SUNBURN | JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

036

The trio arrived at the ferry terminal just as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the water. Sarah hurriedly parked the car, her nerves on edge as she realized they were cutting it close. The last ferry was preparing to depart, and a sense of urgency washed over them as they scrambled out of the car.

"We gotta catch this ferry!" Sarah said, her voice tinged with desperation as she started to run toward the ticket booth. But as they reached the counter, a sign greeted them in bold letters: "SORRY, ALL FERRY TICKETS SOLD OUT."

John B frowned, but quickly masked his worry with a confident grin. "No worries," he said, waving them back. "We gotta talk our way onto this barge. I got this, these are my people, just wait."

Gabriella and Sarah exchanged a doubtful glance but stood back as John B approached a man in a yellow raincoat who was busy securing cargo. "Hey, Cap!" John B called out, trying to sound casual as he approached the man. He started mumbling something about needing to get across and that they'd be no trouble, but the man just shook his head firmly, giving John B a stern look before turning away.

Gabriella couldn't resist a smirk, mocking him lightly. "I thought these were your people, John B. Turns out you don't know how to sneak on as well as I do."

John B turned back to her, looking slightly deflated but still game. "You got a better idea?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

"Watch and learn," Gabriella said with a playful glint in her eye. She scanned the area quickly, spotting a few raincoats that had been left on a bench beside some fuel tanks. Without hesitation, she grabbed three of them and tossed them to John B and Sarah, who looked at her with confused expressions.

"Put these on," she instructed, slipping into her own raincoat. John B and Sarah followed suit, zipping up the oversized jackets that concealed their faces and bodies. "Okay, grab a tank," she said, pointing to the fuel tanks.

They each hefted a heavy tank, the weight pulling at their arms as they hurried toward the ferry. The crew, busy with last-minute preparations, barely glanced at them as they scurried aboard, blending in with the workers. The sound of the engines roaring to life filled the air as they made their way on the boat. John B was impressed with Gabriella to say the least.

Gabriella's sharp ears picked up the distinct sound of footsteps above them. Her heart skipped a beat. The footsteps were heavy, deliberate—someone was coming their way. She caught John B's eye and nodded towards the ceiling, signaling the danger. They had to move, now.

Without a word, the three of them scrambled toward the boiler room door. John B yanked it open, and they all slipped inside just as the footsteps drew closer. Gabriella was the last to enter, and as soon as she was inside, she pressed herself against the door, holding her breath as the footsteps echoed just outside.

The ferry jolted with the movement of the waves, and in the confined space, John B stumbled, losing his balance. He reached out instinctively, his hand brushing against Gabriella's arm as he caught himself. The next thing she knew, he was inches away from her, his body slightly pressed against hers, pinning her gently against the door.

Gabriella's heart raced, her breath catching in her throat as she felt the warmth of his body so close to hers. His breath was hot on her neck, sending a shiver down her spine despite the heat of the room. For a split second, time seemed to slow, the noise of the ship fading into the background as all she could focus on was the closeness of John B.

His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto hers, and for a brief moment, it was as if they were the only two people in the world. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, a magnetic pull that neither of them could ignore. Gabriella could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her body reacting to his proximity in ways she hadn't anticipated.

"Damn, is it hot in here or is it just me?" Sarah joked at the two. But just as quickly as it happened, John B pulled away, his face flushing as he shut the door firmly behind them. The moment was over, but the electricity lingered in the air, crackling between them like a live wire.

Gabriella tried to steady her breathing, her mind still reeling from the sensation of his body against hers. John B, too, was struggling to shake the feeling, his thoughts a jumbled mess as he tried to refocus on their mission. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop replaying the moment in his mind, Gabriella's body pressed so closely to his, the heat of her skin, the way her breath had quickened at his touch.

The heat in the boiler room was unbearable. Sweat trickled down their faces and soaked through their clothes, making the air thick and oppressive. Gabriella, feeling the discomfort of her damp curls sticking to her neck, quickly tied her hair into a loose bun. A few stubborn ringlets escaped, framing her flushed face as she tried to find some relief from the relentless heat.

Sarah, wiping the sweat from her brow, glanced between John B and Gabriella, her curiosity piqued by the tension in the air. She couldn't help but ask, "What did you two see in the painting?"

John B sighed deeply, leaning against the hot metal wall. His shirt clung to his back, and he could feel the uncomfortable stickiness of sweat pooling under his arms. He hesitated before speaking, knowing the weight of the secret he was holding. "Look, I can't tell you, okay? It's for your own safety."

Sarah frowned, unsatisfied with his vague answer. "But something made you want to go to the archives, obviously," she pressed.

Gabriella, her voice sharp and to the point, cut in before John B could respond. "Look, somebody who was supposed to be dead wasn't, all right?"

Sarah scoffed, the heat and tension making her more blunt than usual. "What, like Big John?" The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she immediately regretted it. Realizing the insensitivity of what she'd just said, she quickly backtracked, her voice softening with genuine apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I can't imagine losing my dad. My entire family would fall apart without him. Everybody thinks he's this really rich guy, but he's from the Cut, like you, and he's busted his ass for everything that we have."

Gabriella's eyes met Sarah's, and for a moment, there was an understanding between them, two girls from different worlds sharing a brief moment of honesty. But Gabriella's voice was tinged with bitterness as she responded, "Wow. That must be nice. Having a dad that busted his ass for you. I can't imagine how that must feel."

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of Gabriella's own unresolved pain. Sarah opened her mouth to say something, to offer some kind of comfort, but the words caught in her throat. What could she say to someone who had clearly suffered in ways she couldn't fully understand?

John B knew he had to say something, "Okay, so, you know how whales make those deep noises? It's like a..." He moaned, trying to imitate a whale noise but he terribly failed. "That's how other whales hear each other across the ocean, and I know this sounds really weird, but, uh I can hear him calling to me like he needs my help. But, uh, I-- I cannot let feelings interfere with the mission."

Without thinking, Gabriella reached out and gently took his hand, her fingers brushing against his before intertwining with his. Gabriella squeezed his hand slightly, her grip firm and reassuring, silently telling him that he wasn't alone in this. She didn't say anything—words felt unnecessary in that moment. John B glanced up at her, their eyes meeting in a moment of unspoken understanding.