Page 12 of No Going Back

When they lapsed into silence again, Sean let it be. If Branna could doze for a bit, she might feel better.

After a while, she spoke softly while patting Jabba’s fur. “Prince Hawley and his gang moved into the neighborhood a few years back. They started slowly, not interfering with anyone in an obvious manner. They’d come into the pub occasionally, but my dad never engaged with them much. He’d serve them a couple, but you know he never let anyone buy enough to get drunk.”

He nodded. “Seamus had a good read on his customers. And on everyone else. He was a great man. I’m so damn sorry that he’s gone.”

He heard her draw in a shaky breath, and for a few minutes there was silence again.

“Me too. Dad was the best father anyone could want. A few months ago, he came upstairs fuming. It was before opening time and he was so agitated, I worried he was going to have a heart attack.”

“I don’t think I ever saw Seamus really pissed. What set him off?”

“Prince had broken the lock on the back door and sauntered into the bar. Moved behind the bar and poured himself a Guinness. And Dad said he poured it, not built it.”

That made Sean chuckle. There was a proper way to build a Guinness, and Seamus had shown each of them how to do it properly, well before they could legally drink one. “He always said it was an act of love and respect, that if you rushed it, you ruined it.”

He heard the smile in her voice when she spoke again. “I think I heard that a million times.”

And he knew she wished she would hear it a million more. He did, too.

“Dad told Prince to pay for his drink and get out, but the jerk just laughed.”

Anger and indignation pretty much filled the truck as they radiated from her. Jabba lifted his head and tried to climb into her lap, making her laugh. “Sorry, Jabba. It riles me up.”

The dog barked softly, and she hugged him. “Anyway, Prince said that was no way to treat his new partner. That if Dad was smart and wanted to keep the two of us safe, he’d pay Prince to ensure the pub stayed open.”

Shit. Protection money. “I’m guessing Seamus told him to go to hell.”

“He did. Prince merely drained his beer, and said he’d be back for the first payment in a few days. He came back in a few times to renew the threat and tell Dad time was running out.”

She became silent again, and Sean glanced over to see her eyes shining. Whatever was coming next would be worse.

Of course, that was when his GPS told him they were approaching their destination.

* * *

Branna was glad of the interruption. She wanted to control her emotions when she told Sean the rest and she was barely hanging on. Thankfully, the big mutt had her squashed beneath him in a hug. She wondered if he’d trained as an emotional support dog somewhere along the way or if all dogs were this empathic.

Sean drove the truck off the highway and into Orlando. His eyes constantly checked their surroundings, and he went against the GPS instructions several times. Probably making sure no one was following them.

That thought should terrify her, but with Sean, she felt safe. If he trusted his friend, Troy, then Branna would as well. They would have a safe place to stay and sleep and figure out what to do.

Right now, even thinking about all that was enough to send her into a mental spin. She closed her eyes and hugged Jabba while she regulated her breathing.

“You okay over there, Branna?”

She blew out another breath. “Yep. Just started thinking about what happens next and got overwhelmed.”

He nodded. “One step at a time. All you have to do right now is make sure Jabba feels loved. I’ve got the rest.”

That made her smile. “Thank you. I don’t think I even thanked you for coming. I wasn’t sure you would remember the fort or my old nickname.”

He grinned. “Seriously? Not a chance. How could I forget Tag Along Sally?”

She groaned. “I was such a pest.”

He chuckled. “Not really. We didn’t mind hanging out with you, but Charlie felt like it was his duty as an older brother to complain at least a little.”

“That sounds like Charlie. I miss him so much. And Mom. Dad. And your parents. We’re all alone, Sean.”