Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

JJ had grown up in this house. Everyone on the Cut could trace all the Maybanks back to this very place, 14 Rogers Point Road, Outer Banks, North Carolina. The house wasn’t anything fancy and if its walls held more memories than they should and they weren’t the kind you’d want to remember.

When Nicole, JJ’s mother left, the house suddenly felt too big. It was just JJ and his dad now, living in a two-story house with too many rooms they didn’t use. Despite all the extra space, JJ always found his father sleeping on the couch.

But that house wasn’t just for JJ and his dad. For as long as JJ could remember, strangers had drifted in and out, drug dealers, criminals and addicts had wandered in and out like they owned the place, and JJ was just expected to accept it.

So when Pope suggested they buy the land back, JJ felt uneasy. Too much had happened in that house. Too many nights he wanted to forget. But at the same time, Pope had a point, it could be something new, something theirs. Poguelandia 2.0.

The process of buying it was uncomfortable to say the least. Standing at the auction, bidding on his own house, a house he never planned to stay in past the necessary 18 years felt like a sick joke. He hated Pope’s plan to go up one dollar at a time, it dragged out the whole thing longer than necessary. JJ just wanted it to be over, no matter the cost.

But in the end, they got it. And somehow, they made it work. They turned it into something real, a home, a business, a place to finally make money (legally, for once). At first, stepping inside felt wrong, like the house was stuck in the past but with every Pogue filling up an empty room, every laugh echoing off the walls, and John B’s steady hand on his shoulder, the past started to fade. For the first time, JJ had more than just a house, he had a home and a family to share it with.

But now, as Terrance’s lifeless body lay in the living room of that very house, the Pogues stood around him, frozen in shock.

"We have to call the cops," Pope says, running a hand over his face. His voice is shaking, but his logic is firm.

"No way, man," JJ snaps, shaking his head. His hands are restless, moving from his hips to his hair, tugging at the blond strands in frustration. "You think they're gonna believe a bunch of Pogues just happened to stumble upon a dead body? C’mon, Pope. Shoupe already thinks I'm a walking crime scene."

"But we didn't do anything wrong," Kie chimes in. Her arms are crossed tightly over her chest, her face pale. "But if we hide the body that'll be a crime"

John B shifts uncomfortably. "Yeah, but we would be in more trouble if someone see this dead body in our house”

Sarah, who’s been quiet until now, suddenly exhales sharply. "This is insane. If we hide the body and get caught, it’s game over. We’ll all go down for it."

The room falls into uneasy silence.

Then, footsteps outside. The unmistakable sound of boots on the wooden porch.

A shadow shifts behind the curtains. Someone’s outside.

JJ instinctively reaches for a broom to have something to defend them with, his heartbeat spiking.

And then

The door swings open.

The room goes still.

Luke Maybank stands in the doorway, his broad frame casting a shadow over the threshold. His face is harder than JJ remembers, deep lines carved into his skin, a layer of sweat glistening on his forehead. His clothes are worn, dirt-streaked, like he hasn’t had a steady place to stay for a long time.

His sharp eyes scan the room, flicking from the Pogues… to the body on the floor.

For a beat, no one moves.

Then Luke lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "What the hell is this?"

JJ feels his stomach drop. He puts down the broom and just stares in disbelief

He hasn’t seen Luke in almost two years. The last time they met his father was on the run and dragged JJ into his mess, demanding he help. And now, just like that, he’s back.

"Huh?" Luke steps further inside, his boots thudding against the wooden floor. "Someone wanna explain why there’s a goddamn corpse in my living room?"

The Pogues exchange uneasy glances. None of them spoke.

Luke scoffs before raising his voice. "What, cat got your tongues? Why the FUCK is there a dead man in my house?"

"Look, we didn't kill him” Pope says, carefully measured.

Luke’s expression doesn’t change. "Yeah? Cops gonna see it a different way"

JJ swallows hard, stepping forward slightly. "What are you doing here?" His voice is steady, but there’s a hesitation in it. He already knows this won’t end well.

Luke raises an eyebrow. "Is that how you greet your father boy” He lets out a low, humorless laugh. "This is my house. Least, it was before I left. Imagine my surprise, finding a bunch of you shacked up in it like it’s a damn summer rental."

JJ doesn’t correct him. He doesn’t say they bought it back. Doesn’t say it was foreclosed because Luke didn’t pay a single cent. Because none of that matters right now.

What matters is that Luke is here, and there’s a dead body in the middle of the room.

Luke’s gaze flicks back to Terrance, then back to JJ. His lips press into a thin line. "This ain’t gonna come back on me, is it?"

"That’s what you’re worried about?" Kiara says, unable to hide her disgust. "Seriously?"

Luke ignores her, his focus locked on JJ. "You better start talkin’ boy. What the hell did you get yourself into this time?"

JJ tenses. "I didn’t, we didn’t do this, alright? We walked in, and he was already dead."

Luke’s expression is unreadable for a moment. Then he exhales sharply, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "Alright," he mutters. "Alright. I ain’t gettin’ caught up in this. Y’all can do whatever the hell you want, but this body? It disappears. Now."

The Pogues stiffen.

"We..." Sarah starts, but she’s cut off by three sharp knocks at the door.

Everyone freezes.

JJ’s blood runs cold.

"JJ Maybank!" Shoupe’s voice booms from the other side of the door. "Open up!"

JJ’s pulse pounds in his ears. He can feel everyone’s eyes on him, waiting to see what he’ll do.

Luke’s gaze flicks toward the door, then back to JJ. His voice drops low. Dangerous. "What the hell did you do now?"

JJ barely has time to answer before Luke grabs his arm, squeezing hard. JJ thought time had erased it. Two years without Luke had dulled the fear, made the nightmares less vivid. But the second his father’s fingers dig into his arm, it’s like no time has passed at all. His skin remembers before his mind does, and suddenly, he’s a kid again, small, powerless, waiting for the next blow. His body locks up, muscles stiff and useless.

"Listen to me," Luke hisses. "You’re gonna go out there, and you’re gonna stall. You hear me? You make sure he doesn’t come in here."

JJ swallows, nodding stiffly. His gut twists. He doesn’t want to do this. But he also knows what happens if he doesn’t.

Luke’s grip tightens for just a second longer, then he lets go. His next words are almost casual. "Now, JJ."

JJ forces himself to move, forcing his face into something neutral as he steps toward the door.

His hand trembles slightly as he reaches for the handle.

He can still feel Luke’s presence behind him, looming.

Instead of going through the front, JJ slipped out the back door, making sure it latched quietly behind him. He took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders to shake out the tension before cutting around the side of the house.

Shoupe was still standing at the front door, arms crossed, swatting at mosquitos.

JJ jogged up casually from the side, acting like he’d been outside the whole time. "Damn, Sheriff, what’s with the aggressive door knocking? You trying to bust in or something?"

Shoupe turned, unimpressed. "You gonna let me in, or are we having this conversation out here while I get eaten alive?"

JJ grinned. "Out here works. I’m a man of the outdoors."

Shoupe eyed him, unimpressed. "Yeah, well, I’m a man who likes air conditioning. Let’s take this inside."

"What makes you think I have air conditioning?" JJ quipped playfully, only to receive a death stare from Shoupe, who silently pointed at the door, gesturing for them to go inside.

JJ stretched, stepping in front of him like he wasn’t even thinking about it. "Eh, I dunno. You got a warrant?"

Shoupe’s jaw tightened. "Do I need one?"

JJ spread his arms. "I mean, I don’t think so, but you know how it is. You let a cop in once, suddenly they think they own the place." He laughed, easygoing. "Next thing you know, you’re taking off your shoes at the door and helping me make dinner."

Shoupe wasn’t amused.

JJ could feel his pulse hammering.

The longer he kept Shoupe out here, the better.

He turned, acting like he was about to open the door, then froze, slapping his forehead.

"Shit, hold on, I forgot something out back." He spun on his heel, already heading toward the backyard. "You mind walking with me real quick? It’ll take two seconds."

Shoupe let out a frustrated sigh.

JJ kept walking.

Grumbling under his breath, Shoupe followed. "If this is another one of your little games..."

"Relax," JJ said, keeping his pace slow. "Just need to grab something”

"JJ..."

"Hold up, let me check the shed real quick," JJ said, pushing open the old wooden door. He peeked inside, pretending to search for something, buying a few extra seconds.

Shoupe groaned. "Jesus Christ, Maybank. If you don’t..."

JJ straightened. "Nah, never mind. I got what I needed." He turned back toward the house. "Okay, now we can head inside."

Shoupe shot him a you’ve gotta be kidding me- look but finally moved toward the front door.

JJ followed, forcing himself to stay relaxed.

Hopefully, it had been enough time.

Inside, the Pogues were scrambling.

Luke stood in the center of the room, hands on his hips, surveying the mess with an expression of pure disgust. "Jesus Christ, you kids are fucking useless."

John B gritted his teeth. "You got a better idea, then?"

Luke’s glare was sharp. "Yeah. Do what I say."

He pointed at the body. "Get him behind the damn couch. Now."

Pope hesitated, eyes darting to the others. "That’s not gonna..."

"Did I ask what you think?" Luke snapped.

Pope swallowed hard, then, with a look of pure regret, grabbed the body by the arms. John B took the legs. Together, they maneuvered Terrance’s dead weight behind the couch, struggling with the awkwardness of it. The guy wasn’t light.

Kiara swallowed. "Don't drag him its gonna leave a trace"

Luke turned sharply. "Then you get on your hands and knees and scrub this blood up before it stains my goddamn floor."

She bristled. "Don’t talk to me like that"

Luke took a step toward her, voice low, dark. "You wanna waste time arguing, or you wanna be thrown in the clink?"

Kiara’s throat tightened, but she bit back her retort.

Instead, she grabbed the bleach from under the sink, her hands trembling slightly as she poured it over the bloodstain.

The smell hit hard.

John B yanked an old towel from the counter and dropped to his knees, scrubbing fast.

Luke pointed at Pope. "Make sure nothing got on the furniture. If it did, get rid of it."

Pope hesitated. "How?"

Luke shot him a look, and Pope clamped his mouth shut.

"Check the floors, the walls, everything," Luke ordered. "If you see a drop of blood, you clean it. If you can’t clean it, you cover it. I don’t give a shit how you do it."

The Pogues scrambled to work, their hearts racing.

Kiara scrubbed furiously, her arms burning from the effort. Pope double-checked the floor, using a wet rag to wipe up anything the bleach hadn’t reached. John B flipped a rug over the worst of the stain, pressing it down firmly.

Luke stepped back, nodding slightly. "Better."

The knocking on the door made them all jump.

"Shit," John B muttered.

When JJ opened the door, the living room was calm.

The Pogues were either sprawled out lazily playing cards or curled up pretending to be asleep. Pope was slouched in a chair, flipping through a magazine like nothing was wrong. Kiara was curled up on the couch, "asleep" though JJ could tell from her breathing that she was wide awake. Sarah and John B were leaned up against the wall, half-heartedly tossing a deck of cards back and forth.

No sign of the body.

No sign of Luke.

JJ exhaled slowly.

"Alright, you happy?" he muttered to Shoupe, stepping inside.

Shoupe gave the room a quick once-over, then turned to the Pogues. "You all mind giving me a minute with JJ?"

John B’s jaw tensed, but he didn’t argue. One by one, the Pogues got up and disappeared into the other room.

JJ barely had time to exhale before Shoupe turned back to him, arms crossed.

"Alright, Maybank," Shoupe said. "Let’s talk."

JJ swallowed hard. "Talk about what?"

Shoupe pulled out his phone.

He tapped the screen, and suddenly, JJ’s own voice crackled out.

"If you come near her or anyone of us ever again, I'll kill every single one of you"

JJ forced himself to stay still.

Shoupe raised an eyebrow. "Ringin’ any bells?"

JJ shrugged. "A.I have come a long way"

Shoupe sighed. "A.I huh? You know how many parents are calling me because they're worried youre gonna hurt their kids"

JJ scoffed. "Oh, come on, Shoupe. They dish out worse than that to us every goddamn day. One of ‘em tried to run me over last week. Didn’t see you knocking on their door."

Shoupe rubbed his temple. "Just listen JJ. I don’t want to charge you for that. Or for the hyperbaric chamber you broke at the hospital."

JJ tensed. “Well, that was a big misunderstanding...”

“Save it” Shoupe cut in "Point is, I’m willing to let that go but you gotta do something for me in return."

JJ swallowed. "Yeah? And what’s that?"

Shoupe’s expression darkened. "Tell me exactly where you were when Wes Genrette was killed."

JJ felt the words like a punch to the gut.

His mouth went dry.

"You think I had something to do with that?" JJ asked.

Shoupe tilted his head. "I think you always seem to be at the center of shitstorms, and I need a solid alibi from you before I have to start digging."

JJ forced himself to breathe.

"Fine, we were here all of us," he said. "We made up a fire and sang some tunes."

Shoupe watched him for a long moment.

JJ didn’t blink.

Finally, the Sheriff sighed. "Fine. But if I find out you’re lying to me Maybank, I will make sure you regret it."

JJ didn’t respond.

Shoupe shook his head, then finally turned and headed for the door.

The second the car drove away, the Pogues reappeared from the hallway.

And so did Luke.

He stepped out from the shadows, eyes sharp, mouth pressed in a thin line.

JJ felt his stomach drop.

Luke crossed his arms. "Well, that was really fuckin’ cute."

The Pogues stiffened.

Luke’s gaze swept over them, then back to JJ. "Alright, kids. Time for you to get the hell out of my house."

Silence.

Kiara’s brows furrowed. "Excuse me?"

Luke looked at her like she was something stuck to his boot. "You deaf, princess? Get off my property."

Kiara looked at JJ, but he was already shaking his head, his stomach twisting.

"Guys, just… go," JJ muttered.

Pope opened his mouth to argue, but John B put a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head.

One by one, they got up, reluctantly heading for the door.

Sarah hesitated the longest, looking back at JJ with concern.

"You good?" she murmured.

JJ didn’t answer.

Luke slammed the door behind them.

The house was quiet now. Just JJ and Luke.

JJ crossed his arms, trying not to look as tense as he felt. ""What do you want, Dad? You left nearly two years ago. Why come back now?"

Luke walked around the room, surveying it like he was looking for something. Then, his eyes flicked back to JJ.

"I left because you took my damn boat. No reason to keep a kid around after they turn eighteen if all they do is steal from you and disrespect the man who made them” Luke snarled, then continued, “You weren’t worth the trouble. But now, a little birdie told me you might be useful again. Said you bought my house, paid close to 800 grand. Got me thinking… where the hell did my derelict son find that kind of money? Sure as hell isn’t from those crappy jobs you’ve been working. So, if you had enough to buy and build houses, I’m guessing there’s a stash hidden somewhere. So… where is it?" Luke said with a smirk

JJ’s jaw tightened as he shook his head, his gaze dropping to the floor.

The smirk on his father's face vanished in an instant. Luke surged forward, grabbing JJ by the front of his shirt and yanking him so close that JJ could smell the whiskey on his breath.

"Where the fuck did you get that kind of money?" he growled.

JJ ripped himself free, shoving Luke’s hands off him. "It’s gone. Doesn’t matter where it came from."

Luke’s stare burned into him, dark and calculating. "Gone?" He scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "You better not be lying to me, boy."

JJ held his ground, jaw tight.

Luke exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Nah. You wouldn’t be dumb enough to lie to me. Would you?"

The room felt smaller by the second.

Luke took another step forward, crowding JJ’s space. "So either you were stupid enough to gamble it all away, or your little Kook friends thought they could keep living their fancy lives, tossing money on the street."

"So, which one is it?" Luke's voice was sharp, demanding an answer.

JJ clenched his fists. "We bought the house, Dad. There’s nothing left now."

Luke tilted his head slightly, considering him. Then, with a slow smirk, he muttered, "Then I’ll take the house instead."

JJ’s stomach clenched. "Like hell you will."

Before JJ could move, a sharp shove sent him slamming back into the wall. The impact rattled his ribs, knocking the breath from his lungs.

"You think you get to tell me what’s mine?" Luke sneered, voice dripping with condescension. "I let you slide before, but I sure as hell ain’t running a damn shelter for you and your little gang of strays."

JJ pushed back, his hands trembling with anger. "This is our house! We won it fair and square!"

He barely got the words out before Luke grabbed him by the hair and yanked him forward. JJ barely had time to brace before a fist collided with his gut. Pain spread through his ribs as he doubled over, gasping.

Then came the kick.

It landed square in his stomach, sending him sprawling to the floor. The wooden boards were cold under his hands as he coughed, struggling to suck in air.

Luke spat beside him. "I don’t give a shit what some papers say. This is my house. My territory. You wanna keep it? You fight for it." He scoffed. "But right now? You’re just a pathetic little punk curled up at my feet."

The kicks kept coming. JJ couldn’t breathe. His ribs screamed, his vision blurred, but he didn’t fight back. It didn’t matter how much older he got, Luke always made him feel like that same scared kid, just waiting for it to end.

And in some twisted way, JJ was almost grateful his father wasn’t aiming for his face. Bruises on his ribs were easier to hide. But the thought was quickly interrupted with Lukes angry voice reaching his ears.

"You know what, boy?" Luke grunted between kicks, his breath ragged with exertion. "Dale Zeasey came to me… said I could get amnesty if I proved a promissory note."

JJ barely registered the words through the sharp, burning pain spreading through his ribs. He coughed, tasting blood, but he didn’t ask what it meant. Didn’t dare. Asking questions only gave Luke an excuse to keep going.

Another boot drove into his side, knocking what little air he had left from his lungs. JJ curled in on himself, arms wrapped tight around his ribs as he fought to breathe.

Luke finally stopped, exhaling sharply. He grabbed JJ by the arm and yanked him up, forcing him onto unsteady feet. His ribs screamed in protest, and his vision blurred for a second before clearing just enough to make out the sick smile stretching across Luke’s face.

"Means that if this place ain’t mine," Luke said, voice almost amused, "it sure as hell ain’t yours either."

JJ swayed, his body barely holding itself together. Every breath was a battle.

Luke clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Look, kid, I was thinking you should come live with me at Barracuda’s since this place ain’t yours anymore. You could actually be useful for once."

Something inside JJ snapped.

Without thinking, he spit directly in Luke’s face.

For a long moment, there was only silence.

Then, Luke wiped his face with the back of his hand, slow and deliberate. But instead of lashing out, he just smiled.

"I missed you too, kid," Luke said sarcastically, the grin never leaving his face before continuing.

"You sure lost a lot of respect over the years," he mused. "Time to get some of it back."

"Say goodbye to your little friends. We’re going to Barracuda’s. You’re gonna make me some money."

With one last shove toward the door, Luke let him go.

JJ found the Pogues at the outhouse, all looking worried, but he knew they hadn’t seen or heard what had just gone down.

As soon as he approached, they all jumped to their feet.

"How'd it go?" John B asked.

"Did he hurt you?" Kiara followed up immediately.

"What did he say about the house?" Pope chimed in.

JJ forced a neutral face, slipping into his usual mask. "I’m fine. Just tired of this shit. He says we need to leave."

Pope frowned. "What do you mean, we need to leave? We have evidence that the house belongs to us."

JJ let out a tired sigh. "That’s not really how it works here. And even if it did, he's got some promissory note he signed. If he validates it, he can sell the house to the Kooks and get amnesty, since he's the original owner or some shit."

"Wait, he can do that? That’s insane," Kiara said in disbelief.

"Technically, yeah. If the Kooks are involved, they can do pretty much whatever they want. They can bend the laws and make our bid invalid if Luke’s claim holds up," Pope explained.

"So… what do we do now?" Sarah asked.

"You guys find somewhere else to stay. I have to go with my dad," JJ admitted.

"You what?" Kiara half-shouted.

"Look, Luke told me to. I can’t just do whatever I want with him around," JJ said, trying to sound nonchalant. "But I’ll try to sneak off when I can and make some money on the runs. Maybe we can build a new house."

"Runs?" John B narrowed his eyes. "As in working for Barracuda Mike?"

JJ exhaled sharply, not answering.

"It’s not my decision, alright? But it’s good money. Maybe we can fix up the Chateau," he added, hoping to shift the focus.

"The Chateau? They’ll take that too! They won’t stop until they push us off the island completely!" John B snapped, stepping into JJ’s space like this was somehow his fault.

JJ forced himself to stand tall despite the pain in his ribs. All he wanted to do was curl up somewhere and pretend none of this was happening.

"What do you want me to do then, John B?" JJ’s voice rose in frustration. "My dad’s back, and he can sell the house right out from under us. I can’t exactly control that shit!"

"Oh, your dad, huh? That’s all you ever blame!" John B shot back. "When we were kids, I begged you not to go back to him, but you always did. And now? You’re probably even glad he came back, aren’t you? It’s the same old story, he pulls the strings, and you’re right there following."

That one hit deep.

JJ’s chest tightened, anger flaring through him like wildfire. John B wasn’t just talking about Luke he was making it sound like it was JJ’s fault.

And JJ wasn’t about to let that slide.

"Oh, is that what you think?" JJ seethed. "You wanna make this about dads, John B? Fine. Let’s talk about yours. The one you act like was the greatest guy ever, but you never mention the neglect. How he left for months at a time. How he faked his own death and didn’t even tell you! You think he was some kind of hero? At least my dad stuck around for eighteen years more than I can say for yours!"

John B’s jaw clenched, his body tensing like he was ready to throw a punch.

Before he could respond, Pope shoved himself between them, forcefully dragging them apart.

"Enough! Both of you!" Pope snapped. "This isn’t helping!"

Before either of them could say another word, a loud voice rang out from the main house.

"Have you kicked your little friends out yet? I don’t have all day, JJ!" Luke's voice carried all the way to the shop, sharp and commanding.

John B let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, if it isn’t Father of the Year," he muttered. Then, without looking at JJ, he added, "You might wanna do what he says before he beats your ass."

JJ’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his jaw locking as he shot John B a death glare. But he didn’t say anything back.

Kiara stepped in instead, her voice softer. "Okay, enough. Let’s just go to the Chateau for now. The outhouse is still standing, so we can crash there while we figure out a plan."

She turned to JJ, concern in her eyes. "Are you gonna be okay?"

JJ forced a nod. "Yeah. Just get out of here before he comes over."

Without another word, the Pogues took off, speeding toward the Chateau in the boat.

JJ took a deep breath, then turned back toward the house.

As JJ stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind him, the sharp sound echoing through the small space. Luke was already making himself at home, kicking off his boots, stretching out like he owned the place. Like he belonged here.

JJ’s fists clenched at his sides.

Luke barely spared him a glance. “You took care of it?” His voice was flat, emotionless, like he was asking about the weather.

JJ swallowed hard, his throat dry. He could still feel the weight of what he’d done, the lingering adrenaline coiled tight in his chest. But he forced himself to nod. “Yeah. They’re gone.”

Luke chuckled, shaking his head like he was amused. “Atta boy. Knew you had some sense in you.”

JJ clenched his jaw. Sense? He didn’t feel like he had any. He didn’t feel like anything at all.

Luke leaned back, reaching for a half-warm beer on the table. He took a long sip before speaking again. “Called Barracuda. He’ll help get rid of the body.”

JJ’s head snapped up. “Barracuda?”

Luke finally met his gaze, his expression unreadable. “Yeah, you got a problem with that?”

JJ felt something cold settle in his stomach. Barracuda didn’t do anything out of the kindness of his heart. If he was helping, it meant Luke had bigger plans. It meant strings were attached, heavy, unbreakable ones.

JJ exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. Desperate to change the subject he forced his voice to stay casual, though his pulse hammered in his ears. “So… how was Yucatán?”

A slow smirk curled at Luke’s lips, but there was no humor behind it. “I didn’t see your mother, if that’s what you’re asking.”

JJ’s stomach twisted, but he pushed forward. “No, that’s not what I meant...”

Luke cut him off, his voice edged with irritation. “Don’t play dumb. I know damn well you’d run into her arms if you could.” His eyes darkened, voice dropping lower. “But guess what, boy? She doesn’t care about you. She’s been gone for twelve years. She ain’t coming back now.”

JJ flinched like he’d been struck. He wanted to argue, to tell Luke he was wrong, but the words stuck in his throat. Was he wrong, though?

She left. She never came back.

Luke watched him for a beat, reading the turmoil on his face, then let out a low chuckle. “You know what? Let’s find that bitch. Pay her a little visit.”

JJ’s breath caught. “What?”

“We’re going to Yucatán anyway on a drug run.” Luke shrugged like it was no big deal. “Might as well get my money back from her while we’re there.”

JJ’s pulse pounded in his ears. This isn’t happening.

“You can’t be serious,” he muttered, voice unsteady.

Luke’s gaze hardened, ice-cold and unwavering. “She’s still alive, ain’t she?” He leaned forward, his voice dropping to something dark, something dangerous. “And I’m tired of this shit, JJ. She owes me. She left me high and dry, and I’m not gonna let that slide. You’re gonna help me track her down, and you’re gonna get what’s mine.”

JJ’s jaw clenched so hard it ached. His whole body felt tight, coiled like a spring ready to snap. He wanted to fight back. Wanted to tell Luke to go to hell. But deep down, he knew the truth.

There was no getting out of this.

Luke smirked, like he could already see the resignation settling into JJ’s bones.

“Pack your shit. We leave tomorrow.”

Chapter Text

A low, rumbling engine cut through the tense silence. Moments later, the crunch of heavy boots on gravel signaled Barracuda’s arrival. The man stepped out of the vehicle, his hulking frame backlit by the headlights. His expression was unreadable, but the sharpness in his eyes said he wasn’t here for pleasantries.

“Where is it?” he asked, voice rough like gravel.

Luke jerked his chin toward the couch, where the body still lay, untouched. The air in the room was thick, the smell of blood barely masked by cigarette smoke. Barracuda let out a low grunt, rolling his shoulders as he stepped toward it.

“You haven’t moved it yet?” he muttered, more statement than question.

Luke shrugged. “Figured you’d want to help.”

Barracuda shot him a dry look but didn’t argue. He crouched, gripping the body under the arms while Luke took the legs. The weight was dead and unyielding, but between the two of them, they managed to lift it without much trouble.

JJ stood off to the side, watching, hands clenched at his sides. He knew better than to protest. Knew better than to look away.

“JJ,” Luke called, snapping him out of it. “Get the bag.”

JJ hesitated for just a second before stepping forward, grabbing the thick plastic body bag they’d brought along. He helped unzip it, holding it open as Barracuda and Luke maneuvered the corpse inside. The zipper’s slow rasp was deafening in the quiet room.

Barracuda grabbed the rope and anchor they’d prepared earlier, tying it tight around the bag with practiced efficiency.

“This’ll keep him down,” he muttered.

Luke smirked. “Like he’d be swimming anywhere, anyway.”

JJ didn’t laugh.

They hauled the body out back to where the water was black and still. The moon barely cut through the dark, the surface of the bay smooth as glass. Without a word, they heaved the bag over the edge. It hit the water with a hollow splash, the weight of the anchor dragging it down fast. Within seconds, it was gone.

Luke dusted off his hands like they’d just finished taking out the trash. “That’s that.”

Barracuda exhaled through his nose. “Let’s move.”

They walked back to the waiting car, Barracuda’s sleek silver sports car, all muscle and speed. Luke slid into the passenger seat without hesitation, while JJ climbed into the back, keeping his head down.

As they sped down the dark, empty road, the hum of the engine filled the silence. JJ sat stiff in the back seat, staring out the window, trying to tune out the conversation he knew was coming.

Luke leaned back, propping his boots up on the dash like he didn’t have a care in the world. He glanced over at Barracuda, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“So, I was thinking,” he started, voice casual, like he was talking about weekend plans. “We’re already heading to Yucatán, right? And you know who ran off there a decade ago?” He let the question hang for a second before answering it himself. “That bitch Nicole.”

JJ’s stomach dropped.

“I say we find her. Get some payback. Do the job while we’re at it, and whatever we take from her, we split. Just you and me.” Luke shot Barracuda a knowing look. “Fair deal, yeah?”

Barracuda hummed low in his throat, drumming his fingers against the wheel. “Haven’t heard that name in a while.”

“Yeah, well, she’s been real good at staying gone. But nothing lasts forever.” Luke’s smirk sharpened. “I want my money back. And if we happen to take a little extra while we’re there? Even better.”

Between them, JJ felt himself shrink. He knew Luke didn’t consider him an equal, not in business, not in anything but hearing it spelled out like that still hit like a punch to the gut. He was never part of the deal. Never part of the profit.

Not that he wanted any of his mother’s money anyway.

But it was the ease of it. The way they cut him out without a second thought, like he was just another tool to be used and discarded.

He clenched his jaw and said nothing.

Barracuda was quiet for a beat, then let out a short, gruff chuckle. “You always got side hustles, huh?”

Luke grinned. “Only when they’re worth it.”

Barracuda gave a slow nod. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do.”

Luke seemed satisfied with that answer, leaning back in his seat, stretching his arms behind his head. “Good. ‘Bout time she learned what happens when you cross the wrong people.”

JJ stayed quiet, staring out the window, watching the night blur past. His hands were still, but inside, his pulse was a drumbeat against his ribs.

This was happening.

Barracuda’s private plane was a hulking old jet, nothing fancy, but sturdy and discreet. They climbed aboard, and within minutes, they were in the air, cutting through the night toward Yucatán.

When they landed, the heat hit JJ like a wall. The air was thick, humid, and smelled of salt and exhaust. Barracuda was the first to step onto the tarmac. He turned, leveling JJ with a look, and held out a hand.

“Phone.”

JJ stiffened. “What?”

“Phone,” Barracuda repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

JJ hesitated only for a second before pulling his phone from his pocket and placing it in Barracuda’s outstretched hand, and with it all the messages from the Pogues especially from John B, messages JJ hadn’t bothered to answer. Just a bunch of “I’m sorry” texts that didn’t really matter. JJ was still stuck here anyway.

The older man took it without a word, slipping it into his own pocket before producing a replacement, a beat-up old Nokia. He pressed it into JJ’s palm.

JJ stared at it, thumb running over the scratched buttons. Cheap. Disposable. Untraceable.

“Important in this line of work,” Barracuda muttered before turning and walking toward a waiting SUV. Luke followed without question, and after a moment, JJ did too.

The drive took them to a secluded garage or maybe an old hangar, it was hard to tell in the dark. The place was barebones: a couple of cots with crinkled sheets, a small kitchen that looked barely functional, and a bathroom that JJ didn’t even want to think about. The rest of the space was mostly used for storage, with just one corner converted into a living area. Some smartass had built it in to cut costs, fixing up a small corner where the workers could sleep and eat.

“This is home for now,” Barracuda said, dropping his bag onto one of the beds. He turned to the others, rubbing a hand over his beard. “I pulled some strings. I got people on the island, and we’ll see if any of them know Nicole. If they do, we’ll bring her in.”

JJ exhaled slowly

“In the meantime, we do what we actually came here for,” Barracuda continued. He turned to JJ. “Start making some cargo hides. I promised they’d be ready by tomorrow.”

JJ swallowed hard and nodded. No use fighting it.

Barracuda then looked at Luke. “You and me are talking to the guys, see if we can get the prices down on the weed. More profit when we get back.”

Luke grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”

JJ barely heard them. His mind was already racing, his hands itching with restless energy. He had a job to do. And as much as he hated it, this was his life now.

The small hangar was stifling, the air thick with heat and the faint scent of oil and sweat. JJ ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly as he took in the stack of empty cargo crates shoved into the corner. He knew the drill. Hollow them out, create false bottoms, make sure they could smuggle whatever needed hiding without tipping off customs.

He grabbed a toolbox from the rickety workbench and got to work. The rhythmic scrape of the saw against wood and the occasional metallic clink of nails being hammered in became the only sounds in the space. His hands moved on autopilot, years of forced experience guiding him through the process.

At some point, he heard the low rumble of Barracuda and Luke’s voices from outside, their conversation lost to distance and the hum of crickets in the thick jungle air. It didn’t matter what they were talking about, deals, prices, who needed threatening, it was all the same. JJ just kept his head down and worked.

Hours passed. Sweat dripped down his back, soaking into his already grimy shirt. He forced himself to focus on the task, measuring and cutting, fitting panels together like a puzzle. It wasn’t until he stood back and counted that he realized he’d finished.

Four crates. All of them rigged to hide their cargo.

He wiped his hands on his jeans, stepping back just as the door creaked open. Luke strolled in first, looking satisfied, Barracuda close behind.

Luke’s gaze flicked to the crates. “Look at that. You actually finished.”

JJ said nothing. Just nodded.

Barracuda walked over, inspecting the work. He ran a hand over one of the false panels, testing the seams, then gave a grunt of approval. “Good. These’ll do.”

JJ barely had a second to breathe before Barracuda clapped him on the back, hard enough to make him stumble slightly.

“Get some rest,” he said.

JJ watched as Barracuda and Luke walked off, their voices fading.

The night passed in thick, suffocating heat. The air barely moved, heavy with sweat and the lingering scent of gasoline. JJ lay stiff on the rickety cot, staring at the ceiling, listening to the steady rhythm of Luke and Barracuda’s snores filling the cramped space. Every creak of the old bed beneath him made him feel like it could collapse at any second, but that was the least of his concerns.

Sleep never really came just fragments of uneasy rest, his mind too wired, too tense to let go. Every time he shut his eyes, his thoughts spiraled.

At some point, exhaustion must have won out because the next thing he knew, a sharp slap against his feet jolted him awake.

“Get up,” Luke’s voice cut through the haze. “We got shit to do.”

JJ groaned, rubbing his eyes, the too-bright light stinging. He sat up slowly, muscles aching from the shitty excuse for a bed. Luke was already moving, stretching like he’d actually gotten a full night’s rest, while Barracuda was by the counter, rummaging through a half-empty grocery bag.

“Breakfast,” Barracuda muttered, tossing an apple in JJ’s direction. JJ barely caught it, the fruit smacking against his palm.

Luke and Barracuda chewed slowly on a piece of bread, neither in a rush, their movements lazy and unbothered. It wasn’t much of a meal, but they didn’t seem to care. Crumbs scattered onto the table as Luke tore off another bite, while Barracuda leaned back in his chair, eating like he had all the time in the world.

JJ took a bite of the apple, chewing slowly, staring at the cracks in the concrete floor while Luke talked.

“Well, prices aren’t great, but I figure once we move this next batch, we’re sitting good,” Luke said through a mouthful bread. “Think we should push for more volume next time.”

JJ nodded absently, not really paying attention. Not like it mattered what he thought.

Barracuda’s phone rang, the sharp sound cutting through the low hum of the morning. Without a word, he stood up and walked a few steps away, answering with a gruff, “Yeah?”

Luke kept talking, mostly to himself, about shipments and who owed what. JJ just nodded when expected, eating his apple in silence.

Then Barracuda came back. His expression was unreadable, but there was something satisfied in his stance as he held up his phone.

“One of my guys found her.”

JJ’s stomach twisted.

Barracuda turned the screen toward Luke, showing a grainy photo taken from a distance. It wasn’t perfect, but the face was unmistakable.

Luke grinned, smug and satisfied. “That’s her.”

JJ leaned forward instinctively, his breath catching in his throat. He hadn’t seen her in years. Part of him didn’t even know what she’d look like anymore. But before he could get a real look, Barracuda turned the phone back toward himself.

“I’m setting up a buy,” he said. “A guy saw her taking H and smoking what he thinks was weed. So we make her a deal, send her to us, and then you can have your lovely reunion.”

Luke laughed. “Sounds like a plan.” He took another bite of his food, completely at ease, like this was just another business transaction.

JJ swallowed hard, staring at the table.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. JJ barely tasted the apple as he finished it, his stomach twisted too tight to hold anything down properly. Luke and Barracuda talked business, running through numbers and contacts like it was just another day at work. But JJ’s mind was elsewhere, stuck on the fact that after all these years, he was about to see her again.

Nicole.

His mother.

And she had no idea what was coming.

Barracuda made a few more calls, speaking in clipped, low tones that JJ couldn’t make out. Luke lounged back in his chair, arms stretched behind his head, looking far too pleased with himself.

“She’s on her way” Barracuda finally said, sliding his phone into his pocket. “I told my guy to make the offer. Just a little meet-up, some good shit for cheap. She’ll come.”

Luke chuckled. “Yeah, she always did love a good deal.”

JJ’s jaw clenched. He said nothing.

Barracuda leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly. “Alright, Luke, we need to talk specifics. Some things don’t concern the kid.”

JJ didn’t react, but his stomach twisted at the words. He wasn’t stupid, he knew the kind of business they handled. He’d been around long enough to hear all about shipments, routes, and bribes. Hell, he’d helped move product more times than he cared to count. But now, suddenly, he wasn’t allowed to listen in? Not that JJ really cared about the hideouts or the logistics of it all, but being deliberately excluded still stung. It was just another reminder that he was here to follow orders, nothing more.

Luke’s gaze flicked over to JJ. “What, are you deaf? Get out of here”

JJ’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue. There was no point. With a slow exhale, he stood, pushing his chair back. He snatched his lighter from the table, stuffing it into his pocket as he headed for the door.

Outside, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the landscape. The air was cooler now as JJ walked a few steps, then dropped onto a large rock just a little ways from the building.

From here, he could still hear the faint murmur of their voices inside, but not enough to make out the words. Whatever they were discussing, they didn’t want him involved.

JJ flicked his lighter open and shut, the small click filling the silence.

JJ sat outside the warehouse, his hoodie pulled over his head, bouncing his knee anxiously as he listened to the low murmur of voices inside for what felt like hours. His fingers fidgeted with the frayed hem of his sleeve as he kept his eyes on Luke and Barracuda inside, watching the way they talked in low, serious tones.

He couldn’t make out their words but their body language told him enough. Luke was leaning forward, speaking fast, his expression tight with something between amusement and calculation. Barracuda, on the other hand, was calm, nodding slowly as he listened, occasionally glancing toward the door as if making sure JJ was still out of earshot.

As JJ stared blankly at the ground, trying to shut out the noise in his head, he heard footsteps approaching. A soft click of heels against concrete, followed by the unmistakable sound of a woman’s voice.

"Hey, I’m looking for..."

JJ’s heart stopped. He knew that voice.

He turned his head slowly, dread flooding through him as the woman came into view. She was tall, with blond hair, and as she drew closer, JJ saw the familiar features that made his breath catch in his throat. She looked almost exactly the same as he remembered, maybe in her mid-40s now. His mother.

But one thing was certain she didn’t recognize him.

“Well, aren’t you a handsome man?” she said, a flirtatious smile curving her lips. JJ froze, his stomach dropping. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He wasn’t prepared for this, this woman, so different from the one he remembered.

“You have a name?” she asked, leaning closer, giving him a once-over as if he were just another guy she was meeting for the first time.

JJ’s skin crawled. His gut twisted painfully, and he could feel the bile rising in his throat. Was she trying to flirt with him? His mother? He could barely comprehend the words forming in his head.

“What…” he started hesitantly, unsure of what to say.

Before he could get another word out, JJ caught movement from the corner of his eye. Luke. His father was hiding behind the door to the warehouse, still on the inside, so only JJ, from his angle, could see him. Barracuda was crouched down beside him, them both barely able to stifle their laughter. Luke motioned with his hand, a subtle signal for JJ to play along, to keep the act going.

JJ felt sick. He didn’t want to, but he knew there was no way out.

“JJ,” he said quickly, forcing the name past his lips. His mother didn’t know about that nickname, she always called him Jackson or Jay when she was around.

Nicole’s eyes flickered for a moment, and JJ could almost feel her curiosity spark. “Well, well. JJ, a pretty name for a pretty boy” She smirked. “I’m Nicole.”

JJ’s stomach twisted painfully. The name hit him like a punch. It was her, alright. This was his mother. And she was looking at him in a way that made him feel like he needed a shower.

Nicole smiled wider, sliding down onto the rock beside him. “I’m kind of in a hurry, but I’d love to see you again, JJ. How about we trade phone numbers? I’ve got a place in the city. Would love for you to come by sometime.”

JJ’s breath caught. This couldn't be real. This wasn’t his mother, the woman who’d left him behind, the woman who’d never cared enough to stay.

He felt sick to his core.

Nicole handed him her phone, and without thinking, he entered his number, his burner phone that Barracuda had gotten him, the one that couldn’t be traced. He gave it back to her quickly, but as he did, her hand brushed his.

"I'll give you a call," she said, her voice low and sultry.

JJ recoiled inside, but he didn’t say anything. He just nodded, hoping to get away from her.

Nicole stood up, brushing herself off, a final smile on her lips. “Hey, you wouldn't know a Mike around here?” she asked casually.

"Nah, sorry," JJ muttered, shaking his head.

She nodded, seemingly satisfied, and turned away, walking off without another word.

As soon as she disappeared, Barracuda and Luke came out from their hiding spots, their laughter booming across the warehouse.

“That whore…” Luke gasped between fits of laughter. “She’s on a new level the worst mother of the year.”

Barracuda was doubled over, nearly unable to breathe from laughing so hard. “Enjoying the younger ones I see. We need to play on this, Luke.”

JJ’s skin crawled at the sound of their voices. They were treating this like a joke, like it was some sick game.

“Can't we just tell her?” JJ muttered, his voice shaky with disgust. “You’ll see her reaction. You get a good laugh, and we can go.”

Luke’s smile dropped instantly. His tone turned sharp. “Nah, we’re gonna get her for this. This is revenge time.”

Barracuda grinned even wider. “If we’re not careful, she might want to fuck him within the second date,” he chuckled.

JJ’s face paled. “I ain’t doing that. This is sick.”

Luke’s face darkened, and he grabbed JJ by the collar, pulling him closer. “Oh, you will do it, alright,” he snarled. “No perverted shit, but you’ll meet her again. Ask her about her family. Get every detail. Every fucking penny from her.”

JJ’s stomach churned. He felt like his insides were being ripped apart.

“C’mon, a little quality time with your mother, isn’t that what you always wanted?” Luke mocked, his voice dripping with cruelty.

JJ looked at the ground, muttering under his breath. “Not like this.”

Chapter Text

Barely morning and JJ still couldn’t catch a break as his phone buzzed with a message. He glanced down and knew who it was before even reading it, Nicole.

"I want to meet the most handsome boy in South America. How about the viewpoint? There’s a little park bench looking down over the city. See you there!"

JJ stared at the screen for a moment

He didn’t even notice Luke step up behind him until the shadow fell over his screen.

“What’s that?” Luke asked, his voice low and smooth like a blade being drawn.

JJ tried to lock the phone, but Luke snatched it before he could.

“Well, look at that,” Luke said, eyes scanning the message. “She’s quite forward, isn’t she?”

Barracuda chuckled from the kitchen table, where he was picking his teeth with a toothpick and sipping warm beer. “What, she texted again?” he asked, amusement thick in his voice. “She’s really into you then. That’s for sure.”

JJ stood up, fists clenched, but Luke shoved him back down with a single hand to the chest.

“Don’t start pouting now, boy,” he snapped. “You already opened this door. Now you’re walking through it.”

JJ glared up at him. “I don’t want to walk through the damn door”

Luke crouched to eye level, all trace of mockery gone. “You think I care what you want? You’re doing this. She’s finally talking, finally reaching out and she wants you. That’s leverage.”

Barracuda stood up now, cracking his knuckles. “We wire you up. You meet her again. Make her talk. See what spills. And if she starts rubbing your leg again...” He smirked, “play along.”

JJ flinched. “She’s my mother.”

Luke grabbed him by the jaw, fingers digging in hard enough to leave marks. His face was close now, breath hot and bitter.

“Like I give a shit,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m not asking you to screw her just get the damn info. How you do that?” He leaned in closer, voice dropping colder. “That’s on you. As long as it gets done.”

JJ yanked his face free, trembling with rage, but didn’t speak.

Barracuda came over, pulled a tiny mic from his coat pocket, and held it out like a gift. “Put this under your collar. We’ll be listening from here.”

Luke added, “Ask about her past. About her family. See if she has some money stashed somewhere.”

JJ stayed quiet, breathing heavy.

“You hear me?” Luke barked.

JJ nodded stiffly. “yes”

“Good,” Luke said. “Text her back. Fifteen minutes. Go clean yourself up, try to look like someone worth seducing.”

JJ’s stomach turned again. Everything inside him screamed no, but it didn’t matter. There was no way out.

He stood, slow and wooden, and walked to the filthy sink to splash water on his face. Behind him, the two men watched like trainers preparing their prizefighter.

The message sent. The wire hidden.

And JJ, a son playing the role of a stranger, headed out to meet the woman who birthed him and forgot him.

By the time JJ reached the crumbling viewpoint bench, dusk was bleeding across the sky. The city below flickered to life, one light at a time, but the view didn’t matter. Not to him. His hoodie was pulled low over his forehead, shadowing his face, his hands jammed in his pockets. Every step toward her felt like stepping off a ledge.

Nicole was already sitting, legs crossed, a cigarette burning between her fingers. She looked up as he approached, lips painted bright red like a warning sign.

“There you are,” she said with a smile that was far too warm. “Come here, handsome.”

She stood, arms wide like they were old lovers reunited.

JJ froze, breath caught in his throat. His heartbeat so hard it hurt. He stepped in and gave her a stiff, one-armed hug. He had dreamed of hugging his mother for so long, yet now, it just felt off.

It should’ve been comforting but this was anything but.

They sat. Silence hung for a beat too long before Nicole broke it.

“You’re not from around here, huh?” she asked, leaning in slightly, eyes scanning his face like she was trying to memorize it.

JJ didn’t meet her gaze. “Nah. Just here for a bit. Vacation.”

“Mmm,” she hummed, taking a drag of her cigarette. “Well, this city has its charms. Especially when you know where to look.” She gave him a sidelong glance, voice dipping into something sultry.

JJ swallowed hard.

“How long you in town?” she pressed.

“One week” JJ said, taking a guess. He didn’t know how long Luke would make him stay, but one week sounded reasonable enough.

Her grin widened. “Oh, that’s more than enough time. I’ve got some places I could show you. Things I could... teach you.”

JJ forced out a chuckle, his hands clenched tight in his hoodie pocket. He couldn’t help but imagine Luke and Barracuda listening to the whole thing, probably laughing their asses off.

He changed the subject fast. “Where you from originally then?”

“Me?” She blew smoke out into the air. “States. Outer Banks. Small island, big mistakes.”

“Why’d you leave?” JJ pushed, his tone sharp, eager to get to the point so he could get the hell out of there.

Nicole tilted her head. “Chased the wrong guy for too long. Got tired of that jerk. I was actually planning on leaving for years, there wasn’t much keeping me there but with no money I couldn't. But then I met a guy from Yucatán and he bought me a plane ticket so I got the hell out of there”

JJ stared out over the city, his jaw tight with anger. It pissed him off that she acted like there was nothing keeping her in OBX, but he forced himself to push forward. “You were with that obx guy long?”

“Too long.” She laughed bitterly. “Six, seven years? Waste of time. Should’ve left sooner. Could’ve saved myself a lot of trouble.”

JJ turned toward her, careful with his words. “Did you ever, like… have kids with him?”

The question hit the air like a gunshot.

Nicole looked at him for a moment. Then she laughed. “God, no. Thank Christ I didn’t. Can you imagine?” She flicked ash off her cigarette. “Kids are leeches. You give up everything and for what? Screaming and crying and wiping asses for eighteen years? I don’t think so.”

JJ stared at her, something inside him going cold.

She kept talking, unaware of the wreckage she was leaving behind. “I like my body just fine the way it is. Why ruin it with some brat? Besides, I’ve always been more into pleasure than parenting.”

JJ wanted to throw up. He wanted to scream. But instead, he nodded like it didn’t matter.

“You got a place here?” he asked, just to keep the conversation moving.

Nicole leaned in, smile returning. “A little condo. The neighbors never complained before. You want to head over there?”

JJ could feel his insides churn. “Eh...I’d love to, but I’ve got a place to be. Maybe some other time,” he said, standing up, eager to get out of there.

“But we’ve talked for like 10 minutes! Don’t you want to hang out some more?” Nicole asked, her tone almost pouty.

“Yeah, but, you know, I’ve got a week. Plenty of time. I just thought I could meet you for a little while before work,” JJ said quickly, his voice growing more hurried.

“You’d do that for me?” she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice. “You’re risking being late just to talk to me? I’m honored.” She paused, then gave him a soft smile. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small folded note. “Here. My address. Just in case.”

JJ took it with numb fingers. “Alright,” he muttered, already turning.

“Bye, pretty boy,” she called after him. “Come back soon.”

He didn’t look back. Didn’t stop walking. Not until he was deep in the dark, the park behind him, the city swallowing him whole.

His stomach twisted like he’d swallowed glass. His chest felt hollow.

She had looked him in the eye and denied he ever existed.

JJ stepped through the rusted door of the garage, the city lights still flickering behind him. The air inside felt thicker than usual, hot with engine fumes, stale sweat, and the sour smell of something long dead. His hoodie clung to his back with sweat, and his hands trembled inside the pockets.

Luke was the first to spot him, lounging on the edge of the grimy kitchen table, a cigarette burning between two fingers. The moment JJ crossed the threshold, Luke let out a sharp, cutting laugh that echoed through the cinderblock walls like a slap.

“Well, well,” Luke drawled, exhaling smoke. “How does it feel to be disowned by your own mama?”

JJ didn’t answer at first. He kept walking, slow and stiff, like every step was a weight he had to drag.

Luke stood now, his grin widening, teeth showing like a wolf’s. “She said you didn’t even exist. That’s gotta sting. You must’ve made quite an impression, golden boy.”

JJ stopped, his voice quiet, but laced with venom. “She didn’t say so nice things about you either”

Luke snorted, stepping closer until they were almost nose to nose. “Yeah, but at least she remembered me. You? You were nothing but a little inconvenience she left behind like a dirty tissue.”

JJ’s fists curled inside his sleeves, but he didn’t move.

That’s when Barracuda spoke from behind the cluttered workbench, his voice a low, lazy drawl. “You bailed too early, kid. She invited you to her apartment, right? You could’ve stolen all kinds of shit”

JJ looked away, jaw tight. “At least I got her address.”

Barracuda raised an eyebrow. “Oh, look at you. Overachiever.” He walked over, wiping his hands with an oily rag. “Let’s see it.”

Before JJ could react, Luke yanked the crumpled note from his hand.

“Well, looks like we’ll be paying her a visit” Luke read it with an exaggerated smirk. “Maybe we drop by for a little chat. See what kind of treasures she’s hiding in that fancy little condo.”

JJ’s chest tightened. “What if she’s there?”

Barracuda chuckled darkly and leaned in, his breath hot and sour. “Then you distract her. I think she have some things in mind if you run out of ideas”

JJ flinched, his face pale. “Jesus…”

“Shut your mouth and do what your told,” Luke muttered, already moving toward the old van parked near the back.

JJ stood frozen. His skin crawled. The bile rose in his throat, but he forced it down.

Barracuda slapped him hard on the shoulder, enough to knock him off balance. He smirked, enjoying the discomfort.

"Cheer up, kid," he said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "You get to see what she’s been up to all this time, where she’s been hiding while you were busy nursing a black eye. Hell, you gotta want some justice too, right?"

JJ didn’t speak. Didn’t look up. He just followed, hollowed out and silent, one foot dragging behind the other.

The van rolled slow through the narrow street, headlights off, engine low.

Luke drove without speaking, his jaw tight, cigarette burning between his fingers. Barracuda sat in the passenger seat, checking a hand-drawn map against the passing buildings.

“Thirty-eight… forty…” he muttered. “There. That’s the one.”

Luke eased the van to a crawl. They didn’t stop in front. Instead, they turned into the alley just past the building and killed the lights. No one spoke.

JJ followed without a word as they got out. The air was thick and warm, the hum of distant music and dogs barking echoing from blocks away. Luke and Barracuda moved with purpose, JJ just kept close.

The building was squat and crumbling, stucco peeling from its sides, rust climbing the edges of the barred windows. Second floor unit. Single light on inside.

“She’s out,” Barracuda said, already moving. “We’ve got time.”

They crossed the street quick and silent. Barracuda pulled a compact tool from his jacket, a flat wedge with a twisted rod and tension wrench. He dropped to one knee at the door, eyes flicking to the deadbolt.

Luke watched the street, hand in his coat pocket.

JJ stood back.

It took less than thirty seconds.

The lock gave with a soft click and the door cracked open.

They slipped inside.

The apartment was silent. Dim lamplight spilled across a cluttered living room. Cigarette butts overflowed from an ashtray on the kitchen counter. A bra hung from the back of a chair. And bottles littered the table

Barracuda moved first, already at the cabinets, pulling them open and sliding his fingers under shelves like he knew exactly what to look for.

Luke headed down the short hallway, vanishing into the bedroom without a word.

JJ stepped in last. His eyes passing over the room, past the empty wine bottles, the faint perfume lingering in the air, the broken blinds half-drawn over the windows.

He drifted toward the shelf beside the TV. Dozens of photos in cracked plastic frames. Faces smiling. Drinks in hand. Nicole laughing in low-cut tops with strangers. Leaning against different men. Neon bars in the background. Sand. Beaches. Cities he didn’t recognize.

Not one picture of him. Not even as a baby.

He turned away from the shelf.

“Hey,” Luke called from the bedroom.

JJ and Barracuda followed the voice.

The room was a mess, bed stripped halfway, closet doors open, clothes scattered. Luke was crouched near the wall, peeling back a loose corner of carpet. A plank had already been pried up.

He pointed.

Inside the floor, flush with the concrete, sat a small black safe. Matte finish. Rotary dial. Key slot.

“Well, well,” Barracuda said, kneeling beside it. He ran a finger across the surface, checking for dust. “She’s been using it.”

JJ knelt beside him, staring at the dial.

“Code?” Luke asked, standing over them.

JJ shook his head. “Didn’t say anything.”

Barracuda tried the handle anyway locked tight. He tapped it with his knuckle, then stood. “No dice. Could crack it, but not tonight. Not without the tools.”

“We taking it?” JJ asked.

“Bolted in. We’re not dragging concrete out of here,” Luke snapped. “She’s got something in there. Something she doesn’t want seen.”

“We come back,” Barracuda said. “Or we get her to open it for us.”

Before JJ could even begin to speak, the sharp click of heels echoed from the hallway.

Nicole was home.

It was like the sound cracked through the air. In an instant, the room changed. Barracuda and Luke didn’t need to be told what to do. They moved like ghosts, Barracuda slipping behind the thick curtains by the window, Luke dropping low behind the bed, every movement silent, practiced.

JJ stood in the center of the hallway like he’d just been struck by lightning. His limbs refused to move, as if they were anchored to the floor. His breath caught in his chest, heart pounding like a war drum in his ears.

The front door creaked open with a long, hollow groan.

Keys jingled. A soft thud as a purse hit the counter.

Then her voice. “Hello?”

JJ didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

Nicole stepped inside, pushing the door closed behind her. She wore a fitted black coat, eyes scanning the room with casual curiosity until they landed on him.

Her footsteps slowed.

“JJ?” she said, surprise threading through her voice like a wire pulled tight. Her brows pinched in mild confusion, but there was a softness to her smile, like she was trying to place a face she hadn’t seen in years.

JJ swallowed hard. His pulse was a roaring in his ears.

She tilted her head. “What are you doing here?”

He blinked rapidly, trying to find the words, trying to sound casual. Like this was normal. Like he hadn’t just helped stage a break-in of his mother’s apartment.

“I... I thought I’d surprise you,” he said. His voice sounded thinner than he wanted, unconvincing. “Door was open, so I figured you were home. I’ve only been here a minute.”

Nicole looked at him for a moment longer, then breezed past him without another word. Like it wasn’t strange. Like he hadn’t appeared out of nowhere after more than a decade.

But something in the air felt...off. Heavy.

She set her keys down, shrugged off her coat, then turned back to face him. Her gaze dragged across him slowly. Her smile was still there but it had changed. Sharpened. Too warm.

JJ felt it before he understood it.

Nicole stepped closer, her movements slow, deliberate. Something in her eyes glinted. She reached out, gently cradled his face in both hands...and kissed him.

It happened so fast, but in his mind it unfolded in slow motion.

Her lips pressed against his like a memory he didn’t want. His entire body froze. He couldn’t move. Couldn’t think.

He tried to pull away, but her grip tightened. Her touch was firm, almost possessive.

She pulled back just enough to whisper, her breath warm against his cheek.

“I’m so hot right now,” she said, breathless, letting her coat fall from her hands onto the floor with a whisper of fabric.

She stepped closer, the heat of her body nearly brushing his. JJ stumbled backward until his spine hit the wall.

“Stop,” he whispered, barely audible, barely believing this was real. “Please.”

But Nicole didn’t stop. Her eyes darkened with something hungry. Her smile turned twisted, excited.

“Oh, that’s so hot,” she murmured, her voice low and sultry. “You pretending you don’t want it.”

She leaned in again, her lips aiming for his.

“No, I mean it. Get off!” JJ shouted, shoving her with all the strength his body could muster. But his limbs still felt sluggish, his breath shallow.

Nicole didn’t back down. If anything, it seemed to thrill her.

“Mmhm. Come here,” she purred, dragging her nails down his arm, like she thought this was some kind of foreplay.

JJ’s throat closed. Panic swelled.

“No, Mom. Stop,” he choked out. The words came broken, like glass in his mouth.

She froze.

Her whole body went rigid.

JJ reached up with shaking hands and yanked the hoodie off his head, exposing his face and blond hair fully in the dim apartment light.

Nicole stared.

For a second, it was like time folded in on itself. Her lips parted. Her eyes widened, flicking from his face to the rest of him, piecing together the truth in real time.

“What the...?” she gasped, barely able to form words.

And then a slow, mocking clap came from behind the bed.

Luke stood up, grinning like a wolf.

“God damn,” he said, voice dripping with amusement. “Trying to bang your own son? That’s a new low, even for you.”

Nicole stumbled back a step, pale and shaking. “L-Luke?”

“Yeah. It’s me,” he said, walking forward casually, like he owned the room. “And that’s Jackson. Your son. The one you forgot you had.”

JJ’s breath hitched. The shame rolled over him in waves, but the words had been said. The mask was off. The truth was out.

Nicole just stood there, rooted in place, her expression unraveling second by second. Her mouth opened, then closed, like she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. There was confusion there. Fear. And something else, an awful glimmer of realization.

Nicole’s eyes snapped from Luke to JJ and back again, her whole body visibly trembling now. Her face had drained of all color, and her mouth hung open, caught somewhere between a scream and a sob. She looked like someone trying to wake from a nightmare, but every time she blinked, it was still there, three shadows from a past she thought she buried, now standing in her apartment under unforgiving light.

The silence stretched, unbearable.

“You… you shouldn’t be here,” she finally said, her voice faint, barely a whisper. She took a half-step back, bumping into the counter behind her, as if putting even a few inches between herself and them might change something. “What do you want from me?” she asked with a shaky voice.

Luke let out a dry laugh, arms folded. “What do we want?” He looked around like he was admiring the décor. “Oh, nothing much. Just collecting some back pay, y’know, for that whole ‘abandoning your kid’ thing. Leaving me to pay for all the shit he pulled” He gave her a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “And I gotta say, your little welcome-home kiss? Worth the trip.”

Nicole flinched, her eyes flicking toward JJ. Her lips parted again, but no apology came. No denial either.

Barracuda stepped out of the shadows with quiet menace, his boots thudding softly against the floor as he approached. “We already know about the safe in the closet” he said calmly, like he was discussing the weather. “And don’t bother telling us it’s empty. We’re not stupid.” He tilted his head. “But we’re thinking there’s more. Little stashes tucked away. Emergency cash. Jewelry. Maybe a bank card you don’t want us to see.”

Nicole’s fingers curled into the hem of her shirt, fists trembling. Her eyes darted toward the back of the apartment toward the bedroom then back again.

“There’s nothing else,” she said quickly, but the quiver in her voice betrayed her.

Luke cocked his head. “Yeah? Then give us the code. Safe doesn’t open without it.”

Nicole hesitated. You could see the war on her face, lie or tell the truth, stall or comply. Eventually, her shoulders slumped. She looked exhausted, like whatever fight she had left had just bled out onto the floor.

“It’s... 0-9-1-7,” she muttered. “September 17. My birthday.”

Luke’s brows lifted. “Cute. Little narcissistic, but cute.”

Barracuda didn’t wait. He slipped past her and into the bedroom without another word.

Nicole stayed rooted to the spot, the tension in her body visible in every line of her frame. She looked up at JJ again, his face pale, still frozen near the wall. Their eyes locked. He wanted to say something, but the weight of everything made it hard to even breathe.

Her gaze sharpened.

“You just let them do this?” she hissed, voice trembling under a layer of disbelief that sounded more like betrayal. “After everything?”

JJ didn’t answer right away. He stood in the same spot with his hands in his pockets. He could feel the words trying to claw their way out of her, but he’d seen this kind of anger before. With Luke, it always came just before the fists. With Nicole, it came like poison slow, venomous, dressed as pain.

“I didn’t plan this,” he said evenly. “Dad pulled me into it.”

Nicole sneered. “So what? You just go along with whatever that bastard tells you to do?”

He almost laughed at that. The irony.

“I guess I got used to it.”

His voice was quiet. Flat.

It wasn’t a defense. Just a fact.

Nicole turned away, pacing a few feet before rounding back to him. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “You could’ve warned me. Told me who you were. Instead, you stood there watched me make a damn fool of myself.”

JJ tilted his head slightly, looking at her without blinking. She wanted to talk about being made a fool? Really?

“You lied too” he said. “You looked me in the eye and said you didn’t have a kid.”

That landed. He saw it in the way her jaw tightened, the flicker of something behind her eyes. But instead of shame, it twisted into something cruel.

“I said that because you don’t exist. Not to me. You’re not some long-lost son I’ve been dreaming about. You’re not anything.” she muttered

JJ didn’t flinch. He'd expected that. Maybe not the exact words, but the sentiment? Yeah. It fit. People showed who they really were when they were cornered.

“You were a mistake,” she continued, her voice cracking now with a venomous edge. “I tried to end it. When I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t want it. I didn’t want you. And your father? He didn’t care. He said we’d make it work. Said he’d raise you. And I told him he could have you if he wanted. Because I didn’t.”

JJ stared at her, silent. The words sank in, but they didn’t sting like she hoped. Maybe they would’ve, years ago. But now? They just confirmed what he already suspected. She’d left because she wanted out. Because she’d never wanted in to begin with.

He thought about the nights growing up, laying awake in a roach-bitten room with Luke passed out drunk in the next one. He used to imagine her coming back. Not every night. But enough. Maybe she'd knock on the door one day. Maybe she'd apologize.

But that version of her had never existed. It had always been a lie he told himself to get through.

“You were nothing but a weight,” Nicole spat. “A permanent scar I was trying to cover up. I spent years clawing my way out of that life, out of that version of me. And now you’re standing here like some ghost I didn’t bury deep enough.”

JJ didn’t speak. He just stared at her like he was watching a storm burn itself out.

This wasn’t a surprise. Not really. She was just confirming what life had already taught him. People like her, like Luke they didn’t apologize. They didn’t change. They survived by blaming the things they broke.

“I never wanted this,” she whispered, softer now, almost to herself. “I never wanted you.”

JJ exhaled slowly. No anger in it. Just release.

“Well,” he said, “that makes two of you. ’Cause Dad sure as hell don’t want me either.”

Nicole blinked, her mouth parting slightly but whatever words she was about to say never made it out.

Luke and Barracuda came out from the back, faces twisted with irritation. Luke tossed a bundle of cash onto the kitchen table with a thud. It wasn’t much maybe a few hundred in small bills, and judging by his expression, it wasn’t nearly what they were hoping for.

Barracuda sneered, arms crossed. “What’s this? Grocery money?”

Luke’s lip curled as he pulled a pistol from the waistband of his jeans, holding it lazily at his side. Not aiming. Not yet. Just letting it speak for him without words.

“Where’s the rest?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Nicole tensed, eyes fixed on the gun now dangling from Luke’s hand. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came. She looked like she might run, might scream—but instead, she stood frozen, silent.

Luke’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t make me ask again.”

When she didn’t answer, he stepped forward just one quick, cruel stride and raised his hand. The back of the pistol cracked against her cheek in a flash of motion, a sharp sound echoing through the apartment like a gunshot itself.

Nicole dropped with a stifled cry, clutching her face, blood already seeping between her fingers.

And in that moment, something in JJ cracked too. Not with rage. Not with some righteous fury. It was the feeling he got every time he heard flesh hit flesh in the next room and had to pretend it wasn’t real. The feeling of watching someone crumple and no one doing a damn thing. The same sick twist in his gut that came when he looked in the mirror and saw a bruise forming under his eye and knew he’d be the one blamed for it.

Nicole had done nothing for him. Not once. But right now, seeing her like that, seeing Luke do to her what he'd done to him. JJ had to do something.

He stepped forward slowly. No fire in his voice. No shaking fists. Just a quiet, pointed calm.

“Lay off of her” JJ said. “You got her money.”

Luke turned slowly. Looked JJ over like he was trying to decide if he’d just been insulted or amused. Then he smiled. It wasn’t a kind smile it was the kind predators give when they smell a challenge. Something mean lit up in his eyes, and he stepped forward, closing the space between them in a breath.

“Oh, that’s cute,” Luke said, then slammed JJ hard into the wall, forearm pressing against his throat, pinning him like he weighed nothing.

JJ didn’t resist. He didn’t struggle. He just gritted his teeth as his head hit the wall with a solid thud. His vision blurred, pain blossomed behind his eyes but he didn’t make a sound. Years of beatdowns taught him better.

“You stepping up for her now?” Luke hissed, eyes close enough JJ could see the burst blood vessels in them. “You don’t get to tell me what’s enough.”

JJ didn’t answer.

Didn’t look away.

The first punch landed like a freight train.

JJ’s head snapped to the side, the edge of his vision going white for a split second.

And that’s when he saw her.

Nicole.

Still on the ground.

And she was looking away.

Not crying. Not screaming. Not even watching.

Looking away.

JJ barely had time to register the cold pit that opened in his stomach before the next punch drove into his ribs. Then another and another.

And through it all she stayed quiet.

That goddamn silence.

Because it was never just the hits that made it hurt it was how easy it was for people to pretend you didn’t exist while it happened.

The only sound in the room was Luke’s breath, heavy with effort, and the dull thuds of fists on flesh.

JJ’s body reeled, but he wouldn’t go down.

Luke pulled back, taking a breath, clearly satisfied with the damage he’d done. He wiped his hand across his mouth, his eyes filled with a sick satisfaction. Then, his gaze drifted over to Nicole, who was still laying on the floor, eyes averted, her face pale and distant.

“See that?” he said, almost with amusement, voice thick with venom. “You get your head smashed in and she doesn’t even lift her gaze.” Luke spat, his voice dripping with venom. JJ’s gaze followed Luke’s to Nicole. Nicole’s lack of reaction was a brutal reminder that, to her, he didn’t matter. He was just another casualty of her own selfishness.

Luke stepped away from JJ with one last shove, knocking him back against the wall with a grunt. His boots thudded heavy against the apartment floor as he crossed the room.

Every step toward Nicole sounded final.

He stopped in front of her, crouching down to her level before opening his mouth again.

"I thought about killing you for what you did," his voice cold and calculated. "But your kid here..." Luke glanced over his shoulder at JJ with a grin that was more cruel than amused, "...gets some of my frustration out. So, you might want to thank him for your precious whore life."

Nicole’s eyes flickered for a moment, but she didn’t respond. She was frozen, her hands shaking at her sides, but she was silent, as always, resigned to whatever fate was being dealt her.

“We’re done here,” he said, clapping his hands lightly as if to shake off dust. “Enjoy this little empire of shit you’ve built.”

Nicole didn’t say a word. She just stood there, her face drained of all color, her body trembling slightly as Luke stepped back, motioning for JJ to follow him.

JJ walked toward Luke, his legs feeling like lead, the sting on his face still raw. As they headed for the door, he couldn’t help but glance back one last time. The woman he was meant to call mother still lay on the floor, tears in her eyes, a bruise blooming across her cheek. JJ stared for a second, hollow and uncertain, with no idea what to do with the mess twisting inside him.

Chapter Text

As Luke, Barracuda, and JJ walked away from Nicole’s apartment, the tension in JJ’s chest tightened like a vice. Luke and Barracuda, however, were in high spirits, grinning like they had just pulled off the perfect heist.

“Did you see her face?” Luke laughed, shaking his head in amusement. “Priceless.”

Barracuda smirked, nudging JJ. “She really forced that kiss on you, didn’t she?” he teased. “Man, that was brutal.”

JJ barely registered their words. The world around him felt distant, muffled. He didn’t remember walking through the garage door, didn’t remember lying down on the crinkly bed. His heart pounded, his thoughts tangled in a mess he couldn’t untangle. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He had spent years imagining what it would be like to find his mother again, to finally have answers, maybe even some kind of closure. But the woman he had found wasn’t the mother he had held onto in his memories. She wasn’t kind. She wasn’t warm. She wasn’t even indifferent, she was cruel. And yet, despite everything he still had this gnawing urge to talk to her. To understand why.

He pulled out his phone and typed out a quick message, his fingers slightly trembling.

JJ: Can we talk? Just you and me.

He stared at the screen, waiting, hoping, but no reply came. He swallowed hard, feeling a lump in his throat. He needed to hear her voice, needed to know if there was even a sliver of regret beneath all that coldness. So he stepped away from Luke and Barracuda, letting their laughter fade into the background, and called her.

The phone rang. Once. Twice. Then a click.

"It's Nicole," she answered, her voice flat.

JJ hesitated for a second, his breath caught in his throat. “Hey, Mom, it's me. I just wanted...”

But before he could even finish, her voice cut through the line, sharp and unwavering.

"Stay the fuck away from me," she spat.

Then the line went dead.

JJ stood there, staring at his phone, the empty silence pressing in on him. A part of him had expected it, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he slowly lowered the phone.

Behind him, Luke and Barracuda were still laughing, celebrating their so-called victory. But for JJ, there was nothing to celebrate. Nothing at all.

He worked with Luke and Barracuda for a while, running cargo hides and doing what was expected of him, but his mind never let him rest. Every job, every stolen dollar, every reckless laugh from Luke, it all felt hollow.

The next morning, before the others even stirred, JJ slipped out unnoticed. He needed to see her. To talk to her. He didn’t know what he was hoping for, maybe an explanation, maybe even the tiniest bit of closure but he couldn’t let it go.

He made his way back to her apartment, heart pounding in his chest as he stepped inside the building. The hallways smelled like stale air and cleaning chemicals, the kind of place that felt temporary, like no one really made a home here.

As he reached her door, he hesitated. What if she slammed it in his face? What if she wasn’t even home? He glanced around, unsure, when he noticed a woman stepping out of a nearby apartment.

“Hey,” JJ called out, stepping toward her. “Do you know if Nicole is here?”

The woman, mid-70s maybe, gave him a curious look before nodding. “Yes, she lives here, but she’s working right now. Seven-Eleven down the corner. She’s usually there during the day.”

JJ felt his stomach twist. She worked at a gas station? He hadn’t expected that. But none of it mattered he had a location now.

“Thanks,” he muttered, already turning away.

He moved quickly, his body on autopilot as he made his way to the store. He had no idea what he was going to say to her. All he knew was that he needed to see her.

JJ’s feet moved before his mind could catch up, his heart pounding harder with every step. The city was already alive with the morning rush, cars honking, people moving past him in a blur but he didn’t hear any of it. All he could focus on was the sick feeling in his stomach, the nervous energy buzzing through his veins.

The Seven-Eleven came into view, a small, rundown convenience store on the corner of the street. The glass doors slid open as he stepped inside, the scent of stale coffee and cheap air fresheners hitting him instantly.

His eyes scanned the aisles until they landed on her.

Nicole stood behind the counter, talking to a customer. She looked... normal. Not like the woman he had seen the night before. No red lipstick, no carefully styled hair. Just a tired woman in a green work vest, her blonde hair tied back, eyes dull as she muttered something to the man at the register. JJ swallowed hard. For a second, he thought about turning around and walking out before she saw him. Maybe it would be easier. Maybe he didn’t need to do this.

But then Nicole looked up.

Her eyes landed on him, and for a moment, she just stared, hand frozen over the register. Her face paled slightly, lips parting in surprise then her expression hardened.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she said flatly, voice just loud enough to cut through the steady beeping of the register.

JJ stepped forward, calm but sharp.
"I just wanted to talk."

Nicole scoffed, handing the customer his change without breaking eye contact.
"There’s nothing to talk about."

The customer grabbed his bag and left, the door chiming behind him, leaving them alone.

JJ let out a slow breath.
"Mom..."

"Don’t," she snapped, leaning slightly over the counter. Her voice dropped, but the bite stayed.
"I’ve never been your mom, and I never will be. I brought you to life and all you ever did was ruin mine."

JJ clenched his jaw but didn’t back down.
"Wasn’t even me who did half of it. Dad made me, you know how he is. You saw it yesterday. Or did you look away?” he bit, voice edged with exhaustion more than hurt.

Nicole laughed bitterly, rolling her eyes.
"I don’t owe you an explanation."

JJ’s eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, you do," he said, voice low and firm.

She glanced around the store, then leaned in, eyes cold.
"I don’t owe you a damn thing, JJ. You were never supposed to happen. A mistake. I tried to fix it, but your father wouldn’t let me."

She sighed, rubbing her temple like he was a chore.
"I didn’t want to be a mom. I didn’t want that life. So I left. Simple as that."

JJ’s hands curled into fists at his sides, but his voice stayed steady.
"You left me with him though," he said through his teeth. "You knew exactly what he did, and you still left me there."

Nicole shrugged without a hint of guilt.
"Better you than me."

Then she glanced at the clock.
“You done here? I’ve got a job to do.”

JJ sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Look, I’m sorry for what happened. I never wanted it to go down like that, alright? But at the end of the day, I tried to do the right thing, I stood up for you. And that’s more than you’ve ever done for me."

Nicole shook her head and let out a dry, humorless laugh.

“You want a thank you?” she scoffed. “You think pushing Luke off me makes up for everything else? That makes you some kind of hero?”

JJ clenched his jaw, forcing the words out.
"What’s your problem? I mean, for real. I could get it if you were keeping up some act when Dad and Barracuda were around. But now? Why the hell are you still like this? Because from what I remember, you did care about me once. At least a little. So I don’t know what kind of defense mechanism you’ve got going on right now, but you seriously can’t be that hollow."

Nicole sighed, her gaze hard but not entirely devoid of weariness.
"Well, caring never ends well, does it?"
She paused, her eyes flicking away briefly before settling back on him.
"You should know that by now."
Her shoulders shrugged slightly, a quiet bitterness lingering in her voice.
"If you got nothing you got nothing to lose. That’s how you survive. That’s the way I’ve learned to get by."

JJ shook his head, his voice sharp and disbelieving.
"Well, that’s just sad."
He looked at her, his frustration evident.
"If you don’t got anything then what’s the point in living? If that were me I’d rather be dead”

For a brief second, something flickered across Nicole’s face. Regret? Guilt? But it disappeared as quickly as it came.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"Listen," she said, her voice softer now. "I'm not gonna pretend like last night didn't happen. I was drunk, I was stupid. I didn't recognize you, alright?" She looked away, her expression distant. "Not that it changes anything."

"No, I guess not," JJ replied shortly.

Nicole was about to open her mouth again but then the door banged open behind them.

Luke and Barracuda stepped into the shop like they owned it, eyes scanning the place. It only took a second before they locked onto JJ standing near the counter.

“There he is,” Luke said, his voice low and cold.

Barracuda cocked his head, his grin spreading slowly.
“You really thought you could dip out and we wouldn’t find you?”

JJ didn’t flinch.
“Didn’t realize I was on a leash.”

Luke snorted, looking around the store again, at the dusty shelves, the dull lights and then his eyes landed on Nicole. His expression soured instantly.
“You kidding me? This is where you ran off to? Her?”

Barracuda stepped forward, moving around the side of an aisle. He went to hop over the the threshold but his foot caught awkwardly. He stumbled, catching himself before he hit the ground.

JJ let out a breathy chuckle.
“Real smooth, man.” He smirked. “Graceful as ever.”

Barracuda’s smile vanished and before JJ could react, he lunged forward and locked him in a tight headlock.

“You wanna laugh now?” Barracuda hissed through clenched teeth.

Luke didn’t wait. He walked straight up to JJ and landed a punch in his gut, then another to his ribs.

“This’ll teach you to do as you're told,” he snapped, his voice hard and mean.

JJ gasped, struggling against Barracuda’s grip, but the arm around his neck was tight, too tight.

That’s when Nicole finally moved.

Her voice cut sharp and loud through the air:
“Let him go.”

Both men froze, surprised.

“What?” Luke said, turning his head.

Nicole stepped out from behind the counter, eyes locked on them now.
“I said let him go. Now.”

Nicole’s voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the store like a crack of lightning.

Luke froze mid-motion, fist still raised.

“Since when do you care?” he spat, turning his head to glare at her, genuine confusion flickering across his face.

JJ, panting and hunched in Barracuda’s grip, blinked at her just as stunned.

Nicole didn’t back down. Her eyes met Luke’s, steady. No softness, no tears, just a quiet edge.

Luke’s lip curled in a sneer. “What’s you gonna do about it?”

For a brief moment Nicole hesitated, her gaze flickering between Luke and JJ. She stepped forward, the tension in the air thick, her hand reaching out to shove Luke’s shoulder. “Get out,” she growled, trying to move him away from JJ.

Luke didn’t budge. Instead, he just stood there, eyes narrowing, before he laughed darkly.

“Easy there, tiger,” he teased, still unmoving, as though Nicole’s shove was nothing but a joke.

Barracuda joined in with a low chuckle, crossing his arms. “You’re wasting your time,” he said, shaking his head as he watched Nicole try again.

Nicole shoved at Luke’s shoulder again, harder this time, but still, he didn’t flinch. His muscles barely shifted under the pressure, and he smirked down at her, towering over her.

Nicole’s eyes flicked to JJ he wasn’t looking at her, his jaw clenched tight, still nursing the pain from the blows earlier. She took a step back, exhaling sharply, frustration building but hidden behind a thin layer of control.

JJ gritted his teeth as Barracuda’s arm tightened around his neck in the headlock. His breath came in sharp, strained gasps, but he didn’t fight it. He just hung there, trying to find a way out as Luke stepped closer.

Nicole then tried again and moved quickly to shove Luke away. “Get off of him!” she snapped, shoving at his shoulder, but Luke only smirked, shifting to block her.

With one hand, he pushed her back hard, sending her stumbling backward. She fell with a sharp thud, her back hitting the cold floor.

Luke and Barracuda both laughed.

“Would you look at that?” Barracuda chuckled, shaking his head.

Nicole stayed down for a second, her face flushed with frustration and anger. She tried to push herself to her knees but Luke was already moving past her.

He walked over to JJ, still held tight in Barracuda's grip, and without a word, tapped his cheek twice, not hard enough to really hurt, but enough to get his attention. “C’mon,” Luke sneered, his smirk back in full force. “We’ve got work to do.”

He looked over at Barracuda. “Let him go.”

JJ didn’t fight it as Barracuda released the headlock, stepping back with a low chuckle.

Nicole, now on her knees, shot to her feet again, a fire still burning in her eyes, but before she could say anything, Luke turned back toward her.

“What you never learn when to stay down?” Luke mocked, his voice still dripping with sarcasm.

Nicole’s mouth opened like she wanted to say something more but Luke just walked away, heading back toward the door.

JJ stood there, rubbing at his neck where the pressure still lingered, trying to shake the disorientation from his head. His chest tightened as he followed them out.

As they left the store, Luke walked up behind JJ, slamming his shoulder hard enough to make him stumble but not fall. “You think you can choose sides now?” Luke's voice was low but furious, his words coming out sharp and controlled. “When you finally become somewhat useful to me, you’re gonna go to that whore of a mother of yours instead of me?, I was the one who made sure you survived all this time, never forget that”

JJ’s jaw tightened as he caught himself from falling forward. His breath hitched with the unexpected shove, but he didn’t turn around. He just kept walking, determined to get to the car and away from this. But Luke’s words were still biting at him.

“I’m not choosing sides,” JJ muttered under his breath, not looking back as he reached for the car door. “I just wanted to talk to her.”

Luke followed him, his eyes burning with frustration. He stopped just a step behind JJ, almost too close. “Well, you ain’t anymore,” Luke shot back, voice thick with anger.

The words cut deep, but JJ didn’t respond. Instead, he climbed into the car without saying another word, slamming the door shut behind him. Barracuda, already behind the wheel, glanced at JJ before starting the engine.

Luke slid into the passenger seat next to him, his frustration still simmering, but he didn’t say anything else. The air in the car was thick with tension, the silence between them suffocating. As Barracuda pulled out of the parking lot, the sound of the tires humming against the asphalt filled the space, but nothing else was said.

The drive was long, the silence stretching for miles. Luke sat with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, barely even sparing a glance at JJ in the backseat. JJ, on the other hand, stared out the window, lost in his own thoughts. He could feel the tension between them, but the weight of everything that had just happened kept him silent.

They pulled into the lot behind the garage. The car hadn’t even come to a full stop before Luke shoved the door open and stepped out. JJ followed, slower, legs stiff. He didn’t look at Luke, just kept his head down, heart still pounding from the earlier fight not just from the bruises forming under his skin, but from the quiet confusion churning in his gut.

"Inside," Luke barked, holding the door open as he waited. JJ stepped through, brushing past him. He expected another shove, but Luke let him go this time.

“We got what we came for,” Luke muttered, not looking at anyone in particular. “No reason to hang around this dump much longer.”

Barracuda raised a brow. “You saying we head back tomorrow?”

Luke nodded, jerking his thumb toward JJ, who sat on the bed silent, thumbing through his cracked phone screen. “Yeah. Dragging this out just gives him more time to get soft again. We head back soon. Should stop him from crawling back to his mama too.” He smirked bitterly, flicking ash onto the motel carpet.

JJ didn’t respond. Didn’t even look up.

But his screen had just lit up with a message.

NICOLE: If you can walk past those two, meet me at the viewpoint. One last time.

JJs pulse kicked up. He didn’t know what this meant, if she was going to apologize, explain, lie again. He didn’t care. Something in her had cracked earlier, even if it only lasted a second. That flicker hadn’t left his head since.

He glanced at the clock. 10:42 AM.

Then he typed back quickly, shielding the screen with his hand:

JJ: I’ll be there tonight.

He locked his phone and leaned back, letting his face go blank. If either of them looked at him now, they’d see a boy just waiting for the day to pass.

Several hours later the garage was dark except for the dull flicker of the TV and the low rumbling snores from Barracuda. Luke had passed out in the chair, half-empty beer bottle resting on his stomach, his head tilted back in a way that made him look dead for a moment.

JJ sat on the edge of the bed, fully dressed, laces tied tight.

He waited.

Every creak of the old bed frame made his heart skip, every shift from Luke had him freezing. But eventually, the steady rhythm of their breathing told him it was safe.

Now.

JJ moved slow but sure, slipping his phone into his pocket and easing the door open inch by inch until it gave with a quiet click. The cold night air bit at his face as he stepped outside.

No one followed.

He started walking. Fast. Hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, head low, hood up.

The viewpoint sat above the city like it had been carved out just for moments like this, quiet, lonely, and hidden from everything below. The lights of the town shimmered in the distance, far enough to feel unreal.

Nicole was already there, leaning against the guardrail, a cigarette burning between her fingers, coat wrapped tight around her. When she heard his footsteps on the gravel, she turned her head but didn’t say anything right away.

JJ stopped beside her, breathing hard from the walk.

“You made it,” she said, flicking ash off the end of the cigarette.

“Wasn’t that hard,” he muttered, though they both knew it was a lie.

They stood in silence for a moment, the wind tugging gently at their clothes.

“So why’d you text me?” JJ asked finally, his voice low.

Nicole exhaled smoke, watching it drift out toward the city.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Guess I figured… if you went through all that trouble just to talk, maybe I should try listening.”

JJ shrugged, hands in his pockets, eyes forward. “I didn’t come to pour my heart out or whatever. Just figured we could stop pretending we don’t exist.”

Nicole nodded. “Alright.”

They stood in silence for a moment, wind biting around them, pulling at their jackets. Then JJ spoke again.

“I used to think you’d show up someday. That maybe you were off doing something important. Waiting for the right time. I guess that was a dumb thing to believe.”

Nicole tilted her head. “Wasn’t about timing. I just didn’t want the job.” She paused, then added, quieter, “Didn’t think I’d be good at it. And I wasn’t.”

JJ nodded once. “I’m not here looking for you to be anything.”

That seemed to sit with her for a moment. “Good. 'Cause I don’t have much left to offer.”

He looked at her, then away again.

Nicole studied his face. “You’re not like him, you know. Your dad.”

JJ smirked faintly. “No, I just live with the aftermath.”

She gave a short, humorless laugh. “Yeah...”

They stood there for another long beat.

Nicole looked at him, something unreadable flickering behind her expression. Then she sighed, pulling her coat tighter.

“If you ever come back around... don’t sneak through the back alleys. Just knock like a normal person.”

JJ gave a small, dry smile. “We’ll see.”

He turned, ready to leave.

“Jackson,” Nicole called, stopping him. He turned slightly, waiting.

“You turned out... pretty good you know,” she said, with a half-smirk.

JJ nodded, lips twitching. “Yeah. You too.”

Then he walked off into the dark, and Nicole stayed behind, lighting another cigarette.

In the morning the early dawn light was bleeding through the dusty windows of the garage. The TV was still on, muted now, casting flickers of static across the walls. JJ lay on the bed, fully dressed, shoes kicked off and hoodie pulled halfway over his face.

He hadn’t slept much.

The rustle of movement stirred him, and before he could pretend to still be asleep, Luke’s voice cut through the silence.

“Up,” Luke grunted, giving JJ’s leg a rough shake. “We’re heading out.”

JJ blinked hard, dragging the hoodie down. “What time is it?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Luke replied, already yanking open the drawers even though they hadn't unpacked. “We’re done here.”

Barracuda was already upright, cracking his neck with a groan and grabbing a half-finished energy drink off the floor. “Fun little field trip,” he muttered, voice gravelly from sleep.

JJ sat up, wiping at his eyes and spoke in a sarcastic voice. “Very, we’re finally going home now?”

Luke shot him a glare but didn’t bite. Instead, he pointed a finger at JJ. “Let’s just say I’m in a real generous mood not to ask where you disappeared to last night.”

JJ froze for a beat. Just one.

Luke smirked. “Yeah, thought so. Don’t push your luck. You’re only breathing this easy ‘cause I got what I needed outta this place.”

He shoved a bag into JJ’s arms. “Car. Now.”

JJ stood, slinging the bag over his shoulder. As he passed Barracuda, the man bumped his shoulder just hard enough to make a point.

“Sweet dreams last night?” Barracuda muttered with a grin.

JJ didn’t answer. He just walked out, the door slamming behind him as the sun cracked over the horizon.

The ride back to the Cut was quieter than JJ expected. Luke seemed half-distracted, humming along to some old classic rock song on the radio while Barracuda nursed a new bruise on his knuckle from punching the dash in frustration over some dealer flaking. JJ kept his face turned toward the window, watching the familiar trees blur past. Every mile closer to home felt like something in his chest slowly loosening.

When they finally landed on the secluded airstrip Barracuda did all his drug smuggling Luke turned to JJ with a shrug.

“Me and 'Cuda are crashing at his place,” he said casually, as if they’d just wrapped up a fishing trip. “Gonna be heading out soon. Got a run in Charleston in a few days, big one. You do whatever. Don’t need you tagging along.”

JJ looked at him, trying to read his face for any of that old bitterness or suspicion, but there was none. Just disinterest. Like JJ was a hammer that had done its job and now could go back in the shed.

“Alright” JJ muttered.

Luke waved him off. "Just get outta here. Take the damn house if you want, I don’t need it."

JJ stood there for a moment, watching his dad turn away like it all meant nothing. But he didn’t complain, hell, if this was what it took to get the house back he’d gladly do it again... or maybe not. Still, the house was theirs again. Poguelandia 2.0.

JJ slung his duffel bag over his shoulder and walked the rest of the way home. The familiar creak of the dirt under his boots, the salty breeze all of it hit him harder than expected. When he turned the final corner and his house came into view, he stopped.

There were bikes leaned up outside the porch. Laughter spilled out through the open windows.

JJ stepped up the porch slowly. Before he could knock, the door burst open.

“JJ!” Kie shouted, nearly tackling him in a hug before he could even say anything.

Sarah was right behind her, pulling him into a tight embrace. But when she pulled back, her hands flew to her mouth, covering her face in shock.
“Oh my God. Who did that to you, was...was it your dad?” she asked, reaching toward the bruises still visible on JJ’s face from the incident at Nicole’s apartment.

JJ gave a crooked, reassuring smile.
“I'm fine, Sarah. I'm here, ain’t I?”

Pope was next. He clapped JJ on the back with a tight-lipped expression, eyes scanning his injuries.
“That’s deep bruising, man. You might have a concussion.”

JJ rolled his eyes slightly but kept his smile.
“I’m fine, Pope. Just give me a welcome home hug, and we can move on.”

Before JJ could even fully catch his breath, Cleo stepped forward from the edge of the group. She hadn’t rushed in like the others. She just stood there for a second, arms crossed, eyes sharp as ever watching him.

Then she walked up slowly, chin tilted just a little.
“Took you long enough,” she said.

JJ gave her a lopsided grin. “Yeah, well… had to make an entrance.”

Cleo raised an eyebrow. Her gaze briefly swept over the bruises on his face, but unlike Sarah, she didn’t flinch.
“You look like shit.”

JJ chuckled under his breath. “Love you too.”

Before Cleo could respond, Kie jabbed a playful elbow into his side.
“Oh? Love her, huh?” she teased, smirking.

JJ threw his hands up, backing off with a grin.
“Whoa, whoa, not in that way. You know that.”

He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Kie’s cheek but when he started to pull back, Kie caught him by the collar, and before he could react, her lips were on his, warm, steady, and nothing like the chaos he’d just come from.

For a second, JJ forgot the bruises. Forgot the shouting, the fists, the cold floors, and the long nights wondering if he’d ever make it out. All he could feel was this. Her. The way her mouth moved against his, sure and certain. This is how a kiss supposed to feel like.

When they finally broke apart, the others had gone quiet, some smirking, some pretending to look away but JJ didn’t care.

He looked at Kie, a little breathless, a little dazed.
“You really gonna hit me and kiss me in the same minute?”

She smiled, eyes dancing. “You deserved both.”

JJ laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fair.”

And then John B stood in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes searching JJ’s face like he didn’t quite believe it was real.

“Hey,” John B said, suddenly unsure.

JJ looked up, and their eyes locked

John B stepped forward, scratching at the back of his neck awkwardly. “Listen, man… I was an asshole. I shouldn’t have said all those things. I’m sorry I really am.”

JJ shot him a smirk. “You weren’t wrong, exactly,” JJ started, knowing it was true. He had done a lot of what Luke asked him to do, there was no point in denying it. “Look, dude, it’s fine. We both acted like dorks, and we probably will again. But that doesn’t mean we’re any less friends, you know? We’re brothers.”

They stood there for a beat before John B cracked a grin and pulled him in for a quick, rough hug. “Still an idiot.”

JJ smirked. “Takes one to know one.”

When the laughter died down, he looked back at the house, their house.

“This whole messed-up shit at least gave us one good thing,” JJ said before announcing the news. “We get to keep the house!”

That was all it took.

Someone turned the speaker on, Kie dragged out a six-pack from the cooler, and Pope ordered pizza like it was the most important decision of his life.

By sunset, the porch was lit with string lights, music floated out onto the street, and for the first time in what felt like forever they were all there.

Together.

Home.

One week later, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden light over the Cut. The house on 14 Roger Point Road, once a place of broken dreams and hollow walls, now felt like something else entirely. The air in the living room was filled with the faint sound of Sarah and John B's laughter from the kitchen, Pope trying to explain some theory no one cared about to Cleo, and Kie’s voice teasing JJ about some dumb thing he had said earlier.

Then The doorbell rang.

JJ glanced over his shoulder, surprised. It wasn’t often someone came knocking here. He crossed the room, expecting another one of the neighborhood kids selling something or maybe a pizza delivery. But when he opened the door, his breath caught.

There, standing on the porch, was Nicole, his mother.

For a moment, neither of them moved. JJ’s heart thudded in his chest, a mix of surprise, confusion, and something he couldn’t quite place.

"Hey," he said, his voice hoarse.

Nicole didn’t say anything at first. She just stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug, holding him tight. JJ, caught off guard, stood frozen for a beat before his arms instinctively went around her.

"Is this the moment you’ve been dreaming of?" Nicole asked softly, her voice full of quiet sincerity. She pulled back slightly. "Me, returning?"

JJ blinked "Guess I never really thought it’d happen."

Nicole stepped into the house, taking in the sight of it, the place that once belonged to her, but now felt like a sanctuary for JJ and his friends. She glanced around, her smile softening. "I like what you’ve done to the place," she said, the words carrying an unexpected warmth. "Feels more homely."

JJ looked around too, as if seeing it with new eyes. They had turned this house into something that was theirs not just the place where he had been abandoned, but a home, filled with laughter, friends, and memories still being made.

"Yeah," he agreed, finally finding his voice again. "Feels like home."

Nicole nodded, her gaze settling on him. "I’ve been thinking a lot about… everything. The past. What I should have done, what I didn’t do. And I don’t expect forgiveness. I just want you to know... I’m here now."

JJ didn’t know what to say. He had imagined this moment countless times, but now that it was real, he didn’t have any grand words to offer. He simply stood there warmth filling his entire soul.

The two of them stood in silence for a moment, before Nicole turned and caught the sound of the others laughing in the kitchen.

"They’ll probably want to meet you, after all you are a pretty cool mom" JJ said, stepping aside.

Nicole hesitated, but JJ gave her a reassuring look, and she nodded, stepping over the threshold into the home she had once left behind.

As she walked into the kitchen, JJ followed her, the old tension in his chest loosening just a little bit more. For the first time in a long he had a parent again a real parent.

And in that moment, as Nicole walked into the kitchen and greeted the others, JJ realized that this was the closure he hadn’t known he needed. The broken pieces of the past were slowly starting to mend, piece by piece.

At last, everyone was gathered at the house on 14 Rogers Point Road, friends and family packed into the place like it finally had a heartbeat again. The porch lights glowed soft against the fading sky, laughter drifted through open windows, and the air buzzed with something JJ hadn’t felt in a long time: peace. He stood back for a moment, just watching it all unfold, John B tossing a beer to Pope, Kie leaning against the railing with Cleo deep in conversation, even Sarah grinning at something stupid someone said.

And then there was his mom, sitting off to the side, quieter than the rest but present in a way she hadn’t been for most of his life. Her smile wasn’t forced this time. It was small, soft, and steady. When she caught JJ looking, she gave him a little wave and patted the space beside her like she’d saved it just for him. For a second, JJ’s chest ached but in a good way. It had been a long road getting here but looking at it now, it was worth it. JJ had gotten his mother back. Not the broken, distant version he grew up with, but someone trying, healing, smiling again.

And for JJ that meant everything. After all the bruises, the running, the fights, the pain this house wasn’t just four walls and a roof anymore. It was home.

He let out a slow breath, a crooked smile pulling at his lips.

“Yeah,” he muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for anyone to hear.
“We made it.”