𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

Domination

SUNLIGHT DRIPPED thick and humid across Figure Eight, painting the asphalt with waves of heat as Sarah, Ari, and John B trekked toward the Cameron estate.

The property rose from the shoreline like something plucked out of a gated dream — manicured hedges trimmed into perfect lines, the driveway so polished it reflected the sky.

John B spoke with vibrating excitement, hands cutting through the air as he described the gold — the weight of it, the glittering piles, the eternal itch of possibility.

"There's more." He whispers, voice low and electric. "I'm serious. Enough to turn us all into—."

"Kooks for life." Ari mutters under her breath, smirking.

The wind teases strands of her hair across sun-warm cheeks.

Sarah listens quietly, her face unreadable, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity. She walks close enough to hear John B's heartbeat in his voice.

Ari could practically feel her twin processing, calculating, cataloging.

Then — a voice like polished oak and steel cut the air.

"Hey." Ward Cameron steps into their path.

Just his presence made the afternoon grow colder.

Sarah blinks. "Hey."

"Hi." John B answers, smile stretching just a beat too wide.

Ari said nothing. She hung halfway behind John B's shoulder instinctively, her posture stiffening like muscle memory.

Ward's gaze flicks toward her, sharp and assessing, and something deep in her gut curled. "What are you three plotting?"

His tone is deceptively light, though his eyes ran over them like a scanner searching for weakness.

John B swallows. "Uh...the...usual stuff."

He dart glances at the girls — silent SOS signals.

Ari's lips twitch.

"World domination." Sarah tosses in with a practiced grin.

Ward humors her with a chuckle. "That's my girl. Always aiming high."

His smile never reached his eyes.

"But that's gonna have to wait." He continues, looking pointedly at John B. "Because tomorrow morning? I'm taking this kid fishing. First light."

John B froze, hope and panic flickering war in his ribcage. He opens his mouth, but Ari steps forward, voice firm, spine steel. "No. He can't tomorrow."

Ward's gaze snaps to her like a predator sighting movement. His jaw ticks once. "Why not?"

Ari met his stare without flinching — even if her pulse trembled in her throat. "We already have plans."

John B and Sarah nod quickly, backing her up despite the tension thickening the air like humidity before a storm.

Ward's eyebrow arches. "Oh really? And what plans would those be? Sitting by the pool all day?"

"No." Sarah cut in, sharper than she intended.

Ward steps closer, intrusive, voice sliding smooth as oil. "Look — that boat needs a first mate. And if you're going to live here, you need to start earning your keep."

His finger jabs toward John B, but he froze mid-step when Ari moved like instinct — sliding in front of John B, shoulders squared, chin slightly raised.

A silent shield. A warning.

John B's hand gently curls around her wrist, tugging her back before she said something Ward could twist.