𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 [𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤]

𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭

The only good thing that followed leaving the courthouse was knowing that my brother was off and hopefully making some sort of lunch, "Did you guys want to stop by my house? My dad said Dylan was making food." Court was absolutely draining and no one had really said anything since we left.

With no answer, JJ drove us to my house. As we pulled up I saw Copper running around the yard and smoke coming from the grill. Cooper came running up to us, going to Sarah first because she was the newest. "Well, hello." The interaction made a smile appear on her face and for the most part, she didn't leave Cooper alone.

"Dyl!" I yelled as we walked into the yard. Everyone found themselves a spot at the table while I talked to him, "Got enough for all of us?"

"Dad said you might stop by so I got more out." He opened the grill and revealed the burgers and hot dogs. It was his easy 'go-to' meal.

I wrapped my arm around his side and pulled him in for a hug, "You're the best."

Once it was done cooking, everyone made their plates and ate in silence. At least until Dylan spoke up, "So, what happened at court?"

"Well, they plan on hanging John B. So that's news." JJ said as he finished his burger. We all looked at him with a 'seriously' look. "What? I just being honest."

"Yeah, your Uncle Shoupe is sucking at his job right now." Pope said sarcastically, which was a rare thing to get from him. The topic wasn't the best thing to talk about, but it was the only thing he knew enough to talk about.

Dylan raised his hands, "He's not my uncle." I shot him a look from my spot across from him, "Well, why don't you go down and talk to him?" Dylan said, holding eye contact. I wanted to avoid that particular suggestion entirely. There was nothing that I could say, or do, that would get John B out of this. But now here we are and it's been said.

"I'm sure he won't listen to me." I shot back with the same amount of sarcasm Pope had spoken with.

"It doesn't hurt to try." I liked to believe that Dylan knew how difficult this whole thing was for us. And while JJ had been the one to talk first, he hadn't said anything else and normally all he would talk about was the bike that Dylan was rebuilding in the garage. Everything that was happening with John B was killing the group's spirit and I honestly don't think it can take another hit.

We needed to figure this out, and fast if we wanted to survive this.

No one wanted to go back to the chateau, although we all knew we had to. It just felt weird being there without John B. I imagined this is how it felt when he was gone the first time. Only now, at least to me, it was feeling more permanent.

Once we were settled into the screened in porch, the skies opened up and caught up with the already dreary day. I knew how everyone else was feeling, but I just wanted to curl into a ball and be left alone. I was hurting for John B and for how things had went down during court. I couldn't imagine how hopeless he was feeling right now.

"We're gonna trust Wheezie?" JJ questioned, breaking me out of my daze. I had missed the first part of the conversation, but I quickly caught onto what was happening as the conversation unfolded.

"She was the only one that knows Rafe wasn't home that day." Sarah responded as she grabbed Kie's phone and walked into the house.

"So, what's the plan? We kidnap Shoupe?" Kiara asked, egging on his terrible idea and not helping the situation.

Now I needed to think of something remotely helpful, "I'm getting ready to go down and talk to Shoupe-"

"That's not the worst idea actually." JJ said to Kie, completely cutting me off and ignoring me.