𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐈𝐄 ¹- jj maybank

𝟎𝟐𝟒; 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴

SEASON 1
EPISODE 4

"I don't deserve you, you know that?"

»»-----　　-----««

VICTORIA OPENED THE DOOR, "I came here as soon as I could," Charlie panted, his voice still catching up with his breathing as Victoria closed the door firmly behind him. He shrugged off his coat, tossing it onto the arm of the couch. "What's going on? What's so urgent?"

Victoria didn't answer right away. She turned and walked back to the island in her kitchen, her steps slow and heavy, like she was dragging an invisible weight. Sitting back down on one of the barstools, she picked up the bottle of vodka sitting in front of her. Without hesitation, she took another swig, the raw burn of it barely making her flinch.

Charlie followed her, his frown deepening as he pulled out the stool beside her. He reached over, gently but firmly taking the bottle from her hands and setting it down on the counter. "Victoria, talk to me. What's going on?" His voice was softer now but edged with worry.

She finally looked at him, her expression blank, though her eyes were glossy, like she was holding back a flood. "JJ was arrested," she said flatly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" Charlie's eyes widened as he leaned closer. "What do you mean he was arrested? What happened?"

Victoria shook her head, cutting him off before he could ask more questions. "That's not all." Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the calm she was trying to maintain.

"Okay, then tell me." His tone sharpened with concern. "Tell me what's going on."

At that, her composure shattered. Her hands came up to her face as if trying to hold back the tears, but they poured out anyway, streaming down her cheeks. She sobbed, raw and uncontrollable, her shoulders shaking. "There's so much going on," she choked out between sobs. "I can't— I just can't— it's too much, Charlie. It's all growing on me, and I don't know what to       do—" Her voice broke entirely, and she bent forward, her face buried in her hands.

Without a second thought, Charlie got up from his stool and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her close, holding her tightly as she clung to his shirt, her face pressed into his shoulder. Her tears soaked through the fabric, but he didn't care. "It's okay," he murmured softly, his hand gently patting her head in a soothing rhythm. "Shh... let it out. Cry it out."

She sobbed harder, her grip on him tightening as though letting go might make everything collapse around her. And so he held her, steady and strong, his presence a quiet reassurance in the storm of her emotions.

After a few minutes, Victoria pulled away from Charlie's embrace, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She exhaled shakily and looked up at him. "Charlie, I trust you. I trust you with my life, and what I'm about to tell you—" she paused, swallowing hard. "These are things I promised not to tell anyone."

Charlie nodded immediately, his face serious. "I promise, Vic. No one will know. Whatever it is, I'm here."

Victoria stood up, grabbing her pack of cigarettes from the counter. "I need a smoke." She gestured for him to follow as she walked toward the terrace, sliding the door open to the crisp night air. She lit up a cigarette with practiced ease, taking a long drag before beginning. "From the start... me and the Pogues— we've been searching for the Royal Merchant."

Charlie leaned against the railing, frowning. "Royal Merchant?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice. "What's that?"

Victoria blew out a plume of smoke, her eyes distant as she stared at the city skyline. "It's a legendary shipwreck. Went down centuries ago with gold onboard— gold worth 400 million dollars."