe. This place calls for something a little more fancy than what we used to drink. I don't think we'll be drinking out of solo cups." Jessie joked as the bartender passed them both of their drinks.

"Yeah, but still... when did you start drinking stuff like this." Rafe questioned as he took a sip, not liking the very acquired taste.

Jessie laughed at his puckered face. "Since I grew up." She joked as she brought the copper cup to her lips.

"Well you've grown up alright, that tastes like something an old lady would drink." Rafe retorted as he puckered his lips like a child eating lemon for the first time. Jessie put her hand over her heart pretending to act offended.

"Well this old lady has still got it." Jessie sassed as she got off of her chair and tried to pull Rafe with her to the dance floor. Rafe stayed planted and looked at Jessie knowingly.

"You know I don't dance." Rafe slightly yelled over the loud music with a half smile. Rafe never was one to dance at parties or clubs or anything of the sort, the only exception was when he would get to slow dance with Jessie, and this clearly wasn't one of those times.

"You are in a city thousands of miles away from home in a club where absolutely nobody knows you. And you still can't find freedom in that and just get off your butt and dance?!" Jessie challenged Rafe with a knowing smile on her face. Rafe tried not to get lost in her longing eyes as he just smiled at her and shook his head no.

"I'll watch." He answered plainly.

"Oh I'm sure you will." Jessie scoffed followed by a smirk. With that, she left Rafe to sip on his drink. He took another taste, completely forgetting that he hated it. He was reminded very quickly as he tried not to spit it out.

"Hey man," Rafe waved the bartender over, "Can I get something different? Literally anything." Rafe laughed. The bartender understood the assignment as he chuckled.

"Whiskey on rocks coming right up."

Rafe admired Jessie as she weaved through the crowd of people. She didn't have a dance partner but she didn't care. She never did. That's what made Rafe fall in love in the first place. Just like the first night at the Island Club, Rafe watched Jessie's every move. Jessie knew Rafe was watching, and she intentionally calculated every move because of it. She was going to get him on the dance floor, no matter how long it took. This assignment had nothing to do with the gold, it was strictly for her pleasure knowing that she could still pull Rafe in, hook, line, and sinker.

After a few songs and a few more sips of her drink, Jessie made a few friends out on the dance floor. How could she not? Jessie loved this scene, she was never afraid of anyone. Rafe loved that she didn't care about social graces or being awkward, she genuinely had never met a stranger, and nobody was too good or too bad for her. After all these years and Rafe still couldn't have the freedom- the zest for life- that she had. He couldn't let himself be truly careless no matter how hard he tried.

An hour went by and Jessie still hadn't made her way off the dance floor for more than enough time to get a drink. She wasn't drunk by any means, not even tipsy.

"You're not drinking a whole lot?" Rafe questioned the next time Jessie brought herself back to the bar.

"I told you, I don't really drink much anymore."

That was true, Jessie really hasn't drank since she left, not enough to get drunk anyways. She didn't really miss it like she thought she would, but she most definitely still enjoyed the change of pace.

Rafe wanted to ask why, but he knew what the answer would be. She'd grown up. She'd moved on from her old life. Rafe couldn't say the same. Rafe hung his head a little lower with a tinge of sadness as he realized that him and Jessie were most likely in two different stages of life. Maybe there was no hope for them after all. Rafe began to think he'd just be holding her back if he tried to pursue her any further. He didn't know what specifically she was doing nowadays, but he could tell she was successful and happy in her own way.  Rafe loved her too much to mess that up.

"Are you ready to dance yet?" Jessie asked with annoyance as she pulled on Rafe's arm, successfully pulling him out of his running thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, no I'm still watching." Rafe replied with a smile as he quickly grabbed the lifeline that was his drink and gripped it tightly as he brought it to his lips.

By the look on Jessie's face she still didn't like that answer, and was clearly judging him for it, but she went back to dance with her newfound friends with a very visible huff and puff of annoyance.

"If I gave you every piece of me I know that you could drop it."

The song began to play and Jessie could once again feel her body move in a way that was all too familiar. The sway of her hips and the placement of her arms was like riding a bike. She let the music take over as she danced to the beat with perfect rhythm. As Jessie perused across the floor, every movement making Rafe's body ache with longing, she made sure to steal a glance over at her husband every chance she got. Jessie seemed to move in slow motion for Rafe, every movement seeming more isolated and intentional as the blue lights bounced off her dress and illuminated her skin perfectly. He watched her hair cascade and fall perfectly with every flip of her head along her exposed shoulders and trailing neckline. He noticed every little detail like her dress riding up a little too much for his liking or her body getting a little too close to the others around her. Jessie knew Rafe was undressing her in his mind, and that was how she wanted it. She missed the feeling of being Rafe's vice. She could see the hot anger welling up inside him, the same anger she used to see from him when they were teenagers and she was dancing at parties with him just lurking along the sidelines, waiting for his moment to intervene when a man got too close.

Rafe finally couldn't take it anymore. She knew what she was doing. He finally stomped out on the floor and took her hips in his hands to stop them.

"You know what you're doing." Rafe hummed with a clenched jaw. Jessie turned around to face him with a smirk, placing her hands on his chest and moving closer into him, still lightly dancing.

"Oh do I?" Jessie smirked as she fixed the collar of Rafe's shirt and unbuttoned the top button with one quick snap of her fingers. "Well you need to let lose." She stated as she looked directly in his eyes with just as much lust for him as he had for her. Rafe stood there motionless, not wanting to move, but scared to stay.

"If I showed you all my demons and we dive into the deep end would we crash and burn like every time before?"

Jessie turned around and placed Rafe's hands on her hips as she had one arm snaked around his neck. She swayed to the music as she leaned into Rafe, him enjoying every second of it. It was growing increasingly difficult for Rafe's hands not to roam.

Jessie spun around and wrapped her arms around Rafe's neck as she moved with the music. Jessie looked directly into Rafe's eyes, seeing he was having a hard time staying focused, she laughed to herself.

Rafe's hands couldn't help but explore her body more, moving up and down and any which way he could among the sea of people. Rafe clenched his jaw as if to not say something he'd regret. He began to squeeze Jessie's hips tighter in an attempt to release some of the energy he had pent up in the moment. Jessie noticed, and she didn't mind.

One thing is for sure, their chemistry never left. After four years, their bodies still moved together in perfect rhythm, and their flirting was timeless. Jessie still knew exactly how to get under Rafe's skin, and Rafe knew exactly how to get what he wanted.

Jessie began to close the distance as she connected her forehead to Rafe's, he leaned down a little to make it easier for her. Jessie tried to control her breathing, which was growing increasingly hard to do as she had been dancing for a long time.

"You still feel like partying wasn't the best idea?" Jessie smirked as she never broke eye contact with Rafe. He didn't say anything. Hell, he couldn't. What he wanted to say was not for anyone else to hear.

"If the only other options letting go, I'll stay vulnerable."

Jessie and Rafe couldn't help but listen to the message of the song playing above them. They both agreed in their hearts that they would rather  crash and burn by the hand of the other as many times as they could than forget about what they had.

"You know what we used to do after parties?" Rafe asked seriously.

Jessie just nodded with a sheepish smile. She knew where this was going. She couldn't fight against it any longer. She didn't want to let Rafe go, not again. She needed to stay vulnerable to save what they had.

With no more words left to say, Rafe pulled Jessie off the dance floor with her hand held firmly in his and left the club. Rafe secretly wished that they weren't on his motorcycle. At least then if they were in a chauffeured car like the night before, Rafe could do what he had been wanting to do all night. Instead, he had to wait until they got home.

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 5

"Alright so, you remember years ago when my dad went looking for the Royal Merchant treasure?" John B asked Jessie after they made their way back into the Chateau.

"How could I not?" Jessie scoffed, never forgetting Big John's obsession with treasure hunting.

"So, my dad died looking for that treasure-"

"Ward Cameron killed him." JJ butted in quickly as he stuck his pointer finger up in the air matter-of-factly.

"What the-" Jessie proclaimed, only to be interrupted by John B once more.

"Yeah, yeah, anyways. We found the gold." John B finished with hope in his eyes as he laid all their evidence out on the table in front of Jessie. The map of Tanny Hill, the pictures of the archives, etc.

"But when we found the gold, my dad got wind of it, bought the property that housed the gold and seized it for himself." Sarah said with defeat in her voice, as if to say she was ashamed of her father's actions.

Jessie scoffed "Not surprising" was all she could say as she leaned back in her chair and rested her chin on her hand. "So what does this have to do with me?"

"Well," John B began with a much softer tone. "Ward... killed himself after he realized he was caught for the murder of Sheriff Peterkin."

"Wait.. what? Sheriff Peterkin-"

"Is dead, yes. Minor detail." JJ answered swiftly as if to say that they need to move on.

However, this was anything but a minor detail to Jessie, she couldn't believe Sheriff Peterkin was dead-- she had a long history with that woman. Peterkin was the only person on that island that believed in Jessie, believed that she could be something more than the troubled daughter of a dead beat drug addict. Peterkin got Jessie her first job as a waitress at the country club when she was only sixteen. Peterkin always bailed Jessie out of trouble in anyway she could. Jessie couldn't believe it.

"Except it wasn't actually Ward that killed Peterkin... it was Rafe" Sarah said with even more guilt in her voice, so much guilt she couldn't even look at Jessie.

Jessie popped her head up. Just the mention of his name again sent shivers down her spine. Her look was no longer a look of confusion, but one of stone-cold annoyance. Yet she still had nothing to say to that, letting the rest of the Pogues continue.

"So Ward took the blame for Peterkin's murder and Rafe is now the sole proprietor of Cameron construction... and the gold." Kiara exclaimed.

"Are you kidding?" Jessie scoffed with a smirk. "Ward took the blame for something Rafe did? No, no, there's gotta be more to that. Ward hates Rafe-"

"Hated... Rafe." Sarah interrupted, now the one who was annoyed with Jessie. "Rafe changed after you left." Sarah sassed.

"Oh and you think that's my fault? Look here little miss kook princess, I don't owe you or-" Jessie said defiantly as she stood up and made her way over to Sarah. She dreamed of the moment where she could tell off a Cameron, any Cameron would do.

"Woah, woah, woah. Calm down! She is not the enemy here." John B butted in as he got in between the two girls, clearly saving Sarah in the situation.

"So again... what does this have to do with me?" Jessie said sharply as she looked around the room demanding an answer.

The room went quiet. JJ finally moved closer to Jessie, knowing that this had to come from him.

"Jessie," he sighed, "You're the only person that can do this." He looked down at his lap. Jessie sat back down motionless with her eyes fixed on JJ waiting for him to say more. "You have to convince him to give up the gold." JJ said as he looked up with a stone-cold expression of determination.

"No way." Jessie said angrily as she stood up from her chair and started pacing around the porch. "I left because of him JJ and you know that!"

JJ knew this was going to happen. He knew she wouldn't go for this and he knew she would be angry at him. He already regretted his decision. He knew he was now picking at old wounds that Jessie never asked to be opened. Still, he persisted.

"Jessie, I know this is really hard for you. But what's happening it's, it's... injustice!" JJ replied with conviction in his voice.

"Injustice? You wanna know what's injustice? Asking me to fly thousands of miles to see my baby brother thinking he was this close to being dead or in prison for the rest of his life, only to find out that he wants to me to be some ploy in a plot to steal back some gold?!" Jessie yelled with a look of both confusion and anger. "I vowed the day I left to never be a pawn in Rafe's game ever again, and I'll be damned if I-"

"Jessie, please... for me." JJ begged with a look of desperation in his face. It looked as if JJ was about to get down on his knees next and beg with his hat in his hands.

Jessie breathed out a long, angry breath and looked out at the water for a moment to collect her thoughts.

"What if he doesn't give in." Jessie said as she threw her hands up in the air. She wondered if they had even thought of that possibility. After all, it had been four years, surely he had moved on. Jessie hadn't, but that wasn't the point.

"He will." Sarah said with a confident, stolid look on her face. Sarah knew what Jessie meant to Rafe. Even after years of time apart and plenty of random hook ups and drugs to make him forget about her. Sarah knew there was no one like Jessie. "It will work, Jessie. He will always come running back to you." Sarah proclaimed.

"Oh please." Jessie scoffed with a disgusted look on her face as she looked out into the water again, possibly to throw up. "You guys can't be serious?" She asked.

"Trust me, we've tried everything else, Jess." JJ said softly as he walked up to her and put his hand on her back. "You are our last chance."

"You just have to seduce him long enough to convince him to do the right thing." Kiara added.

"I won't have to seduce him." Jessie said as she stared at the ground, as if she had just remembered something that could change the whole narrative. This statement only confused everyone, but finally JJ spoke up.

"W-what do you mean?" he asked with furrowed brows.

"I said, I won't have to seduce him." Jessie replied looking up and back at JJ with annoyance in her voice as if to say that JJ should not have questioned her.

"....oooookayyyy." JJ replied in only a way that he can, with confusion and yet with sass.

Jessie had to take this all in. What about her daughter? How long would this take? What all was involved? Could she even bare to see Rafe again? Would it fill her with too much rage, sadness... joy? Jessie put it all out of her mind, trying to get back to her teenage state of mind, where she would have thought and acted out of impulse. What does she have to lose right? Only everything this time. Now that she's an adult, she has a family, a life worth living, a steady income, a purpose, all things she didn't have before she left. And now she's going to throw it all away? For JJ? Yes, for JJ.

"What do you need me to do first." She sassed with a clear look of disapproval on her face. They all sighed with relief and a smile came to their faces, but JJ's smile was no doubt the biggest.

"He's taken the gold to the Bahamas at their summer home. We need you to meet him there. You'll get a cut of the-" Pope said frantically, as if at any moment she would change her mind.

"I don't want a damn cut." She said coldly. "I want this done, and over with. As soon as my job is done, it's over."

JJ didn't expect that, not even from Jessie. Sure she was calloused and guarded but... she doesn't want to share in the reward? She doesn't want to spend any extra time with her brother? The thought hurt him, but he put it aside as they calculated their next move. The awkward silence finally faded.

"We've gotta get you to the Bahamas." Pope said.

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 15

Rafe and Jessie drove back to the mansion after their less than stellar evening. The food was great, the company not so much. Rafe had his hand on Jessie's thigh the whole way back to the house, Jessie couldn't think straight because of it. Not a word was said on the way back, yet the message was clear.

"Stay there." Rafe demanded when the car came to stop at the steps she had walked up by herself just hours ago. He exited on his side and Jessie caught a glimpse of him unbuttoning his blazer as he walked around to her side only to open her door. Smooth move, Mr. Cameron Jessie thought, but she wasn't falling for it. Rafe didn't say a word, only looking at his wife with a clenched jaw and sharp eyes as he held the door for her and held his hand out for her to take, to which she hesitantly obliged. 

Rafe walked Jessie up the marble steps, every step seeming heavier than the last as Jessie's mind raced trying to determine what was happening next. Still, no words from Rafe, only him opening one of the double wooden doors to let Jessie in the main entryway. Jessie heard the heavy door creak to an ominous close behind her. 

"I'll let you go change into some more comfortable clothes, I'm going to do the same myself. Meet me in the living room." Rafe said rather pleasantly for a change. He didn't sound intimidating or condescending, almost kind of sweet to Jessie. What really were his plans for the rest of the night?

Jessie went quickly up to her room, only having one thing on her mind: calling JJ back.

She put him on speaker phone as she frantically changed out of her dress.

"Hello?" She heard JJ, he sounded less than thrilled.

"JJ! Hey, look, I'm really sorry about earlier, I didn't mean anything that I said, I was just stressed and nervous and- anyways, I've gotta get back down there with Rafe but I need you guys to be sure you're listening to these conversations. I don't know what Rafe is trying to pull but-"

"We've got you, Jess." JJ said assuredly through a clear sigh. That was all the assurance she needed to know that JJ really had forgiven and forgotten earlier. The pogues always had her back.

She sighed. "Thank you, I love you." And with that, she hung up.

Jessie looked in the mirror, observing her plaid pajama shorts and her oversized white t-shirt. She wondered what Rafe was up to. What did he mean by his words at dinner? She hoped he wasn't going to overstep, because she sure wasn't going to go down without a fight. She was his wife by legal document only. She tiptoed down the stairs to catch a glimpse of Rafe in the kitchen looking in the fridge.

"You can come all the way down here, no need to spy on me, Jess." Rafe explained, not once looking away from the fridge. He knew she was there the whole time. He knew his Jessie. She did the walk of shame into the large white kitchen, with only warm stove light to illuminate it. Rafe slid her a long, skinny aluminum can— a high noon, her favorite.

"You remembered." Jessie smiled.

"Yeah, well, you're my wife so." Rafe smiled back knowingly.

She melted into the thought of him still paying so much attention to her. She tried to snap herself out of those butterflies but she couldn't, much like four years ago. Damn it.

"Thanks but I'm not drinking." She replied as she slid the can back to him. He caught it.

"Sure you aren't." Rafe sassed, taking one drink in each hand and walking towards the living room. She followed suit. She plopped herself down on the large white couch and watched as Rafe set the cans in front of them. 

"It's unopened. I'm not going to poison you." He said with a flirty tone. Jessie just laughed, he could see right through her sometimes. She finally took it off the coffee table and cracked it open. As she did so, she watched Rafe fiddle with something on his phone, she heard the Bluetooth connect with what were apparently speakers all throughout the house. Surround sound. That was a new one for Jessie.

All of a sudden she heard a song play through the speakers.

"John met me down on the boulevard, cried on his shoulder cuz life was hard."

Jessie couldn't help but smile, he remembered that too. No words were said, yet they both understood. Rafe walked over to Jessie and took her hand the same way he did that midsummers night, sneaking his other hand around her waist as he waltzed her through the living room.

"Jess," he began. "Putting aside every reason that I have to be upset with you, I really do just want to get to know you again. I've missed you." Rafe said sincerely. She could tell he meant what he said, she secretly wanted to know the same about him. She still couldn't give in.

"I can't." Jessie pleaded.

"Why not?" Rafe whined.

"I've got my new life to protect. I left years ago because I didn't want you to find me Rafe." She whispered as she moved her arms to wrap around his neck. His arms followed suit wrapping around her waist.

"Why are you so afraid I'll find you?" He asked annoyed but still softly to not turn her off to the conversation.

"You remember our very last conversation?" Jessie asked.

Of course he did. How he left things was his biggest regret in life. That's part of the reason he delved deeper into drugs after Jessie left, he couldn't stand himself. Using was the only way he felt a little less like crawling out of his own skin.

He just nodded with shame as he played with the skin of his lips between his teeth. He sniffled.

"Can we talk about something a little lighter?" Rafe petitioned. "Like, maybe that first night we started dating?" He began to chuckle. "I remember, I was so out of it that you wouldn't let me go home. You knew my dad would kill me." He said through laughter.

"Of course he would've killed you. You ran away with your forbidden love and then got drunk, high, and coked out." She laughed with him.

"Yeah so you snuck me into the Chateau and we slept there. I remember the pogues were pissed when they found you and me sleeping in bed that next morning." Rafe stated with a wide smile.

"Especially John B after I let you borrow some of his clothes." Jessie proceeded.

"Oh my gosh, and you remember the look on JJ's face when he woke us up and I was shirtless?"

"Ugh, I just knew he was about to puke." Jessie answered with happy tears in her eyes.

"This is how to disappear, This is how to... disappear."

They both sat in comfortable silence listening intently to that particular lyric.

"I loved disappearing with you." Rafe commented in a much more serious tone this time. "I've missed disappearing with you." He whispered.

"It is what we were best at." Jessie hinted with a soft smile.

They both were immediately taken back to all the nights that summer they had sneaked into and out of each other's rooms just about every night. They couldn't stand to sleep without each other.

"It's a wonder we never got caught." Jessie said.

"Well not by anyone that mattered anyway. Sarah caught us that one time but she loved you so." Rafe trailed off. Jessie just looked down at her feet, remembering it all too well.

The song ended and with that so did their slow dance. Rafe guided Jessie to the large, plush, white couch filled with the biggest pillows imaginable. The couch was a dream that Jessie sunk right into. They continued to drink their high noons as they reminisced on their glory days.

- - -

A few stories (or twenty) later and Rafe suddenly went quiet as he played with the top of his aluminum can, flicking the tap with his fingers. Jessie could tell he was thinking. She could always tell when he was thinking a little too hard.

"What're you thinking about?" Jessie questioned as she booped his nose, trying to lighten the mood. It didn't work. Rafe simply looked up and clinched his jaw out of... anger? Jessie wondered who he was angry with.

"Just can't help but think about all the times I treated you badly." Rafe looked back down in shame, as if he couldn't bring himself to look Jessie in the eyes as the memories flooded in. "All the times I... let the drugs take over." His voice cracked and he looked up at Jessie with a tear rolling down his face.

Once Rafe caught a hold of the drugs Jessie had been encouraging him to use it was all down hill from there. Sure, they had good days and bad days, like any couple, but Rafe's troubles grew more serious as he craved coke more and more each day. What began as a way to take the edge off of an argument with his dad quickly became a vice to help him cope with every little inconvenience. Soon it became a continuous state of existence for Rafe, as he felt like he couldn't get through any day without a hit. Then the excuses started to roll in, Rafe was always at Barry's, ditching romantic dates for ragers where he could sell cocaine, and always finding a reason to use again. This was always the difference between him and Jessie. Jessie knew when to stop, she only used when she had to.

Despite the painful memories of all the times Rafe put the drugs before their relationship, Jessie wiped the tear from Rafe's face. She knew Rafe better than anyone in this world, and she could tell he truly did not want to become the man he did. She still feels responsible for that.

"Yeah, I remember it Rafe." Jessie responded softly. "But I also remember every time you protected me by any means necessary... like that night with Luke..." She assured him.

That took her to the night that Rafe proved his love for her like she had never seen before.

***

Rafe was pulling up to Jessie's house late one summer evening to sneak into her bed. He pulled up on his motorbike to hear yells from who he assumed to be Luke. He also heard screams from Jessie as well. Not sparing any time, he ran right to the front door, not caring if Luke saw him.

"You worthless piece of shit!" Luke yelled.

Before he could make it halfway up the drive he watched Jessie's body fly through the old screen door of that house and hit the hard ground beneath her. The memory still played in slow motion in Rafe's head to this day. The wind was clearly knocked out of her as she rolled around.

"You're gonna get me some more damn drugs!" Luke yelled as he ran out to Jessie and kicked her in her side, not helping her breathing situation. Luke reached down, and grabbed Jessie by the collar of her shirt and started punching her in the face repeatedly. Luckily he only got a few licks in before Rafe tackled Luke to the ground. Jessie could only roll around on the ground almost lifeless as she spit out blood and gasped for air.

Rafe handled it, he was filled with so much rage he could've taken out a million more Lukes. He punched Luke in the face again and again and again until he was almost unconscious. However, he stopped before he beat him to a pulp so Luke could hear what Rafe had to say. Rafe grabbed him by the neck and brought his bloody face close to his.

"You better hope I kill you, " Rafe breathed heavily still on top of Luke and choking him out. "Because if you live through this there will not be a place for you to hide that I won't find you. If I catch you around my Jessie again, you won't have enough fingers to plug all the holes in you." Rafe fumed as he landed a few more blows to hopefully kill the man, but he at least left him unconscious for who knows how long.

Rafe immediately went over to Jessie and picked her up off the ground.

"Hey baby, hey, hey, hey," Rafe begged as he held her limp body in his arms. He could see her right eye was already swollen shut and her lips were bleeding. He had to get her some help right away, but he only had his bike. He called Sarah.

Rafe couldn't help but let out a few sobs as he held Jessie's face in his hands. How could someone do this to her? He wondered what could've happened to provoke her dad to beat his own daughter to a pulp. Rafe just continued to whisper to Jessie sweet nothings to get her to stay with him.

What felt to Rafe like hours later, Sarah showed up with Topper in his jeep.

"Rafe?!" Sarah screamed across the yard as both her and Topper ran towards him.

"What the hell man?!" Topper yelled. "Why were you even on this side of the is-"

"Topper not now!" Sarah exclaimed. She knew exactly why Rafe was there, and thank god he was. Sarah dismissed Topper's questions as Rafe carried Jessie to the car. Rafe knew exactly where they needed to go.

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 17

Rafe softly grinned like a little kid as he watched the love of his life walk up the stairs that night. He made his way to his room, which was on the complete opposite side of Jessie's, unbeknownst to her. The master suite was actually hidden behind one of the "pantries" on the far side of the kitchen. After all, this house did belong to Ward Cameron, who would have every reason to hide where he sleeps.

Rafe pushed the door open to the pantry that housed all the kitchen appliances, bypassed them to go straight for the shelf behind it. With a gentle nudge of one of the shelves upward he was able to unlock the secret door and push it open, revealing a lavish bedroom with a king sized bed, his and hers chairs at the end of it, and of course a massive flat screen tv overlooking it all. No windows of course, again, because it was hidden. Rafe didn't mind, but he did worry about Jessie being alone on the other end of the house not knowing where Rafe was. He had to shrug it off, after all, he had security.

Rafe fell into the soft bed wrapped in an all black feather down duvet. The day he had at first felt like a nightmare, but it eventually turned into a dream. More than that, a dream that he had dreamed of for four years. His love had finally returned, giving him a brand new reason to live again. Despite the last four years being filled with prestigious meetings, endless money, and proud father son moments, Rafe still never felt the same freedom that he did when he was with Jessie. Now he had a shot at that again, and he wasn't going to waste it.

The truth is, Rafe knew from a very early age that he was never meant for the life Ward handed him. He didn't like it. He felt trapped. He was trapped.

As Rafe laid in bed that night his mind wondered and he reminisced about him and Jessie.

***

It was the morning after Jessie was attacked by her worthless father. Jessie woke up wrapped in Rafe's arms in his bed. She was awoken by the sunlight peaking through the curtains. Shit. Normally she's gone long before the sun comes up, that way nobody knows she's been there.

Jess immediately shot up frantically, hurting herself in the process. Oh yeah, she was still very bruised. She winced in pain and grabbed her side. Rafe stirred at the sudden movement and snaked his arm once again around Jessie and groaned. He opened his eyes to see her sitting up, he matched her movements.

"What're you doing?" Rafe stuttered through a groggy voice as he put his arms around Jessie and buried his face in her neck, still clearly waking up. He also seemed to whine like a toddler.

"The sun is up and I'm not gone." Jessie hissed. "I should've snuck out of here before the sun came up like normal and now your dad is going to see me and-"

Rafe shut Jessie up by grabbing her jaw gently and kissing her passionately. It hurt Jessie a little bit but she didn't dare to complain. She grabbed the hand that was on her jaw and held it ever so slightly and deepened the kiss. As much as Jessie didnt want to, she finally broke away, leaving Rafe clearly annoyed.

"Your dad is going to see me." She said plainly as she threw the cover off of her to stand up.

"I don't care anymore, Jess. I'll deal with him. I'm not afraid of him anymore." Rafe simply stated as if it was a well known fact. Jessie stopped in the middle of looking for her clothes to turn back to Rafe. She had never heard him speak like that before. Even during nights like midsummers, Rafe still showed a reverence for Ward. This time the tone in his words just felt different, like a switch had flipped last night. Jessie didn't know if she liked it or not.

"You're serious?" Jessie asked looking at Rafe with furrowed brows.

"Yes, Jessie. I'm not afraid of any person that comes between me and you." Rafe assured her.

Jessie walked back over to the bed and leaned over it. "Well thank you." She said as she kissed him.

"You're welcome, baby." Rafe replied as he kissed her back. This time he was bound and determined to not break their kiss. He grabbed Jessie by her waist and pulled her back in the bed and on his lap. Jessie knew where this was going. She really wanted to say no but she just couldn't.

- - -

Once Rafe and Jessie finally decided to get out of bed and get ready for the day, Rafe led Jessie down their stairs and to the kitchen to make them something for breakfast. Rose was sitting at the counter reading something on her laptop as she sipped a cup of coffee. She simply eyed them both up and down and looked at Rafe in disbelief. The set of balls on him were impressive to come strutting through his father's house with his forbidden love.

"Your father is not going to be happy about this." Was all Rose could think to say in a very matter of fact tone.

"I don't care." Was all Rafe could respond with, not even glancing at Rose as he opened up the fridge. He got a few things out to make bacon, eggs, and what Jessie assumed were going to be pancakes.

"Oh, I forgot my phone upstairs. I'm going to go grab it." Jessie said as she walked out of the kitchen and down the long hallway.

Once she made it out of eye and ear shot of Rafe, she was met with long arms draped around her shoulders and a hand covering her mouth. She was then maneuvered around to face the mystery man and pushed up against the wall in the hallway clearly against her will. Ward's hand never left Jessie's mouth as he signaled for her to be quiet. Jessie couldn't help but fight back quietly as she squirmed and tried prying his fingers away from her mouth one by one, to no avail. It physically hurt her so much to fight, yet she never wavered.

Jessie wasn't scared, this was Jessie Maybank they were talking about, she was mainly irritated.

"If you want what's best for Rafe you have got to listen to me." Ward pleaded as he slowly took his hand from her mouth.

"You don't know what's best for Rafe." Jessie hissed back with disgust written all over her face.

"And what do you think is best for Rafe? Living the rest of his life with a dirty pogue like you? Sweetheart, he has so much more going for him than you realize. "

The nickname made her skin crawl.

"One thing he doesn't have with you is happiness. You have to know that-"

"But one day he will, if he just gives it time I will-"

That was all Ward could say before he was met with similar long arms around his neck. Ward could feel his breath slipping away as the arms, undeniably Rafe's, strangled him and pushed him against the wall. Jessie quickly moved out of the way, quick to catch her breath, slow her breathing, and hold onto her bruised ribs out of writhing pain.

Rafe held Ward against the wall and swiftly rotated him to face him, once again slamming Ward against the wall. Rafe was filled with so much anger he made it look easy. Rafe still hadn't blown off enough steam from last night so he was ready and looking for anyone to try something.

"You don't ever touch her again." Rafe mumbled, surprisingly calm and collected. His stare was distant despite looking his father right in the eyes. Ward and Jessie both noticed a shift in Rafe's demeanor. He used to fly into fits of rage, now his anger seemed more calculated, more subdued, and most certainly more intimidating. The idea of not knowing when Rafe could truly snap was one that kept Ward sunken into the wall behind him. He now couldn't help but take Rafe seriously.

Rafe moved one hand from Ward's shoulder to Ward's neck and slowly began to obstruct his air flow. Rafe came closer to Ward, breathing heavily but still seeming totally in control.

"If you touch her, if you speak to her, if you look her way, if you're in the same room as her, if you say anything about her, if you even think about her..." Rafe whispered, each phrase tightening his grip around Ward's neck and leaning in closer. "I'll know... and I will kill you. With no hesitation."

Ward could see that Rafe's diamond eyes had now turned to a storm blue. Truly terrified of what Rafe could have done in that moment, he simply nodded, clearly not being able to speak for the lack of oxygen. Rafe never let go of his death grip, not until he rendered his father unconscious, causing him to fall to the ground.

Jessie couldn't believe what she had just seen. Of course she wanted Rafe to rescue her, but never like this. His defense never came with such reckless abandon and clear disregard for life. Jessie was convinced Rafe was about to kill his father right there in that hallway.

Without a word, Rafe took Jessie's hand and led her out of the house, whisking her away on his motorcycle. Jessie didn't know where they were going, she didn't really care. She trusted Rafe, right? Of course she did, why would she doubt him now? After all, he loves her, he's proved that plenty of times.

Rafe eventually pulled up to Jessie's house. The screen door still in the yard from last night. Luke, however, was not.

"Stay here." Rafe demanded as he got off his bike.

Rafe walked into the house without a care in the world clearly on a mission. He swept the house to make sure nobody was there. Rafe went back outside banging the doors and stomping around the old wooden floors in the process.

"That old bastard knew what was good for him." Rafe commented as he leaned on the bike to be eye level with Jessie. He honestly was irritated at the fact that Luke wasn't there for him to pummel. But his serious face suddenly turned into a smile, a smile that was meant only for his Jessie.

"What're you thinking about?" Jessie returned his sheepish smile with a smirk. She could tell he was thinking. Suddenly she wasn't concerned anymore.

"You feel like getting out of here?"

***

To this day, Rafe never regretted his actions that day, the only thing he regretted in their relationship was being the reason Jessie had to leave. He went to sleep that night with memories dancing in his head.