My Lover Boy| JJ Maybank

Chapter 13

The smell of grease and oil filled the air at Heyward's, the steady hum of Pope's dad's shop surrounding them. JJ leaned against a workbench, running a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the tension.

"Don't let it get in your head, bro," JJ said, his voice rough but steady. "There's three of them and two of us. That's typical Kook shit right there."

Kiara folded her arms, nodding in agreement. "Hell yeah."

JJ looked over at Pope, frowning. "What was your thought process, man, using your head?"

Pope shook his head, looking down at the floor, his voice low. "I don't know. I just kind of acted on instinct. Alright? I was a cornered animal."

Just then, Heyward's voice cut through the air. "Pope, someone's here to see you."

They all looked up as Deputy Shoupe stepped through the door, his presence shifting the atmosphere from tense to outright dangerous.

Pope swallowed hard. "Evening, officer."

Deputy Shoupe didn't waste time. "I have an arrest warrant for felony destruction of property."

Evelyn's heart dropped. She thought she'd talked Topper out of pressing charges. Her mind raced, her stomach twisting as the situation spiraled out of control in front of her eyes.

Heyward stepped forward, his face scrunched in disbelief. "What?"

Shoupe's tone was cold, all business. "Hands where I can see 'em. Young lady,"—he pointed at Evelyn—"out of my way."

Heyward's voice rose. "Whoa, Shoupe, what'd he do?"

"Look at the warrant," Shoupe snapped, not pausing as he stepped forward to cuff Pope.

Kiara opened her mouth to say something, but Evelyn quickly elbowed her, signaling to stay quiet. It wouldn't help to make things worse. Not now.

"Sorry, you're arresting him?" Kiara muttered, eyes wide.

Evelyn shot her a sharp look, her pulse racing. This wasn't happening.

Heyward's voice cracked with disbelief. "You're just arresting my boy? Shoupe, are you listening?"

Shoupe ignored the growing protests. "Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney—"

"How much did they pay you, man?" JJ barked, stepping closer, his body taut with tension. His voice was boiling over, anger spilling into the small shop.

They began dragging Pope outside, his wrists in cuffs, as Shoupe continued reading him his rights. JJ's eyes darted between the cops, and his muscles tensed. Evelyn could feel the shift in him, the way his face hardened. She knew he was about to do something reckless.

And then he did.

JJ took a step forward, his voice raised. "It wasn't him! It was me."

The entire shop went silent. Pope froze, staring at JJ in shock.

"He tried to talk me out of it," JJ continued, his voice raw, desperate. "I was pissed. He'd just been beaten up, and I was so sick of those assholes from Figure Eight that I lost my shit. I can't let you take the blame for somethin' I did. You've got too much to lose, Pope."

Pope's eyes widened in disbelief. "JJ, what the hell are you doing?"

"I'm tellin' the truth," JJ said, his voice hoarse but defiant. "For once in my goddamn life, I'm telling the truth." He looked at Shoupe. "I took his old man's boat, too."