𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧
[𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓]

❧

JJ AND MARINA HAD PULLED UP TO THE CHATEAU AFTER GRABBING HER THINGS FROM HER HOUSE. It was safe to say that it was a pretty quiet ride all the way back. Marina had acted like nothing had happened while as JJ had been trying to apologize-- though she barely let him get a word out. As she gets off of the bike, she goes to walk toward the house but JJ grasps her arm softly.

"Hey, um, I didn't mean to walk in... the door was open so I just assumed--"

"Its fine. Let's just not talk about it." She denies, her eyes not really looking at him.

"Got it." JJ mutters, letting her go because he knew if she didn't want to talk about something, she wouldn't. He only stared down at her as she awkwardly stood beside him.

"And that means not staring at me with pity in your eyes." She adds and JJ tilts his head.

"So, what you did in the hot tub wasn't pity?" He responds and she sighs, shaking her head.

"We're not talking about that either." Marina tells him and he presses his lips together tightly.

"What a great conversation." JJ states before they both head toward the chateau. But before they can get there, Pope and Kiara come walking out.

"Where have you two been?" Kiara asks with a scoff, looking at them in an accusing manner.

"We just had to grab some of her stuff." JJ says, gesturing to the bags they had.

"Why?"

"Do you have to know everything?" Marina asks, rolling her eyes. Kiara bit her tongue.

"You guys just left without saying anything whilst John B is missing and we're supposed to be getting the gold. Maybe i just want to know why you guys are adding to the problem."

"Maybe not everything's about you, Kiara." Marina snaps back causing Pope to mutter an 'oh shit' underneath his breath while JJ clears his throat awkwardly as he rubs the back of his neck.

"I never said it was." Kiara denies, wondering where that had come from.

"Right, so pushing yourself into my business is what?" She asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Youre my best friend, I just want to know what's wrong." Kiara admits, frowning a bit.

"Whats wrong is you welcoming Sarah in with open arms without even talking to me." Marina retorts and Kiara blinks a few times.

"Why would I talk to you? Sarah and I worked things out, I thought you'd be relieved." Kiara tells her. Pope and JJ were silent, not knowing their place to say anything.

"Well, I'm not." She denies and Kiara clenches her jaw, her eyes moving to the blonde.

"So, what? You're confiding in JJ now? You're talking to the guy you didn't even want to get to know instead of your best friend because I didn't run something by you?" Kiara argues, crossing her arms as she glares lightly.

"This isn't about JJ." Marina retorts with a groan. "And yeah, maybe i am talking to JJ because I know he'll understand." She adds and Kiara raises her eyebrows in shock.

"Understand what?" She retorts. "The only thing JJ is trying to understand is how to get in your pants." Kiara sneers and Pope immediately makes a sound of disagreement as JJ could only glare at Kiara.

"What the fuck, kie?" JJ snaps back at her but she didn't seem to regret it in the slightest.

"Woah, thats too far." Pope tells her.

"Oh, so you're acting all shocked now like we weren't all seeing him flirt and drool over her?" Kiara points out and Marina rolls her eyes. Yes, he flirted with her, but she could tell recently he was really just trying to understand and wanting to be there for her.

"Or maybe he actually listens to what I have to say and doesn't press for information that he doesn't need to know."

"So, you two weren't off hooking up somewhere?" Kiara accuses and JJ just rubs his face, not understanding why Kiara was being like this.

"Jesus Christ, Kie." He mutters, shaking his head as he turns around.

"If you really need to know so badly, JJ drove me home because my dad had just been arrested." Marina says, not wanting JJ to be thrown under the bus just because Kiara was angry with her.

It was silent as Kiara just stared at her for a moment. "What?" She asks, a small frown forming.

"Hes in jail, probably because of my mom, and I don't know if I'm gonna be able to get him out because last I checked, the cops hate me and well, I'm fuck out of money."

"I would've went with you." Her voice was now soft, realizing her mistake.

"That was the last thing I needed because quite frankly, I didn't want to be alone with you." She denies and she saw the hurt in kiaras eyes but she didn't care. "And why would I? When you're all buddy buddy with the girl who ratted me out and got me sent to juvie." Marina tells her.

"Sarah? Wait, I thought you were only in there for a few days for stealing?" Kiara asks, not understanding what Sarah had to do with anything.

"It was a month. And it was because Sarah called the cops on me. But how would you know any of that? You were too busy trying to be her best friend and live up your best kook life." Marina snaps back and Kiara goes quiet.

"I thought you didn't care about that." Kiara responds. Marina told her to hang with them and it wasn't like they never hung out together.

"Yeah, well, I lied." She responds harshly. "You were my only friend Kie." Marina felt her stomach twist and she tried so desperately to not let her tears escape but it was almost impossible. "So, maybe i am pissed that you went back to the girl who stole you and got me sent away so easily. But maybe i don't actually know you because why would you talk to JJ like that?" She asks with a scoff, shaking her head.

JJ was a bit surprised he was being defended, especially by Marina. Kiara seemed to become more upset though. "Because maybe i know he doesn't de--"

"Okay, can we just stop this? We seriously don't need to be fighting, not when John B is pulling a houdini." JJ cuts into the conversation, knowing them being at each other's throats wasn't going to help the situation at all.

"Yeah, where is he? I got my scholarship interview tomorrow morning. Weve got to get this done." Pope adds.

"Speak of the devil. Hey!" JJ says as he sees the man walking toward them. "Dude, I set up the entire winch to pull up the gold and everything." He tells him but John B didn't say anything.

"No, he did not. I did that." Pope corrects, glaring over at JJ.

"Hey, John b." Kiara says but they all stop when the man quietly enters the chateau.

"Okay, that's it?" Jj asks confused.

"Uh, what's all that about?" Pope questions and JJ looks at him.

"I was gonna ask you the same question." They all stroll toward the door, heading inside and seeing John B practically tearing the place apart.

"You all right, man? What's up?" Pope asks, wondering what was going on.

"What are you looking for?" Kiara questions.

"Bro, what's going on, man?" JJ walks over to the man who was by the couch before seeing the gun in his hand. "John B, what do you need the gun for?" He asks and Marina's eyes widen slightly. "Just-- talk to us!" JJ was shoved on the couch by John B who tried heading toward the door.

"John B, chill! What are you doing?" Kiara asks with a scoff as Pope tried to block him.

"What, are you JJ now?" Pope only gets shoved toward the table and John B storms outside.

"Shi-- are you okay?" Kiara asks pope before they rush outside. "John B, what the hell are you doing?!" He was acting crazy and not even telling them anything.

"Ward knows about the gold!" He shouts and they all go quiet. "He killed my dad." John B says, his voice cracking and it was clear none of them were expecting that. He only starts JJ's bikes before riding toward the road.

"John B!" Kiara shouts as they chase after him but it was no use.

"Shit!" JJ mutters as he runs his hands through his hair. Marina shakes her head, both her and Pope heading back inside the chateau. Kiara stares at the road for a moment longer before turning, purposely pushing past JJ who was already angered. "Kie, can you fucking stop?" He snaps at her and she turns back to face him.

"Why?" Her voice was loud as she stared at him. JJ could see the tears in her eyes that she tried to hold back, the way her tone quivered with her words. "Why do you get to have her?" She asks him and JJ felt his lips part but nothing came out. He could only stare back at her. "Why do you deserve her?"  Kiara sniffles as the tear slips from her eye.

"Kie--" He tries to stop her but she rushes into the chateau, slamming the door behind her. JJ just stood in shock as he stared at the wood. He had no idea what had just happened, wondering how he got caught in the middle of this whole mess. And wondering what the hell Kiara was talking about, especially since it was very clear she was hiding something.

❧

AS THE POGUES PULLED UP TO THE DOCK, JJ sighed as he rubbed his chin, staring at the Cameron house that was meters away. "What now? We just go up to the front door and ask, hey have you see John B?" JJ asks with a scoff as he crosses his arms against his chest. Kiara looked at him but neither actually met the others eyes. They hadn't really talked since she snapped at him and ran off.

"Look, he lives at Tannyhill now. It's plausible. We can play dumb." Kiara suggests and JJ raises his eyebrows.

"Play dumb?"

"Its pretty late." Pope adds. No one would believe them if they just strolled up to the door now.

"Look, I've never seen John B like that. We should honestly be going to the cops." Kiara tells them and Marina just shakes her head, looking over at the house.

"The cop-- yeah, and say what, Kie? Were worried about our friend because he's on a rampage because Ward Cameron killed Big John? Like, they're not gonna believe us!" JJ explains to her. "And do you not remember they arrested Mari's dad just a few hours ago? Those pigs aren't gonna do shit." He adds with a scoff.

"Hey, i see Ward." Pope says as he looks through the binoculars.

"Let me see." Kiara says as she grabs them from him.

"Doesn't seem dead to me. Let's go home." Pope says, turning away which makes everyone look confused.

"Wait." JJ starts.

"What?" Kiara furrows her eyebrows.

"Uh, okay. Obviously, Mr Cameron is fine, and even if John B was here, he isn't now, okay?" Pope points out and Marina knew he had a point but he was so quick to head home. "Plus, I have the biggest, most important moment of my life in six hours." He adds.

"Yeah, well, our friend is in trouble." Kiara snaps back at him.

"I'm in trouble. Guys, I haven't been home in three days. My dad's probably put all my shit on the street by now." Pope explains causing Kiara to cross her arms.

"Okay, so that's it?" Kiara asks him. "In a time of need, you're just gonna bail? You're just gonna walk away?" She says with a scoff.

"Okay, yo, guys, can we not do this right now?" JJ asks them, glancing around the dock.

"Hey, i have a scholarship interview in the morning. I cant--"

"Okay, well, what about John B?"

"Why is it always about John B?"

"Its not always about John B. You're so stupid. It would be any of you in this situation." Kiara says, looking at the group and Pope rolls his eyes.

"Oh, bullshit!" She shouts back as JJ covers his face.

"Guys--"

"This is about friendship. Look, this is about Pogues for life." Kiara states firmly but Pope didn't seem to be on the same page as her.

"What about forensic pathology, huh?" He retorts and she looked at him like he was crazy.

"Forensic pathology?"

"Its my life. Its everything I've worked for."

"Thats your priority?"

"Stop with the moral high ground bullshit." Pope snaps back at her.

"Pope." JJ warns him but he was sick and tired of Kiara acting like she'd never abandoned them.

"No."

"Excuse me?" Kiara asks with a scoff.

"No, no. She has no room to talk." He denies, pointing at Kiara. "Where were you when Big John went missing?" Pope asks and Kiara goes silent. "You weren't there. You were there for John B. You weren't there for any of us. Remember your kook year?" He questions and Kiara looks down at the ground.

"Dude." JJ tries to get him to stop but it was no use.

"Yeah, you forgot about us. Now you feel guilty." He mutters. "Mari was in juvie! Thats why you are crying and taking things out on JJ because you know you weren't there for her and that you were a crap friend!" Pope shouts at the girl who only pushes him away from her.

"Give me a break." Her voice cracks as she tries to hold back her tears. JJ jumps up from his seat. Marina couldn't help but frown as she looked toward Kiara.

"Hey!" He shouts at them.

"That what you need?" Kiara asks him with a scoff. "You need a break?!" Pope and her continue to fight until JJ rushes over and shoves them apart.

"Hey! Yo, yo, yo, cut it out, all right?" JJ tells them with a scoff. Marina looks at them before looking toward the house. "If I'm the one mediating, we've hit rock bottom." He points out, shaking his head.  "Bow, now. Go." He demands, staring at Pope who reluctantly moves. "Pope, I'll drop you off." He mumbles with a sigh. His eyes go over to the dock where he could see Mari climbing off.

"Hey, where are you going?" JJ asks confused, making the others glance at her too. "Mari!" He calls out to her but she was just running over to the wall, climbing over it so she could head toward the house.

"Shit." Pope mutters, covering his head with his hands.

"Mari, get back here." But there was no use, she was already long out of range of their voices.

As she gets to the door, she glances around before beginning to pound against it. There was no use in being discreet. It took a minute for it to open where she was met with a confused Ward. "Uh, hi?" He says. He knew who she was but wasn't sure why she was on his doorstep.

"Is Rafe here?" Marina asks, knowing that was the only reason she'd ever be here.

"No, he isn't. And as matter of fact, I couldn't give a damn where he is." Ward responds and Marina wasn't surprised since Rafe told her that Ward was upset with him.

"Well, he owes me money." She lies, staring at him expectantly.

"Of course he does." Ward mutters to himself, rubbing his jaw. "Look, I've got nothing for you, so why don't you go home?" He suggests.

"I'm not leaving without my money. Some people need it to survive." Marina states bluntly.

"And that's my problem, why?"

"My dad's in jail, but I'm sure you already knew that." She says harshly. "I could gladly find another way to get my money but neither of us want that." Marina denies, fiddling with the knife in her pocket.

"Look, i don't have time for this shit." Ward denies and Marina refrained from slapping him across the face.

"Is Sarah here?" She asks, crossing her arms against her chest. Ward seemed a bit confused. "Maybe she knows where Rafe is." Marina says bluntly and Ward reluctantly steps out of the way.

"Shes in her room." He tells her and she just brushes past him, walking up the stairs. He doesn't question how she knows where Sarah's room is, allowing the girl to continue on her way.

As Marina opens the door, closing it behind her quickly, she was met with a surprised Sarah who sat on her bed. "Mari? What are you doing here?" Sarah asks, wondering why she had just randomly showed up in her room.

"Was John B here?" Marina asks, not wasting anytime.

"What?"

"Cut the bullshit, Sarah. Was he here or not?" She says with a scoff, rolling her eyes. She really didn't have time to be sent on a wild goose chase.

"H-he left." Sarah admits. "He tried to tell me my dad murdered his but, he's wrong. My dad would never do something like that." She denies and Marina had to laugh, shaking her head.

"God, you seriously are as stupid as you look." Marina tells her and Sarah looked offended.

"Excuse me?"

"John B wouldn't lie to you Sarah. He loves you. Although I'm seriously questioning his judgment right now." She states, looking around the room for a moment.

"Why are you here?" Sarah questions and Marina glares over at Sarah.

"I was just looking for him. Trust me, there's no other reason I'd be here." Marina denies which makes Sarah get up from her bed.

"Mari--"

"Dont call me that." She cuts her off harshly. Sarah frowns but doesn't push the boundary.

"Look, i know you hate me-- whether it's for what happened with Kiara or me just being a kook--"

"Youre seriously gonna pretend right now?" Marina asks her, raising an eyebrow. Sarah sighs, looking down at the ground.

"I promise you, it wasn't me who called the cops." Sarah denies and Marina just shakes her head, crossing her arms against her chest.

"And I'm supposed to believe that?"

"Ask Rafe, i-i was with him majority of the time since he always hung around Topper." Sarah admits, knowing he'd be able to verify it, if he even cared to.

"Youre the only one who saw me, Sarah." Marina says bluntly and Sarah seemed hesitant.

"No, i wasn't." She denies and this causes Marina to squints her eyes. "I was with Topper." When the words left her mouth, Marina could only stare at her. If Topper had been with Sarah, he could've easily told his grandfather or honestly just gone to Shoupe. She wouldn't put it past him. Once a kook, always a kook.

Marina hadn't said anything else, only leaving Sarah alone in her bedroom as she walked back down the stairs. She headed toward the front door. "You get what you wanted?" Wards voice comes from the next room. Marina stops, facing the man who walks toward her.

"She didn't know." She lies, shrugging her shoulders. Ward just glances around before holding out an envelope.

"Here." Ward says and she takes it from him, peering inside to see a stack of cash. "Now dont come around here again." He tells her and she doesn't say anything, just turning to walk out but he grabs her arm. "You should tell your friends to watch their backs." He says lowly and she glares at him, ripping her arm from his grasp before rushing out the door.

As she heads back to the dock, she can't help but glance behind her, noticing Ward watching her. As she climbs back over the wall, she heads toward the boat, catching the others attention. "Jesus, Mari. What the hell were you thinking?" JJ asks with a sigh as she gets closer.

"We needed to know if John B had been there." Marina responds, grabbing the extended hand JJ had out to help her back on the boat.

"And had he?" Pope questions.

"Yeah, i talked to Sarah." She admits with a nod. "She didn't believe him. Like father like daughter." Marina mumbles. How could Sarah not believe what John B was saying? Why would he lie?

None of them seemed truly surprised. "Whats that?" Pope asks as he gestures to the envelope she was holding.

"Oh, i told Ward rafe owed me money and I was looking for him." Marina admits.

"I thought Rafe was kicked out." JJ says, furrowing his eyebrows.

"He was. Ward doesn't know i knew that though." Marina responds with a shrug of her shoulders. JJ shakes his head with a chuckle, moving toward the seat before starting the boat and taking them away from the Cameron Residence.

❧

WAITING FOR JJ TO COME BACK FROM THE CONVENIENCE STORE, Marina leant against the bike with her arms crossed against her chest. It was the day after the complete bullshit that was the previous night and they decided to stock up on things they needed. More so things to make them forget everything that had happened. Luckily John B was back at the chateau with Kiara so they didn't have to worry about him going haywire anymore.

"Mari?" She hears her name causing her to turn around, only to see Rafe walking up to her. She sighs in annoyance as she places her hands on her hips.

"Oh, it's you." Marina mumbles back as she glances around, wondering if JJ could see them from inside the store. He hadn't come charging out so probably not.

"What are you doing here?" Rafe asks, seeing as they were closer to figure eight than the cut. It was the one store that JJ could get away with not having an id.

"Uh, just waiting for my friends." Marina answers bluntly.

"I heard you were looking for me. Wheezie said you stopped by." He says and she internally groans. Of course wheezie would tell him. She hadn't even realized wheezie had been awake.

"False alarm." She says with a shrug, not really wanting to say she was there to talk to Sarah about John B.

"Come to your senses?"

"You wish." Marina scoffs. "Youre just lucky my dad's in jail right now." She points out and he nods, smirking lightly.

"Yeah, i heard about that. Seems like I got the last word, huh?" Rafe retorts, tilting his head and she glares back at him.

"Go away, Rafe." She warns as she turns away from him.

"You still mad over what I said? Come on, i didn't mean that shit, I was just pissed cause of the money." Rafe says with a roll of his eyes, acting like it was no big deal.

"Good to know." Marina mutters as she glances down at the ground. He steps closer to her, his finger hovering over her chin but he knew better than to touch her.

"You know I don't hold things against you, it's not your fault my sister is a dumb bitch." Rafe admits in annoyance.

"Dont talk about her like that." Marina defends. Though she wasn't Sarah's biggest fan, she knew Rafe blamed her for things she had no control over.

"Oh, please, you don't have to act like you like her."

"I don't but she's still your sister." She points out and Rafe shrugs his shoulders.

"That doesn't mean shit." He denies before glancing around. "Look, i thought you should know that Liam's telling everyone you wanted it." Rafe says and this makes her be taken aback a bit.

"What?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Hes saying it was your idea and you were both wasted." Rafe says and Marina felt her jaw clench, her fists tightening as she thought about that excuse of a man.

"Of course he is." She mumbles, shaking her head as she looks up at the sky.

"I could shut him up again." Rafe tells her and she was quiet for a moment.

"God, rafe, i don't get you. One minute you're being a dick and threatening me and the next you're being nice? What's your game?" Marina truly didnt know what his problem was. Like, was he just undiagnosed and was bipolar or something? Truthfully, she didn't think ward ever took him to see a doctor.

"Theres no game." He denies as he tilts his head. "I told you already, I like you." Rafe says, his eyes running over her partially. Marina glances back at the store, seeing JJ hadn't came back out yet.

"Do you remember the party during my sophomore year? Uh, it was around the time i got arrested and I was selling my dad's supply?" Marina asks him curiously and Rafe seemed a bit confused but nodded his head nonetheless.

"Yeah, why?"

"Sarah says... she says she wasn't the one to call the cops. That she was with you most of the night. Is that true?" Marina questions. Rafe thinks back on it for a moment before opening his mouth to respond, but before he could, a new voice interrupts them.

"Why don't you get the fuck away from her?" JJ threatens as he walks over to them. Rafe glances in his direction with a scoff before raising his eyebrows at Marina.

"Your friend?" He asks her and she was quiet. "Could've just said it was a piece of pogue trash." Rafe admits as JJ steps between them so he wasn't near Marina.

"Rafe, back up before I make you." He warns as he steps closer. Rafe smirks as he peers down at the man.

"I'm so scared." His voice was dripping with sarcasm as his eyes drift back over to Marina momentarily. "I'll see you around, JJ." Rafe says, backing up and heading over to his own bike. They just watch as the man gets on and drives off down the road.

"What did he want?" JJ asks after a moment, turning to face the girl.

"Wondering why I stopped by his place. Apparently wheezie said something to him." Marina answers and JJ scoffs, rolling his eyes.

"Of course she did." He mutters before holding up the bag. "Well, i got the good stuff." JJ tells her and she shakes her head, grabbing it from him.

"Nothing says drowning out your sorrows over losing millions in gold like cheap beer and chips." She says as she opens her bag to put it inside so she didn't have to hold it the whole way back.

"I finished my stash, otherwise I'd be high as a kite right now." JJ admits with a groan, stretching a bit. Marina just reaches into her bag before pulling out a plastic ziplock. "Holy shit." He grabs it from her, smirking widely. "Coming in clutch like always." He says, opening it and letting the smell intoxicate his lungs. But she only grabs it back from him, putting it back in her bag.

"No, you are not smoking this until we get back to the chateau. I'm not have you crash us into a tree." Marina denies and JJ seemed a bit annoyed.

"You sound like Kie." He grumbles as he gets onto the bike. Marina just shakes her head as she puts the backpack on and climbs onto the bike behind him. JJ starts it up, glancing back to make sure she was situated before pressing the gas and driving down the road.

❧

MARINA LAID ON THE DOCK, her eyes staring up at the piercing sun through her sunglasses. A blunt laid between her fingers as she and the others, minus Pope, reeled in the loss of the gold. "You sure he got everything?" Kiara asks as she sat against one of the beams, looking over at John B who was only laid beside Marina, even more gone than her.

"Every bar. The whole enchilada." John B mumbles with a scoff before pulling off his arm cast. "Look, it's not like i expected some happy ending or shit." He denies and Kiara gives him a disapproving look.

"John B--"

"What, Kie? It's a hairline fracture. Who cares?" John B tells her and she just tilts her head as she crosses her arms against her chest.

"You should care. Your arms gonna be messed up for life." Kiara retorts but he just wiggles his fingers.

"Its fine. See?" She gives him an unimpressed look. Meanwhile JJ takes a hit of the blunt he had while looking toward Marina.

"Are you trying to cook yourself in the sun?" JJ asks her curiously and she nods her head, spreading her arms out on the dock. She was dressed head to toe in black sweatpants and a black jacket with her sunglasses on. If anything, they would think she was a vampire.

"Yep, like a burnt chicken nugget." Marina tells him and JJ snorts, shaking his head. Kiara glances between them as she pulls at her finger nails.

"Mari." She says, getting the girls attention. "I really am sorry." Kiara apologizes. She knew she had overstepped and Pope was right, she felt guilty about everything and was just projecting.

"Can we just not talk about this right now?" Marina responds, looking back up at the sky but Kiara continues to speak.

"Youre right. I was focused on myself and left you alone. You're my best friend and I acted terrible towards you. I just... I wish I could take it all back but I can't. All I can say is that I'm sorry for hurting you." Kiara explains to her. Marina was silent for a second, not really looking at her before a sigh leaves her lips.

"I guess it's kind of my fault too. I didn't tell you. How are you supposed to mind read, right?" Marina points out as she lifts her sunglasses to actually look at the girl.

"I should've been there and I will be from now on." Kiara assures her and Marina knew she was being genuine. Yes, she was hurt by how Kiara acted before but it was clear she did truly regret her actions.

"Okay, kie." Marina says with a nod before pulling her sunglasses back down.

"JJ's right though, you're gonna get heat stroke." Kiara points out, staring at the girl.

"I'm cool as a cucumber."

"Come on, take it off." Kiara says, jumping off of her ledge and moving over to the woman.

"No." Marina denies as she turtle shells a little bit. Kiara scoffs as she kneels down, grabbing a hold of her sweater. Pulling the zipper down, much to the swatting of hands from Marina, she luckily gets one arm out.

"Are you seriously wearing layers?" Kiara asks, raising an eyebrow. Marina felt very judged right now as she groaned, kicking away from her.

"Its comfortable!" She whines back and Kiara shakes her head. JJ chuckles from his seat before he stands up.

"Youre crazy." He tells her before helping Kiara with the girls sweater.  Marina tried to stop them but JJ practically lifted her off the ground to give them better leverage.

"Hey, two against one isn't fair." She complains, purposely aiming for JJ's face. The man lets out an exasperated sound, looking a bit perplexed. "John B, help!" Marina tries, reaching out for the man who was only smiling at them.

Luckily they were interrupted which gave Marina some leeway to get free. "Guys!" Pope shouts as he runs down the dock. Marina fixes her jacket, glaring at the pair in front of her as she zips it back up. Kiara lets out a groan but doesnt even try anymore. "Oh, god. I ran all the way here." He admits as he stops in front of them, bending down.

"You all right?" John B asks him as he simply turned his head.

"How was the interview, Pope?" JJ questions.

"Dont ask." He mutters, shaking his head. "JB.. Look, I'm sorry, dude. About everything." Pope apologizes but John B shrugged his shoulders.

"Its fine." He mumbles, seemingly not caring about anything anymore.

"But--but I don't have a lot of time, and I have information that is tactically relevant." Pope tells them and this gets their attention a bit more. "So, before I had my interview, my dad said he was going down to the private airstrip to cut palms for Cameron's big plane. Because it was too heavy and it needed a longer landing strip to take off. So, I'm there sitting in my interview, thinking to myself, hm why would Cameron need a longer airstrip to take off? What could be so heavy to weigh it down?" He explains to them and John B sits up, his eyes widening.

"Gold." JJ answers and Pope points at him.

"Thars right." John B says in a whisper as he couldn't quite believe it. They still had a chance.

"Guys, this is our chance, but it leaves tonight, and we have to go." Pope tells them and Marina actually felt like maybe this wasn't over yet. Ward didn't have to win.

"Guys, we can't give up now." Kiara denies as she shakes her head.

"Whats the plan, Big man?" JJ asks as his eyes go over to John B who was staring at the ground until his eyes lifted to meet the group.

"Were gonna steal that shit back."

❧

Authors note; thank you so much for your patience and for showing love to this book. I hope you continue to read and enjoy where it goes.