A Family Divided (Dividing Line #3) (28 page)

A knock at the door distracted them all. Martina automatically made to answer it but Mikey held her back.

“I’ll get it,” said Battler.

He opened the door to Frankie McVay clutching a holdall. He stormed inside and Battler closed the door behind him.

“Point me in the direction of Jan fucking Jordan and let me at the bitch,” Frankie exclaimed, producing a hatchet from the holdall. “It’s got her name on, literally.”

He turned the handle so the blade of the axe gleamed in the light, revealing Jan
’s name engraved on it in italic script.

“
You got here quick,” said Alex, shaking his hand.

“
I chartered a private plane. I’d have ordered a fucking space shuttle if it got me Jan Jordan, that old slag killed an associate of mine and I don’t stand for that.”

Despair clutched at Ryan. The situation had just got ten times worse. How did he deliver Alex now with Frankie McVay in the vicinity?

CHAPTER 24

Rachel was untied and led upstairs to the kitchen. She saw she was in a big renovated farmhouse, elegantly done. If she hadn’t been in a life or death situation she would have liked to look around and get some design tips. It had been an idle dream of hers to retire to a farmhouse one day when the kids were grown up, just her and Ryan living out their old age together. Fat chance of that happening now.

She was taken into the roomy kitchen that was decorated in warm terracotta colours, copper pans hanging from the ceiling. A large island sat in the centre and she was ordered to sit on one of the breakfast bar stools and, to her surprise, offered a cup of tea.

A large clock solemnly ticked down the time. Rachel’s nerves were on edge as it approached nine o’clock, sipping her tea and gripping the cup. Even the boys went silent, abandoning their jovial banter, anxiously awaiting the showdown. There was a security monitor linked to the cameras surveying the only road in and out of the farm, the screen split into four, which showed it was absolutely deserted. Nine o’clock came and went and nothing happened.

“
Well, I think we can assume Alex isn’t coming,” said Jan at ten minutes past.

Rachel was thankful. Alex and Ryan would be safe. Working together they
’d take out the Jordans no problem, especially if Nick rebelled against his mother, which she thought he would when she ordered her death. In a way it was a relief, the waiting was over. She just hoped it didn’t hurt too much.

“
Sorry Rachel. If Alex had come I would have made your death quick and painless, but he has to be taught a lesson for his disobedience. I have to make an example of you. I’m surprised though, I thought your husband would have put in more of an effort.”

“
He’s staying alive for our kids. He knows that’s what I want. You see, to us they come first, that’s what normal people do. We don’t go around murdering our children to further our own ends.”

“
Still banging on about that? It’s not going to work, everyone knows the Slatterys killed my husband and son.”

Rachel raised an eyebrow.
“Do they?”

Jan
’s eyes flicked to Nick, who stared back at her. Rachel could practically feel the fury building inside him.

Jan smiled smoothly.
“Take her back downstairs and strap her to the table. Now you can have your fun boys. Just make sure you record it all to send to her husband.”

There was some whooping and hollering, Chris grabbing Rachel
’s arm and yanking her off the stool. She didn’t fight, what was the point? She had to die if Ryan and Alex were to fight back and put down this pack of animals. Jan was right, sentiment was their weakness. With her gone, there would be no holds barred. The children would be sent away with the women and the Maguires and Laws would fight. Blood would run in the streets and they would win. By killing Rachel, Jan was losing her only bargaining chip and she would be vulnerable.

At that moment there was a loud buzzing sound and everyone froze.

“That’s the front gate,” said Jan. “Chris, see who it is.”

On the monitor they could all see a figure standing at the gate beside a car.

“Ryan,” Rachel whispered to herself, tears forming in her eyes. “What are you doing?”

“
Hello?” said Chris into the intercom.

“
It’s Ryan Law, open up.”

“
Do you have Alex Maguire with you?”

“
You didn’t really think he was going to come, did you? I’ve come to offer myself in exchange for Rachel.”

“
Ryan run, they’re going to kill you,” she shouted and was silenced by a slap to the face from Chris.

“
Simon, Kurt, drive down to the gates and meet him. Check him and his car for weapons then bring him here,” ordered Jan.

They nodded and hurried off to obey, jumping into a Land Rover parked outside the back door and tearing a path down the driveway.

Rachel paced anxiously, wondering what the hell Ryan was playing at. Their children were going to be left orphaned.

A few minutes later Ryan was led into the kitchen by Simon and Kurt, their guns trained on him.

“He’s no weapons and there was nothing in the car,” Kurt told them. “He’s definitely alone, there’s no one about for miles.”

“
Why have you come?” Rachel demanded of him. “They want you too, that’s why they kidnapped me.”

“
I know Rachel,” he said softly, “but what choice do I have? Alex isn’t coming and I can’t just let them kill you.”

“
Yes you should, for our kids.”

“
They’ll be fine, they have plenty of family to take care of them.” His voice was gentle and sad, dashing her hopes that he had some grand rescue plan up his sleeve.

“
You’re far braver than Alex Maguire,” Jan told him admiringly. “But I’m disappointed in your abilities. I did think you would bring him to me.”

“
And how could I possibly achieve that? He’s surrounded by bodyguards and Frankie McVay has come down from Glasgow.”

Jan swallowed hard.
“Frankie McVay?”

“
He’s brought a brand new hatchet with him, just for you Jan with your name on. He said he’s going to turn your threat to chop Rachel up into pieces on you. You’re not leaving Manchester alive, even if you do kill us.”

Jan hastily rethought her plan. She needed leverage.

“Change of plan boys. She’s to be kept alive, but we’ll still kill him.”

“
No,” cried Rachel. When she tried to rush Jan she was pulled back by Nick.

“
That’s fine,” said Ryan calmly.

“
Don’t give up,” she cried. “Fight.”

“
This is what I came here for, to stop them killing you. Don’t worry, the others will get you out of here.”

Rachel looked at Jan.
“Why are you doing this? What will it achieve?”

“
It will set Jez Law against Alex and tear their alliance apart, leaving the Maguires weak. Thank you Ryan for coming to us.”

Rachel looked back at her husband standing there so calmly he could have been waiting for a bus. As well as admiration she was filled with frustration and rage.

“Don’t let them do this,” she practically screamed at him.

His grey eyes were clear, telling her he was completely at peace with what he was doing.
“It’s okay Sweetheart,” he said softly.

“
Kill him,” ordered Jan.

“
No,” screamed Rachel, lunging for Jan. As she did, Chris punched her hard in the stomach, crumpling her up.

“
Leave her alone,” bellowed Ryan, launching himself at Chris, who didn’t stand a chance. Ryan’s fist shot out and he went rocketing across the room. Then he stood in front of Rachel protectively, eyes full of challenge, daring them to attack her.

“
What are you waiting for you idiots, get him,” ordered Jan. “No guns,” she snapped at Kurt. “Take him on with your fists, prove that you’re Jordans.”

Stuart and Simon rushed Ryan, who knocked the former to the floor with a single punch and kicked the latter in the chest. Rachel wrenched herself free from Nick, who didn
’t attempt to stop her, and took her place by her husband’s side to face Kurt, Robbie and Gavin. Ryan’s hand found hers and she gripped it tightly.

The other three went in for the attack and Rachel and Ryan fought together hard, refusing to go down despite the fact they were outnumbered. Chris, Stuart and Simon joined in, Stuart managing to punch Rachel in the face but sheer desperation kept her on her feet and she kicked him in the crotch, following it up with a punch to the side of the head.

“Mum, stop this. Its gone far enough,” Nick told her quietly. “Only you have the power to end this now.”

“
Why would I want to do that?” she murmured, mesmerised by the fight. She couldn’t believe Rachel and Ryan were managing to stand up to such uneven odds. Jan was so preoccupied she failed to notice Nick backing up to the bank of monitors on the kitchen units.

“
Because we’re going to get slaughtered. Look at what two of them are doing to us. Can you imagine what it’ll be like when the whole clan arrive?”

“
Don’t be ridiculous.”

He could tell from the vacant sound to her voice that she wasn
’t listening.

“
Look at the pair of them, they’re quite magnificent together,” she said thoughtfully as Ryan hurled Kurt across the kitchen table and Rachel head butted Simon. Both of them sported cuts and bruises and were quickly tiring but they refused to go down.

“
They’re fighting for their lives,” he replied.

“
No they’re not, they’re fighting for each other.”

“
Rachel was right, you do want to be her.”

She gave him a sharp look.
“Don’t be stupid.”

When Chris punched Rachel in the face she was knocked sideways, blood from her mouth spraying the wall. Exhausted, her knees buckled and she crumpled to the floor. Chris kicked her in the back for good measure then dragged her backwards across the tiles by her hair. Ryan tried to intervene but he was attacked by four Jordans at once. Kurt once again went flying across the kitchen table but Simon kicked him in the left knee. There was a loud crack and Ryan pitched forwards, grimacing with pain and Rachel knew his kneecap had been broken. But he still managed to grab Simon
’s leg and tip him back onto the floor.

“
Ryan,” Rachel cried, attempting to claw her way back to him as the four Jordan’s laid into him with their feet. All he could do was curl up in a ball and try and take most of the blows on his back.

“
Now you can watch him get beaten to death,” Chris hissed in her ear as she looked on helplessly. Then he punched her hard in the face.

“
Enough,” Nick yelled at him, picking her up and pulling her to the back of the room. Chris shrugged and joined the others in kicking at Ryan.

“
Stop it, please,” screamed Rachel, tears streaming down her face, mingling with the blood. She struggled in Nick’s arms and he could feel how weakened she was, her strength not what it was, however he still had to fight to maintain a hold on her.

When the toe of Chris
’s boot connected with Ryan’s face his head snapped back, blood exploding from his mouth and nose and he went limp, eyes rolling back in his head.

“
Ryan, wake up. Please,” wailed Rachel.

Nick gave his mother an imploring look and she lit another cigarette and rolled her eyes.
“Alright boys, enough. You don’t want Mrs Law to miss out on the pleasure of watching another of her husbands being shot to death.”

The Jordan boys all stepped back sporting black eyes and bruises, hands bunched into fists and chests heaving, eyes wild with frenzy. Nick was disappointed to see his brother had joined in as eagerly as the rest.

“Get him on his knees, if that’s at all possible, I think Simon ruined one of them,” Jan said jovially.

Ryan released a groan as he was hauled upright, pressure put on his injured leg. His right eye was completely shut, lips swollen, face a mass of blood and bruising and his breath rattled in his chest.

“Sounds like we got a few ribs too,” grinned Chris.

“
Cowards,” shouted Rachel. “You couldn’t take him on one on one because he would have killed you.”

“
Yeah right,” sneered Chris, but that was the only response she got because they all knew she was right. It was Kurt who drew his gun and aimed it at the back of Ryan’s head.

“
Please God no,” breathed Rachel, watching in horror.

Ryan forced his head up, squinting to see her through his one good eye, his lips moving but they were so swollen and cut she couldn
’t tell what he was saying. Somehow she knew he was saying her name.

“
No,” she screamed.

There was a tinkling of glass and the blood spray covered Jan
’s right side. She stared down at herself, stunned. Everyone looked to Kurt, a small neat hole in his chest, shirt stained with blood. A second tinkling of glass opened up a hole in his forehead that pitched him back onto the floor. While everyone was still trying to work out what was going on, Simon was hit in the chest and he fell to his knees, staring down at the wound with surprise.

“
Sniper,” roared Chris.

As everyone hurled themselves to the ground everything suddenly went dark as the power was cut. Nick held Rachel to him and started to lead her out of the kitchen, back into the house towards the front door, the back door blocked by the rest of the Jordans. The sound of shooting and shouts filled the air.

“Get off me,” she said, writhing in his arms.