Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

73

We pile onto Rafe's boat. He's up at the wheel while the rest of us try to figure out where we go from here.

"So, what, we're just on our way to Africa now?" Kie remarks. "Quick little weekend trip?"

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

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

"Sarah, you're his family. How do we deal with Rafe?" John B asks.

"I don't know," Sarah admits. "I really have no idea."

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

"Talk to Rafe?" JJ questions.

"JJ, you're definitely not talking to him," I tell him.

"Oh, I'm not doing it, right. Okay, what did I do now?" JJ asks.

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

"Trigger him?" JJ shouts. "Yeah, I trigger him because I get shit done, right?"

"Yeah, like felonies and forcing us out of the country for potentially the rest of our lives," John B remarks. "So why don't you park your ass right there and just sit this one out?"

We all follow John B up to the bridge. John B knocks on the door. Rafe turns to look at him.

"Hey. I just wanna talk," John B tells Rafe.

"All right, let's talk," Rafe says.

"We're on a long trek. So let's just..." John B starts.

"All right, just so you know..." Rafe pulls up his shirt so everyone can see the gun in his waistband. "See this? It's a peacemaker, all right? You guys be cool, I'll be cool."

"So now you want peace?" Pope remarks.

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

"Could've sworn we had a truce," Kie tells him.

"Okay, here's the situation, all right?" Rafe tells us. "I don't want any part of your little fairy tale treasure hunt bullshit. All right? I'm just looking for Groff. I get you to North Africa, you get me to Groff. Deal?"

"We want the same thing," John B tells him.

"Hey, Rafe," JJ says before punching Rafe in the face, knocking him out.

"Oh shit," Pope remarks.

"JJ!" I shout.

"Oh, that felt good. Whoo!" JJ says.

Kie throws her hands up. "I'm out."

Kie, Sarah, and Cleo all leave.

"I didn't see that coming either," JJ asks.

I push him. "What the hell are you doing?"

"You weren't seriously going to trust what he was saying, were you?" JJ remarks.

"I mean, honestly, if he didn't do it, I was gonna do it," Pope admits.

I find JJ out on the deck. He still has that stupid bottle of vodka with him.

"What is going on with you?" I ask.

"I'm fine," JJ tells me.

"No you're not," I insist. "You've got that bottle of vodka glued to your hand. You've been all kinds of messed up since Groff ran off." JJ doesn't say anything. "I know you're upset about it. So just talk to me. Talk to John B. Talk to anyone about it. It's not good to bottle all this shit up."