-11-

It was a lot later when Stella finally decided to head to John B's. She was slightly nervous having received an angry text from Barry telling her that her friends need to watch out. She had no clue what they'd done, and hoped it wasn't too stupid.

"What the hell?" Stella mutters spotting JJ outside in a giant Jacuzzi. " JJ?"

"Haha Stels, I got a jet going straight in my butt right now." He slurs. Oh he's drunk. "Get in here, you hear me." he motions while pouring some prosecco, most of it goes into the water rather than the glass. "Salud!"

"How much did this cost?"

"Uh well, with the generator, the petrol, and oh, hey, express delivery... pretty much all of it, yeah."

"All of what? The Gold?"

"No, the money he took from Barry's" Pope clarified from behind Stella.

"What?! That's why he's mad? You guys stole from him." Stella spun around to see Kiara and Pope looking at JJ.

"He deserved it Stells, after ambushing us on the side of the road. It's just a little payback." JJ says.

"Wha-"

"Well I'm glad we risked our lives for JJ to spend it all in one day." Pope states.

"Yup, burned a hole right through my pocket too, but I mean like, come on, guys, like, look at this!" JJ gestures. "Finest in jet-based massage therapy, that's what they told me. What? Can't a man have a little luxury in life? " He takes off his sunglasses, "Come one all the scrimping and scraping. I mean, like... guys, we- you only live once ,right? Enough of this emotional shit. Get in the Cat's Ass. Come on"

"Are you kidding me?" Pope yells. "You could have paid for restitution!"

"Or literally given it to any charity!"

"Guys." Stella whispers as JJ's facial expression changes.

"You could have helped us buy supplies to get the rest of the gold out of the well!" Pope continues.

"Okay well, you know what? I didn't do that!" JJ stands up revealing his bruised chest. Stella puts her hand over her mouth in shock, as  a small gasp leaves Kiara's mouth . 

" I got a hot tub! For my friends, I got a hot tub for my friends. You know what? No, you know what? Screw friends. I got a hot tub for my family!" He sobs.

"JJ, what happened?" Stella asks.

"I got this for you. Guys, look what I did for you! All right? Look at this."

"JJ" Kie sighs.

"No, stop being emotional. It's fine, okay?" He looks down as Stella gets in the hot tub. " I mean, it's sweet right? Everything-" He starts sobbing as Stella wraps her arms around him. " I just couldn't do it. I can't take him anymore. I was gonna kill him. " He cries, as she rubs his back trying to comfort him. "I just wanna do the right thing."

"I know. I know. " She hums as Kie and Pope join the hug. "We can get the restitution money another way. Okay? Don't worry about it"

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

JJ spent the rest of the night at Stella's but the next morning he left muttering something about wanting to clear his head. Stella had fallen back asleep until Rachel knocked at her door, "Hey stranger, feel like i haven't seen you in ages."

Stella chuckles, "Yeah it's been a hectic summer."

"Well you gotta update me at some point but right now someone's at the door for you."

"Who?" She asks sitting up.

"Um sketchy looking dude, doesn't look happy." She crosses her arms. "What have you done?"

"I haven't done anything thank you. It's probably Barry." Stella shrugs.

"Isn't he a drug dealer?"

"Yeah, but don't worry he doesn't deal to me, we just hang out."

"Honestly, who don't you hang out with?" She jokes and Stella throws a pillow at her. "I gotta head out anyway, shall I let him in?"

"Best not." Stella finally gets up and follows her to the door.

"Right I'm free tomorrow so I want updates then." She points at Stellas while opening the door. "Hello Barry." She smiles, walking past him. He looks her up and down before looking at me.

"Don't think about it." Stella tells him, knowing he's about to say something "Right , now what's your issue?"

"My issue." He laughs. "is your little surf rat friends thinking they can mess with me. I've already got country clubs' family acting like i'm their bitch."

"Well I don't know what you want me to do? "

"I want my money."

"I don't have it." Stella leans on the door frame. "Why don't you beg Rafe again?"

He exhales, "I already told him, it's either him or his sister."

"Then why are you coming to me, he's more likely to have the money?"

"Cause you were there the day the Pogues stole from me. You were in on their little plan."

"Well the money is gone anyway."

"Wh- the fuck you on about?"

"They spent it."

"Oh imma kill em. "

"Don't do that Barry. Can you go back to taking this out on Rafe?"

"I swear you two better not be playing me."

"Im doing doing anything with him." She scowls.

"Sure."

"Look Barry, I'll try to see what I can do. Just chill out though, I'm not the one who left 25k just chilling in the house."

"A'ight in the meantime fancy setting me up with you Aunt. She's hot."

"No fuck off, otherwise you're never getting your money. Is that all you came for?"

"Yeah."

"You could've just messaged me, maybe at the same time you threatened my friends without any context " She suggest.

"Well I just wanted to make sure the message got across. See you around Stella." He walks back to his bike.

Stella shuts the door, deciding she was not dealing with that. As she heads back to bed her phone buzzes

Are you with John B? Have you seen him?

No? Im at home

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

"Wait he what?" Stella asks, as they pull up to the Cameron's dock.

"Just grabbed the gun and left." Pope states.

"So what now? We just go up to the front door and ask, 'Hey have you seen John B?" JJ asks.

"Look, he lives at Tannyhill now. It's plausible." Kie says. "Look, we can play dumb."

"Play dumb?"

"It's pretty late."

"Look, I've never seen John B like that. We should honestly be going to the cops."

"The cops- yeah and say what Kie? We're worried about our friend because he's on a rampage because Ward Cameron killed Big John?"

"What? You guys didn't say that." Stella exclaims, feeling very left out. 

"Oh forgot about that part." Pope mutters as he pulls out some binoculars.

"Really, you forgot the most important part Pope?"

"Hey, I see Ward." Pope states, ignoring her.

"Lemme see." Kie takes them off him.

"Doesn't look dead to me. let's go home."

"What?" Kie turns around.

"Uh... okay. Obviously Mr Cameron is fine, and even if John B was here, he isn't now, okay? Plus I have the biggest, most important moment of my life in six hours." Pope explains.

"Yeah, well, our friend is in trouble." Kie argues.

"Im in trouble. Guys, I haven't been home in three days. My dad's probably put all my shit on the street by now"

"Okay so that's it. In a time of need, you're just gonna bail? You're just gonna walk a way?"

"Kie, that's a bit harsh. He has an interview tomorrow. "

"Okay but what about John B?" Kie yells.

"Why is it always about John B?" Pope yells back.

Before they go any further Stella interrupts, "Guys! You know what, I'll go ." They shut up and look at her. "I'll go up to the house and see, okay?"

The three of them all nod, but Stella saw how Kiara was about to protests. After she gets out the boat, she turns back to them "I'll text you updates but let Pope go home. You guys all need sleep clearly."