Chapter 90: The Enduro

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It really worked. It was what we all wanted. 

It wasn't gold. It wasn't treasure. It wasn't even adventure.

And some of us still had dreams.

Kiara still wanted to save the dolphins and the turtles.

Pope was planning on going back to school.

Grace still spent her spare time writing songs.

But in the meantime, for all of us, we were just working. Together.

And when we weren't running charters, we were catching dinner. Or growing it.

And maybe growing some other things.

It was all of us, together. It was like what we had on the island, but even better.

It was home.

Treasure hunting was in the past. Dead and buried.

We were gonna live the good life. The simple life. We had everything that we needed.

But what we didn't know at the time was that nothing ever stands still.

And there were some dark secrets hidden in the marsh.

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Grace sat on the counter of the shop, JJ laying down half asleep beside her as she twiddled with his rings. 

It was cloudy, the usually scorching hot sun wasn't pounding down and the wind was picking up, leaving them with a comfortable and cool afternoon.

"Maybe we need a couple more grouper rigs," Kie suggested while skimming through the stock. "They keep running out."

Sarah added it to her list. "Popular."

"Hey, welcome in. Let us know if we can help you with anything," Kie greeted as a man wandered into the shop, not bothering to reply.

Grace's attention was drawn from her lazing husband to the man, her gut telling her to keep her eyes on him.

"What can you tell me about the currents out at Teacher's Hole?" the man finally spoke up.

"Uh, nasty rips. Most locals won't go near it," Kiara answered easily. "Why?"

"Heard there's some good action at the jetty there," the man answered while unpackaging and unsheathing a fishing knife.

Grace pulled the baseball cap off from JJ's face, tapping him to wake him up. JJ looked up at her and from her expression knew she was worried. He sat up beside her, eyes quickly locking on the unfamiliar person.

 "All that structure. Lot of places for fish to hide," the man continued.

Kie meerly shrugged and hummed in response, looking increasingly uncomfortable.

The man's eyes shifted around the group. "You're those treasure hunting kids," he said, although it seemed like he already knew that, "I've heard about you guys."

Grace shot JJ a look.

He raised his brows in response, interlocking their fingers tightly but trying to remain casual.

"Not anymore," Kie answered, putting on a forced smile. "Can we help you with anything else?"

The man tossed the opened box down on the counter, taking the knife and leaving without another word.

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ MaybankWhere stories live. Discover now