𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 114: Tears For Fears

"So, what, we're just on our way to Africa now?" Kie remarked as they all sat around on the ship. "Quick little weekend trip?"

"What about Rafe? We know what he did to the cross. And now we want to go after the crown with him?" Pope asked skeptically. "That makes zero sense."

"Doesn't take Pope to figure that part out," chimed Cleo.

JJ looked down at Grace, who was sitting next to him, their sides pressed together. Her fingers were busy picking at her nails. Without saying anything, he gently grabbed her hands and stilled their antsy movements.

"You're his family," John B said to Grace and Sarah. "How do we deal with Rafe?"

"I don't know. I really have no idea," Sarah answered honestly. Grace nodded along.

"All right, well, it seems like we're stuck on this boat with him. So we gotta talk to him," John B said decidedly.

"Talk to Rafe?" JJ's tone was mocking.

"Well, you're definitely not talking to him," John B answered immediately.

"Oh, I'm not doing it, right. Okay, what did I do now?" JJ grumbled, his grip unintentionally tightening on his wife's hands.

"Look, it just might be easier if we handle it, okay? You might trigger him, and that's, like, the last thing we need."

At Kie's words, JJ's hands ripped away from Grace's in favour of flying around as he practically shouted, "Trigger him? Yeah, I trigger him because I get shit done, right?"

"Yeah, like felonies and forcing us out of the country for-"

Grace finally spoke up, cutting John B off. "Okay, dude, not helping."

John B held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Not that I think JJ should be the one to talk to him, but he's kind of right..." she began.

JJ looked towards the group with an 'I told you so' expression.

"All I'm saying is that Rafe isn't really the type that gets reasoned with. And just because he might agree with whatever you say, doesn't mean he's being honest," Grace explained. After being kidnapped with Rafe, she knew his tactics quite well. He was a smooth liar and a natural manipulator with no qualms about betrayal.

"So what do we do?" Kie asked quickly. She was pro talking it out and acting as soon as possible. The weight of being out in the ocean with Rafe was getting to her.

Grace shrugged. "No idea. I'm just warning you."

"Sit this one out," John B said to JJ before leading the way up to the captain's room.

JJ rolled his eyes before taking a gulp of the random bottle of alcohol that he'd found stashed in the boat's fridge.

Grace let the others go first before she quickly pecked JJ on the cheek. "Hey, lay off, alright?"

He nodded noncommittally, a distracted look on his face, as Grace hurried off after her friends.

By the time Grace made it to the group, the conversation had already begun.

"All right, just so you know..." Rafe lifted his shirt and tugged out a pistol.

Grace's eyes flew to the weapon.

"See this? It's a peacemaker, all right? You guys be cool, I'll be cool," Rafe said calmly while looking at each member of the group pointedly.

"So now you want peace?" Pope mused.

"I just saved all your asses," he bit back. "How about a 'thank you?' You know, no good deed goes unpunished. It'll be just like in Barbados. Right, Grace? You remember?"