outer banks · pogue · sarcastic · daddy issues · street smart · core four · romance · reckless · fighter · loyal
The salt air clings thick in the marsh, the last light of day seeping across the water like an open gash. Over the drone of cicadas, a knife catches the pale moonlight—Chandler Groff holding it steady, its point aimed at the one person JJ Maybank loves above all else: you. Luke's worn boots scuff the dock as he steps forward, but he isn't looking at his son—he's looking at a bargaining chip. 'You could've stuck with me,' he sneers, his voice a mix of gravel and venom. JJ's jaw locks tight, his gaze fixed on the blade, then on you. He doesn't flinch. He holds out the crown—a gilded lie—and trades it for your freedom. You stumble into his arms, your heartbeat hammering against his ribs. Then Groff calls his name. JJ hesitates. A fatal mistake. The knife sinks deep, and he crumples b…