Page 119 of Never Too Late to Date

Jordan took another step forward, but Vicky blocked his way. He was so close she could see the spittle on his lips.

‘You bitch, you ungrateful little bitch.’

The rush of adrenaline that coursed through Vicky gave her another ounce of strength.

‘That really is enough. Get out!’

A noise behind them distracted Jordan for a moment.

‘And I second that. Pack your stuff and go, now.’

Seamus was in the doorway with a baseball bat. The affable guy from the restaurant earlier in the week had been replaced by someone Vicky almost didn’t recognise. She knew from Maeve that he’d been a boxer in his youth, but he’d transformed into someone you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.

The exact moment Jordan realised he was beaten was a feeling that Vicky would have liked to bottle and sell. He picked up a rucksack from the floor, stuffed in a few clothes from the wardrobe, and made for the door.

‘Don’t worry. I’m going. This place is a shithole. I was on my way back to Ireland anyway. It was her who wanted to do this stupid volunteering thing. I don’t even like animals very much. Smelly waste of time.’

Seamus’s face tightened even more. Vicky could see that he’d love to take a swing at the little sod, but it was more important that they got rid of him, for Aoife’s sake. Seamus obviously felt the same.

‘I’ll give you a lift to the port. Just to make sure you don’t change your mind. There’s a boat to the mainland in a couple of hours. Be on it. I never want to see your face around here again.’

Vicky was gratified to see fear on Jordan’s face for a change as he walked out with Seamus on his tail, baseball bat still at his side.

A small voice from the bed floated through the room.

‘Thank you. I just didn’t know what to do. I didn’t think anyone would believe me.’

Vicky reached down and took the young woman in her arms as she wept.

‘Shhhh. I know, I know, sweetheart. But you’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore.’

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Suzie put the last of the beer bottles in the fridge, turned all the labels to the front and straightened up.

‘Everything ready, Kosta mou?’

Her son gave her a thumbs-up from the other end of the bar. He was back on duty after his accident and, though his arm wasn’t fully healed yet, he was able to do everything except heavy lifting. Suzie found it sweet seeing Manolis rush to his aid whenever there was anything big to carry.

Both men were beyond excited at the idea of becoming uncles to Giannis and Kat’s baby. They still had a long wait ahead, but there was no doubt that this baby would be inundated with family, especially on the grandfather side, with three of them lined up.

She’d been snowed under with work all week. Now it was July; they were edging towards peak tourist season, so she’d had little time for socialising. Giannis and Christian had met twice on their own and been on a long fishing trip, that she did know. Her son hadn’t given her many details, but maybe she could get more of a sense of how things were going, as they’d both promised to be here tonight.

Charlie sauntered in from the club space and took his customary seat at the bar. Suzie handed him one of the chilled beers.

‘Cheers. Big night tonight, Mrs I.’

‘Hope so. We need it.’

The DJ karaoke nights with music from the Seventies to the Nineties drew the crowds and got the money rolling in. Charlie smiled his smile that also pulled a lot of the female punters in, not that he had eyes for anyone other than his gorgeous wife, Anna.

‘Great news about Gianni and Kat, isn’t it?’

Suzie reached across the bar to take his hand.

‘It really is. I’m so excited.’

‘While I’ve got you…’