Audacious//JJ Maybank (Outerbanks)

Chapter 101

{Ward Cameron}

"Dude, where is everybody?" JJ snaps, throwing his bag onto the tarmac as we wait at the airstrip with John B and Sarah. His frustration is clear, the tension in the air thick as the minutes tick by.

"I don't know," John B sighs, clearly just as anxious. "We should get in the Twinkie and just go get 'em," JJ snaps, pointing at the van parked nearby.

"Just give them five minutes, all right?" John B suggests, trying to stay calm just as the roar of a dirt bike cuts through the silence. Pope and Cleo pull up, skidding onto the tarmac.

"You're late," JJ says, annoyed, glaring at Pope. "Now, did you actually convince your pops this time or—"

"Cleo convinced him," Pope states proudly, pointing to Cleo. "My girl!" I exclaim, pulling Cleo into a hug, thankful for her always having our back.

"I thank you for being aboard my crew," JJ adds with a grin, clearly impressed since no one had ever been able to convince Heyward of anything.

"Where's Kie?" Pope asks, scanning the empty airstrip. "I don't know," Sarah sighs, shaking her head. "Her parents have been up her ass."

"We're gonna have to do this without her," Pope shrugs, and I frown, exchanging a worried glance with JJ.

Just then, the sound of tyres screeching interrupts us, and all our eyes widen as an SUV pulls up. Topper steps out, his face still bruised from the fight with John B. My heart clenches in shock and anger.

"Hey, Sarah," Topper deadpans as he approaches us, eyes fixed on her. "What are you doing here? Just seeing John B off, or what?"

John B quickly joins Sarah's side, protective. "What are you doing here, Top?" he asks, his voice guarded.

"I'm sorry, I, uh... I didn't call," Sarah says awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.

"Oh, you meant to call me?" Topper retorts sarcastically, and I roll my eyes. How could I have ever been friends with this guy?

"I heard your dad's plane is here," Topper continues, glancing at the private plane sitting on the runway. "That's interesting. So, you leaving with him?" he asks Sarah, his voice cold.

Sarah nods, and Topper's face hardens. "You're just a damn liar, Sarah Cameron," he spits, his anger boiling over. "You promised John B would go away and that you'd stay here?"

John B glances at Sarah, a mix of concern and frustration etched on his face. "Oh, and you, buddy," Topper scoffs, stepping closer to John B. I can feel my fists clench, wanting to step in and defend my brother. "You better be glad I didn't swing back at you at the Wreck. I think you know what would've happened."

"I'm not taking the bait, Top," John B replies coolly, trying to keep the situation from escalating.

"I heard they're remodelling the Chateau," Topper says, a cruel smirk on his face. "That's a shame." My eyes widen at the realization that he must have had something to do with the fire, my heart racing in anger and disbelief. He's mocking us, and it makes my blood boil.

Before I can stop myself, I charge at him, rage fueling my every step. "You bastard! You almost killed us!" I scream, pushing past John B. But just before I can reach Topper, he steps back, a taunting grin on his face.

"Have a nice life you guys," he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm, before turning and getting back into his car.

"Topper!" John B shouts, but it's too late. Topper speeds away, leaving us in a cloud of dust and fury.

I can't hold back my anger any longer. "He set the fire, didn't he? He tried to kill us!" My voice shakes as I feel the weight of everything that just happened crashing down on me.

"Jackie," John B says, stepping closer, his expression serious. "We can't let him get to us. We need to focus on getting to South America."

"Yeah," JJ adds, running a hand through his hair. "We can't let this stop us." I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "You're right. Let's just get out of here."

As we all gather our things, I feel a mix of fear and determination. We have a mission, and nothing—not Topper, not the fire—can stop us now.

The sun had long set, and we were still huddled outside the plane, anxiety hanging in the air. After Topper's unexpected arrival, it became clear that Kiara wasn't coming back. Cleo and Pope had set off to find her, but hours had passed, and there was still no sign of them.

I munched on some crackers, trying to distract myself from the uncertainty when the sound of a dirt bike revving pierced the stillness. My heart dropped as I recognized the figure speeding towards us.

"Don't worry, Dad," Rafe shouted as he slid to a stop, his face a mask of urgency.

As Rafe dismounted, my stomach twisted at the sight of Ward falling to the ground beside him. He let out a groan, clutching his leg, and I noticed the blood seeping through his pants. Panic surged through me. "Don't just stand there! Someone help!" Rafe yelled, his voice frantic as he wrapped his arm around Ward, trying to lift him.

We all stood frozen in tense silence, the reality of the situation sinking in. Sarah was the first to move, rushing over to assist Rafe in lifting her father. "Let's get him on the plane," Rafe urged, desperation clear in his voice.

"A fisherman spotted him, all right? They know he's alive," Rafe explained to Sarah, urgency dripping from his words. "We gotta get him off the island, right now."

Sarah stepped back out of the plane, frustration etched on her face. "No. Hell no," JJ protested vehemently, his jaw tight. "We're not getting on a plane with him!"

I nodded in agreement, feeling a wave of unease wash over me. "Don't worry, he's not coming," I challenged Sarah, echoing her earlier sentiment.

"He wasn't supposed to," Sarah replied, her breaths coming in quick bursts.

She turned to John B, her voice low as they discussed what to do next. We all stood by, waiting for their decision, the weight of our situation hanging heavily between us. Finally, John B glanced over, his expression resolute. "Let's go."

I didn't like this—especially with Ward now part of our chaotic journey—but I knew I had to suck it up for the sake of everyone. Rafe stepped back, casting a quick look at all of us before walking away.

We climbed aboard the plane, the tension palpable as John B quickly texted Pope, letting him know what was happening. The engine roared to life, but I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to get a lot more complicated.

We all settled into the cramped seats of the plane as the engines roared to life, the vibrations shaking us slightly. The atmosphere was thick with tension; the Pogues sat in an uneasy silence while Sarah knelt beside her father, meticulously cleaning the wound on Ward's leg. I forced myself to look away from the gruesome sight, the blood pooling around the bandage making my stomach churn.

"Thanks, Sarah," Ward muttered, but she didn't respond. Instead, she stood up and walked away, choosing to sit beside John B, who had a look of disbelief etched across his face.

Ward turned to John B and me, his gaze piercing. "I know you won't believe it, but you have nothing to worry about from me. Not anymore. I'm just here to help you. All of you," he said, his voice strained and breathy. "I have a lot to make up for."

He paused, and for a moment, the weight of his words hung heavily in the air. "For what it's worth, I'm glad your father is alive," he added, his tone softening just a fraction. Then he fell silent, the atmosphere thick.

As the plane climbed higher, the storm outside grew more intense. Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance, mirroring the unease that wrapped around us. I leaned my head against JJ's shoulder, feeling the warmth radiate from him, a comforting presence amid the chaos.

The gentle hum of the engines and the rhythmic vibrations lulled me, and I instinctively rubbed my bump, feeling a connection to the life growing inside me. Slowly, exhaustion overcame me, and I drifted off to sleep, lulled by the sound of the storm and the safety of JJ beside me.

To be continued...