037 !! PLAN
"So, we go in there guns a-blazin' and we make Ward Cameron beg for mercy, abscond with as much gold as possible
and vámonos, get the hell out of there".
"Are you dumb?".
JJ's gaze turns to his sister's, a heated glare throwing daggers her way because according to him — he's helping out and she's only complaining.
"Georgie, I swear to god—".
"No. Genuine question. Are you dumb?", she steps forward shoving her pointer finger in his face, squinting up at his six foot frame staring down at her in annoyance.
Pope snickers off to the side, John B and Kiara sighing at the blonde twins' unnecessary bickering even at a time of such strategic importance.
"As I was sayin'", JJ steps back, glare still fixed on the short girl rolling her eyes at him, "we get the hell out of here. Down the Intracoastal. Wait for weather. Exit to Cuba".
"Cuba?", John B perks up.
"No, man, Xcalak, Jewel of the Yucatan. Lobsters so thick, mangoes, and no word for money. Let's do this shit".
"Bro, why are you so obsessed with Yucatan?", Pope rubs a hand down his face.
JJ frowns, "It's the perfect place, Pope. The only other real paradise on earth, even Miss Genius here agrees with me", he gestures towards Georgie who sighs.
She shrugs, "He's kinda right".
Pope raises his hands up, eyes widening in surprise.
"Unbelievable".
JJ's frown gets deeper.
"Hey, if you got a better plan then—".
"Shush, they're coming!", Kiara hushes signalling the convoy of trucks driving straight into the flyover, approaching the private plane waiting for takeoff.
John B brings a pair of binoculars up to his eyes and looks through the lens quietly observing the men descending the trucks and beginning to unload them.
Pope steps closer to the wired fence.
"What's the plan? Broad strokes".
JJ's frown turns into a scowl displaying pure offence at the fact that no one seems to be taking his very elaborate plan seriously.
"I don't think we got that far", Georgie comments once again becoming the center of attention for her brother's glare.
John B waits for a beat, looking through the binoculars.
"They're loading up the gold".
A second later . . . .
"There's Ward".
"What's he doing?", Kiara asks.
John B gives a shake of the head, "He's just—".
He cuts himself off midway causing the others to exchange confused looks.
"What?".
"It's Sarah".
Georgie inhales sharply, her eyes meeting JJ's who silently asks her to keep her mouth shut, her opinions to herself at least for the moment.
If she's so innocent then why is she—
"He's hurting her".
Her senses go on high alert in the flash of a second, gaze flitting around and worry slowly wedging between her brows.
"What?", JJ steps up.
"They're fighting", John B mumbles incredulously.
"Holy shit", Pope mutters under his breath.
"Wait . . . so she—what—", the blonde girl glances around, words seeming weirdly incomprehensive right now.
"John B. Where are you going?", Kiara turns abruptly as the brunet boy rushes off back towards the Twinkie parked behind them.
"Hey! Hey!", JJ yells approaching him.
"John B!", Pope and Georgie look back at their friend, panic-stricken expressions mirroring each other's.
"Hold on! Dude, stop!", JJ goes to pull him back but he quickly settles inside shutting the door behind him.
"Don't be a hero, dude! John B!".
"John B!".
He ignites the engine and shifts the gear to drive, pressuring his foot against the accelerator.
"What are you doing!".
He ignores all of their shouts, driving right through the wired fence and onto the runway.
Their heart beats quicken as the van gains momentum directly driving towards the plane now beginning its initial drive for takeoff.
They exchange panicked looks, lips biting and fingers pulling onto the roots of their hair furiously pacing back and forth through the shrub covered area.
A small cacophony of police sirens sound throughout the air, all of their eyes widening at the sound.
"Guys, I can't get arrested", Pope looks back, frightened.
"I'm on probation", JJ mumbles.
Georgie curses under her breath, Kiara's glance catching hers as she looks around exhaling a sigh.
"Look, we're no good if we're all in jail. Come on".
They run back out on the road they initially drove in from.
Panting and breathing heavily, the four break out in a run towards a small park located nearby.
Five minutes later and all of them are situated on a bench, their breathing patterns attempting to get back to normal, eyes still wandering and scared.
"Do you think he's gonna . . . .", Georgie doesn't dare finish the thought, her heart still thumping loudly against her chest due to the adrenaline high coming off and the fear slowly setting in.
Pope shakes his head, slipping his fingers between hers maintaining a tight grip on her hand.
Over the years, when things have gone horribly wrong they've learnt to find comfort in each other's presence.
It works most of the time, like today when all she needs for her mind to stop going haywire is the feel of his thumb gently rubbing small circles at the back of her hand.
Exhaling, she rests her head on his shoulder, JJ's eyes momentarily flitting to her tired emerald gaze staring back at him with a sense of dread pooling behind her irises.
His lips twitch, eyes blinking quietly in an indication of maintaining her calm, that everything will be okay.
No matter what.
Kiara risks glimpsing at Georgie immediately catching her attention.
"Hey, Kie", Georgie straightens up beside Pope, her face falling in apology.
Kiara coughs, "It's fine".
"No, uhm. I . . . . ".
"Seriously, Gi. It's fine", the brunette offers her a genuine smile.
Pope keeps his eyes downcast while JJ's remain vigilant of his sister's emotions clearly displaying on her face.
A defeaning thuddering up above them draws their undivided attention to itself.
The plane. Departing.
Leaving the country. Leaving their hands. Their reach.
Everything — the gold, their future — exiting the peripherals of their fate, leaving them there all alone hearts shattered and hopeless.
So, so hopeless.
***
rafe cameron is so chase atlantic coded