Fractured (Dividing Line #4) (13 page)

“I want you to bring them too. We can start over again together, all five of us.”

“You’re willing to take on three children?”

“They’re good kids, I know them. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, the woman I love and a nice little family.”

“I can’t believe you’re even suggesting this. You’re either heaven sent or completely mad.”

“Sometimes you have to do insane things to be happy.”

“If we do this he’ll never stop hunting us.”

“And I’ll protect you. Alex isn’t the only one with powerful contacts. All we need to do is get out of Manchester. The further we get from the north the weaker his reach.” This wasn’t strictly true but he was trying to minimise her worry.

“Maybe we could go to Scotland? I love Scotland.”

He thought of Frankie McVay. “Maybe not such a good idea. I still have friends down south, we could go there, they’d help us get out of the country.”

“Leave the UK?”

“It’s the only way we could be free. If we stay in the country Alex will find us.”

“Where would we go? What about the kids growing up speaking a different language? What about school?”

“We could go somewhere English-speaking like Australia or America.”

“America?” she said, visibly brightening. “What would we do for money?”

“Don’t worry about that, I have plenty.”

“I have a bit of my own. When I first got with Alex, Rachel told me to always save a percentage of the spending money he gave me. I’ve got a nice little nest egg he doesn’t even know about.”

“We could go somewhere it’s always hot, like Florida or Miami.”

“Sounds great. We could get a beach house. Imagine waking up to the sea every morning.” Her eyes turned hazy with dreams. “The kids would love it but we’ve only known each other a year. Are you sure this is what you want? What would happen to us if we left with you and you realised you’d made a mistake and abandoned us.”

“I would never do that. You’re all I want Beth, you and the kids. We can do what Ryan and Rachel have done, we can leave it all behind and start over.”

“You’d give up your work, get a real job?”

“Yes,” he smiled. “I have friends in America, they’d help us. I’ve got all bases covered, as they say over there. All you need to do is say you’ll come.”

“I really want to but I’m just worried about the kids. Their life is here.”

“What’s the alternative? Stick around here while Alex gets more violent. What if he starts taking it out on them?”

“He’d never do that.”

“How can you be sure? I bet there was a time when you thought he’d never hit you.”

She nodded sadly. “There was. Oh God, what do I do?” She thought about exactly how hard it would be for the kids. Alfie would probably be pleased, he hated his father and he liked Nick. Holly was too young to really know what was happening. It was Archie who worried her, he was surprisingly sensitive, the sudden move would upset him. But at least he’d be safe from Alex’s abuse. She was certain it was the tension in the house that was turning him into a permanently scared and tearful child. If they stayed he’d only get worse. However was running off with another man the right thing to do? She gazed at Nick and saw everything she’d ever wanted, saw the man she thought Alex was but he’d let her down. Instinctively she knew Nick would never do that.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

“You mean it? It’s a huge step.”

“Don’t start changing my mind. Let’s get out of here and start over, together.”

He grinned and kissed her. “I love you so much. Finally you’re going to get the life you deserve.”

“I love you too. Help me get some bags packed,” she said, getting to her feet, her pain and fear gone.

CHAPTER 15

Mikey and Jez waited in the back street, both sweating with tension in their bike jackets. The stinking alley gave them a good view of the Maguire warehouse, the fortified compound designed for absolute privacy. Upstairs were innocent-looking offices but below ground was a subterranean dungeon where many people had been dragged inside against their will, tortured, executed and their bodies stuck in the large chest freezers before being cut up so as to leave no blood. They were then discreetly disposed of. The Maguires were good at making people simply disappear and Mikey and Jez had no wish to join that long list, hence the motorbike as their chosen mode of transport. The helmets would give them the very necessary anonymity. Jez had personally stolen the bike himself from a house in the suburb of Hulme and changed the plates so it couldn’t be traced.

Mikey closed his eyes and rested his head back against the wall, unable to believe he was about to kill his own cousin but what choice did he have? He was protecting not only himself but Amber and Josh and their very way of life. He felt sick and sweat trickled down his spine. This whole arrangement was utterly repellent to him but he knew when the time came he’d have the courage to pull the trigger.

“Time to go,” said Jez. “I can hear the gates opening.”

Mikey pulled on his helmet, allowing himself to grimace now his face was covered. He just hoped he didn’t puke inside the lid.

Jez climbed onto the bike and started the engine. Mikey climbed on behind him, the pistol gripped in one gloved hand, running his thumb up and down the steel, willing away all emotion and clearing his mind, thinking only of raising the gun and pulling the trigger. As they pulled out onto the street he pictured it over and over again,
raise, pull, raise, pull.
Before they’d even reached the compound he’d imagined himself shooting Alex ten times.

Feeling more focused he opened his eyes, concentrating on breathing deeply and remaining calm. It wasn’t the first time he’d killed someone but killing a relative was a first for him. Several feet ahead he saw Col Sugar’s car nose out of the compound first. As the bike was still a distance away Col obviously thought it safe to pull out and swung the car out in front of them. Jez eased off the throttle, letting them cruise a little bit, giving Alex chance to roll his car up to the gate.

Raise, pull, raise pull,
Mikey thought over and over again. An icy calm descended upon him, his heart rate slowed and his breath stopped fogging up the visor. It didn’t matter that Alex was in his car, he’d selected his weapon carefully and knew it was more than capable of smashing through glass and into Alex’s skull.

Mikey raised his arm, saw the look of complete shock and outrage on Alex’s face. How dare someone try to kill him? Without pausing to think Mikey pulled the trigger in rapid succession. The bullets slammed into the glass and….didn’t go any further.

Bullet proof glass
, reeled Mikey’s stunned brain.
He’s had fucking bullet proof glass installed.

Mikey’s eyes connected with Alex’s, who calmly raised his right hand and mimicked firing a gun right back at him. Col, hearing the shots, had swung his car into the middle of the road, blocking their path but Jez was an experienced biker and simply steered the bike up onto the pavement. They saw Col scrabbling out of his car, pulling out his own gun but he was too slow. Jez pulled back hard on the throttle and they shot off into the distance, leaving the compound and a living Alex behind.

Deciding to stick to the plan, they headed to the lock-up they’d pre-arranged to swap the plates on the bike and give it a respray.

“Fuck,” yelled Mikey, pulling off the lid and hurling it across the room. “He had fucking bullet proof glass put in his car. Sneaky bastard never mentioned it.”

“Because he doesn’t trust either of us anymore. Shit, I can’t believe this has gone tits up,” said Jez, planting his hands on his hips. “Thank Christ we disguised ourselves. He doesn’t know it was us. We stick to the plan and get rid of the bike then think of something else.”

“Hopefully he’ll blame it on the Barlow brothers, it’s their style.”

“Let’s hurry because no doubt we’ll be getting a phone call soon.”

Jez had just finished removing the licence plate when Mikey’s phone rang. He looked at Jez and swallowed hard. “It’s Alex.”

“Answer it then,” he replied before returning to his work.

Mikey steeled himself to act the part he’d been rehearsing. “Not now Alex, I’m in the middle of a crisis here.”

“You’re in a fucking crisis? Someone just tried to top me,” Alex yelled down the line, making him wince.

“What?”

“Right outside my own compound, cheeky bastards. Get here now.”

“Where?”

“The fucking compound dickhead. Don’t make me repeat myself again.”

Mikey bit his tongue to prevent the retort he wanted to come out with getting past his lips. “I would but I’ve had too much to drink, I’m a bit pissed.”

“Then get a fucking taxi, I don’t care as long as you get here now. We need to take out these pricks before they get a second chance.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Alex hung up without another word. Just as they’d expected, Jez’s phone rang next. He received a barked order to get to the compound then Alex hung up on him too. Jez scowled at the phone, sick of Alex treating him like one of his lackeys rather than his business partner. He wouldn’t have dared treat Ryan that way. Just as Jez was wishing his brother was here, Mikey was wishing the same about Rachel.

Mikey left first, ditching the bike gear in the lock-up to be disposed of later. He went to an off licence, bought a bottle of whisky and drank a third of it in the taxi on his way to the compound. He drank it so fast he was indeed a bit pissed by the time he climbed out of the cab half a street away from where he wanted to be and handed the money over, leaving the bottle in the back of the cab. The fresh air only made his condition worse and no acting was required when he staggered into the compound, attempting to walk in a straight line. On the bright side the whisky fortified his nerves and he appeared completely unconcerned when he strolled into Alex’s office. The man himself was sat behind his desk quietly fuming while Col and Dom - one of the trio of Alex’s heavies who had been present at Martina’s wake - stood behind him, looking sombre.

“Jesus, look at the state of you,” said Alex, lip curling with disgust. “I’ve just been shot at and I’m looking a fucking sight better than you are.”

“Don’t get on my case Alex. Amber has left me and taken Josh with her.”

“Can’t say I blame her if that’s what you look like at home.”

Mikey knew Alex didn’t give a shit and although it annoyed him he was also glad that he didn’t have to delve into any uncomfortable explanations.

“The fucking Barlow brothers tried to kill me. Now we have to hit back before they try again. The question is, how do we do it?” Alex looked to Mikey, who released a loud belch when he opened his mouth to speak and staggered on his feet. “Fucking sit down before you fall down. What a mess. No wonder Amber left you.”

Mikey scowled at him as he fell into the chair in the corner, his stomach churning and he prayed he didn’t throw up. However if he did it would only give his story more credence.

“Col, any ideas?” said Alex, turning away from Mikey and looking at him instead.

As they discussed the situation they seemingly forgot about Mikey’s presence, which only confirmed how right he’d been to strike first.

“Where the fuck is Jez?” demanded Alex.

Right on cue the man himself burst in looking angry and pointed an accusing finger at Mikey.

“You stupid bastard. What the hell did you do to Amber? She’s only gone abroad taking Cathy and
my
kids with her.”

“I wish I fucking knew. She said she’s had enough.”

“Been tomcatting about again have you? You daft wanker, you’ve got a diamond in Amber and you treat her like shit.”

“I haven’t looked at another woman, I love her.”

“Lying bastard. You must have done something, she’s not the type to do one for no reason. Actually I don’t care what’s happened, it’s between you two. What I’m concerned with is the fact that she’s taken my family along with her. Why am I being punished because you’re such an arsehole?”

As had been prearranged, Mikey hauled himself to his feet and stood nose to nose with Jez. “Don’t call me an arsehole you prick. Maybe if you weren’t such a miserable bastard Cathy would have stuck around.”

Mikey didn’t dare tense his muscles for what was coming, Alex would pick up on it. Consequently when Jez’s fist connected with his face he was knocked off his feet. Just like his older brother he was a powerful fighter.

“Stop it right now. I almost died today so the last thing I want is your pathetic scrapping,” said Alex, putting himself between them. When Mikey started to heave he pointed a finger at Dom. “Get him out of here before he pukes on my floor.”

Dom hauled Mikey to his feet and pulled him to the door. A few seconds later there came the sound of retching followed by Dom’s groan of disgust.

“Are you calm?” Alex roared at Jez.

He just nodded, body rigid with tension. Both his and Mikey’s families going abroad at the same time on the very day Alex was shot at could be deemed highly suspicious and it was a gamble but it looked like their charade had worked because Alex retook his seat. Jez assumed Mikey’s drunken state had gone a long way to giving them some credibility.

Mikey and Dom re-entered the room, Mikey wiping his mouth on a handkerchief given to him by Dom, his eyes bloodshot.

“He got sick on my shoe,” Dom grimaced.

“I don’t give a fuck,” yelled Alex. “Why is everyone so concerned with petty fucking problems? Being shot at is a problem and I want the bastards slit open for it.” His big chest heaved with rage, hands balled into fists. He was so angry he spat the next words out. “Ron’s gone to my house to get Beth and the kids.” Ron was the second in the trio of heavies. “I want them sent away before whoever went after me goes after them. Oh what now?” he sighed when his phone rang.

Jez and Mikey couldn’t help but glance at each other when Alex went completely silent and turned a worrying shade of puce. “Do not fucking move, got it?” He slammed the phone down on the desk and Mikey swallowed hard when he glowered at him, convinced he’d been found out and was about to get a bullet through his skull. His thoughts immediately turned to Amber and Josh.

“Beth’s fucking done one.”

“What?” said Mikey, completely thrown.

“You get more and more stupid. The bitch has had the fucking audacity to run off and take my kids with her. I want them found and brought back. Now.”

“Do you know where they’ve gone?” said Jez.

“If I knew where they’d gone don’t you think I’d be on my way there right now instead of talking to you? I want them found. No one takes my kids from me.”

Mikey hoped they were never found because if Alex ever got his hands on Beth he’d kill her.

“Jez, take that home and get it sobered up,” said Alex, jabbing his finger at Mikey. “Then I want you to put feelers out for the Barlow brothers, I want you to find them. Col, Dom, you’re coming with me. Call the Jordans, tell them to meet us at my house.”

With that they left, leaving Mikey and Jez behind, who looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief.

Alex drove like a madman through the city streets. Col was amazed they didn’t get pulled. When they sped up the drive he slammed on the brakes, jolting them all in their seats and threw the door open, racing up to the front door and charging inside to be greeted by Ron.

“Where is she?” he snarled.

“I’ve no idea,” replied Ron. “She left this,” he said, holding out a note.

Alex snatched it out of his hand. The note was curt. All it told him was that Beth was sick of the abuse and wasn’t going to put her kids or herself at risk anymore and she was going somewhere he’d never find her.

“The bitch,” he yelled, snatching up a vase and hurling it against the wall. Then he rushed upstairs to see what she’d taken. Nothing much was gone, just some of her clothes as well as the kids clothes, a few toys and all her valuable jewellery, no doubt to fund her journey. Alex had never felt fury like it, not even when someone shot at him today. “Is her car still in the garage?” he asked Ron.

“Yes.”

“I want you two to find her. Forget everything else and find my wife and kids.”

“What about the Barlow brothers?” said Ron.

“Forget about those wankers, they’re nothing to do with the shooting.”

“They’re not?”

Alex glanced at Col, who smiled and shook his head.

“What?” frowned Ron, anxiously scratching his stubble.

“It was Mikey and Jez who tried to kill me today. They were the ones on the bike. My guess is Mikey pulled the trigger. He put on a little show to convince us he’d been drinking all day, no doubt he downed a load of whisky straight after he tried to kill me. It was all a ploy to throw me off the scent. They made a mistake sending their families away the same day they try to assassinate me, stupid bastards. I knew it would happen one day. Mikey wants to seize control. I’m fucking lucky I had the bullet proof glass installed.”