Audacious//JJ Maybank (Outerbanks)

Chapter 98

{Shoupe}

My foot tapped nervously against the floor of the Twinkie as we pulled off to the side of the road. I had been through my fair share of illegal activities, but smuggling drugs for Barracuda Mike was the icing on the cake. The weight of it hit me harder than expected—my child is going to have drug smugglers as parents. The thought churned in my stomach, making me feel sicker by the second.

"I don't know about this," John B murmured as we trekked through the woods, his voice tight with uncertainty.

"You're worrying too much, bro," JJ sighed, trying to shake off the growing tension. He reached for my hand, interlocking his fingers with mine, a silent reassurance. John B, on the other hand, couldn't stop rambling, guilt pouring out as he lamented about doubting and blaming our dad. He had always believed Big John was selfish, but now, it was clear he had been protecting us all along. Still, I wasn't sure if I could forgive myself if we didn't save him.

"Let's just do this and get it over with," I groaned, feeling the anxiety claw at me as we walked deeper into the woods toward the unloading site.

When we finally reached the clearing, John B let out a low whistle. "Holy shit, look at that thing." His eyes were fixed on a run-down plane.

JJ smirked. "It's like an RV with wings, man."

"They're already unloading," I pointed out, noticing a group of men transferring the drugs into a truck.

"Yo! We're not late, are we?" JJ called out, trying to sound casual as we approached Mike. He glanced over at us. "No, you're not. But there's been a change of plans."

We all exchanged uneasy glances as Mike strolled toward us. "You three are gonna drive the truck up to Elizabeth City and make the drop. Address is in the truck. There'll be a dummy car for you to use to get back. The plane will still be waiting." JJ hesitated. "Right, so...you want us to drive the truck?"

"Correct." Mike's tone was flat as he tossed the keys to JJ. Panic flared inside me. "Uh, can I borrow them for a second?" I grabbed both JJ and John B, pulling them aside with a forced smile toward Mike. Once we were out of earshot, I dropped the act, my voice hard. "This is not what we talked about. This is way more dangerous. If we get caught smuggling drugs, we're going to jail. I'm not going to jail while pregnant!"

Mike must have overheard because he stepped in, his expression cold. "Doesn't matter what we talked about. You're in it now. In for a penny, in for a pound." His eyes flicked to me, and his gaze turned predatory. "You do this, you get your ride. You don't...well, you know how this works. Wouldn't want your girl to learn the hard way." His eyes lingered on me, making JJ's jaw tighten as his fists clenched.

Mike continued, "Now, highway patrol is changing shifts right about now. This is your window. Take it to the drop house on Prospect. Directions are in the truck. If you're lucky, we'll have you back before sundown." He held out the keys, his eyes locked on JJ's.

There was a tense silence as JJ stared back at Mike. "Take the key," Mike repeated. JJ faked a smile, grabbing the keys and pulling me close to him. "No problem." His voice was tight as he whispered to us, "Get in the truck."

I didn't waste time, speeding up to climb into the U-Haul. JJ got behind the wheel as John B beside me, the tension already simmering between them.

Barely five minutes into the drive, John B started. "Do you have any idea what's in the back of this truck?" he demanded, his voice edging toward panic.

JJ sighed in frustration. "Yes, John B. I know what's in the back."

John B shook his head, clearly pissed. "I'm sick of your shit plans, man." I swatted John B's arm, glaring at him, trying to keep the peace. JJ's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Goddamn," JJ muttered through gritted teeth.

John B wasn't letting up. "This is worse than the time you told me to fake appendicitis in jail." JJ snapped back, "Yeah, and that almost worked!"

I rolled my eyes, caught between their bickering. "Get the map out," JJ said abruptly. "I don't know where I'm going."

I grabbed the map from the floor, trying to read it. "We need to get to 158." JJ took the map from my hands, glancing at it. Before we could figure out where we were going, John B muttered, "There's a cop." JJ stayed calm. "Just be cool."

"You be cool," John B shot back. JJ raised his hand as if to wave at the cop. "What are you doing?" I asked, alarmed.

"I'm just gonna wave," JJ said nonchalantly. Before I could stop him, John B lunged across me, grabbing JJ's hand, and causing the U-Haul to swerve toward the ditch. We all started yelling at each other as JJ struggled to regain control. "JJ, the van!" I cried out.

"Why'd you touch me?!" JJ yelled at John B, redirecting the truck back onto the road. "Don't wave at the cops! Rule number one of driving a U-Haul," John B scolded, still glaring.

We were too busy arguing to notice the cop car making a U-turn, lights flashing as it began to follow us. "He's getting in the vehicle," JJ groaned.

Panic surged through me. JJ hit the gas, veering off the road into the wooded area, the cop car speeding past. We jumped out of the truck, heartbeats pounding in our ears.

"If we get through this, I swear to God, I'm gonna kill you," John B panted, pointing a finger at JJ.

JJ tried to brush it off with a joke, but John B and I weren't having it. Sirens echoed in the distance, making everything feel more real. We ran through the woods, heading back to where we left the Twinkie, breathless and on edge.

As we reached the Twinkie, John B couldn't contain his frustration. "Our dad is probably in South America with a knife to his throat, and what are we doing? Moving weight? In goblin mode?"

"How many times are you gonna complain about me trying to help you save your dad?" JJ shot back, standing up straight, his voice hardening.

John B squared up to him. "Help is the exact opposite of what you're doing."

"Guys, stop it," I warned, my patience wearing thin.

But they ignored me, pushing each other's buttons until John B shoved JJ. Without hesitation, JJ shoved him back, and they began wrestling on the ground like kids. "Knock it off!" I yelled, but they were too wrapped up in their fight.

Then, suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. "Howdy, boys. Jackie, you alright?" Shoupe's voice echoed through the clearing, and we all froze.

John B and JJ scrambled to their feet, trying to play it cool. "Sup, Shoupe," John B muttered.

"We're, uh, good," he stammered, but Shoupe wasn't buying it. He walked over to the Twinkie, bending down to reveal a tracker attached to the bumper. "Tracker. Makes it easier to keep an eye on you hoodlums."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I moved to stand by JJ, the pit in my stomach growing. Shoupe wasn't done. He eyed us suspiciously. "Now, I just found a U-Haul full of drugs near 158. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

My heart dropped. JJ, ever quick on his feet, raised his hands. "You see that? That's profiling!" he shot back. "Just because we're Pogues doesn't mean we're dealing drugs."

But Shoupe wasn't buying it. "Nah, you've been too busy beating up people and breaking up parties."

Before I could explain, Shoupe interrupted, holding up his hand. "I hate to break it to you, kid, but I've got a warrant. Topper's pressing charges."

I couldn't believe it. My eyes widened in shock. "For what?" John B demanded. JJ jumped in to defend him. "He started it! He was trying to steal John B's girl!"

It was too late. Shoupe dragged John B toward the police car, handcuffing him. My heart shattered as I followed them. "John B, don't worry," I sobbed, leaning into the open window. "We'll figure this out, okay? I'm not leaving you."

"Back it up, Jackie," Shoupe ordered, and JJ pulled me away as I broke down crying in his arms.

"This can't be happening," I sobbed, my entire world unravelling as John B was driven away.

To Be Continued...