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❝ before i cut your damn tongue out ❞
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𝘚𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘦'𝘴 𝘗𝘖𝘝

"Really helps there's no names on the streets" JJ mutters sarcastically as we walk through the streets of Barbados.

"Just let me handle it" Cleo waves him off, walking over to a group of men to ask them about the address "101 Cattle Wash? Blue house? Thanks, man, I appreciate you"

I glance behind me to where the men were pointing and I spot the bright blue house on the beach, a little hope sparking in my chest.

"Let's do it" JJ says, throwing his arm around me as we walk towards the house.

We walk until we see the large sign that reads '101 Cattle Wash' under all it's dirt and grime.

"This is it. Let's go around back" JJ declares and we all follow him down the alley way beside the house.

We round the back fencing and sneak in through the backyard gate, I tiptoe behind John B and Sarah. JJ trips and grabs onto the fence, making a big rattling noise that causes us all to look back at him in disbelief.

"Shh!" Pope hisses.

"My bad. Sorry" JJ grimaces.

"Hey. Window?" John B turns to me as we reach the house and I nod.

"Yeah" JJ agrees, joining me at my side.

"Here. You want some help?" Pope offers the Routledge boy.

"No, I got this" John B assures him before jumping up to the window and sliding it open.

"Careful" Pope warns him.

"Whoa. Yo, get off. Get off! Get off! Dude, get-" JJ yelps in pain behind me and I turn to see him fighting with a bunch of crabs.

"Shh! Hey! Shh!" Everyone whisper yells at the blonde boy.

I grab his shoulder to stop him from jumping around and grab the crab attached to his finger, throwing it across the yard with a huff of annoyance.

"What are you doing? Does the element of surprise mean nothing to you?" Pope snaps at JJ.

"It turned my thumb purple!" JJ argues back.

"Shh. Relax" Cleo shushes him "It's just a crab, man"

"I'm being surrounded right now" JJ frantically looks around at all the crabs "Goddamn it. Damn little sea spider"

"Will you calm down?" I groan, grabbing his wrist to stop him from moving around so much.

As Sarah starts to climb up behind John B with the help of Pope and Cleo, JJ shows me his red finger with a pout on his lips. I roll my eyes at him and press a light kiss onto the sore bit, causing him to smile happily in response.

I suppress a short laugh and tug him towards the window where Cleo and Pope have now climbed up. JJ gives me a boost up and I yank myself onto the ledge, climbing into the room.

"I'll take the front" Cleo declares as JJ enters the room behind me "Take the back"

"Kiara?" Sarah whispers.

"Kie?" I hear John B speak as I wander into other rooms in search of my best friend.

"Sarah, no one in there?" JJ asks my sister.

"No" She answers and he spots me as I exit the room I was in.

"No one there?" He questions me.

"Nothing in there" I shrug with a frown.

"Okay. Well, if she's not here, where is she?" JJ wonders aloud.

"Where the hell did they take her?" I add.

"John B. John B?" Pope snaps and I look up to see the two boys focused on a painting "Recognize that?"

"What? Find something?" JJ perks up.

"What's that?" I ask, joining the boys at the painting.

"Holy shit" John B mutters but I frown in confusion.

"It's a burning boat" JJ states plainly, also not understanding Pope or John B.

"I don't understand what we're supposed to be seeing here?" I admit.

"This is San Jose. It's from Denmark's diary" Pope explains to us "This is the ship that Captain Limbrey stole the cross from"

"And the Merchant gold" John B adds.

"Great, whatever" JJ shrugs.

"This has nothing to do with Kiara, guys. It doesn't help us at all" I declare in irritation, JJ and I continuing to check for something that could give us even a smidge of a clue to where Kiara is being held.

"Well, Portis is a treasure guy. This is too close to our boat" John B mutters.

"Just let it go" JJ warns him, glancing at me.

"We're not here for any of that shit, Johnny. We're here for Kiara" I snap at him in fit of anger "Can you please stay focused?"

"Guys, guys, guys" Cleo whistles at us to get our attentions.

"What?" Sarah questions, jogging over to her and I hear the sound of an engine.

"Shit. It's Portis" Cleo mutters.

"Yo, he's back" JJ informs John B and Pope.

"Do we run?" Sarah asks curiously.

"Not a fucking chance" I scoff, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a large knife from the wooden block on the counter.

"Whoa, Vie" John B breathes out in a worried tone.

"He's gonna tell us exactly where she is or I'll kill him" I declare sternly and no one challenges me, merely giving me concerned looks "Hide"

Everyone listens to me without arguments and we all take cover, hiding wherever we can so he won't see us when he enters the house.

"Yeah, they're pulling her out right now. I'm just really worried about the electrical, all right?" Jimmy speaks into his phone as he walks onto the porch "All right. All right. I'll check in with you tomorrow"

I watch from behind the porch curtains as he throws his phone onto the porch couch and huffs out in defeat.

"Flying Fish, man" He breathes out before spotting a crab on his kitchen floor "Damn it. I've had it with you guys"

Pope and John B immediately jump out of their hiding places, John B throwing a punch at Jimmy's face as Pope grabs him from behind to restrain him so that John B can throw another punch.

"Come here!" Pope struggles with the man who kicks John B onto his back and then elbows his way out of Pope's hold.

I move forward as Jimmy turns and sprints out of the kitchen but JJ trips him up, causing him to sprawl onto the porch's wooden flooring at my feet.

"We got him" JJ announces, grabbing him by the collar to pull him up "Get up!"

"Okay, okay. Okay" Jimmy admits defeat as the others join us on the porch.

"Sit the fuck down" I demand as JJ pushes him into the chair.

"You guys really shouldn't be here right now" Jimmy tells us.

"Where is she, Jimmy?" JJ questions but the man doesn't answer.

"He asked you a question!" I yell, holding the knife up to the man's neck and he looks up at me in fear "Where is she?"

"You really don't wanna know" Jimmy tells us.

"Talk" Sarah demands, standing between JJ and I to push the man's head back with a glass bottle "Who took her? Was it Ward?"

"Ward? Who's Ward?" Jimmy laughs nervously "You guys really don't understand who you're messing with"

"Then we'll call the cops" Sarah threatens.

"Sure, call the cops" Jimmy shrugs "See how far that gets you"

"This guy owns the cops. He's got eyes all over the island looking for you. All of you" He continues "He's a big man, the Kingfish"

"The Kingfish" JJ repeats in a questioning kind of tone.

"Hey!" Pope gets our attention and I see him holding up an envelope to Jimmy "What's this?"

"Hey, take your hands off my shit" Jimmy fights against our hold and I push down on the knife, cutting his neck just slightly.

"Watch it, buddy" I warn him and he stops struggling.

"Shut up" JJ snaps at him.

"Quiet" Cleo adds.

"What is it?" JJ asks our friend and Pope pulls money out of the envelope, handing it to John B.

"Ah, man" Jimmy groans.

"What's that, Jimmy? Is that the payoff?" JJ demands in anger "Is that the payoff for Kiara, Jimmy? Is it?"

"Talk!" Cleo orders.

"I suggest you open your big mouth and tell us something before I cut your damn tongue out" I threaten him, rage pulsating throughout my body.

"Hey, what's Vaux Hall?" Pope asks the man we're holding down.

"You really don't want to go there, man" Jimmy warns him "That's the lion's den"

"That's it. That's where Kie is. Come on, Pope" John B speaks up.

"You really don't want to go there!" Jimmy calls out after the boys.

"Do we look afraid?" Cleo hisses at the man.

"You should be" Jimmy counters.

"But we're not" I retort.

"Let's go. Come on, it's not worth it. Let him go, Vie" John B runs back onto the porch, grabbing my wrist that's holding the knife to Jimmy's neck "Come on, Cleo. JJ, let's go! Come on!"

I let John B take the knife out of my hand and I shoot Jimmy a death glare, allowing JJ to guide me away from the man.

"Portis, we're taking some clothes. Deal with it" John B announces, swiping some clothes.

"Big mistake. You're just gonna make it worse for her!" Jimmy screams as we race out of his house and through the backyard.

"Fuck you, man!" I spit back, Sarah and I holding up our middle fingers to the man.

"Hey, I didn't tell you shit, okay? Remember that!" He hollers at us as we head back down the alley way.