𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝐹𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠. | 𝘑𝘑 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬

seven

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07
BEHIND ENEMY LINES

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The sun beat down hard over the marina, the ocean breeze rolling in with a sticky kind of warmth that clung to their skin. JJ stood at the edge of the dock, eyes squinting at the luxury boat gliding across the water. A long, appreciative whistle escaped his lips.

"You guys see that?" he asked, tilting his head toward the gleaming vessel. "That's the Malibu 24-MXZ. That's the world's finest wake setter, number one in luxury, quality, and performance." He spun around to face the others, his excitement practically bouncing off him. "Two hundred grand, easy."

"We picked the wrong parents," Pope muttered, barely glancing at the boat as he crossed his arms and leaned against the railing.

Kie squinted ahead. "Hate to break it to you guys, but that's Topper and his girlfriend." She pointed toward the boat. On board, Sarah Cameron was wrapped around Topper's waist, their bodies pressed close.

Blake lifted her hand and gave a casual wave in Sarah's direction. Sarah spotted her and smiled, returning the wave. JJ's eyes narrowed.

"Don't fraternize with the enemy," he warned, jabbing Blake's shoulder with a teasing smirk.

Blake rolled her eyes. "She's not even that bad, Kie," she said, then looked over at John B with a playful smirk. "And by the way, John B—Sarah's still not over you yelling at her."

John B didn't respond, just shifted in his stance and looked away, his jaw tight.

"Let's just go back and get to the hotel," Pope said. "Somewhere with actual internet, shall we?"

John B nodded and headed back toward the Twinkie, the group trailing after him.

The hotel loomed ahead like a fortress built for the rich and disconnected, its polished windows and sharp architecture practically screaming Kook territory. JJ stepped out of the Twinkie first, glancing up at the building, eyes scanning.

"All right, keep a lookout," he said with a grin. "We're behind enemy lines now."

He reached under his seat, pulled out his gun, and started loading it with casual precision.

John B turned, eyes wide. "Yo, come on, man. Just put it back," he said, switching off the engine and shooting JJ a glare.

"You can never be too careful," JJ replied with a smile, spinning the gun once before glancing out the window.

Pope rounded the car and leaned against JJ's door. "I predict that bringing a weapon into a four-star hotel is going to cause more problems than it solves."

From the backseat, Kie leaned forward, her voice sharp. "I swear to God, I'm gonna throw that thing in the ocean, JJ."

Blake reached over and snatched the gun out of his hand, shoving it under JJ's backpack in the back. "Just put it away."

JJ raised an eyebrow. "You can't grab a gun like that. What if you accidentally put a hole through that pretty face of yours, princess?"

He gave her a smirk, but she didn't even blink. The door slammed as they all exited the Twinkie, their feet hitting the pavement.

Blake walked beside JJ while the others trailed a few steps behind. She tilted her head up toward him, eyeing the strange badge clipped to his belt loop.

"How'd you get that weird-ass badge, anyway?"

JJ tapped it with pride. "Professional busboy," he replied with an exaggerated air of confidence.