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''Look, the other day, Mike and I kind of got into a little bit of a tiff, all right? And if I go over there right now and Mike sees me, he's not gonna let Kiara out of his sight, boom. Mission blown, we can't go down to South America.'' 

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I STOOD NEAR the wheel, trying to steady myself as Neville and John B went back and forth. My fingers grazed the edge of the boat, the rough wood grounding me as I listened.

''Look, Neville, they're taking my father there,'' John B urged, his voice trembling slightly, though he tried to keep it steady. ''You're the only person who knows where it is. Neville, they are going to kill him unless you help us.''

Neville's gaze flickered to John B, then back to the water. ''They're going after the gold?'' he questioned.

''Yeah, what else are they going to be going after?'' JJ interjected, leaning against the side with an almost mocking smirk.

Neville shook his head slowly. ''Then they'll die anyway,'' he muttered, almost to himself.

John B took a step closer. ''Unless they can pass the test, which they won't if they can't translate the idol.''

''You know the story,'' Neville pressed, a knowing look in his eye.

''No,'' JJ replied bluntly.

Neville leaned in slightly, his voice lowering as if telling a ghost story. ''El Dorado was found by a Guajiro king, and when it came time for him to slip his mortal coil and meet my greats on the astral plane, he wasn't just going to give the gold to his sons. It was the source of his power. It had to go to the wisest man, and to ensure this actually happened, he set up the test of the gnomon.''

I glanced at John B, who looked as focused as I'd ever seen him, while JJ arched a brow, his arms crossing. ''So, there's, like, some test now. Okay,'' JJ quipped.

''There's always a test,'' John B murmured, his tone resigned.

Neville nodded grimly. ''Whoever passes the test gains access to the gold. You fail that test, you die. If you somehow get to the gold without taking the test, then you die.''

''He's lying, right?'' JJ asked, his head tilting as he looked between us. '''Cause there's no way that actually can happen, right?''

''Tell that to the crew of the San Jose and the Royal Merchant,'' Neville stated flatly.

John B stepped forward. ''We don't want the gold, Neville.''

''Well, actually—'' JJ began, but I shot him a look, and he stopped short, raising his hands in mock surrender.

''We just want to save our dad,'' John B finished.

I crossed my arms, leaning toward Neville. ''Yeah, he didn't sign those adoption papers yet. I'm not leaving until I find him.'' 

Neville studied us for a moment, then motioned to JJ. ''Take the wheel,'' he instructed.

JJ grinned, hopping down with a sarcastic, ''Yes, sir.'' He grabbed the wheel, his hands gripping it like he'd been born to steer.

Neville turned to John B, pulling a worn piece of paper from his pocket. ''You must go to the port of Tres Rocas,'' he explained, his finger tracing a path he drew on the map. ''From there, find ferry passage from a river guide called Jose. He will take you up the Orinoco to El Tesoro. It is there. In the bush, you will find a site.''

''Guess we're back in the G-game?'' JJ chimed in, casting a quick glance over his shoulder.

Neville ignored him, his expression serious. ''Make yourself pure of heart, pure of mind,'' he warned, his voice taking on a weight that made me sit up straighter. ''You are there to save your father. The gold kills everyone.''

''All right,'' JJ muttered under his breath, but I could see the faint flicker of nerves behind his eyes.

''Move over,'' Neville commanded, and JJ stepped aside, throwing a mock salute as Neville took the wheel again.

I couldn't resist turning to JJ, narrowing my eyes playfully. ''You heard him, ass hat. You gotta have a pure mind.''

JJ scoffed, shrugging with exaggerated innocence. ''Oh, I am so pure,'' he retorted, drawing out the last word in a whiny tone.

I rolled my eyes, elbowing him in the chest hard enough to make him stumble slightly. ''Ow!'' he yelped, clutching his ribs with a dramatic groan.

''Pure as mud,'' I muttered under my breath, though I couldn't help the small smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. JJ might be a pain, but he always managed to make me laugh.

The gold, the test, the danger—none of it mattered if we didn't get to Big John in time.

I just hoped we weren't already too late.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

MY ARMS WERE crossed as I leaned against the railing, listening closely to John B's voice, though my eyes flicked to JJ, who was fiddling with the tie-off rope.

''Here's the plan,'' John B started. ''Get the girls, go find Pope and Cleo, get down to South America as soon as possible. Cool?''

JJ straightened up and glanced at me before raising an eyebrow at John B. ''Seems a bit vague, I gotta say, John B. Also, I don't got a passport, dog,'' he pointed out.

John B climbed out of the boat and reached out a hand toward me. I took it, stepping onto the dock beside him as he replied to JJ with a sharp look. ''Hey, look, don't bore me with the details, all right?''

JJ, ignoring John B for the moment, turned his attention to the glow of the party lights at The Wreck. ''Hey, look at me,'' he whistled suddenly, snapping back into focus when John B called him out.

''Yeah,'' JJ muttered, meeting John B's gaze.

John B leaned in slightly. ''I'm gonna get Sarah. You both are gonna get Kie, little rendezvous mission. Back on the boat, get out of here.''

JJ snorted softly and threw up his hands. ''Look, the other day, Mike and I kind of got into a little bit of a tiff, all right? And if I go over there right now and Mike sees me, he's not gonna let Kiara out of his sight, boom. Mission blown, we can't go down to South America.'' 

John B, clearly running out of patience, grabbed JJ's head between his hands. ''Just don't get seen,'' he instructed firmly.

JJ took a beat, then nodded sagely. ''You're right. I'll stay here,'' he announced, turning to lean back against the boat.

''No,'' John B groaned, shaking his head. ''No, no. That's not what I was saying.''

JJ ignored him, crossing his arms and grinning like he'd won some unspoken argument. ''I'll stay right here. I got your six,'' he promised, nodding dramatically as though he were performing in some war movie.

John B exhaled sharply, clearly frustrated. ''Yep. No, that's great,'' he mumbled, throwing a quick glance my way as if to say, Can you handle this?

''I'll keep her running, dog,'' JJ added.

I crossed my arms, cocking an eyebrow at JJ. ''I'll be the babysitter again,'' I quipped, shooting John B a sideways glance.

He nodded, though his expression softened just slightly. ''Okay, just be careful with him,'' he instructed.

''Why does everybody treat me like I'm a kid?'' JJ interjected, his voice tinged with irritation as he straightened up, gesturing toward us both like we were the unreasonable ones.

''Why do you act like a kid?'' I shot back.

''No, I don't!'' he argued, but the way his bottom lip jutted out slightly made him look like a sulking teenager.

I didn't even have to say anything else—just gave him the look, the one that said Are you serious right now?

JJ held my gaze for a moment before relenting with a small shrug. ''Maybe once in a while,'' he muttered defensively.

''Maybe every time there's a big decision to make,'' I retorted.

''Alright, whatever. Babysit me,'' he conceded dramatically, throwing himself back down onto the bench with a grin that he didn't even try to hide.

I let out a long sigh, pulling out my phone to scroll through messages while keeping half an eye on him. But when I glanced up after a few minutes, the bench was empty.

I frowned, turning around fully and scanning the dock. ''JJ?'' I called, my voice louder than I intended.

No response.

The realization that he'd slipped off hit me like a bucket of cold water. ''JJ, what the actual fuck?'' I shouted, spinning in a slow circle to check the area.

Still nothing. The boat rocked slightly, but the dock and surrounding area were eerily quiet except for the faint buzz of the party in the background.

''JJ, I swear, if you've gotten yourself caught...'' I muttered under my breath, starting to pace as I strained to hear even the slightest sound of him nearby.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

I STOOD AT the edge of the party, scanning the crowd for any sign of JJ. The heat of frustration simmered beneath my skin; I couldn't believe he'd run off without telling me.

And then I saw them. John B and JJ were walking side by side, their expressions grim under the party lights. Relief flooded through me for half a second before annoyance took over again. JJ spotted me first, his blue eyes narrowing slightly before he reached out and pulled me by the arm without a word. I barely had time to protest before the three of us were headed back toward the dock.

''What happened?'' I demanded as we made our way across the uneven ground. ''JJ, what the hell was that disappearing act?''

John B answered first. ''What happened? She cheated. That's what happened.'' His words came out clipped, his fists clenched at his sides. ''After everything I've been going through, she's off hooking up with Topper?''

I looked between them, my heart sinking. Of course, it was about Sarah. 

''Bro, we've been looking all over for you,'' JJ interjected. He jumped into the boat ahead of me and extended a hand to help me on. ''And the clock's ticking. Let's just go. We don't need them. Yo, let's get out of here.''

''Correction,'' I shot back, stepping onto the boat as I glared at him. ''You have been looking for John B while I was looking for you because you ran off!''

JJ rolled his eyes, leaning back against the railing. ''And I said I was sorry.''

''No, you didn't!'' I snapped, crossing my arms.

''Well, I'm saying it now!'' he argued, throwing his hands up.

I opened my mouth to retort, but we both turned our attention to John B, who was staring over at the party. I followed his gaze, my stomach sinking when I spotted Sarah and Topper. They were hugging, her arms wrapped around his shoulders like they hadn't just shattered John B's world.

John B began to move, his steps slow as he made his way down the dock. My heart clenched. ''No,'' JJ called out, his voice urgent. ''JB. Please don't cause a scene.''

I moved closer to John B, trying to keep my voice calm. ''John B, what are you doing? Don't even think about it, bro.''

JJ added quickly, ''John B, get in the boat.'' But it was no use. He kept walking, his jaw tight, his eyes locked on Sarah and Topper like a heat-seeking missile.

John B reached the edge of the party, where a waiter passed by with a tray of drinks. Without even pausing, John B bumped into him, sending the tray clattering to the ground. Glass shattered, the sound loud enough to draw attention from the surrounding crowd.

''No, not right here, bro,'' Topper started, stepping forward with that smug, infuriating tone of his.

''No, no, no,'' Sarah jumped in, trying to get between them.

John B pushed past her. ''Just get—get out of my way.''

''John B!'' Sarah called after him.

Topper raised his hands, smirking like he always did when he thought he had the upper hand. ''We're not doing this,'' he declared.

John B shoved him hard. ''Feel good about yourself?''

''Stop!'' Sarah's voice cut through the air, but it barely slowed John B down.

Topper stood his ground, trying to stay calm but visibly irritated. ''You need to chill out, bro.''

John B's fists curled tighter. ''Like messing up my relationship?'' His voice cracked slightly.

Topper huffed. ''I'm not ruining Mike and Anna's party right now, okay?''

John B scoffed. ''Oh, that's what you're worried about?''

Topper's gaze hardened. ''I would just walk away,'' he suggested, his voice low.

''Feel good about yourself? Huh?'' John B growled, stepping closer, his fists raised.

Sarah moved quickly, spinning John B to face her. ''For once in your life, would you please just turn around and walk away? Please. Look at me. Please don't.'' Her voice broke on the last word.

Topper, undeterred, let out a small laugh. ''Hey, no hard feelings, bro,'' he taunted.

Sarah's shoulders sagged as she muttered, ''Topper...''

''We good?'' Topper asked, cocking his head slightly.

And then John B's fist connected with his jaw.

''No, John B, no!'' Sarah screamed, but it was too late. Topper hit the ground with a thud, clutching his face as John B towered over him, ready for another swing.

''You like that shit, Top? Huh? Huh?'' John B snarled, straddling Topper and swinging again and again.

''John B, stop!'' Sarah begged, tears streaming down her face. ''What are you doing? Stop!''

''JB! Stop!'' I yelled, rushing forward, but it was like he couldn't hear me. JJ sprinted ahead, trying to pull John B off.

''Hey! Hey, hey!'' Mike Carrera's voice boomed as he rushed over, dragging John B off of Topper.

''Get out of here! Get out of here!'' Mike shouted.

I grabbed one of John B's arms while JJ held onto the other, pulling him back toward the boat. ''Is that what you want, Mike?'' John B shouted over his shoulder, still struggling against our grip.

''Get off! Get off of him!'' JJ barked at the gawking crowd as we dragged John B away.

''You happy now?'' John B spat towards Sarah who fell on her knees beside Topper. 

''He wasn't even defending himself,'' she cried as people circled the unconscious boy.

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