─☼☼☼─

CHARLOTTE HAD NEVER heard silence quite so loud. 

No one really knew what to say as the Outer Banks grew further and further away. The island where they'd spent their entire lives becoming a place that may never be safe for them to return to. 

And it was Rafe Cameron who had given them the escape they needed. 

He was at the helm, away from the Pogues who still seemed perplexed and perhaps in shock as they sat on the deck, trying to figure out what the hell they had just gotten themselves into. 

In the middle of it all was Charlotte Carrera, who still hadn't figured out if she was relieved or absolutely terrified that her ex boyfriend and best friends were all on the same ship, headed toward the same place. For once, she didn't have to pick between leaving Rafe behind or abandoning her friends...but she still feared it wasn't going to be painless. 

"I think we should discuss this," she finally announced, nervously chewing at the skin around her fingernail. "Before anyone does anything, let's just talk about it." 

All eyes turned to her, each of them staring back at her. Some of their expressions were incredulous, most were anticipatory.

"What's there to discuss?" Pope questioned. "We know what he did to the cross. And now we're just supposed to go after the crown with him? That makes zero sense."

Cleo nodded. "Doesn't take Pope to figure that one out."

Charlotte exhaled, that damn cross always biting her in the ass. She wished that thing never existed. "I guarantee he doesn't even know about the crown," she argued. 

John B met her gaze. "So how do you propose we deal with him? You and Sarah know him better than any of us. So what do we do?"

"We don't deal with him," Charlotte fired back, suddenly more defensive than she had intended. Taking a moment to compose herself, she continued. "Look, I know none of you want to work with him, and I get that one hundred percent. We've had this conversation a million times, what he's done to all of you is so beyond fucked up. But he's helping us right now, whether you like it or not. Without Rafe, all seven of us would probably be sitting in freaking jail cells right now. So, let's just, for once, work together, okay? Once we get to Morocco, he can go his way and you can all go yours." 

JJ, who somehow already had a bottle of liquor in his hand, looked up at Charlotte. "And what way are you going, Charlotte?"

He was trying to antagonize her, and Charlotte really was not in the mood. 

"Charley's right," John B agreed, much to his own chagrin. "We need to at least talk to Rafe and figure out where we all stand."

"Talk to Rafe?" JJ balked. 

John B's eyebrows shot up. "Well you're definitely not talking to him."

JJ scoffed. "Oh, I'm not doing that. Alright, cool. What the hell did I do now?"

"It might just be easier if we handle it, alright?" Kiara reasoned. "You might, like, trigger him and that's the last thing we need."

"Trigger him!?" JJ exclaimed. "Yeah, okay, I trigger him because I get shit done, right?"

Charlotte couldn't help but roll her eyes as she leaned against a part of the ship. "This is going to be a long fucking trip," she muttered, mostly to herself. 

John B was still challenging JJ. "Yeah, you get shit done like felonies, and forcing us out of the country for potentially the rest of our lives. So why don't you park your ass right there and sit this one out."

JJ took a slug of his liquor. "How am I the bad guy here? Like, Rafe Cameron is literally on board and you guys are teamin' up on me?"

"Lay off the liquor," Charlotte snapped as she stood, preparing to follow John B toward the bridge. "You'll feel a whole lot better."

Taking another sip to spite her, JJ fixed Charlotte with a glare. "I ain't workin' with your little boyfriend, Charlotte."

"Then you're more than welcome to swim to Morocco!" She fired back over her shoulder, rolling her eyes as the group of them (aside from JJ) climbed the stairs. 

"Just ignore him," John B instructed, giving Charlotte a small pat on the back. 

Rafe didn't turn to look at them when they entered the bridge. He kept his eyes locked ahead, posture rigid. 

"Hey," John B greeted, giving a small knock on the door before he and Charlotte entered. The other four follow behind them. "We just want to talk. We're on a long trek so..."

"Oh, you want to talk?" Rafe echoed, turning slightly. He pulled up his shirt, pulling a glock out of his waistband. "Just so you know...see this? It's a peacemaker, alright. You guys be cool, I'll be cool."

Charlotte let out a deep breath. "Jesus Christ, Rafe, put that thing away." She ordered, already frustrated with the overwhelming male energy that was surging around. "Look, we just all need to talk this through. There's no need for that thing."

Rafe turned to look at her. "Lottie, I'm just protecting myself, alright?"

"No, not alright." She fired back, extending her hand. "Hand it over."

Everyone paused, each of them tense in anticipation to see if Charlotte Carrera still had a hold over Rafe Cameron. 

She did. 

Pursing his lips, Rafe stole a quick glance at John B before placing the gun in Charlotte's outstretched hand. 

The minute the gun touched her hand, Charlotte wished she hadn't asked for it. She hated guns. Hated them. The last time she'd held one was when she shot at Limbrey. A part of her still hadn't recovered from that. 

Trying to pretend that she wasn't losing her mind, Charlotte shoved the weapon into her waistband, refocusing on the conversation in front of her. 

"So now you want peace?" Pope challenged Rafe's earlier statement. 

Rafe scoffed. "I just saved all of your asses. How about a 'thank you?' You know, no good deed goes unpunished." He let out a humourless laugh. "It'll be just like in Barbados, right, Kie? You remember?"

Charlotte cringed at the memory. At the thought of Rafe doing everything he could to get all three of them out of there just for her sister to stab him in the back. 

"Coulda sworn we had a truce," Kiara said with a shrug. 

Rafe shook his head. "Here's the situation, alright? I don't want any part in your little fairy tale treasure hunt bullshit. I'm just lookin' for Groff. I get you to North Africa and I get Groff. Okay?" His temper was escalating, Charlotte could see it happening second by second.

John B gave a small nod. "We want the same thing."

"Okay, listen." Charlotte proposed, stepping in between John B and Rafe, setting a calming hand on Rafe's chest. She knew she needed to calm him down before shit hit the fan. "We are all grateful for you getting us out of there. No one will deny that. But you have to understand where all the apprehension is coming from, alright? We can all be on the same page here. You get everyone there, and everyone can go their own way."

She could feel Rafe's heart beating beneath her hand, felt the way each of his exhales were heavy and ragged. "It's okay." She promised softly, willing him to only focus on her for a moment. "Just take a deep breath."

Rafe did as she said, his eyes honing in on Charlotte and only Charlotte for a moment. "It's okay," Charlotte said again, this time her voice even quieter. 

Just when it seemed that Rafe had almost fully calmed down, another voice cut in. "Hey, Rafe?"

Rafe turned, his body blocking Charlotte's just as JJ's fist came into contact with his face. Rafe hit the ground hard, his eyes shut before he even landed. Shocked gasps flew around the room, the other three girls immediately leaving, as JJ shook his fist. "Woo! That felt good!"

"What the fuck!" Charlotte exclaimed, already dropping to her knees next to Rafe. "Why did you do that!"

John B dropped next to Charlotte, his eyes wild. "What the hell are you doing!?" He snapped at JJ.

JJ looked between John B and Charlotte. "You two weren't seriously going to believe a word that Rafe said, were you?"

"I mean, honestly, if he wasn't going to do it, I was gonna do it." Pope declared with a shrug. 

Charlotte felt tears of frustration prick her eyes. She was so sick of all of this. "You're such a fucking idiot." She yelled at JJ. "John B told you to stay out there and ─"

"And what, Charley?" JJ interrupted, nostrils flaring in anger. "Stay out there while Rafe pulled one over on you, again?"

Charlotte's lips trembled, the tears spilling from her eyes. "What are you even talking about?" She argued. "How is he pulling one over on us? He saved your ass from being arrested!"

"Yeah, and he's almost killed every single one of us here at least once! So we're not exactly even, are we?" JJ fired back, voice rising. "And he's literally ruined your life more times than I can fucking count, Charlotte! It's about that time of year where you let him again, isn't it?"

John B stood, stepping in front of JJ. "Come on. Let's go cool down." He shoved JJ toward the door. "Charley, I'll be back in a minute to help you with Rafe. Pope, come on."

The minute the three of them were gone, Charlotte looked down at Rafe, a quiet sob falling from her lips at the sight of him, at everything that had happened. She had never felt so far from JJ. She knew she was losing him, and she had no idea what to do. But she couldn't bring him back at the expense of Rafe, she had to find a way to get to both of them. 

"Come on," she sniffled, attempting to pull Rafe into a seat position. He was still unconscious, an anger bruise forming on his jaw. 

Once she had him slumped against the control panel, Charlotte sunk to the ground beside him. Warm tears streaming down her cheeks. She stayed like that until John B finally came back. 

─☼☼☼─

She couldn't stop the shaking of her knee. It bounced wild with anticipation as she sat in the small room, her eyes on the figure in the bed in front of her. 

Rafe still hadn't woken up. He'd stirred slightly when they'd moved him from the bridge, but had yet to come to full consciousness. 

The Pogues had wanted to tie him up in one of the supply closets, but Charlotte wouldn't─couldn't─let that happen. She'd managed to convince them to put him in one of the rooms with a bed, promising that she'd be responsible for him. John B hadn't seemed too keen on making Rafe Charlotte's entire responsibility, he found it rather unfair to her. But Charlotte had insisted. Rafe was her mess. 

"Oh, God." Came a groggy voice from the bed. 

Charlotte shot to her feet, taking the few steps toward Rafe. "Hey," she said softly. "It's okay."

Rafe's eyes opened slowly, dragging up to meet the worried ones of his ex-girlfriend. Allowing Charlotte to help him, Rafe slowly sat up, lighting probing his jaw. "If I'm counting correctly," be began, wincing as he touched a tender spot. "That's the third time that little fucker has hit me."

"To be fair...you've probably hit him just as many times." Charlotte reasoned, her expression sheepish as she sat down on the bed next to Rafe. 

"Yeah, but I was just trying to help this time," Rafe argued. And in this case, he was right. 

Charlotte nodded, reaching out to lightly turn his face toward her so she could get a good look at his bruise. "I know," she assured. "And I'm very appreciative of you helping us. I hope you know that."

Rafe's breath hitched at the way she gingerly ran her hand over his jaw. "Lottie..."

"I should get you some ice." She interjected. "And something to eat. You're probably starving."

As she stood to go, Rafe grabbed onto her hand. "Just slow down," he pleaded. "I can get my own food, alright? I'm fine."

Charlotte's heart slammed against her ribcage. She knew what she was going to tell him next would not go over well. It still wasn't something she was super thrilled about. "You can't." 

Rafe's brows knit together. "I can't?" He echoed. "Charlotte, I promise you I am completely fine. I can─"

"No," she argued. "You can't leave this room. They don't want...they don't want you to have free reign over the ship."

"What are you even talking about?" Rafe snapped, pushing himself to his feet. "Are you telling me I'm locked in here or something?" 

Charlotte's heart felt like it was in her throat. "Rafe, please. Please don't make this harder than it already is, okay? I just have to keep the door locked, that's it. We're not going to tie you up or anything unless..."

Rafe's face was turning red, anger coating his features. "Unless what, Charlotte?"

She threw her hands up. It was obvious wasn't it?  "Unless you try to get out! Unless you try to pull something."

"This is fucking ridiculous!" Rafe snapped, snippets of the old Rafe flashing across his features. "I can't believe you would do this to me."

"You mean like you did to me on the Coastal Adventure?" Charlotte fired back. "When you drugged and kidnapped me and kept me locked in that room?" She'd tried to keep all of that pushed away, but she couldn't help but let it slip. 

Rafe's face fell, his shoulders slumping slightly. The reminder of what he had done to Charlotte was enough to stop him in his tracks. 

"I'm sorry," Charlotte said quietly. Apologizing for what she was doing, and maybe for bringing that up. "I just...I'm in the minority here, alright? I'm doing everything I can to get you out of here. Please, just trust that this is not something I want to do."

A defeated sigh fell from Rafe's lips as he slumped back onto the bed. "Whatever, Charlotte."

She wanted to say more, but Charlotte didn't even know what to say on the matter.

"I'll be back with some ice and food," she finally declared, stepping toward the door. 

Rafe didn't answer her. He didn't even look up. 

God. What had she done. 

─☼☼☼─