“I have a dungeon if you do want to experience torture…” Indy was gone before Drew could finish the sentence.
“We still don’t know how she knew we were meeting here,” Loneghan said. “I’ll never understand that woman.”
“You and me both.” It was barely a mutter from Drew but Alex still heard it.
He smothered a smile.
Alex knewfrom a text that Abby had gone into Leeds with Rayah for the afternoon, so rather than heading home to see her, he headed to Scott’s bar, wanting the company of at least one of his brothers or even Jake, as a last resort.
It was killing him, not being able to talk to them about Abby and what had brought her to Severton, about the fires and Garrison. He’d never had to keep something so personal from them before – this was the first time the waters between his career and his family had been muddied.
Scott was serving behind the bar, engaged in a conversation with a blonde woman that Alex had seen once or twice around the place. He gave his brother a nod to indicate he wanted his usual, a pint of IPA and then saw Zack, who was demolishing a burger like he’d been starved for several days straight.
“Sorrell not feeding you?” He frowned at Zack as he sat down. He looked tired.
Zack shook his head and concentrated on eating. Scott brought the pint over and headed back to the bar where another couple of people were standing, looking through the menu.
Alex sipped at his pint, the coldness contrasting nicely with the overly warm day and what had been a sweaty train journey back to the town.
Zack finished eating and wiped his hands on the paper napkin. “I’m worried about Sorrell and the baby.”
“Why? What’s the matter?” Alex didn’t slip into panic mode. Zack worried about a lot.
“It’s Abby. And Lena.”
“Okay. Tell me what’s got your goat.”
There was a long inhale from his brother and a gulp of beer. This meant he was worried about more than what he was about to say. Alex knew him too well.
“Obviously, Abby’s got herself wrapped up in some shit…”
“How is that obvious?” Alex put the brakes on Zack’s monologue. He wasn’t liking Zack’s tone.
“Someone followed her. Her home was ransacked. That’s not a coincidence, Al. Things like that don’t happen in Severton. She’s involved in something and as chilled as Scott’s being about this, I’m not. I can’t have her working at the hotel where Sorrell is. What if someone comes looking for her there?” Zack clenched his fist, his forehead lined with tension.
Alex breathed. There would be more. Better to let him get it out of his system and then talk him down.
“What if someone turns up early one morning or one evening and they’re on their own? You don’t get this, Alex – Sorrell could’ve died when she went looking for Lena that time. It was the worst few hours of my life when we didn’t know where she was. I can’t go through that again. Abby’s also been so quiet – we should’ve guessed something more was going on there.” He stared down at his pint.
Alex waited a little longer to see if he was done. A minute of silence told him he was. Zack didn’t have Scott’s grump level; as the middle child he was pretty used to keeping the peace, so when he was pissed with something, he held on to it for as long as possible before exploding.
“You have any idea what’s going on with her?” Alex pushed his back into the seat, grounding himself.
“She’s made Lena worried. Which tells me it’s something to do with Felley Manor. You wouldn’t get it, Alex. You don’t have a baby and a wife. I couldn’t live if something happened to Sorrell or our child. Even the thought destroys me. If Abby has got someone coming after her, maybe she needs to hide out elsewhere.” Zack’s eyes were full of sorrow and pain.
“You remember when Sorrell’s ex turned up?” Alex kept his words quiet, his voice low.
Zack nodded.
“If you hadn’t been there, the rest of us would’ve finished him off.”
“I know.”
Alex didn’t say anything, just waited. He knew that silence was the most powerful conversation starter.
Zack pushed a hand through his hair. “I’m getting another pint. You want one?”
“Thank you. IPA.” Alex tipped his glass towards his brother and watched him go to the bar. Scott was busy with another customer, so it was Stanley, one of the village kids back from university for the summer, who poured the ale.
