Page 37 of Rafe

Fred nodded, his voice now carrying a trace of worry. “Yeah. Luke’s visibly upset by the bad news, but he’s determined to do everything he can to track down that son of mine and keep a vigilant eye on him. Why don’t you stay with me for a while?” His words were layered with both concern and a practical suggestion.

“No. I won’t risk putting you in any danger,” Maggie replied, her tone gentle yet unyielding, as she carefully considered her safety and his.

“He wouldn’t hurt me,” Fred insisted, his worry battling with a stubborn assurance.

“He would, Fred. I truly believe he’d go to any lengths to get to her. I offered her a place to stay with me… but she turned it down.” His words trailed off, laden with unspoken apprehensions.

Fred considered this for a moment before saying, “That’s a fine idea, Maggie. Rafe has plenty of room.” His voice was an odd mix of pragmatic planning and underlying concern.

“You’re more than welcome, Maggie. The offer still stands if you need it,” Rafe explained.

“Rafe, I don’t want him coming after you either,” Maggie cautioned, worry creeping into her voice as she stepped away from Fred.

“I wish he’d try,” Rafe murmured, the defiant glint in his eyes unmistakable. “I’m not afraid of him.”

“I don’t care if you’re afraid of him or not. To stay with you would piss him off even more.” Maggie shook her head, her resolve firm as she continued, “No, I can’t do that. I’ll be fine.”

“You won’t be!” Rafe shouted, his voice rising with protectiveurgency. “We all know he’s going to come after you. You have to be kept safe.”

“For the rest of my life? I cannot let him see he scares me,” Maggie snapped back, her voice rising with both determination and a tinge of defiance.

“But he does, Maggie, and he fucking knows it,” Rafe countered.

The tension was thick enough to cut. “I am not going to stay holed up in my apartment and the shop,” Maggie declared, her tone firm in the face of the mounting argument.

“Maggie—” Rafe began, his concern edging into frustration.

“No! I’m not going to change my routine because of him. Besides, it’s the tourist season and he’s not going to do anything with all those people around. I’ll be safe,” she replied.

“And what happens when the tourists are gone?” Rafe countered sharply, placing his hands firmly on his hips as he glared at her, his eyes dark with worry.

“I’ll cross that bridge if we come to it,” Maggie said, her voice a mix of defiance and fragile hope.

“Ifwe come to it? Oh, we’re going to come to it, that I can promise,” Rafe retorted, his tone darkening with the weight of impending conflict.

“Rafe—” Maggie began, but her plea was cut short.

“You two need to stop arguing. It’s not helping the situation,” Fred interjected sharply, his tone both admonishing and urgent as he stepped between them.

Both Maggie and Rafe turned to him, the heat of their debate momentarily forgotten as they remembered he was there.

“I’m sorry, Fred,” Maggie murmured, her voice softening with regret.

“Me too. I’m just worried about what he’ll do,” Rafe added.

“I carry a can of pepper spray. I’ll use it,” Maggie said, her words a determined promise of self-defense.

“What you need is a gun—” Rafe started to insist, his concern punctuating every word.

“No! I hate them,” she snapped quickly, her defiance clear and uncompromising.

“Maggie—” Rafe tried once more.

“Stop it! Both of you. This is getting us nowhere,” Fred interjected, his tone firm as he sought to calm the escalating tension.

Maggie wrapped her arms around his waist again and let out a deep sigh when his arms encircled her in a reassuring embrace.

“I’m sorry. Again. I think we’re all a little tense. He terrifies me,” Maggie confessed, her voice soft and laden with vulnerability.

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