Rain “Rebel” Crawford
Iwas so heartbroken that I honestly didn’t know what the fuck to do. Honestly, I started to run. At least, that was what I told myself I was going to do. But I couldn’t leave Crow. As fucked up as everything was, I couldn’t bring myself to walk away from him too.
Through it all, Crow never left my side.
He didn’t feed me empty promises or tell me everything would magically be okay.
He just loved me. The kind of love that didn’t need grand speeches.
As I lay across his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, he pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head.
His fingers slowly traced circles along my back, grounding me whenever my thoughts tried to drag me under.
“You ain’t gotta carry this alone, Rain,” he whispered. “You hear me? Whatever comes next... we gon’ figure it out together.”
“I’m broke. Everything is gone.”
“What can I do? I have some money saved for another job that I’m thinking about giving you.”
“I appreciate you, but I can’t take from you or Sebastian. Besides, I had millions in that portfolio.”
“Shit. I can’t believe it’s all gone.”
“Me neither.”
The knot in my throat tightened. I buried my face deeper into his chest, letting his warmth wrap around me as fresh tears slipped down my cheeks.
Ever since my world had fallen apart, I allowed myself to stop pretending I was okay.
Although we planned to hit Ross Savings and Loan for the biggest payday of our lives, I didn’t know what to do.
“I know you got to go meet with Kash and Dice today, but can I take you out?”
“Is it a date?”
“Yeah. I told you, Rain. I love you, and I want to see where our relationship can go.”
I looked up at him, my eyes still swollen from crying.
“I’m hurting and desperate right now. If you can hold me down and be patient with me, just know that I care about you. I really do. I just need a little time to figure all of this out.”
A soft smile crossed Crow’s face as he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. He leaned over and kissed my lips. I let him, because for a brief moment, his kiss eased my mind. When he pulled away, he looked me dead in the eyes, his expression serious.
“I ain’t going nowhere, Rain. Take all the time you need. I’ll be right here when you’re ready.”
I decided to take Crow up on his offer for a date. Sitting around the house crying wasn’t gonna change a damn thing. Maybe getting some fresh air would help clear my mind.
After a long shower, I stood in front of the mirror and slipped into an oversized green jersey with a pair of baggy gray jeans.
I threw on my tan boots, grabbed my matching green purse, and topped everything off with a green A’s fitted.
Instead of putting my locs up like I usually did, I let them hang freely over my shoulders and down my back.
I stared at my reflection for a long moment. Yet, I didn’t look like a woman who had just lost everything. If somebody passed me on the street, they’d probably think I was headed out to enjoy my day. They’d never know my entire world had collapsed overnight.
Behind my eyes, though, I was barely holding it together. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my keys and headed for the door. Maybe Crow couldn’t fix what had happened, but for a few hours, he could help me forget it.
We decided to go go-karting, and I already knew it was gonna be fun.
The two of us climbed into his truck and had an absolute ball, singing at the top of our lungs while the music blasted through the speakers.
As he drove us to our destination, I rested my hand on his thigh and belted out every lyric like I didn’t have a care in the world.
He couldn’t stop smiling, bobbing his head to the beat and stealing glances at me every chance he got.
I caught him looking a few times, and all he did was chuckle before turning his attention back to the road.
The happiness radiating from me seemed to make him just as happy, and for the first time in a long time, everything felt effortless.
Once we arrived, Crow walked around the truck and opened the door for me. As our eyes met, every emotion I’d been carrying from everything I was dealing with hit me all at once. Even so, standing in front of him, I felt safe.
I held his gaze for a second before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss against his lips.
When we pulled apart, he smiled, laced his fingers through mine, and led me toward the front booth to pay for our laps.
His hand never left mine, and for those few moments, the weight of the world didn’t feel nearly as heavy.
The second we hit the track, it felt like we were kids again. We bumped each other’s karts, talked trash through our helmets, and laughed so hard our sides started hurting. Every time I’d pull ahead, Crow would intentionally tap my bumper just enough to make me squeal.
“Cheatin’ ass,” I yelled over my shoulder.
“You just mad ‘cause I’m better,” he shot back with that cocky grin I’d known for years.
“Keep tellin’ yourself that.”
We crossed the finish line still arguing over who really won, neither of us willing to admit defeat. People watching probably thought we’d been together forever. That’s how easy it was between us.
After go-karting, neither of us was ready for the day to end. The ride to Quickway was filled with music and laughter. Every song that came on turned into an argument over who knew the lyrics better.
“You definitely made those words up,” Crow laughed.
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did.”
“I’ve been singing this song for years.”
“And you’ve been singing it wrong for years.”
“Oh, shut up.”
He laughed so hard he had to wipe a tear from his eye.
“I swear you believe anything that comes out your own mouth.”
“I do.”
“I know.”
Once he stopped walking, he gently cupped my face in both hands and captured my lips in a slow, tender kiss.
His touch was careful, almost as if he wanted me to know just how much I meant to him.
I melted into him, my eyes fluttering shut as years of friendship and unspoken feelings poured into that single kiss.
After Crow left, I headed across town to meet up with Kash and Dice at an Airbnb. We always rented one whenever we planned our next heist. It kept us off the radar and gave us a place to spread everything out without worrying about anyone looking over our shoulders.
When I walked inside, everything for the job was sprawled across the dining room table.
Blueprints of Ross Savings and Loan covered nearly every inch of the wood.
Security camera placements were highlighted in different colors.
Shift schedules, guard rotations, escape routes, vault schematics, police response times, burner phones, radios, and laptops displaying hacked surveillance footage surrounded the room.
Every detail mattered. One mistake could cost us everything.
I quietly took my usual seat, my eyes scanning over the plans without saying a word. That’s when Kash glanced up from her laptop. She looked at me curiously for about a second before speaking.
“You good?”
“Yeah.”
Dice looked at me for a long second before exchanging a quick glance with Kash.
“Bullshit.”
I frowned. “What?”
Kash closed her laptop. “You’ve been sitting there for almost five minutes and ain’t corrected a single thing.”
She wasn’t wrong. Normally, I’d already be pointing out blind spots, questioning security angles, or finding a dozen ways the plan could go sideways. It was what I did.
Today, my mind was somewhere else.
“I’m straight,” I lied.
Dice leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Nah. Something off.”
I forced a smile. “I’m just tired.”
Neither one of them looked convinced. The room fell quiet for a moment before Kash slowly reopened her laptop.
“Aight,” she said. “When you’re ready to talk, you know where we at.”
Guilt settled in my stomach. They were my family. I wanted to tell them everything. But until I figured out what the hell I was gonna do... I couldn’t bring myself to say the words out loud. However, the pressure I’d been holding in finally broke.
Tears poured down my face as ugly sobs ripped through my chest. I couldn’t stop them if I tried.
Dice shot up from her chair so fast it scraped across the hardwood floor.
“Oh, fuck no.” She reached behind her back for her pistol. “Let me get my gun. Why my Hooka crying?”
Kash grabbed Dice’s wrist before she could take another step.
“Dice.”
“Nah, Kash. Somebody got my Hooka fucked up.”
“Put the gun down first,” Kash said.
Dice sucked her teeth but didn’t let go of the grip. Then Kash walked over and crouched in front of me.
“Rebel...” Kash said softly. “Talk to us.”
I shook my head as another sob escaped my lips.
Dice was already pacing behind Kash.
“Just give me a name, Hooka. That’s all I need. One motherfuckin’ name.”
“Sarah, my financial advisor,” I cried, barely able to get the words out. “That bitch stole all my money. She worked at Monarch Wealth Management.”
Kash’s face fell. “What?”
“Everything I saved for my tech company...” My voice cracked as fresh tears rolled down my face. “Apparently it was a Ponzi scheme. It was all over the news.”
Dice froze. “I saw that shit on the news about that company,” she said quietly. “I ain’t know you had money tied up with them.”
I nodded. “Millions.” I wiped at my face. “Years of planning... years of risking my freedom... all so I could leave this life behind. That company was supposed to be my way out.”
Kash walked over and pulled me into a hug. “Rebel...”
“It’s gone,” I cried. “Everything is gone.”
Dice’s jaw tightened. “Nah.” She shook her head. “That money gone. Your dream ain’t. I can drop money in your account today.”
I looked at Dice, but she wasn’t joking.
“And after we hit Ross Savings and Loan, I’m giving you part of my cut,” Dice stated.
I frowned immediately. “No.”
“Yes,” Dice nodded.
Kash nodded in agreement. “She’s right. You’re taking a bigger cut.”
“Absolutely not,” I sighed.