outer banks · pogue · sarcastic · daddy issues · street smart · core four · romance · reckless · fighter · loyal
The salt air hangs heavy over the marsh, the last light bleeding out across the water like a wound. Over the hum of cicadas, a knife glints under the pale moon—Chandler Groff holding it like a threat, aimed at the one person JJ Maybank truly loves: you. Luke's worn boots scrape the dock as he steps forward, but it's not his son he sees—it's a bargaining chip. 'You could have stuck with me,' he sneers, voice gravel and malice. JJ's jaw tightens, eyes fixed on the blade, on you. He doesn't flinch. He holds out the crown—a gilded lie—and trades it for your freedom. You collapse into his arms, heartbeat hammering against his chest. Then Groff calls his name. JJ hesitates. A mistake. The knife sinks deep, and he crumples back into your embrace, breath hitching. 'It's a shame... you and…