*Treasure and Secrets* Outer Banks Book 2

Trapped

Jo feels arms around her and pulls her back.

"Roll Pope!"

Jo is against JJ's chest as everyone moves back and Pope rolls out of the way.

The cross lands on the ground and sticks straight up.

"Pope, are you okay?" Kie asks quickly.

"Pope! Are you good?"

JJ lets go of Jo to check on Pope.

Jo quickly follows JJ to check on Pope.

"Is anything broken?" Jo asks.

"I'm good. Just give me like a minute to catch my breath." Pope says still trying to catch his breath.

Jo looks at his hands to see all the bee stings.

"Do these hurt? Do you feel like a tightening in your chest?" she asks him.

Pope shakes his head as Jo helps him sit up.

"Pope you did it, buddy!" John B exclaims excitedly.

John B and JJ start checking out the cross.

"Pope, she's beautiful." JJ states in awe.

"I've never seen anything like it." Sarah also comments in awe.

"The detailing is insane." JJ states.

John B finds the keyhole that fits the key that Limbrey has.

"Now I know why Limbrey wanted the key so badly." John B informs the group.

"Good find. How much do you think she's worth?" JJ starts asking John B.

Jo slowly helps Pope stand up.

"Take it easy. Your breathing is still not good." she warns him.

"Like, if we melted her old bones down, dude, we're talking like billions!" JJ starts getting excited.

"It belongs in a museum Jay." Jo reminds him.

"What? So no one sees her?" JJ asks confused.

"A museum is where everyone is gonna see her!" Kie argues.

"Hey! It's my ancestor's cross!" Pope shouts to them angrily.

"You're right, I'm sorry." JJ mumbles.

"This is bigger than money. The world is gonna know the truth." Pope tells them firmly.

"Yes. But if we don't get this shit outta here before Limbrey gets here, nobody is gonna know the truth. So saddle up." John B tells everyone.

Jo helps Pope walk over to the cross.

She sees him holding his hand.

"Does your hand still hurt?" she asks him.

"I'm fine." he brushes it off.

"Ok John B, you're gonna pull down while the rest of us pull up." JJ instructs.

"Okay ready? One, two, three."

John B pulls down as everyone else pulls up each holding a piece.

They all grunt and groan while trying to hold the cross up.

Jo can feel her arm and leg muscles straining to keep a hold.

"Shit!"

"This fucker is heavy."

Jo lets out a groan of pain.

"Ok, who isn't lifting?" JJ asks.

"I'm lifting!"