Rafe Cameron was chaos.

Everyone on the island knew it.

Reckless. Dangerous. Angry. A walking storm with a gun tucked behind his back and demons clawing at his mind. He hurt people, crossed lines, did things no one could take back.

But then there was you.

You’d been together for almost two years—long enough for people to wonder how a girl like you ever ended up with a guy like him. You were soft where he was sharp. Kind where he was cruel. You never raised your voice, never broke rules, never wanted trouble.

And somehow… you were the only thing that ever calmed him.

You were Rafe Cameron’s weakness.

That’s why it shattered him when you found out.

One action. One secret he’d buried deep enough to convince himself it would never reach you. But it did. And the look on your face—hurt, disappointment, fear—was worse than any punch he’d ever taken.

“I can’t do this right now,” you told him, voice shaking. “I need a break, Rafe.”

A break.

Not a breakup. But somehow worse.

He didn’t yell. Didn’t throw anything. Just stared at you like the ground had dropped out from under him.

“Don’t do this,” he said quietly. Too quietly.

“I love you,” you whispered. “But I can’t watch you destroy yourself.”

And then you walked away.

That night, Rafe went straight to Barry.

He told himself it was just to clear his head. To quiet the noise. To stop seeing your face every time he blinked. Barry leaned against his car, smirking like always.

“Heard you and your girl are on a break,” Barry said casually.

Rafe’s jaw tightened.

Barry laughed. “So… that mean I can shoot my shot now?”

Before Barry could even finish the sentence, Rafe had him slammed against the car, fist twisted in his collar, eyes wild and burning.

“You ever say her name again,” Rafe growled, voice shaking with rage, “I’ll bury you so deep no one will find what’s left.”

Barry froze.

This wasn’t jealousy. This wasn’t ego.

This was fear.

Rafe’s grip trembled—not from anger, but from the idea of losing you.

Barry slowly raised his hands. “Alright, man. Damn. I get it.”

Rafe shoved him back, breathing hard, running a hand through his hair like he was unraveling.

“She’s not just some girl,” Rafe muttered. “She’s… everything.”

Barry watched him walk away, the toughest guy he knew looking completely broken.

That’s when Barry realized the truth.

For all his violence. All his sins. All his rage—

Rafe Cameron loved you more than he loved himself.

And without you?

He was already falling apart.