Devotion | Outer Banks

29: The Phantom

Kie starts the car immediately as JJ storms out of his house. I am relieved that there was no shouting and he appears to be fine, no new bruises or scrapes from his dad. He looks somber, though, his eyes glued to the ground as he walks over to the vehicle.

"How'd it go?" Kie asks, the two of us looking at him as we await an answer. I am thankful that she asked because I couldn't bring myself to speak, feeling too anxious at the moment.

JJ holds his hand up, the keys dangle from a chain that is wrapped around his fingers. He gives a sad side smile as if to tell us that he got them. I place a comforting hand on his arm from behind. He grabs my hand, squeezing three times as a way of saying 'I love you.'

Kie backs out of the driveway quickly as we make our way to the garage where the boat is held. I lay back in my seat, resting my head against the side of the car as the window on my side is rolled down. My hair whips in the breeze as Kie speeds down the road. I rest my chin on my arms and watch the trees and houses blur past. Thunder rumbles in the distance and the faint sound of police sirens fills my chest with hope that they haven't caught my brother yet.

"It'll be fine. It'll be fine with the Phantom." JJ speaks up, noticing that Kie is looking around nervously. "She'll get outta here quick." He assures her, twirling the chain that holds the keys around in his hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa." His tone changes quickly as we all duck down, three police cars drive by with their sirens blaring and lights flashing.

"They're still looking. It's a good sign." Kie points out, keeping her hands steady on the wheel.

"Yeah." I breathe with a nod, acknowledging her statement.

We finally make it to the old metal warehouse where JJ's father keeps his pride and joy, The Phantom. The blond hops out of the car, Kie and I following close behind him. He makes his way over to the large door way and slides it open.

"There she be." JJ states, looking at the boat with amazement. Kie and I both give him a look as he walks over to The Phantom. "Hey, girl. A 1983 Formula 402 SR1." JJ pulls off the tarp that was covering the front of the boat. "The Phantom." He stands back and looks at it with a slight smile. The boy clicks his tongue and looks over to the two of us.

"Mm-hm." I hum, encouraging him to go on.

"The first boat to make the run to Bermuda in under 16 hours, ladies." He walks over to the boat, running his hand over its surface. "Forty years old! Forty." He exclaims. "And still the fastest thing that Kildare's ever seen."

"It's kind of a junker." Kie admits with a slight shrug. The blond boy turns to give her a look.

"Really? She's right there, Kie." JJ replies. "She can hear you. Let's just put it this way. You would not be smokin' weed right now if she never existed, okay?"

"I just hope it runs." I speak up as the three of us move to the back of Kie's car, getting the hitch ready to hook the boat up to the car.

"Oh, no, she'll run all right." JJ assures me. "She's faster than any of the cutters the boys in blue got." He winds up the rope in his hands.

The sound of a motorcycle approaching pulls our attention away from the banter about the stupid boat. Kie and I share a small smile, relieved at the thought that Pope is back with the gas. The girl jumps over the bar connected to the hitch as we hear the motorcycle's tires screech to a stop.

"Pope, finally." Kie sighs, walking around the boat to meet him.

"Hey, there. What's goin' on?" Rafe Cameron appears from behind the boat. My smile immediately drops, realizing that it's not Pope. "JJ? Jules?" Rafe acknowledges the two of us. "How you guys doin'?" He hops up onto the boat. Kie turns back to JJ and I, freezing when she notices someone cornering us from the other side of the warehouse.