But Daddy I Love Him ✸ JJ Maybank

Chapter Forty

CHAPTER FORTY

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Natalie was the only sober one. The four around her decided to get extremely high off weed as they looked at the scroll laid out on the table. If Natalie wasn't pregnant, she must likely would've gotten high with them.

JJ tried passing the joint to her, but she shook her head, causing him to arch an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, she's sure." Kiara replied for her, reaching over and taking the joint from him. "I'll take it."

JJ eyed his girlfriend suspiciously before shrugging his shoulders and looking back at the scroll laid out on the table. They continued talking about the scroll until there was a sudden noise outside, causing them to freeze.

"What was that?" JJ asked as more noises continued to be heard from outside.

"I knew we shouldn't have come back here." Kiara muttered as the two boys grabbed objects to use as weapons.

Natalie frantically searched around for something to cover up the scroll with. She noticed a plaid blanket and grabbed it, placing it over the scroll.

"Nothing on your side?"

"No. Nothing. That's so weird. It kinda sounded like maybe it was—"

John B couldn't finished because there was a sudden crashing sound, causing them to gasp and jump back from fear. That's when they noticed it was Chandler Groff, who was panting heavily.

"Oh. Sorry. I'm sorry." He apologized, holding his hands out. His eyes flickered to JJ. "JJ. You made it. I, uh, I'm sorry to bother you here. I swam... I swam all the way in."

"What are you doing here?" JJ asked with a clenched jaw.

"I... I had nowhere else to go, son."

JJ and John B exchanged a look before JJ sighed, walking over to Groff and helping him take a seat. Natalie sat on the table, eyeing him. She did not trust Groff whatsoever. There was something about the guy that made her skin crawl.

"So, you're JJ's dad?" She decided to ask.

Groff sighed and nodded. "I don't deserve the title, but yes, I am JJ's biological father. I could have done better by him, I know that. I look forward to telling you all about it."

"Right." Kiara muttered, her and Natalie sharing a look.

"But I'm afraid time is short. We are all in danger here." He told them before spotting the packing tube the scroll was in. "Let me guess. You opened up that packing tube over there and you found a scroll inside, but you can't read it. That scroll is encrypted."

"How do you know that?" John B asked him.

"Because if you took that from the Corsairs, I suspect that you are in possession of the Mogador scroll, created by Barbary pirates in 1703." Groff explained. "The Lupine Corsairs are dangerous mercenaries. Now you've stolen from them."

"Okay, so what the hell is this Mogadar?"

"It's a map."