But Daddy I Love Him ✸ JJ Maybank

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

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     After Pope visited his mee-maw, the Pogues went to the marina and that's when Pope informed them that he's related to the one and only, Denmark Tanny.

"I can't believe that you're related to Denmark Tanny." John B said, shaking his head in disbelief. He looked at the others. "Are we in the presence of a royal?"

"A king?" JJ added, pretending to place a crown on Pope's head. Then, he spoke in a British accent. "We shall crown him. All hail the lord of Tannyhill!"

"We're not worthy!"

Natalie, who was sitting between Kiara and Sarah, couldn't help but laugh as she watched JJ and John B bow down to Pope.

Pope huffed, rolling his eyes. "Everybody relax. Can we relax, please?"

"Relocate to Cat's Ass, question mark?" Sarah asked.

JJ pointed at her, nodding. "I'm with that."

Kiara hummed. "How soon can we move in?"

"'Cause I don't have a place to stay."

"I'm scared to go home these days so..." Natalie trailed off, tilting her head as she made eye contact with the blonde haired boy. "Bunk heads?"

JJ winked. "You already know I'm bunking with you."

"I think I'm going to puke up my soda now." Kiara muttered, earning a laugh from Natalie.

"I just keep thinking about the letter, the one that Limbrey sent." Pope spoke after a moment of silence. "It had the wheat symbol on it. That must mean it has something to do with the Royal Merchant."

"Yeah." JJ agreed. "Something seems fishy."

"But if we find that cross, we can spilt it like we were gonna spilt the cold."

"Well, I wasn't here during that so..." Natalie trailed off, taking a sip of her water.

"But you're here now." Kiara said, nudging her arm.

"And live happily ever after?"

The tension in the air quickly grew as Limbrey and her minion approached the teenagers.

Pope stood, glaring at the woman. "You assaulted my father."

"Oh, I didn't assault anybody." Limbrey said.

"He can identify the psycho from a mile away." Natalie commented, face twisting in disgust as she eyed the man standing beside the woman.

"Why would my employee a... a... assault your father? That's absurd." Limbrey chuckled, shooting her friend a look. Her gaze fell back on Pope. "Listen, we can keep on negotiating, but the fact is that I want the key."

Without hesitation, Pope lunged forward, immediately getting harshly pushed back. JJ joined Pope's side, getting ready to defend him.

"And I won't stop until I have it. I don't have a choice, which means you don't either." Limbrey continued.

"It's Limbrey, right?" John B spoke and they turned, seeing he was holding the key. "Is that right?"