𝚂𝙾𝙱𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚃𝚈 𝚆𝙾𝙽𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙰𝙲𝙷 𝙺𝙸𝙳𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙳𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 ,, j. b routledge

24 | nothing left here but instinct, all i ever had anyways

Chapter Twenty - Four

Kingston ( Headstones )

"nothing left here but instinct, all i ever had anyways"

There were few times in her life that Vittoria Franca Barba had been as scared as she was now. The first was when the was ten and she realized she had accidentally shoplifted a pack of suckers from a bodega. She cried for three hours because she thought she was going to go to jail. The second time was when she was arrested for grand theft auto, although she did actually steal a pretty expensive car.

She stood next to JJ, her expression morphed into one of terror as the realized they were surrounded with men who had guns.

"JJ." She whispered "Don't move a muscle."

"Wasn't planning on it." JJ hissed, visibly tensing as his dad walked out onto the deck of the boat.

The two teenagers were in a standoff with Sangue, waiting for somebody to snap and for the first weapon to be fired. Vittoria looked to the back of the yacht, her stomach sinking as she realized that we hadn't left yet.

"This is the police, get down on the ground!"

Things seemed to happen in sloe motion for them as Vittoria dropped Nonna's handgun dropping to her knees, JJ by her side. Nobody knows who fired the first shot, if it was Cynthia's armed S.W.A.T team, or if it was Sangue, but the blood staining the wooden dock flowed fast and dark as the sounds of sirens filled the marina.

Armed cops stormed the yacht around the same time that the rest of us filed out the back deck. My legs shook in terror as I leaned over the side and shouted for Vittoria, shocked to see the blood-soaked dock and the S.W.A.T officers storming the boat.

My mom and Nonna got out of Favio's porsche, eyes tear-stained as they ran towards Vittoria.

"What were you thinking, mi amour?" My mom shouted, pulling Vit in for a hug

"It's okay." An officer said to us with a soft look. "You can get off the boat now."

I stood next to John B, my hand interlocked with his tightly. I was never letting go. Us five Pogues, now reunited, stood on the jetty with stoic faces as Luke Maybank was lead away with some of the higher-ups from Sangue. JJ's nightmare was over, but a new one would start if he went into foster care.

But now I had closure for what Luke had done to me.

"Sienna." Favio said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." I found myself saying, even though it wasn't I refused to make eye contact with Favio, but I knew it was time to try and make things right. "Maybe over the winter we could go back to that cabin in Vermont? Cynthia seems great, I'd like to get to know her a bit more. And you could properly meet Johnny." I said, motioning to mine and John B's interlocked hands. "I think we should make things right again."

Favio nodded "I'll talk to your mom."

My mom, however, was not as forgiving.

"You girls are grounded, I hope you know that." She sighed before pulling us both in for a hug "And what's poor JJ gonna do now? You know I'd take him in if I could, but we don't have the space."

"Let him stay until he can sort himself out." Vittoria proposed. "I'm starting to like that kid."

"Please." I snorted "The last thing we need is for the two of you to be causing trouble together."

With a laugh and a smile, mom looped her arms around our shoulders and lead us back to the Porsche. "I really hope you slapped Favio."

++++

Us Pogues sat together again by the bonfire in my backyard later that night as different people then we had been two weeks ago. Before Sangue stormed the pawn shop. Before Favio had shown up. Before the bricks through the windows.

Pope's parents were letting JJ stay with them until Luke's first hearing. JJ was taking my advice and filing for emancipation, listing Heyward as his responsible adult. If all went well, JJ would be able to stay in Kildare when it was all over.

Pope and Kiara had talked a lot about their kiss. Turns out, Pope had felt the same way about Kiara before Kiara even knew she had feelings for the boy. They were happy together, and would probably be for a while.

Vittoria and Barry were still going strong, much to Barba family dismay. Vittoria had gotten a job working at the docks for Heyward, who seemed to be helping all of us out lately, likely as a thank you for saving his son. Vit seemed to be warming up to Kildare, and was planning on getting her GED in the fall. We were proud of her.

As for John B and I? Stronger than ever. I think the past weeks had proven that John B and I could survive anything if we had each other by our sides.

As for John B and I? Stronger than ever. I think the past weeks had proven that John B and I could survive anything if we had each other by our sides.

"Vermont with Favio?" JJ laughed, sucking on the end of his vape pen. "Don't go turning into Kooks on us."

I laughed harshly, some Sprite pouring out of my nose. "Don't make me choke, JJ. It's just for two weeks, and it's more a couples trip than anything." I grinned, pecking John B on the cheek

"Whatever you say, just don't come back looking like you're ready to go to the country club."

We all laughed, faces illuminated in the glow of the fire as the sun began to sink behind the trees. I found it funny to think that three years ago, after our fall from Charleston grace, that all I wanted was to go back to the big city, where everything was familar. But now? You couldn't pay me to leave the outer banks.

We were okay.

And that was perfect for me, because I had the Pogues by my side.