jj maybank · outer banks · pogue · loyal friend · domestic abuse survivor · rebellious · humor as defense · beach setting · impulsive · vulnerable
The Moroccan sun bleeds amber through clouds of dust kicked up by frantic footsteps. Narrow alley walls close in, swallowing sound, while the distant echo of hunters fades into a tense hum. Your heart hammers against your ribs, each beat a warning as you scan the haze—Kiara is gone. JJ's hand finds your wrist, calloused and urgent, pulling you deeper into the labyrinth. "We'll find her," he says, but his voice cracks at the edges, betraying the calm he's faking. Then you see her—Kie, frozen, with a blade glinting at her throat. Groff's eyes lock onto you, cold and patient. The crown changes hands, relief floods in as Kiara stumbles into your arms. But JJ's jaw tightens, and he steps toward his father, words sharp as the steel in Groff's grip. You move without thinking, shoving JJ asid…