The night had gone horribly wrong. What started as a desperate mission to recover stolen gold had quickly spiraled out of control, leaving JJ Maybank fighting for his life on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The thieves had ambushed them, and Rafe—his sworn enemy—was right in the thick of it. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and running out of time. But the worst part wasn’t the fight or the danger. It was her.

She had been with him every step of the way, fierce and determined, despite knowing the risks. She wasn’t just another Kook; she was the one who made JJ feel like there was more to life than the endless chaos he lived in. And now, because of him, she was in the crossfire.

The sound of a gunshot rang out, a deafening crack that echoed across the water. JJ whipped around, his heart dropping into his stomach as he saw her stumble back, her hand flying to her side. Blood seeped through her fingers, and in that moment, everything around him seemed to blur. The fight, the chaos, Rafe—it all disappeared. All he could see was her.

“No” JJ shouted, his voice breaking with panic as he rushed to her side, his hands trembling as he reached for her. “No, no, no—stay with me, okay?”

Her eyes were wide with shock, her body slumping against him as he caught her. The world seemed to spin, but JJ couldn’t think straight, couldn’t focus on anything but the sight of her blood staining his hands. “You’re gonna be fine,” he muttered, more to himself than to her, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’m gonna get you out of here. You hear me? You’re gonna be fine.”

The sound of sirens in the distance barely registered as JJ held her tighter, praying to a God he didn’t believe in that she would survive this. The fight on the boat, Rafe, the stolen treasure—none of it mattered anymore. All that mattered was her.