Fractured (Dividing Line #4) (16 page)

“Mum,” cried a scared voice.

CHAPTER 18

Alex was so surprised by the sound of Leah’s voice that he released Rachel and she raced round him, grabbed her daughter’s hand and pulled her out of the room. They ran into the hallway, aiming for the front door. However Col stepped out in front of them, blocking their exit, his hand going to the butt of the gun Rachel could see nestled in his inner jacket pocket.

“I wouldn’t recommend that,” he said, eyes flicking to Leah.

Rachel pulled her daughter behind her protectively, shielding her. “This is nothing to do with her.”

“You’re right, it’s not,” said Alex, striding out of the kitchen. He knelt before Leah and smiled. “I just want to talk to your mum Sweetheart.”

“You were hurting her, I saw you.”

“I won’t hurt her, promise. You know me Leah, I’m Alfie and Archie’s dad, your uncle. You can trust me.”

Rachel just wanted to get her away from him. “It’s alright Leah, I’ll be fine. Uncle Alex won’t hurt me, will you?”

“Of course not.”

“Go up to your room and stay there. Don’t come down until I say it’s okay. Why don’t you listen to your new CD? You can put it on as loud as you like,” soothed Rachel.

“Can I?”

“Yes Petal. Now go on.”

Leah was still uncertain but felt she must do as she was told. “Okay.”

Alex watched her go back upstairs with a reassuring smile on his face. When she was out of sight and the music came on full blast he grabbed a handful of Rachel’s hair and dragged her back into the kitchen. “Now me and you can have a proper talk,” he said, throwing her to the floor and slamming the kitchen door shut while Col went upstairs to make sure Leah stayed in her room. “Where’s my wife and kids?” he bellowed.

“I don’t know,” she replied, getting to her feet.

She expected him to attack her but he didn’t. Instead his expression softened, which she found even scarier. “How has it come to this Rach?”

“I wish I knew.”

“We were like brother and sister once. We went after Danny’s killer together. I’d never respected anyone like I respected you. We could have run the family together and taken over the whole fucking country but you had to marry Ryan.”

“I wish you’d tell me why you have a problem with him.”

“You don’t remember, do you?”

“Remember what?” she replied, recalling Ryan’s theory about the day she lost Thomas. In the background she heard the phone start to ring again and tried to formulate a plan to reach it.

Alex took her face in his hands, running his thumbs along her cheekbones. “There’s always been something special between us.”

She didn’t like the way he was touching her, it was almost sexual and she’d never thought of Alex like that. “Yes. We were like brother and sister, just like you said.”

“We could be so much more than that Rach,” he said, letting his lips slide across her cheek.

“Stop it,” she said, trying to push him away.

“Come back to Manchester with me, you can bring Leah. All the true Maguires together.”

“We are not Maguires,” she snarled. She punched him in the stomach, putting all of her strength into it but he knew how she fought and had tensed his stomach muscles in anticipation, so it had absolutely no effect. However he did release her. She snatched the butcher’s knife from the block on the worktop and pointed it at him.

“Oooh,” he laughed. “Sure you want to go down that road? I might take it off you and use it on you.”

“Try it and I’ll kill you.”

“Yes but despite everything you’ve done you’ve never actually killed anyone, have you? You’ve beaten people up and tortured them but you’ve never gone all the way.”

“I killed Jarvis.”

“Not intervening when someone has a heart attack is very different to sticking a blade in someone. I should know, I’ve done it often enough. Could you stab me, the son of Frank and Martina and Danny’s only brother?” He smiled when her hand shook and uncertainty crept into her eyes. “Course you couldn’t Rach but I could do it to you.”

They were both surprised when the back door opened and a figure casually strolled in, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jogging bottoms.

“Ryan, glad you could make it,” grinned Alex. Confusion filled his eyes. “You’re not Ryan.” He studied the newcomer and smiled. “Riley Cutter. Trust me you don’t want to get involved with this family, especially not this poisonous bitch. Why don’t you walk away while you still can?”

“Rachel, where are the kids?” said Riley perfectly calmly.

“The boys are out with Ryan. Leah’s upstairs, one of his henchmen is guarding her. He’s got a gun.”

“And I have this,” said Alex, drawing an horrific weapon from his belt, a knife with a jagged six inch blade. “I respected your old man Riley but he’s dead and his name carries no protection anymore, so you can fuck off.”

Rachel watched as Riley’s demeanour changed entirely. He seemed to unfurl himself, sliding his hands out of his pockets, muscles tensing and eyes hardening. He put himself in front of Rachel.

“No.”

Alex shrugged. “Your choice.”

It happened so fast Rachel missed it. One minute Alex was coming at Riley with the knife, the next he was on his knees, his arm caught in Riley’s death grip, grimacing with pain and the knife was on the floor beside him. Rachel darted forward and snatched it up.

“I think it’s you who should fuck off,” Riley told Alex, voice icy. “Now, how would you like to leave, by the door or the window? If you’re polite to the lady I might even open it before I throw you through it.”

Alex’s face turned puce with fury. “I’m going to fucking…ah you bastard,” he bellowed when Riley twisted harder.

“Wrong answer but I’ll give you one more chance. If you get it wrong again I will snap your wrist then your elbow, then your shoulder. After that I get really creative.”

Rachel was amazed. Riley had one of the most powerful criminals in the country in an arm lock and he didn’t appear to be the least bit bothered. He was well aware who Alex was, after all he was Stuart Cutter’s son.

Before a furious Alex could reply, there came the sound of footsteps descending the stairs.

“Rachel, pass me the knife then get out of sight,” Riley told her so firmly she didn’t dare disobey.

She handed the weapon to Riley, who dragged Alex to his feet and held him before him, the knife pressed to his throat. She ducked behind a kitchen unit seconds before Col strode in.

As Rachel peeked round the corner of her hiding place she realised why Riley had told her to hide. Col had his gun drawn and he couldn’t use her as a hostage to get Riley to release Alex.

“Who the fuck are you?” said Col.

“None of your business. You’re trespassing. Put the gun down then get out,” replied Riley and once again Rachel marvelled at him.

“I don’t think so.”

“Drop it or I start on him with the knife.”

“I’ll shoot you first.”

“Not with that piece of crap you’re holding. It makes a loud bang but it’s shit to aim with. You’re more likely to blow his head off than mine. Now drop it.”

“No.”

He jabbed the tip of the knife into Alex’s neck, creating a puncture wound.

“Ow you fucker,” grimaced Alex, blood trickling onto his shirt collar.

“I’m one centimetre from the jugular vein.” said Riley. “If you don’t want me to get closer I suggest you put the gun down.”

When Col hesitated, uncertain what to do, Riley jabbed Alex again.

“For fuck’s sake, put the gun down you daft bastard,” yelled Alex, face white.

Col dropped it.

“Kick it over here,” said Riley.

When he kicked it Rachel leapt out from her hiding place and snatched it up. Riley nodded at her to stand next to him. She didn’t dare take her eyes off Col as she walked across the room to join Riley. He kicked Alex in the back, knocking him forwards and took the gun from Rachel.

“Both of you take off your jackets,” said Riley, cocking the weapon and pointing it at them.

Looking extremely pissed off they removed their jackets and threw them to the floor.

“Turn round.”

The gun sticking out of the back of Alex’s belt made Rachel’s blood run cold. Riley took it and held it out to Rachel. “Ever handle one of these before?”

“Oh yes,” she said, accepting it and aiming it at Alex’s broad back. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Turn back round,” Riley ordered the men. “Hands on heads.”

“You’re making a big mistake,” said Alex, nevertheless doing as he was told.

“It wouldn’t be the first time. Now fuck off, you’re bleeding all over this nice floor.”

Rachel and Riley marched them to the door keeping the guns trained on them. Once they were outside and walking down the drive Rachel handed the weapon to Riley. “Leah,” she said, racing upstairs. She found her daughter white-faced, hunched up on the bed, her new CD blaring out.

“Mum,” she cried, leaping up to hug her.

“It’s okay Sweetheart, they’ve gone. Did he hurt you?”

“No but he took my phone. He didn’t think to take my laptop though. I sent Dad an e-mail, he’s coming.”

“My clever girl,” she smiled.

“You’ve got a bruise,” she said, pointing to her cheek.

“It’s fine.”

“Uncle Alex hurt you.”

“I’m fine, really.”

“He left quickly.”

“Uncle Riley made him.”

Leah smiled. “I like him.”

“Me too Sweetie.”

They both jumped when the door banged open but it was only Riley. “Are you okay Leah?”

She nodded. “Thank you Uncle Riley.”

He was pleased with this title and smiled.

“Have they gone?” said Rachel.

He nodded. “I made sure of it.”

They all froze at the sound of a car engine, tyres screeching up the drive.

Rachel peeked out of the window. “Thank God, it’s Ryan.”

The three of them hurried downstairs just as Ryan burst in clutching a baseball bat.

“Rachel,” he yelled.

She threw herself into his arms. “It’s alright, they’ve gone,” she said.

He dropped the baseball bat and held her tightly. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

“Dad.”

“Leah.” He hugged them both and kissed the tops of their heads. “Thank God,” he whispered. “Who was it?”

“Alex and Col Sugar looking for Beth. She’s only run off with Nick Jordan,” replied Rachel.

“Bloody hell, I wouldn’t have guessed that.”

“He thought they were hiding here. Col searched the house and obviously didn’t find her.”

“Did you know about Beth and Nick?”

“No, she’s never mentioned him to me.” Rachel was actually a little hurt but knew Beth had only kept her in the dark to protect her, just like she’d done the same to her so many times. “Riley saw them off, he was amazing.”

Ryan stepped forward to shake his hand. “Thank you, you don’t know how much I mean that.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Where are the boys?” said Rachel.

“With Harry’s dad. I told him there was a family emergency. He said they could stay for tea.”

“Good. We need to call Mikey.”

“Do you want to do it or shall I?”

“It might be better coming from me.” She kissed him then went into the study to make the call.

“I’ll clean up in the kitchen,” said Riley, disappearing in the opposite direction.

Ryan settled Leah on the couch in front of the television. The resilience of children never ceased to amaze him. Ten minutes later she’d stopped shaking and was completely engrossed in her favourite film. He left her to join Rachel in the study then hesitated and decided to go into the kitchen instead. He found Riley on his hands and knees mopping up droplets of blood.

“Who does that belong to?” said Ryan.

“Alex.”

“What did you do to him?”

“Stabbed him in the neck until his friend put the gun down.”

“Pity you didn’t cut his throat.”

“It was tempting but I didn’t want to make a mess of your kitchen.”

Ryan smiled, experiencing a curious sense of pride in his brother. “So you used some of your SAS moves on him?”

Riley looked up, an amused smile on his lips. “SAS moves?”

“Sorry, your army training.”

“Yes I did. They came prepared, with guns. I think they intended to execute you and Rachel.”

Ryan sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “God Riley, if you hadn’t been here…”

“But I was.” He straightened up, threw the cloth into the bin and washed his hands. “They’ve gone, for now, but they will be back. You must be prepared.”

“I fucking intend to be. How far do we have to go to get away from this shit?”

“One thing I’ve learnt is that you can’t run from the past, it always finds you. It’s better to face up to it so you can put it to bed for good.”