060. start of the end

( the sixtieth chapter )

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The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow over the room as Rafe and Olivine lay tangled in the sheets. The warmth of his body pressed against hers was a comforting weight, and she found herself unwilling to leave the safety of his embrace. His arm was draped lazily across her waist, his face nestled in her hair, breathing deeply in contentment.

"Morning," Rafe mumbled into her hair, his voice husky from sleep. He nuzzled her neck, his lips brushing against her skin in gentle kisses, his hand slowly tracing circles on her bare side.

"Morning," Olivine replied with a small smile, shifting to face him. She pressed a quick kiss to his lips, savoring the softness of the moment.

They stayed like that for a while, just wrapped in each other's warmth, letting the world outside feel far away. It felt good. Too good to rush.

Eventually, though, the reality of the day set in, and with a groan, Olivine slid out of bed, stretching her limbs as she walked toward the closet. Rafe's eyes followed her, a lazy smile tugging at his lips. He admired the way her body moved, every curve and detail so familiar, but still so captivating.

"I'm going to shower," she called over her shoulder, her voice playful, "don't get any ideas."

Rafe chuckled, pushing himself up into a sitting position. "I can't help it, you're just too damn tempting."

Olivine rolled her eyes but grinned as she made her way to the drawer to grab her underwear. As she rummaged through it, her fingers brushed against something soft. Pulling it out, she immediately recognized the fabric—it was one of the panties from the set she had been missing.

She turned to Rafe, eyes narrowing playfully as she held the delicate lace up in front of her.

"Rafe Cameron, you little perv," she teased, her voice full of mock offense. "You've been stealing my underwear?"

Rafe froze for a moment, a smirk spreading across his face as he ran a hand through his hair, feigning innocence. "What? Me? I don't know what you're talking about," he said with a chuckle, though his eyes glinted with mischief.

"Don't play dumb," Olivine said, her tone full of amusement as she tossed the underwear at him. "I know you've been sneaking around with my things."

He caught the panties, holding them up with a grin. "Maybe I just wanted a little reminder of you. Is that so wrong?" His voice dropped to a playful, low tone, and Olivine couldn't help but laugh.

"You're unbelievable," she said, shaking her head, but there was no anger in her voice—only affection. She walked over to him, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "Next time, just ask."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he leaned up to kiss her lips, lingering for a moment before pulling away.

"Come on," she said, pulling away with a teasing grin. "Let's get to that shower before you decide to steal anything else."

Rafe groaned playfully but got to his feet, stretching his arms overhead. "Fine, but only because you look too good to pass up."

They both moved toward the bathroom, the tension between them playful but laced with an undeniable spark. The sound of water running soon filled the air, and the warmth of the shower only added to the intimacy of the morning, as they moved in sync, their quiet laughter and shared glances making the world outside seem distant and irrelevant.

For now, they were enough.

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The soft morning breeze ruffled the air around Rafe and Olivine as they lounged on his balcony, the view of the city sprawling out before them. It was a peaceful moment, one where time seemed to slow, and they were just two people, enjoying each other's company. Olivine, wrapped in one of Rafe's oversized white and blue plaid boxer shorts from Miu Miu and a cream light fleece long-sleeve top, looked as relaxed as she'd ever been, her bare feet resting on the edge of the balcony.

Rafe, in his peach polo and khaki shorts, looked effortlessly stylish, his hair gelled back in the same smooth, controlled way that always seemed to give him an air of casual confidence. He leaned back in his chair, watching Olivine work, his eyes following her every move as she helped him with some documents on his laptop. It was one of those rare moments when they both shared space without the need for words, their bond unspoken but deeply felt.

"Is that the last of the proposals?" Olivine asked, her voice soft but focused as she scrolled through the final document, making quick corrections where needed. Rafe leaned in closer, watching her work with quiet admiration.

"Yeah, I just need to send them off by the end of the day," he replied, leaning back into his seat and stretching his legs. He shot her a teasing grin. "I have to admit, you make work a lot less boring."

Olivine smirked, glancing up at him. "You just like having me around to distract you."

"Guilty as charged," he said with a wink, before settling back into his chair and tapping a few things on his laptop.

A few moments passed in comfortable silence as Olivine continued helping him with small tasks, her fingers moving quickly and effortlessly across the keyboard. The sun bathed the balcony in a warm glow, the air smelled faintly of fresh coffee and something sweet from the bakery downstairs. It was one of those perfect mornings.

Just as Olivine was finishing up the last of the work, her phone buzzed. She picked it up from the table, glancing at the screen. Her father had sent her a message.

"Dad wants me to come home and help prep my brother for his interview," she said, her lips quirking into a small frown. Rafe raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything immediately. He'd grown accustomed to the family dynamic between Olivine and her father and brother, and he knew when she had to go, she had to go.

"Will you be back soon?" he asked, his voice slightly quieter now, his tone giving away a hint of reluctance.

Olivine smiled softly, shaking her head in amusement. "Yeah, just an hour tops. I'll leave my location on for you so you know where I am." She leaned forward, pecking him on the lips multiple times, each kiss lingering for a brief moment before pulling away. "I'll be back before you know it."

Rafe smiled up at her, a genuine, affectionate grin that reached his eyes. "You're lucky I'm letting you go," he teased, his hand moving to pat her rear, his touch light but playful. She laughed at his antics, her heart warming at the attention he always seemed to shower her with.

"Alright, alright," she said, standing up and adjusting her top. "I'll be back soon, don't worry."

"I'll be waiting for you," he said, his voice dropping slightly as he looked up at her, his eyes soft. "Take your car. I'll just be here, holding down the fort."

She smiled warmly, giving him one last kiss on the lips before heading toward the door. As she grabbed her bag and slipped on her shoes, she glanced over her shoulder, catching the look of longing in his eyes. It was clear he didn't want her to leave, but she could tell he understood. She was always going to be there when she could be.

"See you soon," she called out, already making her way to the front door.

"Go get 'em, baby," Rafe teased, his voice carrying over the sound of her footsteps.

With a final wave, she stepped out of his loft and into the morning, already anticipating coming back to his arms in no time.

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As Olivine entered the house, she slipped off her shoes, the familiar scent of home enveloping her. The soft sound of her footsteps echoed in the hallway as she made her way toward the living room, where she found her mom sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her, a mug of coffee in hand. Her mom's eyes lifted from her magazine when Olivine approached.

"Hey, sweetie," her mom greeted warmly, standing to greet her. She leaned in for a kiss on the cheek, a soft smile spreading across her face. "How was everything? I missed you!"

"It was good. Just busy." Olivine returned the smile, feeling a sense of comfort in the familiar embrace of her mother. "I missed you too. How was your trip?"

"It was great, but it's always nice to be home," her mom replied, her voice filled with relief. "I'm glad to see you, though. I feel like we haven't caught up in days."

"I know, I know," Olivine said with a playful roll of her eyes. "I'll come and chat later. I've gotta help Pope out first."

Without another word, she turned toward her brother's room. Her dad, still standing by the porch on his phone, gave her a quick nod of acknowledgment before she disappeared down the hallway.

She reached Pope's room and, without knocking, barged in. The door swung open, revealing Pope pacing back and forth, the nerves clearly getting to him. The room was filled with the faint sound of his restless footsteps as he muttered to himself.

"Olivine!" Pope exclaimed, startled, but then his shoulders slumped when he realized it was just her. "What are you doing? You can't just barge in like that."

She gave him a teasing grin, leaning casually against the doorframe. "You look like you're about to wear a hole in the floor. Relax, you've got this."

She stepped further into the room, taking in the scene. Pope's shirt was unbuttoned halfway, his sleeves rolled up, but he didn't seem settled. His face was tense, eyes darting from one side of the room to the other as if searching for something to ease his thoughts.

"Come on, tell me what's really going on," Olivine asked, crossing her arms as she studied him carefully. His fidgeting told her there was more than just interview jitters at play.

Pope stopped pacing for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes briefly avoided hers, but Olivine could tell that there was something weighing on him. He hesitated, clearly struggling to find the words.

"I—I don't know. Just nerves, I guess," Pope finally muttered, though his voice lacked conviction. He paused, and his gaze flickered toward the floor before lifting back to her. "You know... it's a big deal, and I'm not sure I'm ready. What if I mess up? What if they don't take me seriously?"

Olivine frowned, stepping closer to him. "You've been preparing for this your whole life, Pope. You know you've got this. So stop worrying." She placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze.

He seemed to calm a little, but there was still something off about him, something behind his eyes that didn't quite match the usual pre-interview jitters.

"You sure it's just nerves?" she pressed, sensing there was more to the story.

Pope took a deep breath, looking away from her for a long moment, his brows furrowing in deep thought. His jaw clenched, and for a brief second, Olivine saw the conflict in his eyes. He was holding something back, something heavy.

It was then that he spoke, though it was barely above a whisper. "It's just... you know, the jitters. Nothing else."

Olivine raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Pope, I know you better than that. What's going on? You've been acting weird all day."

He shook his head, trying to brush it off. "I'm fine. Really, I am. It's just... nothing."

She wasn't buying it, but she could tell he wasn't ready to talk about whatever was bothering him. Something in his eyes told her it was serious, but she also knew that if he wasn't ready to open up, there was nothing more she could do.

"Okay," Olivine said with a soft sigh, pulling him into a brief hug. "But just know I'm here, okay? If you need to talk, I've got your back. Always."

Pope nodded stiffly and, for a moment, his usual guarded exterior faltered, but only for a second. "Thanks, sis. I'll be fine. Really."

With a last lingering glance at him, Olivine stepped back, offering him a small smile. "You've got this, Pope. Just be yourself."

As she turned to leave, Pope's voice called out from behind her, hesitant. "Olivine... you won't tell Dad, right?"

She paused, looking over her shoulder at him. "Tell him what?"

Pope bit his lip, his gaze lingering on the floor. He didn't answer directly, but there was an unspoken tension between them. Olivine let out a soft sigh, knowing he was keeping something from her but respecting his space.

"I won't say anything," she promised. "Just... make sure you're okay, Pope."

With one last lingering look, she exited the room, leaving Pope alone with his thoughts. As she headed back down the hallway, her mind couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the situation than Pope was letting on. But for now, she had to let him handle it in his own way.

Olivine walked out of Pope's room, her thoughts still on their earlier conversation. As she descended the stairs, Pope followed closely behind, and they entered the living room together. Heyward and Mariah were sitting on the couch, casually munching on cookies, clearly waiting for Pope to come down.

"Finally decided to come back down?" Mariah teased, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.

Olivine rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small chuckle. "You guys were eating without me, huh?"

Pope shot her a look, though he couldn't hide the slight amusement in his expression. "Don't worry, we saved you some," he joked, though his tone held a nervous edge.

As the two of them made their way outside, Heyward and Mariah followed them out onto the porch. Olivine's gaze shifted to the driveway, and her eyes widened slightly. There, parked in front of the house, was a brand new cherry red car. The sight made both Pope and Mariah freeze, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"Olivine, did you come over in Rafe's car?" Pope asked, his voice full of confusion.

Olivine shook her head, a small but shy smile curling on her lips. "No, it's mine." She shrugged, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Rafe got it for me."

The shock on their faces was instant. Mariah blinked in surprise, and Pope's jaw nearly hit the ground. "Wait, wait. Hold on—he bought you a car?" Mariah asked, incredulous. "Like, a brand new car?!"

"Yeah, it's a surprise," Olivine said with a nervous laugh. "I didn't expect it either. But, well... he really wanted to get it for me."

Before they could bombard her with more questions, Heyward intervened, his tone more serious now. "Alright, enough with the car talk. We've got a meeting to get to." He gave a pointed look toward Olivine. "You two can yell at her later, but right now, we've got to go."

Mariah and Pope glanced at each other but didn't protest further. "Be safe," Mariah said, leaning over to give Olivine a quick kiss on the cheek. "We'll catch up with you later."

With a wave, Heyward, Mariah, and Pope got into the truck, and Olivine watched them drive off. A deep breath escaped her lips as she took a moment to herself. The surprise of the car still hung in the air, but she had no time to dwell on it. She quickly got into her own car and drove off to the gas station, her mind shifting back to the plan for the day.

At the gas station, she picked up two slushies—one for Wheezie and one for herself—and then headed back toward Rafe's place. She was looking forward to spending some time with him, though she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Maybe it was just the weight of the day catching up with her.

When she arrived at Rafe's house, she parked in the garage and was about to make her way to the door when it opened abruptly. Rafe stood there, clearly agitated. His eyes softened slightly when he saw her, but the tension in his posture didn't fade.

"Hey," he muttered, his voice a little strained. "I've got something to take care of real quick. I'll be back soon."

He took a step forward, pulling her into a brief kiss, his lips warm and soft against hers. "Wheezie's inside. She's waiting for you."

Olivine nodded, still processing the abruptness of Rafe's mood. Before she could ask more, he gave her one last lingering look and rushed out of the garage, his truck roaring to life as he sped off.

Olivine stood there for a moment, watching the dust settle from his departure. She shook her head, unsure of what was going on but not wanting to push Rafe. She walked inside, hoping that everything would settle once he returned.

As she entered the house, Wheezie was sitting on the couch, already browsing her phone. She looked up and grinned when she saw Olivine holding the slushie.

"Did I hear that Rafe got you a car?" Wheezie asked, a teasing edge to her voice.

Olivine let out a small laugh, setting the slushies down on the counter. "Yeah, apparently. I still don't know what to think about it."

Wheezie raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, you deserve it," she said, her tone softer now. "But don't let him spoil you too much."

Olivine smiled and sat down next to her friend, eager for a little break from the whirlwind of emotions. She hoped the rest of the day would give her a chance to clear her head—especially when Rafe returned.

Olivine settled beside Wheezie, still processing the strange energy between her and Rafe earlier. She glanced at her friend, a curious look on her face. "Hey, Wheezie... what's up with Rafe? He seemed really angry when I saw him earlier. Is everything okay?"

Wheezie, who had been quietly sipping her slushie, paused and looked over at Olivine, her expression softening. She sighed, clearly conflicted about spilling details but trusting Olivine enough to explain. "He's angry because Sarah is going on a business trip to the Bahamas with their dad... without him. He wasn't informed about it until just now, and it pissed him off. Like, Sarah's getting special treatment, and Rafe hates being left out of things, especially when it comes to his family."

Olivine frowned, trying to process the information. She had seen Rafe in such a good mood earlier, and now it all made sense. "So... he's upset because he feels left out?"

"Yeah," Wheezie confirmed, her tone sympathetic. "And now he's heading to their private hangar to probably cool off. He has some stuff to sort out in his own way, but you know how he is when he feels like he's being ignored or sidelined."

Olivine nodded, feeling a little guilty for not picking up on his mood earlier. She was so wrapped up in their time together that she hadn't noticed the tension that was building in him. "I didn't know he felt like that. I just thought maybe something was wrong with him, but now I get it."

Wheezie offered a reassuring smile. "He'll be fine. It's just... family stuff. You know how it goes with him. Just let him handle it his way for now. But if it gets worse, you can always step in. He's not great at talking about stuff like this."

Olivine's thoughts turned to Rafe. She understood now why he'd been so short with her, though she hated seeing him upset. She would give him the space he needed, but when the time was right, she'd try to talk things through with him. He didn't always open up, but she was willing to wait for him to come around. "I'll give him some space. He's probably just venting. But I'll make sure he's okay when he's ready."

"Exactly," Wheezie agreed. "He'll figure it out. You just focus on being there for him when he's ready to talk."

Olivine nodded, relieved to have some understanding of what was going on. She wanted to make sure Rafe knew that, despite the tensions in his family, he had her support.

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Rafe's sneakers hit the gravel of the hangar's parking lot as he stepped out of the truck, the anger still bubbling inside him. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the frustration of the past few hours churning in his gut. He needed to blow off some steam, needed to get away from the tension at home, but this wasn't what he had expected to walk into.

As he approached the entrance of the hangar, the sight that met him stopped him dead in his tracks. Sheriff Peterkin stood there, gun in hand, her arm pointed directly at his father's head. Ward was kneeling in front of her, his face a mix of fear and disbelief, his hands raised in a show of surrender. His gaze flicked over to Sarah and John B, who stood a few feet away, looking equally shocked, their expressions frozen in stunned silence.

Rafe's heart pounded in his chest as he instinctively scanned for any means of action. His eyes landed on his father's car parked just a few feet away. His mind raced, and before he even realized what he was doing, his feet were already moving toward the vehicle. He yanked open the door, the familiar scent of leather and gasoline filling his senses, and his hand immediately reached for the hidden compartment in the drawer.

His fingers brushed against the cold metal of the gun his father kept in the vehicle. Rafe's grip tightened around the handle, and without a second thought, he removed the safety. The weight of it felt familiar, comforting even, as he slid it into his waistband and took a steadying breath.

He knew he didn't have time to waste. Peterkin had his father at gunpoint—everything else could wait. His mind was locked in on one thing: saving Dad. He moved quickly, slipping through the shadows of the hangar's entrance, staying low to the ground as he approached the sheriff.

With his pulse racing, Rafe stepped into view just behind Peterkin, and before she had a chance to react, he drew the gun and aimed it directly at her waist. A single shot rang out, and the sound echoed through the hangar, sharp and unforgiving.

Peterkin cried out, collapsing to the ground with a guttural groan. The bullet had hit her right in the joint of her waist, the pain causing her to lose her grip on the weapon. She clutched the side of her waist as she writhed on the concrete, her face contorted in agony.

The moment of chaos that followed was filled with stunned silence. Sarah and John B both whispered his name in disbelief, their eyes wide, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Ward, still kneeling on the ground, looked up at Rafe, his expression a mix of shock and confusion. "Rafe... What the hell did you just do?" he asked, his voice shaking, as if he couldn't quite believe his son had just shot someone.

Rafe chuckled softly, his breath shallow as he watched the sheriff struggle on the ground. "I saved you, Dad," he said with a pride that sent a chill through the air. His gaze flickered briefly to Peterkin, still writhing in pain, before he turned his attention back to his father.

The hangar was silent except for the heavy, labored breaths coming from Peterkin as she clutched her waist. Blood seeped out from the wound, staining the concrete below her. The look of disbelief on everyone's faces told Rafe all he needed to know—this wasn't a move anyone had expected. It was a move he hadn't expected himself. But there was no going back now.

John B and Sarah stood frozen in place, both staring at Rafe with tears in their eyes, disbelief and fear covering their faces. The words that had been hanging between them seemed to evaporate, replaced by a tension that no one could break.

For a moment, Rafe simply watched as his father, still kneeling, tried to process what had just happened. Ward's expression softened, just for a second, as if unsure how to react, but then he looked at Peterkin with a mix of disbelief and contempt.

Rafe knew that this would change everything. The quiet tension that had been simmering between them, between him and his family, had just escalated into something bigger than all of them. It was a dangerous move, but in that moment, it felt like the only choice he had.

As Peterkin's pained gasps filled the air, Rafe couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had saved his father—whether anyone else understood it or not.

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KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

bet y'all didn't expect that-so no rafe did not shoot peterkin in the back but rather her waist- i had first decided on her leg but decided against it

word count : 4.2k

ENJOY !!
xoxo kiki 💋💋