𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐓 / / 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊

CHAPTER 22

To say the Pogue's where happy about Stella and JJ literally having 'kissed and made up' would be an understatement. Pope practically screamed with joy when the two walked out onto the decking wrapped up in each other's arms, probably the most excited of them all. Though, he say that was because he wouldn't have to deal with Jay moping around all the time now.

Whilst Stella sat curled up on the blonde boy's lap, the two of them nursing beers, she was updated on what she had missed out on while Barry had been dealing with Rafe. Stella decided not to mention that to them, they already knew what and who her brother was and how he worked, she didn't need to further cement the fact he was a criminal.

Turns out Ward Cameron, Sarah's father, had decided to take John B under his wing to save him from being taken by social services and that he would now be living at Tanneyhill with them. She thought the situation to be very fucking odd and even gave him a strange look as he explained the story to her, but for a change Stella kept her mouth shut. She was more relieved that his injuries hadn't been any worse than what he had and that he wasn't being taken away from them, from his home. She was thankful to have John B.

But the main topic of conversation was how they where certain that they had uncovered the location of the gold and Stella couldn't help but burst out laughing when they explained it's whereabouts. Of course it would be underneath the Crain house, it just had to be. Everyone on the island knew of the horrors that came hand in hand with that place. Not only did it look scary, beaten down by the weather and surrounded by overgrown trees and bushes, but it also was accompanied by the story that had been past down from their mothers and fathers. JJ swore that Hollis Crain used to babysit him when he was younger and had told him the story of how she found her father dead with an axe buried in his skull, the alleged killer being Mrs Crain. As far as anyone knew, she still lived in the wreck of the house, though nobody had seen her for years. So it made absolute sense that the gold was hidden in the place where no soul on Kildare would ever want to go. Stella shook her head, taking a sip from her beer before laughing. "Yo, if we're going there I'm bringing a baseball bat or somethin' stronger, ain't lettin' no old lady take—"

"Who the hell is that?"

The group where alerted by Kiara to the stranger walking down the path from the house, and through the darkness it was impossible to work out any recognisable feature. They instantly became on high alert, all rising to their feet in case the newcomer was hostile. It wasn't until they got closer that Stella realised who it was.

"Jez?" She squinted as he walked into the light. "The hell are you doing here?"

"Trying to find you, Baby Swayer." He stated bluntly. "You need to come with me."

Stella narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

"Barry's been jumped."

The panic that spread through her veins was ice cold. Her face dropped, mouth agape as she struggled to find the words she wanted to ask. It took her a moment to process what he said as her brother was never injured, he was always on his guard and nobody had ever gotten the upper hand over Baz. Alongside everything else that had happened today, the highs and the lows, she really didn't want this to be the way it ended. "Is he okay?"

"You know Bear, he's hard as nails but he's been roughed up a bit. Richy's doing his best to patch him up, but he wants you to come home." Jez explained. "Needs to talk to ya'."

The Pogue's looked between each other, knowing that this could never be good. JJ took a step forward next to the blonde girl. "What happened?"

"We went on a booze run and when we got back..." He trailed off, shrugging his shoulders, not seeing the need to delve into any deeper details. "Think we know who it was."