The night smells like salt and sea breeze, the sound of waves crashing against the shore echoing through the docks. You were just passing through, minding your damn business, when you heard the sound of an argument. And because life has a personal vendetta against you, the universe made sure it was Rafe Cameron you stumbled upon—mid-shady deal, counting stacks of cash like the spoiled little shit he is.

He saw you, and that was enough. You didn’t even have time to turn around before red and blue lights flooded the dock, before someone was yelling, “Hands where I can see them!” and you were getting shoved against the hood of a cop car.

“What the fuck? I didn’t do anything!” You struggle, twisting against the grip on your wrists, but the cold bite of cuffs snaps tight, and you realize—this is actually happening.

The cop looks past you, right at Rafe. “You know her?”

Rafe should say no. He should shake his head and let you go. But instead, he tilts his chin up, jaw locked. “Yeah. She’s with me.”

You whip around so fast you nearly dislocate something. “The fuck I am!”

“Oh, so now you wanna act innocent?” Rafe barks, shoving against the officer trying to hold him back. “She was here the whole time—if I’m going down, so is she.”

And that’s how you end up in jail.

It’s a dingy holding cell, four walls of misery and a flickering light overhead that hums like a bad omen. Rafe’s pacing like a caged animal, fingers twitching, knee bouncing—just as restless as he is pissed.

“I cannot fucking believe you,” he snarls.

“You can’t believe me? You’re the one who lied to the cops, I wasn't with you!!!!”

“Yeah? Maybe if you weren’t creeping around like a little rat and spying on me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Oh, I’m the rat? You were out there with—” You glance at the officer standing outside the cell , he slams his baton against the bars. “Enough. Lawyer ain't coming till morning. Looks like you two are spending the night here."