page102 (1/2)

Rafe schooled his impatience as his dad sat with a clenched jaw

Showing her calm professionalism, Gabriella persisted “There’s a picture of you two in the aft cabin She’s very beautiful Is that why you asked her out?”

Theodore turned his phone over and over again, as if the action could

“Dad,” Rafe snapped “If you don’t want to answer, fine We’ll pack everything up and leave you to figure it out on your own” He watched a man slip over the side of the boat without even a small splash

“It wasn’t like that We talked when I went to the club One evening when I was leaving, she was outside crying Her boyfriend had broken up with her and hadn’t picked her up after work”

Rafe and Gabriella exchanged glances

“I took her for a coffee and then drove her home Christ The apartment was a dump, and I didn’t want to leave her there”

“Apartment?” Rafe demanded “Where? We need the address”

Theodore went through old records on his phone’s GPS until he found it Then Rafe conveyed the inforet a real name from the lease

Over the next half hour, Theodore outlined how the unnamed boyfriend had abused her, how desperate she was to feel safe

Theodore had procured an apartether Rafe could see how the relationship had been built, even though the altruistic way it had begun didn’t excuse his father’s behavior

Over ti to ever be apart Rafe was surprised Theodore had fallen for it But wasn’t that what love was? Blindness? Loss of good judgment? Jesus, the drama his father had opened them all to

Rafe stood and paced, shoving aside his annoyance He needed to focus on solving the problem

The diver returned to the boat Rafe shot a glance toward Travers He shook his head, which was both a relief and a frustration