𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 [𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤]

𝐏𝟒𝐋

As we made it to around where we heard the explosion come from, we saw Ward pointing a gun at Big John.

He said, "Shut up Sarah." as he moved closer to them with the gun still pointed at Big John. "You've got it all, don't you, John? Now you get everything, huh?" Ward grabbed the gold out of Sarah's hands, "You get to go home, back to Kildare. Live happily ever after with your son, that loves you. And my daughter, who hates me." I watched as Sarah stood confidently against her father as he tried to intimidate them.

Ward said, "I don't think I can allow that." As we sunk behind a fallen tree and turned to come up with a plan.

"What are we going to do?" Pope asked, we needed a good plan and fast.

"Is this ride or die?" JJ asked looking at us then back over to John B. We'd follow him anywhere, do anything for him. Of course it was ride or die.

"P4L." Cleo said, unsheathing her machete.

"P4L." Pope and Kiara followed suit.

I looked at them all, then to JJ. I leaned over and placed a small kiss on his cheek, "P4L." I reached for my machete off my hip.

He nodded slightly and reached for his off his back, "Fricking P4L."

We waited until Ward cocked the gun before we took off toward him, yelling and pointing our machetes at him. Our appearance caught everyone by surprise.

At the sight of us, Ward started to flail the gun around, "Stay back! Stop it right now!"

"Put it down!" We all yelled at him, not afraid of what he might do. I mean, I was slightly terrified of the known murder holding a gun, but I showed no fear.

"Stay back!" He repeated multiple times, only aggravating everyone more.

"Put it down!" Pope yelled.

"You're outnumbered Ward!" JJ exclaimed, pointing the tip of the blade at him.

"What are you going to do Ward? Shoot us all?" Pope asked.

"If you gotta shoot somebody Ward, shoot me." I gasped as Ward spun around to face Big John once more. This time, John B stepped in front of the gun.

"John B!" I called out from behind JJ.

"Or me." John B antagonized.

Before anything could happen, Sarah stepped in front of John B. "Enough, you're not going to kill anyone. I know you won't. I know you," She started to tear up. "You forget that I know you." She put her hand over her father's as it gripped the gun. "You can't."

Ward broke down, "I can't. I couldn't do it."

"JB!" I yelled as I saw the guy from the river coming from behind them with a gun.

"Yeah, well I can." He had the gun pointed at Big John's head as John B spun around with Ward's gun pointed at him, "Toss it." The man instructed.

I felt so useless as I watched everything unfold.

"Take it easy bud, your boss is dead. You got no reason to do this." Big John tried to reason with him.

"I can think of a few reasons. Toss it!" He yelled again. I knew I wasn't the only one that was feeling silly about having only a machete when there were guns involved. John B dropped the gun and the guy dropped down to grab it.

JJ shifted in front of me and I watched his grip tighten on the handle, "Jay." I didn't want him to do anything stupid, but I knew I couldn't stop him even if I wanted to.

"My mates dead because of you, so." The man moved and pointed the gun at Sarah. "You go first."

Ward moved fast to block Sarah as the three shots rung out. He took the man over the edge with him as we all stood stunned. I dropped the machete and covered my mouth with my hand. I looked over to Sarah who hadn't move. We were all in shock as we walked together to the edge. Ward was dead, for good this time. John B held Sarah as she cried.

"Hey, Big John." Pope said as he moved over to him. He had lost a lot of blood and it was up in the air if he'd make it back to the boat. "John B!" Pope called over.

"Dad." John B moved away from Sarah, leaving her in mine and Kiara's arms.

We raced down to the river, but with every step we could tell Big John was losing his strength. Everyone piled in the boat and JJ immediately applied pressure on the wound to try and stop the bleeding, but Big John was fading fast. It was the worst thing to see.

We were barely 20 minutes out from El Tesoro when I knew he wasn't going to last the ride back to Tres Rocas.

"We did it boy. Together." I watched JJ put his head in his hands. How was it that everything had come together and fallen apart so quickly? "Just like we drew it up."

"Yeah, yeah we did." I knew I was crying, so was everyone else.

"Bird, bird, bird." Big John was breathless as he spoke.

"Dad, yeah."

"Hey bird." He reached out for his hand then looked down to Sarah, holding out a hand for her. "Sarah." His head swiveled around, a small smile on his lips at everyone on the boat.

"I'm here Big John." Sarah reassured.

"Bird, you gotta hang onto this one. I know I wasn't any great shakes as a father, but you were the best son any man could hope for. I want you to know that..."

"You can tell me when we get home. Almost there." John B was trying to be strong and not cry.

"Okay."

"Hold up," John B reached for the gold, "Look dad, we did it."

"I'll see you... I'll see you at home kid." We all listened as Big John took his last breath and everyone let out a cry. I leaned into JJ as we held each other.

When we were off the boat, we buried him in the jungle and gave him a proper headstone. Sarah, me and Kiara fastened a cross out of wood for her father not too far away so she could feel some sort of peace with the event.

"Let's go home."

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗