You didn’t mean to lie. But once you did, it spiraled. And now it was too late.

You’d built your world with him on something fragile—thin glass promises, whispered trust, and all the unspoken things that kept your demons quiet. But now? The glass had shattered. And he was bleeding.

You never wanted it to come out like this. Not like this.

He stood in the doorway of your room, barely able to speak. Rage warred with heartbreak in his eyes. His fingers twitched at his sides like he didn’t know whether to punch something or fall apart.

“You were working with them?” he asked, voice barely human. “You? All this time?”

The lie sat heavy between you—thick and choking.

“I didn’t have a choice,” you whispered.

He laughed, sharp and bitter. “There’s always a choice. Don’t give me that.”

You swallowed hard, heart racing, stomach twisting. You wished he would yell. Scream. Break something. Instead, his voice stayed low. Cold. That was worse.

“I trusted you,” he said, eyes dark. “You knew how bad they wanted me—how they’ve been after me for months. And you were feeding them information?”

“I never told them anything that would get you hurt!” you cried out, voice cracking.

“You told them enough!” he snapped. “You told them where I was. Who I was with. What I was doing. You gave them access. Don’t pretend it was harmless.”

Tears blurred your vision. “Rafe, they threatened my family. My mom—my little brother. They said if I didn’t cooperate, they’d make them disappear. What was I supposed to do?”

“You were supposed to tell me!” His voice thundered now, sharp and raw. “You don’t think I would’ve protected them? Protected you? Instead you sold me out behind my back and pretended everything was fine. Slept next to me. Smiled at me. Said you loved me.”

“I do love you,” you choked out. “I never stopped.”

He stared at you, unblinking. “Then why does it feel like you stabbed me in the spine?”

You couldn’t answer. You couldn’t breathe.

He stepped closer, and you could see the veins in his neck, the hurt that trembled under his skin.

“I told you everything,” he said, quieter now. “Every dark thing in me—I showed it to you. And you took that, and gave it away like it meant nothing.”

“I was trying to protect everyone.”

“No.” His voice cracked. “You were trying to protect yourself.”

That one hit.

Your hands shook. “They used me. I was scared.”

“So was I,” he whispered. “But I never lied to you.”

You looked away. The guilt was too much. The shame coiled in your stomach like poison. You had started feeding the authorities information months ago—barely anything at first. Just location tips, movement reports. They said it was just to keep tabs on him. That they were building a case on Ward. That Rafe would be safe. That no one had to know.

But it didn’t stop there. It never does.

And now, it was all crumbling.

You looked up, eyes meeting his. “I’m sorry.”

He blinked. Once. Then again. But his face didn’t change. No softness. Just a mask of pain.

“No, you’re not,” he said. “You’re sorry you got caught.”

He turned, the door creaking open as he walked away.

But then—he paused.

Without looking back, he said, “You didn’t just lie to me. You made me feel safe. You made me think I could finally trust someone.”

The final blow came in a whisper.

“You were my peace.”

And just like that… he was gone.