CHAPTER 9
Christina's POV
The next morning, I woke up before John B. I slid out of bed, slid on one of his shirts, a pair of my shorts and walked out of the bedroom quietly. Everyone was still asleep. I looked outside and saw a new SUV parked out front. I grabbed my gun from the bedroom and walked outside.
"Can I help you?" I asked loudly. The doors opened and two men stepped out. It was a big guy with a small ponytail and the smaller sized bald-headed guy.
"You Christina Hayden?" The small one asked.
"Depends. Who's asking?" I asked placing my hands on my hips.
"Benjamin and this is Dwayne." He said introducing them.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"Your uncle sent us. Protection detail for now." Dwayne said crossing his arms. I nodded.
"You got the paperwork?" I asked. Benjamin pulled out a piece of paper and held it up. I walked up and took it from him. I stepped back and looked at it. It had my uncle's signature. A new ford truck pulled up and Hardy and Steven got out.
"Morning. Meeting your new protection detail?" Hardy asked nodding to the two guys.
"Good. I don't need to make a phone call then." I said looking at the guys. Dwayne nodded.
"We're gonna scope out the land." He said walking off. I nodded to Hardy and Steven to come inside. We walked in and everyone was waking up. I fixed some coffee really quick.
"Why are there two guys outside looking like they're about to kill someone?" JJ asked walking in.
"That's your protection detail. Benjamin and Dwayne." Steven said grabbing coffee cups. John B walked out and walked over to the table.
"Morning." He said sighing. He sat down at the table yawning.
"Morning." We all said. Benjamin walked in and knocked on the door.
"We need to check your car, Ms. Hayden." He said.
"Keys are in it." Pope told him. He nodded and walked out. John B turned around and looked at me.
"One of the two guys that's our protection detail. That's Benjamin, the other is Dwayne." I told them.
"You're not bothered by this? At all?" Kie asked me.
"Oh 100%. But my boyfriend here didn't want me leaving, so we have two big heads to worry about." I said nodding.
"Sorry if I wanted you with me." John B mumbled. I rubbed his shoulders with my free hand. Benjamin came back in and nodded.
"All is clear." He told us.
"Thank you." I said nodding. He nodded again and walked out. I looked at Hardy and he nodded.
"So, what do we do now since we got bodyguards?" JJ asked us. I sat down my cup.
"Keep to your same everyday thing. They already know that she's got a restraining order out on them and will most likely be in town within the next few days." Hardy said.
"Hopefully Big Mike will tell them to back off. He doesn't need that publicity going for his business." I said crossing my arms.
"What does he do?" Kie asked.
"Him and Rhett's dad are owners of the gaming department back home. Biggest store in four counties. They've expanded to three smaller ones. News that one of their sons was arrested and charged with assault twice, dropped business down, 3 of the smaller stores closed down. Now that those two will have restraining orders." Hardy started.
"Down goes the bigger business." I said.
"Think it'll get out?" Pope asked.
"Big Mike is one of the big wigs around town. Sheriff is a friend of his, buddies since daycare. Practically on his payroll." Steven scoffed.
"Think Georgie or Frank can have someone to tail them both? Carefully?" I asked looking at Steven and Hardy.
"For the right price. We just happen to know that price tag too. It's on the next run for us." Hardy said smirking. I nodded and bit my lip.
"When does the next run start?" I asked.
"We leave in a bit. With Corey knowing where we live, we'll be leaving it. We can find a new place to lay low when we come back." Steven said.
"Right. Be careful. Remember two-day call. Watch each other's backs." I said nodding to them.
"You act like this is our first run, peanut." Steven said.
"I know it's not. But now we got a psychopath, out on bail, who could rip someone to shreds if they wanted too." I snapped.
"Hey. It'll be fine, we'll be fine. We'll talk to the guys once we make the drop, get someone on them, and be precautious." Hardy said calmly. They both said their goodbyes and left.
"So, what's on the agenda for today everyone?" I asked trying to break the silence.
"We really not going to talk about any of this?" JJ asked looking around.
"Look, I'm not happy about the two goons following us, either. But it's my uncle's way of showing you all that he can be trusting and be protective of all of us." I said sighing. I walked off to the bedroom and shut the door. I started getting dressed for a day at the beach or for a boat ride. I walked out and to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and hair.
"Where are you going?" John B asked when I walked back into the bedroom.
"You want me to learn to surf. Well, I'm going surfing. I need to borrow a board." I said placing my hands on my hips.
"By yourself?" He asked.
"Why not? Got to learn one way, right?" I said shrugging. I kissed his cheek as I walked out of the house to the shed.
"Look. JJ is just worried. He'll come around. He always overthinks things like this and freaks out all the time." He said following me. I turned to him.
"And I understand! This isn't about JJ. This is me trying to keep everything normal going until shit hits the fan. Hopefully it won't but I know how fucked up everything is and it won't be pretty." I said huffing.
"So, you can see the future now?" He asked.
"Yes. The future of today let's see. I see me learning to surf after you and I argue constantly about it, food from the Wreck, and drinking and partying tonight when we get home. Then I kiss you goodnight and tell you I love you." I said nodding.
"That's what you're predicting?" He asked.
"Yes." I said crossing my arms.
"You forgot something." He said coming closer.
"Oh did I?" I asked. He nodded and grabbed my head. He leaned down and kissed me.
"That. You forgot that." He whispered. I hummed and slid my arms around his waist. I leaned my cheek against his chest. They always say home is where the heart is. Well John B was my home, and my heart belonged to him. He was my home.
"Alright. Let's find you a board to use." He said pulling away.
"I was kidding. I don't wanna surf." I said shaking my head.
"To late. You already said yes. Come on baby." He said pushing me to the surf boards. I sighed and he grabbed us some boards. The others came out and grabbed their boards. We loaded up the Twinkie and headed to the beach. We got out at the beach and John B handed me a board.
"If you can't surf well, I may have to end things with you." He teased.
"It'll keep you and the others safe." I mumbled. He raised his eyebrow, and I shook my head. I slid off my tank top and tossed it into the Twinkie. John B grabbed it and handed it back to me.
"Put it on. Please." He said biting his lip.
"It'll get wet." I argued.
"Then you can have mine. Put the shirt on." He said nodding.
"Why?" I asked.
"I thought your uncle said you had to do whatever I tell you?" He questioned. I shrugged and crossed my arms.
"Would you just wear the shirt please?" He asked sighing. I stepped closer to him and smirked. He leaned back against the Twinkie.
"Am I distracting you, John B?" I asked him. He slid his arms around me and held me tightly.
"Me and everyone on this beach. I really scored with a hot girlfriend." He said chuckling. I laughed and leaned up and kissed him. He kissed me back for a second.
"Okay, love birds! Let's catch some waves!" JJ called out. We pulled away and he pulled off his shirt.
"Okay, now if I have to put my shirt back on, so do you." I told him.
"No one is looking at me, like they're looking at you." He scoffed.
"Oh, really? There are some girls over there staring you down." I scoffed.
"Are we jealous?" He asked laughing.
"No. Because I know I get to take you home at the end of the day." I said laughing. He nodded.
"You do, don't you? Huh?" He asked. I nodded and slid off my shorts. I grabbed the board he handed me and looked at him.
"Ready?" I asked him.
"Nope. But let's go." He said sighing. He gave me a training before we headed into the ocean. I caught a few waves and fell off most of them. We dried off at the car and I looked at John B.
"What?" He asked drying his hair.
"So, how many times in the water will I need to become as good of a surfer like you?" I asked him.
"A few times. Are you saying you enjoyed it?" He asked smiling. I hummed as I slid my arms around his neck.
"Maybe. But I think the surfer hunk I'm around all the time needs to egg me on to keep on surfing." I whispered.
"I may be able to convince you some." He said smirking.
"I wasn't talking about you; I was talking about Pope and JJ." I said smirking. He nodded and removed my arms from his neck. He bent down and hauled me onto his shoulder. I squealed and laughed.
"John B!" I said laughing. I saw the sand under his feet then water.
"Apologize or I'm dunking." He said.
"Never!" I said. He dunked us then resurfaced. He moved me off his shoulder and held onto me. I looked up at him and moved hair off his face.
"Déjà vu." I said giggling.
"What do you mean?" He asked laughing.
"The first time you tried to convince me to go surfing. You told me if I was going to hang out with you, I needed to know how to surf. And I told you." I started.
"That you guessed that you should find some different people to hang out with." He finished for me. I nodded and touched his cheek.
"Then you hauled me outside and dropped me in the water. Who knew after that, we'd be here." I said smiling at him.
"It led to it. And I'm damn proud of it." He said leaning down. He kissed me gently. We got out of the water again and headed to the Twinkie. We dried off and got dressed. We all went to The Wreck for some lunch. I felt someone's eyes on us. I looked around and didn't see any familiar faces.
"Baby. You good?" John B asked. I looked back at him and nodded.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." I said smiling at him. He smiled back.
Cody's POV
I sat behind some people inside the little restaurant called the Wreck. I heard her laugh and her squeals. I was told one of her friends worked here and she would come here for lunch. I looked outside and saw her with three guys and a girl. She was a bit tanner than the last time I saw her. She was wearing her shorts, a tank top and sandals. Her hair was braided behind her back. She looked around and a guy spoke to her. She looked back at him and smiled. He leaned in and kissed her. She touched his cheek as she kissed him back.
"Enjoying your burger there, sir?" A girl asked me.
"Yes ma'am, I am. Thank you." I said smiling. She giggled and walked off. I looked back at Chrissy and her friends. The guy touching her, I didn't like it. Only I was supposed to touch her. My phone rung in my pocket.
"Yeah?" I asked answering it.
"You find her?" Corey asked.
"Yup. Just like you said, she's got someone all over her." I said sighing.
"We'll have her back. It may take some time, but we will get her back in our hands. Blake said her uncle has motioned for restraining orders, she signed off, but they got to get them filed first." He told me.
"Maybe they can get misplaced." I said smirking. Chrissy stood up with her friends and the bushy haired guy slung his arm around her shoulder.
"He'll handle it. I'll be in town in the next couple of days. Don't do anything to her till I get there." He said.
"Yeah, I won't. I'll send the address of the house we were given. See you soon, brother." I said hanging up. I paid my bill and headed to the house. I walked in and grabbed the photo off the table. I sat on the couch and stared at it. Greg had taken it one night. It was of me and Chrissy. She was laughing at something someone had said and I was looking at her. I had to have her back. She was mine.
John B's POV
I sat there on the couch on the porch of the Chateau holding Christina in my arms. She was asleep against me. Surfing did a number on her today. She moved and sighed.
"John B." She mumbled. I looked down at her and smiled. I kissed her head and eased out from under her. I picked her up and carried her inside. I laid her in bed and got in beside her. She curled into my chest.
"I love you, John B." She whispered. I leaned down and kissed her head again.
"I love you too, Chrissy." I told her. I pulled her closer and fell asleep beside her. The next morning, she was up before me. I got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and walked out to find her. She was standing down on the docks. I walked down and wrapped my arms around her. She jumped and sighed.
"Morning." I told her.
"Hi. Morning." She said rubbing my arms. I kissed the side of her head.
"You doing okay? You seem tense?" I asked. She turned around to me.
"Towers are back up here. So, Hardy was able to call in." She said rubbing my arms.
"And what did he say?" I asked. She sighed and looked down. I grabbed her head and made her look at me.
"Hey. What did Hardy tell you?" I asked her.
"Georgie and Frank said that Cody and Corey aren't in county. Danny is looking into the restraining order, making sure it is filed." She said.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means, they are already here or on their way. They won't care about the restraining orders; they won't stop at nothing to get me." She said sniffling. I sighed and hugged her to me.
"We'll be okay. I promise. We'll keep an eye out. We got your goons with us, we'll be fine." I told her. She hugged me tighter.
"I can't lose you, John B." She told me.
"I can't lose you, either." I told her. I held her as tightly as I could.
Cody's POV
I sat at a table with the neighbors called the Cameron's. I was invited to dinner by Mr. Cameron when he noticed me on the back patio. I sat between a boy and one of their daughters.
"Blake Reed this is my son, Rafe and his friend Topper. My daughters, Sarah and Wheezie, my wife, Rose." Mr. Cameron said introducing everyone.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." I said nodding to everyone.
"What brings you to the Outer Banks?" Rafe asked me.
"My father and his business partner want to expand their hunting or game business to the eastern side. They sent me ahead to scope out some potential buildings for their business." I said nodding.
"I'm a realtor. I can help you if you'd like?" Rose offered. I smiled and nodded.
"That'll be wonderful. Thank you, ma'am." I told her.
"So, Sarah. I thought you were with John B?" Rafe asked his sister. She scoffed, making him laugh.
"I thought so too but that girl has her southern claws in him." She scoffed.
"Boyfriend drama?" I asked.
"He wasn't my boyfriend. I thought it was something, but I guess not." She said shrugging.
"This is why you don't trust those Pogue's." Topper said.
"I don't know. Christina is trustworthy, hot too." Rafe said laughing. Sarah rolled her eyes. She didn't like my girl, then again girls were always jealous of her.
"Who's Christina?" I asked.
"Marissa Clarence's niece. She stays in the guest house behind the house sometimes at her aunts. Mostly she stays on The Cut with her boyfriend." Ward told me.
"She's a hottie, I'll tell you that. Those Pogue's are way out of her league." Rafe said chuckling.
"Can we not talk about her?" Sarah snapped.
"Jealous that she took your Pogue away from you?" Rafe taunted her. She rolled her eyes at him again.
"I like her. Her aunt is a bit awful though." Wheezie said.
"May I be excused?" Sarah said standing. They nodded and she walked off. Rafe shrugged and downed his drink. We finished dinner and I found out more about the Pogue's and Christina from Rafe and Topper. The next day I was on Topper's boat with him, Rafe and a guy named Kelce. They were telling me about an almost fight at a party a couple weeks ago.
"Then this dude comes out the back with two guys and takes the guy away." Kelce said laughing.
"That guy? Her uncle, bro. Had dinner with them the other night and he was disgruntle in all ways towards Marissa." Rafe said downing a beer.
"And Christina?" Topper asked.
"Calm. Like she knew it was going to happen." He said. She knew the family business. She knew what to expect especially when it came to her aunt and uncle.
"Family can be predictable sometimes." I said laughing.
"Look who it is over there at Heyward's." Topper said nodding. We looked to where he was nodding and saw Chrissy with the Pogue's. I noticed two guys at a land rover watching all around them. She had bodyguards.
"Sarah hasn't come back running to you?" Kelce asked Topper.
"No. I think she's waiting for them to break up, so she can swoop in and take him for her own." He scoffed.
"Dude if I were you, I'd find someone else. You may love the girl or whatever, but if she's going to cling to a guy that's already taken, no need for that drama." I told him.
"Like who?" He scoffed.
"Stella. I'll text her, tell her to come out from Kentucky and she'll love you." I said picking up my phone. Rafe slapped his shoulder and nodded.
"Get over my sister, man. She doesn't know how to treat a guy." Rafe told him. I looked back at Chrissy. She was reaching for something that John B was holding above his head. She grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him as a distraction. He lowered it just enough for her to grab it. She pulled away and squealed when he picked her up.
"Cheater!" He told her. She laughed and hit his back. He got on a boat and put her on the seat. He grabbed her head and kissed her. He smiled when he pulled away.
"She can do better than John B." Topper scoffed. Rafe and Kelce nodded, and we kept riding.