≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

''Leave us alone, Rafe, for god's sake!''

≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

THE SHOP FELT alive in a way that wasn't entirely comfortable, like the moment before a storm when everything goes still and charged. I stood by the counter, flipping through the inventory list Sarah was jotting down. Kie leaned over her shoulder.

''Maybe we need a couple more grouper rigs,'' Kie suggested, tapping her pen against the clipboard.

''They keep running out,'' Sarah added, making a quick note with her usual precision.

Kie nodded. ''Popular.''

''Yeah, they are,'' Kie affirmed before glancing up at the sound of footsteps. Her tone shifted to something more professional, more welcoming. ''Hey, welcome in,'' she called to the man who'd just walked through the door.

He was older, maybe in his late thirties, with a worn cap pulled low and an unreadable expression. He gave the shop a quick once-over before heading toward the shelves.

''Uh, let us know if we can help you with anything,'' Kie added.

I couldn't help but track his movements, my arms crossing as unease settled into my chest. Something about the way he carried himself felt...off. He didn't browse like a regular customer. He examined things with too much focus, like he wasn't here for bait or rigs but for information.

The man eventually picked up a box containing a knife, lifting it as if testing its weight. He glanced over his shoulder, his voice low when he finally spoke.

''What can you tell me about the currents out at Teacher's Hole?''

I stepped forward, instinctively placing myself closer to Sarah. ''Uh, nasty rips. Most locals won't go near it,'' I replied. ''Why?''

He smirked slightly, turning the knife over in his hands. ''Heard there's some good action at the jetty there. All that structure. Lots of places for fish to hide.''

His answer didn't sit right with me. There was something too rehearsed about it.

''Hmm,'' I hummed, not giving him much.

Then his gaze flicked to all of us, lingering just a moment too long. ''You're those treasure-hunting kids, aren't you? I've heard about you guys.''

Before I could respond, Kie shrugged and cut in. ''Not anymore,'' she told him flatly.

There was a beat of silence before she added, ''Can we help you with anything else?''

The man didn't answer, turning and walking toward the exit with the knife still in hand.

John B straightened up from where he'd been leaning near the dock door, his brows furrowing. ''Are you gonna pay for that?'' he called after the man.

The guy didn't so much as glance back, pushing through the door and heading to his boat.

The air in the shop felt heavier now, like we'd all been holding our breath without realising it. Sarah glanced at the door. ''What the hell was that?''

Kie shook her head, exhaling slowly. ''I don't know. That was weird.''

''Understatement,'' I muttered, my arms still crossed as I followed their gazes out the window.

The guy's boat roared to life, kicking up spray as it sped away from the dock. I squinted after it, trying to decipher the growing knot in my stomach.

''Was that a threat or...'' I let the question hang, glancing at John B.

He shrugged, his mouth pulling into a thin line. ''Guess we're gonna have to find out.''

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

I LEANED AGAINST the counter, absently twisting a strand of my damp hair between my fingers. The storm had been relentless, but the aftermath was even harder to stomach.

The storm hadn't spared my dad's house, either. It was completely destroyed. Not that he'd cared enough to check if I was still living there—or even alive. When I'd stopped by earlier to salvage what I could, I'd found a 'For Sale' sign in the yard, the ink on it still drying. That told me all I needed to know.

I didn't care. Or at least, that's what I kept telling myself. The place had always been just a roof over my head, not a home. Home had burned down the day my mom died. My neighbor, Mrs. Carter, had even offered me Chase back, my golden retriever, when she saw me going through the wreckage. Said the dog missed me. I'd refused. Chase deserved better than a life with a girl who barely knew where she'd sleep next.

John B stood near the dock door, his shirt damp and slightly torn from hauling things in earlier. He held up a net brimming with lifeless fish, his face half-lit with a weak grin. ''Anyone want fried fish?'' he offered, holding the net up as if it were some grand prize.

''I bet JJ would actually eat that,'' I murmured under my breath, catching Cleo's smirk as she nudged my shoulder.

''Oh yeah, very funny, ladies,'' JJ grumbled, shooting us both a glare before turning his attention to Pope. ''What's the damage, Pope?''

Pope had already been assessing the situation, his brow furrowed like it usually was when numbers didn't add up. ''Fuse box is busted,'' he informed us grimly. ''Without live bait, the fishermen won't come, and there goes half of our business right there.''

''Great,'' I muttered, crossing my arms.

''We have enough profit to cover it,'' Pope continued. ''But barely. Just barely. All right?''

He reached for the coffee can on the counter and emptied its contents—a jar of gold. The sight of it brought silence over the room.

''This is it,'' he announced. ''The last of our Au.''

John B tilted his head. ''Uh, what?''

''What?'' Sarah echoed, her face scrunched in confusion.

''Gold. It's the periodic symbol for gold,'' Pope clarified, rolling his eyes as though it should've been obvious.

Kie raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching. ''Why not just say gold?''

Pope threw up his hands. ''Because it doesn't matter. This is all our savings, and it's a no-go. This is for property taxes.'' He glanced around at us. ''So, we're gonna have to tighten up. Which means no more $600 in gas chasing tarpon up the Gulf.''

''Pope, that's my job,'' JJ protested, stepping forward with his hands raised.

''We were chasing a bait board,'' John B interjected.

''No more $200 in heirloom tomato seeds,'' Pope added, ignoring them as he ticked off items from his mental list.

Cleo raised a hand. ''What about my imported peppers?''

''Peppers gotta go, too, baby.''

The room exploded in overlapping voices, everyone talking at once, their protests bouncing off the wooden walls.

''I need to run the charters,'' JJ snapped, pacing now.

''It's not the tomatoes' fault!'' Sarah exclaimed, throwing her hands up.

''Enough,'' Pope commanded. ''If the business starts failing, the sharks start circling. All right?'' He paused, his gaze landing heavily on JJ. ''Now, we don't even know if your dad is coming back.''

JJ stiffened, his jaw tightening. ''Yeah, well, it's not his anymore.''

''Doesn't matter,'' Pope countered, relentless. ''What's he gonna think when he sees all this?''

I stepped in before JJ could answer. ''Who cares? The place isn't his, so he can't do shit about it.'' My tone was sharper than I intended, but the truth was the truth.

Pope's shoulders sagged slightly as he exhaled. ''Listen,'' he started, his voice softer now. ''If we want to save this place, we skinny up until the business gets afloat again. Okay?''

He placed the jar of gold on the counter and walked off.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

THE SUN BEAT down, glinting off the polished helmets and metallic frames of the bikes lined up for the start. Somewhere in the distance, a speaker crackled with enthusiasm:

''What's up, y'all kooks and pogues? Welcome, welcome to this year's Kildare Enduro. What a fantastic day we got for racing today. You guys ready to burn some rubber?''

The cheers that erupted from the crowd were almost deafening. It was impossible to hear anything over the collective buzz of excitement and energy. I found myself drifting away from the group, weaving through the crowd as I made my way toward one of the stands.

I came back holding a Pepsi in one hand and a Sprite in the other, searching for JJ. I Spotted Kiara near the edge of the crowd, I called out, ''Okay, why the hell is John B racing?''

Kie barely glanced at me before answering, shrugging. ''I dunno, but JJ is racing too.''

My jaw practically hit the floor. ''Are they actually insane?'' My voice rose slightly as I handed her the Sprite. ''I mean, I get why JJ would agree—because he's JJ—but John B? Seriously?''

''They're both stupid,'' Kie replied with a slight roll of her eyes. ''It's not like it's something new.'' She cracked open the soda and took a sip, shaking her head.

I was about to retort when Sarah came hurrying over. ''Guys, you won't believe this. JJ bet the gold on himself!''

''Oh god,'' I muttered.

''We've got Topper looking good,'' the announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, followed by a dramatic pause. ''And Rafe Cameron on that fire-breathing KTM. He could be your favorite today.''

''I highly doubt that,'' I whispered under my breath, just loud enough for Kie to smirk at my comment.

''Check that out,'' the speaker continued. ''Looks like we've got a late entrant! John B Routledge on a bucket of bolts. He's gonna need a miracle.''

My heart sank as I caught sight of John B's bike. It looked like it would fall apart at the first turn. Meanwhile, all the other bikers sat poised, their faces hidden behind sleek helmets as they revved their engines.

Ruthie's voice cut through the noise. ''All right, guys. Listen up! Race is to the old buoy and back. Other than that, no rules. We all good? This is for all the money and respect. Go get it, y'all!''

The crowd hushed for a split second as the two girls waved their flags.

''On your marks! Get set! Go!''

The racers roared off the starting line, kicking up a cloud of dirt and sand that stung my eyes. JJ's bike stalled for a heart-stopping moment before it spluttered to life, and he finally took off, already trailing behind the pack.

My chest tightened as I clenched my fists, anxiety clawing its way up my throat. ''Hey, calm down,'' Kie said, her tone soft but firm as she placed a hand on my shoulder.

I shook my head, unable to tear my eyes away from the track. ''I can't be calm, Kie. JJ, and JB the two reckless, stupid idiots, are racing Topper, another reckless, stupid idiot. What part of that doesn't scream disaster?''

Kie let out a quiet laugh, but I could see the worry in her eyes, too. 

''Rafe Cameron gets the holeshot, beats the pack out front, and, boy, he is blazing down the straightaway.''

I squinted, trying to make out the blur of bikes kicking up clouds of dirt as they hurtled down the track. Of course Rafe was in the lead.

''It looks like Rafe Cameron is the first into the trees. He is gonna be tough to catch in there.''

The bikes disappeared into the dense forest, their engines roaring. The commentary continued relentlessly, but my focus sharpened when I heard JJ's name.

''We got some serious contact in the brush. It sounds like Topper didn't like Maybank crowding him there. Taught him a little lesson.''

''Oh, stuffed him like a turkey,'' another commentator chimed in.

''Idiots,'' I muttered under my breath, my eyes darting to Sarah, who looked just as tense as I felt. She was biting her lip, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

''It looks like they're turning around the buoy. We've got Rafe Cameron still in front ahead of the group of riders.''

I craned my neck, spotting JJ's bike as it reached the buoy. My heart sank when I saw him veer off course slightly, struggling to control the bike in the soft sand.

''Oh, he's down again in the deep sand,'' the announcer said with a tone of finality, as if JJ's loss was inevitable.

I inhaled sharply, watching JJ scramble to pick up his bike. He shoved the bike upright and kicked it back to life without hesitation.

''Cameron and the other riders are probably halfway back through the trees at this point. Not a chance he's catching up with them.''

''Come on, JJ,'' I whispered, my hands clenching into fists.

''Wait, hold on. What are we seeing, ladies and gentlemen?''

''No, no, no,'' Kie murmured beside me, her eyes wide.

My breath caught in my throat as I saw JJ veer toward the inlet.

''Looks like he's gonna try to jump the inlet.''

''JJ, what the fuck?'' I mumbled under my breath, my voice shaking.

''That's a 50-foot gap!''

Time seemed to slow as JJ barreled toward the edge, his figure small but unmistakable against the backdrop of the blue sky. He let out a wild yell, the kind that could only come from someone who either didn't care about danger or actively chased it.

''Oh my God,'' I whispered, the words barely audible over the chaos around me.

The bike launched off the edge, and for a split second, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then he landed with a thud on the other side, his bike skidding but staying upright.

''Oh, my God, JJ Maybank! Absolutely full send!''

The crowd erupted into cheers, but none of them were louder than us. Kie, Sarah and I grabbed each other in a tight hug, screaming like maniacs.

''No regard for personal safety! He has gone worst to first and leapfrogged the entire pack!''

I couldn't stop grinning, the adrenaline making my heart race as JJ sped ahead of the other riders.

''And Rafe Cameron's closing fast. Looks like it's gonna be chippy here.''

My grin faltered as I noticed Rafe gaining on JJ. The two bikes were practically on top of each other, the riders jostling and swerving as they fought for the lead.

''They are banging! They're hitting!''

The announcer's voice barely registered in my mind as I watched the final stretch with bated breath.

''Coming down the final stretch. Maybank in the lead.''

''Come on, JJ,'' I whispered again, this time louder, as if my words alone could push him forward.

Dust and sand swirled in the air, the bikes hurtling down the stretch like wild animals unleashed. 

''Coming down the final stretch. Maybank in the lead,'' the announcer blared.

I held my breath, the tension tightening every muscle in my body. JJ was so close—so damn close—but then I spotted Rafe gaining ground.

''Cameron's close but not gonna be able to overtake him,'' the voice crackled through the speaker.

Suddenly Rafe's front wheel clipped JJ's back tire, and both of them were launched into the air like ragdolls. Then with a sickening thud JJ hit the sand hard.

''Shit.'' I whispered covering my mouth with my hands.

''Oh, mayhem, carnage! They're both down! They're both down. They collided just short of the finish.''

JJ struggled to get up, his face twisted in pain as he tried to move out of the way. I could see him gritting his teeth, probably muttering curses under his breath.

''And here comes Routledge in the lead now,'' the announcer continued as John B skidded to a stop, narrowly avoiding JJ.

It wasn't enough. The other racers closed in, and Topper, of all people, sped past JJ and crossed the finish line.

''Topper takes the win!''

The crowd erupted, cheering and shouting as Topper was mobbed by a swarm of people.

''Ladies and gentlemen, Topper Thornton is your Enduro champion this year!''

I could barely hear the announcement over the sound of my heart pounding. JJ stormed off, his shoulders tense and his fists clenched. I knew that look—it was the look of someone who needed to hit something or someone, and soon.

As I started to push my way through the crowd, Rafe's voice cut through the commotion like nails on a chalkboard.

''Get used to it!'' he jeered, his smug face turned toward us.

I didn't even think before snapping back. ''Excuse me?''

Rafe turned, his expression faltering for a moment when he realized it was me. Before I could step closer, John B moved in front of me.

''What'd you say? Hey, no. What'd you say? Huh? What'd you say?'' John B demanded.

''Get used to it,'' Rafe repeated, shoving John B hard enough to make him stumble.

''Hey!'' I barked, stepping between them before things got worse. Sarah appeared, shoving Rafe back with both hands.

''This is forever, all right?! Y'all don't get to win,'' Rafe spat, his eyes wild.

''You could've killed each other!'' Sarah shouted.

''Yeah, like you give a shit,'' Rafe retorted. Then, with a cruel smile, he added, ''You gonna kill me like you killed Dad?''

''Excuse me?!'' Sarah's voice cracked as she lunged forward. ''What did you just say?''

''Sarah, how's that pogue life treating you?'' Topper chimed in with a smirk.

''Screw you, Topper,'' Sarah snapped.

''Pogues for life, baby,'' he mocked, walking away.

''Leave us alone, Rafe, for god's sake!'' I yelled after him. Rafe didn't look back, but his stiff posture as he walked away told me he wasn't unfazed.

We all turned to look at JJ, who stood on the beach alone, his shoulders hunched as he stared out at the water. Even from a distance, I could see the anger radiating off him like heatwaves.

''We are so screwed,'' John B muttered, running a hand through his hair.

''Yeah. We are,'' Kie agreed.

''Why are we screwed?'' Pope asked.

Kie shot a look at John B, raising her eyebrows expectantly. ''I'll let you tell Pope.''

''Tell Pope what?'' Pope repeated.

''Just come on. Let's go,'' John B urged, already moving toward the beach.

''Tell Pope what? Hey!'' Pope called after us.

words: 2872