P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

Barracuda Mike

The twinkie rolled up outside Rockfish, bustling with people.

"Oh perfect, Rockfish," John B said, turning to JJ. "The place you go to bash beer bottles on peoples heads. Love that for us."

"There's a guy here," JJ began to argue. "That's always here, moves a lot of weight. My dad worked for him."

"Good sign," Cory mumbled.

The couple both yanked their car doors open, Cory climbing out of the back of the twinkie. She shut the door behind her as John B continued to argue.

"No, no, wait, wait," John B mumbled. "Please don't say 'Barracuda Mike'."

"Okay, I won't," JJ shrugged, turning toward the building.

Cory smiled at John B. "Just come on. Rather have us than let him make a stupid plan alone."
John B rolled his eyes and pushed the door open, starting after the couple.

"Come on," John B said, catching up to JJ. "There's gotta be a better option than this."

They stepped into the restaurant, starting toward the back.

"Oh, you know what? There is a better option," JJ said. "Except there's not. Alright, dude? Seriously, we don't have a whole lot of time and your dad needs help right now, and this guy is gonna be the key to getting down to South America ASAP."

Cory watched Barracuda Mike through the small cut out window, remembering the few times she had met him.

"Trust me on this one," JJ said. "Let me do the talking, okay?"

They approached, allowing JJ to lead the way.

"Yo, Mike!" he called out, earning the glare of the old man. "Yo, you remember me right?"

Cory and John B exchanged a glance as they stepped up to the cut out window. Mike lifted a knife.

"It's on the tip of your tongue, J–" JJ continued to speak.

"Luke's son," Mike said, stabbing the wooden table with his knife.

"That works too," JJ said. "Uh, also go by JJ, but this here–" JJ reached for John B next to him, who had his back to Mike. "Is my good friend, John B."

He forced John B to turn with a reluctant smile.

"Hey."

"Routledge," Barracuda Mike said.

"In the flesh... yup."
JJ turned to Cory, who was almost hiding behind his back. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"And this is my lovely girl, Cory," JJ said, batting his eyelashes at Mike. Mike, however, did not look impressed, so JJ laid his head on top of her curly blonde hair.

Cory gave Mike an awkward smile.

"Hello," she said quietly.

"I've heard stories about you three," Mike said, eyeing Cory closely.

"Uh-oh," John B sighed.

Next to Cory, a tall and muscular man stepped up, his arms crossed as he held them in place.

JJ stared up at him, just as John B's hand scrambled to grab onto Cory's upper arm. Together the two boys moved her to stand in between them, their shoulders pressing into hers.

"I mean, he's a stone cold cop k-killer," JJ said.

"No, I'm not."

The man now next to JJ did not look impressed.