3. We Go Way Back
Sean drove through his old neighborhood and pointed out the sights to Jabba while he looked for a spot to park. “That’s the corner store where Charlie and I traded with Mr. Alvarez. We’d sweep the store, and he’d keep us stocked with bubble gum.” Good times.
“That’s where we waited for the bus for middle school.” Not always such good times. Too bad kids couldn’t jump from elementary straight to high school.
He didn’t point out the store where Branna’s mom had loved to shop. Where she’d been gunned down along with the owner and three other customers.
“There’s more graffiti than there used to be. More litter, too.” He wondered if gangs were moving in, but Jabba didn’t have an opinion.
Sean turned the corner to show Jabba the O’Dea’s pub. His heart raced, and he came to a full stop in the middle of the street, causing the cars behind him to blare their horns. The pub had burned to a shell. The familiar building stood like the gateway to hell.
Crime scene tape surrounded it, and two officers patrolled the perimeter. What the hell had happened? He wanted to pull over and talk to the cops. He wanted to stop and do a search on his phone to find the details. But he needed to find Branna right now. The worry that had been boiling in his gut clawed up his throat.
He didn’t believe in coincidences, and Branna’s fear had to be connected to the arson at the pub. “We need to find her, buddy. Are you ready to check out my old apartment building? That’s where she’s hiding.”
Thinking Branna might need a disguise, Sean grabbed an extra shirt and hat and shoved them in his jacket. He also loaded his gun and slipped it into his waistband at his back. Then he pulled his coat down and grabbed the collar and leash for Jabba. “Sorry, but there are laws in the city. I know you can follow any command but we don’t need to attract undue attention.”
The dog heaved an enormous sigh but didn’t protest the leash. Soon they were walking along the sidewalk from a spot he’d found on the street half a block from his old apartment.
Sean shoved the memories out of his mind. Branna needed his full attention. He put on his don’t mess with me demeanor that had served him well in the military and sauntered down the street as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Jabba’s head twisted in all directions, taking in the sights and sounds. Not wanting to look like he was marching on a mission, Sean let the dog stop and sniff but never lingered for long in any spot.
They moved down the alley between the buildings and around the dumpsters. At the back of the building, they walked in the door to the back staircase like they had every right to be there.
No one was around, so Sean led Jabba down the stairs. It wasn’t a real basement like people had in the northern states, but it was down a half level from the ground.
He and Charlie had found their fort when they’d been exploring one day. Charlie had noticed the loose grate, and they’d wanted to see what it was like in the duct. Of course, Branna had been on their heels.
They’d barely had room to all stand in the tiny area, but they’d loved having the room to themselves. As he walked down the hallway, Sean wondered if the room should have been a janitorial closet instead of having all the ancient cleaning stuff shoved into the bathroom. He’d bet the building plans showed someone had forgotten to add a door between the room and the hallway.
He didn’t want to scare Branna, so as he walked, he started to whistle softly. Jabba’s ears perked up, and the dog gave him another goofy grin.
Knowing she’d recognize the tunes, he started whistling the theme songs to the cartoons they’d watched growing up. Arthur. The Magic School Bus. Still, no one was in the hallway, so he opened the door to the bathroom and tugged Jabba inside. He whistled softly as he closed the door, but he switched the tune to Animaniacs. Branna’s favorite.
The place was just as dirty as he remembered, and he wondered if they were the only people who’d ever been in this bathroom. There weren’t any needles to show that it was a drug hideaway, so that was good.
Sean moved to the grate. “Sally? You in there? It’s me.”
“Sean?”
Nothing had ever sounded as good as her returning whisper.
Sean battled back the emotions. “It’s me, Branna. There’s no way I can fit in that duct anymore. You’re going to have to come to me.”
He heard her chuckle. Might have been a little shaky, but it was a definite laugh. He heard her moving around in the space and then the sounds of her crawling through the duct.
He slipped the grate off, and when she was close enough, he reached in and helped her ease out. Instead of putting her down, he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. “Branna. You’re okay.”
Even though it wasn’t a question, she nodded into his chest. Her entire body shook, and she gulped in big breaths as he gripped her. Whatever was scaring her was big. But she’d been hiding in a pitch-black room for more than twenty-four hours and that would make anyone shaky.
“I got here as quickly as I could. I’m sorry it took so long. I assume we need to get you out of here quickly and quietly.”
She nodded again but still didn’t look at him.
“I’ve got a dog here. He’s a rescue and kind of a giant, but he’s friendly.”
Branna gulped in one last breath of air and lifted her head. “Thank you.”
She barely opened her eyes, and he realized she was adjusting to the bright light after being in the dark for so long. He took his sunglasses off and slipped them on her. “Better?”
Another nod. Sean could still feel Branna shaking as she clung to him, but she looked around for the dog. When she spotted Jabba sitting patiently at their side, she laughed softly. “Hey there. Aren’t you a handsome boy?”
She offered her hand and let him sniff. After a second, he licked her instead, making her chuckle again.
“His name’s Jabba and he’s a softie. Okay, I brought you a shirt to toss over your clothes and a ball cap.” To hide all that gorgeous silky red hair. He managed not to say that part out loud. Charlie had told Sean once that the name Branna meant a beauty with hair as dark as a raven. While her hair didn’t match, she was a beauty.
Branna finally loosened her grip on him, and he got his first look at her. Even with the sunglasses on, she couldn’t hide her exhaustion. Her hair had once been in a ponytail, but most had fallen out of the band. He took out the shirt and pulled it over her head. Because she was so tiny, it almost hit her knees.
With quick hand movements, she tied one end in a knot at her hip. His shirt had never looked so good. He liked seeing her in it a little too much, so he pulled out the cap as well. She bundled up her hair and shoved it under the hat.
Her hands were still shaking. She looked about as starved as the dog had been when Sean found him. He should have thought to bring food. “We’ll get you some food soon. For now, let’s get the hell out of Dodge, and then you can tell me what’s going on.”
Branna nodded and didn’t protest when Sean tucked her under his arm. “If we see anyone, it should look like we were making out in here.”
She looked around at the disgusting bathroom. “You’re such a romantic.”
They were laughing as they headed into the hallway.
* * *
Branna wanted to run as far and as fast as she could. Instead, she hooked her arm around Sean and walked along with him, trying to ignore how good it felt to be this close to him. It only took him two steps to realize her ankle was bugging her.
He kept them moving but shifted his grip to her waist so he could lift some of her weight as they walked. “Are you okay? Should I carry you?”
She snorted a laugh. “Yeah, that won’t draw anyone’s attention at all. I’m good. Just a twist, and it’s almost healed.”
His soft grunt told her he didn’t believe her, but he’d go along with it for now. He handed her Jabba’s leash, and they moved from the dim hallway up the stairs and into the sunshine.
The bright light had her eyelids slamming shut again. Sean leaned down in what probably looked like a kiss on her head. “Close your eyes. I won’t let you fall. I’m parked just down the block. Two minutes, and we’ll be in the truck.”
She nodded, wondering when she’d become a bobblehead, but kept walking. After a few moments, she opened her eyes to slits and hoped she’d adjust soon. Bright lights would be the least of their problems if one of Prince’s guys recognized her.
Keeping his head close to hers, Sean whispered again. “Who should I be looking out for?”
Shoot. She should have taken a minute to explain at least some of the events that had led her to their fort. “Main guy is Prince Hawley. Light brown skin. Wears fancy clothes that can’t disguise his thugness or his creep factor.”
Sean chuckled. “Thugness? Body size?”
“Tall. Well, not as tall as you. Or as muscular. Walks with a strut. Never alone. Always has at least two of his herd with him.”
Another chuckle. “Herd? Love it. Almost there. It’s the old red truck ahead.”
Jabba bounced along, leading the way. Neither of their families had ever owned a dog. This wasn’t the neighborhood for them. But they’d all loved animals, and knowing they couldn’t have one hadn’t stopped any of them from asking for them.
“Got a group showing some interest across the street. Here we are. I’m going to lift you in.”
Branna forced herself not to look across the street. The last thing she wanted was Prince’s group seeing her face.
Sean lifted her into the truck, and Jabba jumped in at her feet. Sean leaned into her and hooked up her seatbelt. “Keep your head down after I do this. Maybe play with the dog as if he’s got all your attention.”
Before she could ask what he was going to do first, he put his finger under her chin and tilted her face towards him. He smiled, but his steely eyes weren’t focused on her.
Then his lips were on hers and her entire body flared to life under the heat of the kiss.
He pulled back after a moment, and Branna could only stare stupidly at him. His smile was back, but his eyes remained away.
Sean leaned back and tapped the bill of her ball cap to cover more of her face. “Play with Jabba.”
Her skin flushed all kinds of red as he closed the door and then jogged around the truck. How was he functioning after that kiss?
Where the heck had that come from? And what could she do to get more?
She leaned down to rub Jabba’s fur. Sean opened the door. “Okay, babe, let’s head home.”
Babe? Home?
The words helped Branna’s brain click in as Sean closed the door.
He was creating a scenario. Making the casual observer think he, his girlfriend, and his dog were heading home. Which meant home wasn’t here.
If the thugs had moved close enough, that small sentence might have been enough to fool them. Smart man.
Which meant the kiss meant nothing except that he was a smart man. Meanwhile, her entire body wanted to stop the world from spinning so she could rewind to that moment and relive it over and over again.
It had been a simple touch of lips, and had lasted only a few seconds, but Branna felt like her entire axis had shifted.
Maybe the lack of food, water, sleep, and light had gotten to her. Or maybe it was the attraction she’d always felt to Sean blooming to remind her she was alive and safe.
She’d always felt safe with Sean around.
“Any vehicles I should be watching for?”
Branna jerked to attention and realized they were not only moving, but they’d traveled a few blocks while she’d been recovering from the kiss.
A quick glance at Sean showed an easy smile on his face as he drove. His gaze never settled, constantly watching their surroundings.
“Prince drives a fancy silver Lexus. Don’t know about his herd. I try to pay as little attention to them as possible.”
“You always were a smart girl.”
They drove for a few minutes in silence. Sean changed directions a few times, but neither noticed anyone following. Jabba laid his head on her lap and started to snore.
She rubbed the huge head. “Are you telling us we’re safe, Jabba?”
Sean grunted. “Hope so, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We need to find a safe place where we can talk.”
She nodded, although she wasn’t sure what was safe for her right now. If the police were working with Prince or even turning their backs as he did his thing, nowhere in the city sounded appealing. “I don’t want to call the police. They’ve already told me I’m overreacting and that I need to stop bothering them and let them deal with real police work.”
Sean shot her a glance, eyebrows up. “Wow. You got shuffled to a real jerk. Most cops want to take down the assholes who burn shit down.”
So he’d seen the pub. Or what remained of it. She didn’t have the heart to ask. “This was before they burned the pub.”
“What were you talking to them about, then?”
“Prince either killed my dad or had him killed.”
The truck jerked as Sean whirled to stare at her. Almost immediately, he was back in control. All except for his eyes. “Your dad’s dead?”