Fractured (Dividing Line #4) (20 page)

CHAPTER 22

Rachel was woken by the sound of arguing.

“What’s that?” murmured Ryan.

Lifting her head Rachel saw Mikey and Jez at the door quarrelling with the police officer on guard duty. She clambered off the bed and staggered to the door, head foggy.

“Rach, tell this idiot to get out of our way,” said Mikey.

“It’s fine, they’re family,” she told the officer before grabbing them and pulling them inside. “It’s so good to see you,” she said, hugging them both. She clung onto Mikey for a bit longer, enjoying his reassuring presence.

“How are you Bruv?” said Jez, taking a seat by Ryan’s side.

“Just a bit burnt. I’ll be fine. What I want to know is what the fuck you two have been playing at in Manchester? Jez?” he added when his brother glanced at Mikey.

“We tried to top Alex but we failed,” said Jez, hanging his head.

“You fucking idiots. If you’re going to take out a man like Alex Maguire you make sure you get it right the first time. Now he’s trying to get rid of me and Rachel because he thinks we’ll stand with you against him. Cretins,” he yelled at them.

“Take it easy,” said Rachel.

But he was so angry he continued undaunted. “We could have all died last night thanks to your breathtaking stupidity.”

“Is everything alright?” said the police officer, bobbing his head round the door.

“Fine. Piss off,” spat Ryan.

Rachel shot the poor man an apologetic look as he closed the door. “Ryan please don’t go telling the whole of Devon our business.”

“Sorry Babe,” he said, kissing her hand. He took a deep breath before speaking again, his voice quiet but nevertheless quivering with rage. “You two are fucking lucky I’m injured because if I was feeling a hundred percent I would have ripped your heads off the minute you walked through the door. My wife and kids almost died.”

“We’re so sorry, we never thought you’d get caught up in this,” replied Mikey.

“You should have. The first rule is consider every possible outcome of your actions and you fucked up. How did you try to do it anyway?”

“We shot at him as he came out of the compound but he’d had bullet-proof glass fitted in his car,” said a sheepish Mikey.

“Pricks,” exclaimed Ryan.

“We’re here to set things right,” said Jez. “We’ll get you all away and we’ll take Alex down once and for all.”

“Rachel and the kids are going away but I’m staying.”

“Leave it to us Ryan,” replied Jez.

“Oh yeah, because you’ve been really successful so far. Me and Rachel have already discussed it and we’re in agreement. I’m staying and this time Alex Maguire won’t get back up.”

Jez was secretly relieved Ryan would be taking charge. Alex wouldn’t stand a chance. “Nice one Bruv.”

Ryan gave him a hard look. “Have you spoken to Battler and Bruiser?”

“Yeah, they’re on their way.”

“Will they side with us against Alex?”

“They’ve already said they will, especially when they found out they tried to burn you all alive. Their first loyalty is to Rachel, not Alex.”

She was surprised. “Why?”

Mikey fielded this question. “I never told you this but Frank wanted you running the family, not Danny or Alex.”

“No he didn’t, it was always Danny.”

“No Rach, you were his first choice. He told Battler, Bruiser and Martina as well as me. Unfortunately he died before he could ask you. Danny and Alex were to be your seconds. We didn’t dare mention it when Danny was alive. You both worked well together so why rock the boat? We discussed it after he died but Martina insisted we keep it from you because you said you wanted out and we agreed with her.”

Rachel looked at Ryan, stunned. If Frank had asked her how different would her life have been? “I loved Frank, I didn’t want him to die, but I’m glad we never had that conversation.”

“If you had, what would your answer have been?” said Mikey.

“Don’t answer that,” Ryan told her. “But it explains why Alex is being so aggressive. He knows that when he’s gone someone will take his place and he thinks that person will be you Rachel.”

“But I don’t want it, I never have. I love our life here, we’re happy,” she exclaimed, getting to her feet and gazing out of the window. “I want all this to go way and leave us alone. This isn’t who we are anymore.”

“So you don’t want to be head of the family?” said Mikey.

Rachel turned to face him, the man she thought of as her little brother, and saw a dangerous curiosity in his eyes. “No I do not. I thought you knew me Mikey.”

“Sorry,” he replied, wilting beneath the wrath in her eyes.

“There’s something else you should know,” said Jez.

“I can hardly wait,” said Ryan sardonically.

“Frankie McVay’s in Manchester.”

“Oh marvellous, today just keeps getting better and better,” sighed Rachel.

“He’s on our side. Alex got the Barlow brothers to attack him at The Wherry Tavern and make it look like I’d set it up but it went wrong and Frankie chopped off Stu’s head right in front of me.” The image of the severed head returned and he swallowed hard. “Stu told us what Alex had done and Frankie’s furious. He wants Alex dead and parts of his anatomy hanging on his trophy wall. He doesn’t like it that Alex tried to use him to do his own dirty work.”

Ryan didn’t like Frankie McVay being brought into the equation because he made the situation ten times more precarious. Frankie was volatile and couldn’t be trusted not to switch sides back to Alex. After all, he was his business partner, their deals made them both a lot of money and making money was Frankie’s second favourite thing, next to butchery. “Oh fucking brilliant,” he said, throwing his hands up in the air. “Just when I thought this couldn’t get any worse you throw a complete and utter psychopath into the mix.”

“We didn’t bring Frankie to England, he came because he doesn’t trust Alex anymore. He wanted to have it out with him but Alex refused to meet him. He got me to pick Frankie up from the airport instead and he was really pissed off.”

“Alex must have a death wish if he’s treating Frankie McVay so shoddily,” said Ryan.

“Frankie’s not here in Devon, is he?” said an apprehensive Rachel.

“No,” replied Jez. “He wanted to come but when we told him the police would be crawling all over the place after the fire he decided to stay behind in Manchester.”

“Thank God for that.”

They all abruptly stopped talking when the door opened and Riley entered.

“Rachel, are you okay? You look upset,” said Riley with a concerned frown.

“No, I’m not okay. Riley, this is Mikey and Jez.”

Jez and Riley scrutinised each other across opposing sides of the bed, Ryan laid between them looking from one to the other. Jez got to his feet and everyone held their breath, wondering what he’d do.

“Good to meet you,” said Riley, extending his hand.

For a moment it seemed as though Jez wasn’t going to accept his hand, but he could feel Ryan’s gaze burning into him so reluctantly he shook it. “You too. Thanks for getting them out of there.”

“I don’t want any thanks.”

“Funny how this all starts the minute you turn up.”

“Jez, don’t,” said Rachel.

“Bit of a fucking coincidence though don’t you think? He shows up and suddenly you’re attacked then your house is set on fire.”

“This isn’t down to Riley,” said Ryan. “Drop it.”

Jez went silent but his eyes remained riveted on Riley, who stared right back at him.

“First thing we need to find out is where Alex is now,” said Ryan.

“No one’s seen him,” replied Mikey. “I’ve tried calling him loads of times but his mobile goes straight to voicemail.”

“He’s probably still here, polluting this beautiful place with his manky presence,” said Rachel, staring out of the window.

“First thing we need to do Rach is get you and the kids away. Battler and Bruiser have already said they’ll go with you,” said Mikey.

“Can you trust them?” said Riley.

“Fucking right you can,” growled a deep voice.

Rachel turned to the door and beamed. “Battler, Bruiser,” she said, rushing to give them a hug. “Thanks for coming.”

“You couldn’t keep us away.” Battler looked down at her sadly. “Alex isn’t Alex anymore, he’s disgraced his dad’s name and he needs to be put down before he kills you because he will try again.”

“You’re willing to be a part of that?”

“Yes. It’s what Frank would do, no matter how much it hurt him. If we don’t strike first he’ll kill us all.”

Rachel nodded, wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his big chest. At that moment she trusted Battler and Bruiser more than Mikey and Jez.

Battler looked to Ryan. “How’s the shoulder?”

“Fine, I’m being discharged this afternoon.”

“We’ll take Rachel and the kids away,” Battler told him.

“Where?”

“I’m not telling any of you. If Alex gets hold of you he’ll torture it out of you.”

“No he fucking won’t,” glowered Ryan.

“No offence but my primary concern is Rachel and the kids. I’ll do what I have to do to protect them. If that includes hurting your feelings then tough titty.”

“Alright, fair enough,” sighed Ryan. “But how can I trust you not to take them straight to Alex?”

“Ryan,” frowned Rachel.

“No, it’s a fair question,” replied Battler. “But you’re forgetting that we sided against Alex once before because we love her like a daughter and so did Frank. This is about old loyalties and our first loyalty has never been to Alex, it’s always been to Rachel.”

Rachel was touched by this speech and smiled up at him. “Thanks Battler.”

“Anytime Love.”

“Alex is running mad, like Terry and Jake did,” interjected Bruiser, “There’s something bad in the Maguire blood and he’s got it.”

They all stared at him, surprised by this speech. It was rare for Bruiser to talk.

“How are the kids?” Battler asked Rachel.

“Devastated that they’ve lost their home, but otherwise okay.”

“I don’t know what Alex was thinking, he could have killed three children. Frank and Martina will be turning in their graves.”

“This is because of Martina’s death. The leash has been removed, now he thinks he can do what he likes,” said Mikey. “She was the only person left who could control him.”

“So we’re all agreed that we’re going to do this?” said Ryan, looking at each one of them in turn.

They all nodded, including Riley.

“You really don’t want to be a part of this,” Ryan told him. “You need to get out while you still can.”

“Not a fucking chance, I’m staying.”

“What use are you?” Jez said scathingly.

“You’d be surprised,” Riley coolly replied.

“Ryan’s right,” Rachel told him. “This will be very illegal and you’ve got your career to think of.”

“Let me worry about that.”

“I’m not sure I want you knowing my business anyway,” said Jez. “We don’t know you and we can’t trust you.”

“Shut the fuck up Jez,” said Ryan. “Your actions brought this shit to our door. Riley saved my family’s life twice. What have you done except put us in danger?”

Jez couldn’t reply so he hung his head, looking both furious and upset.

Ryan looked to Battler and Bruiser. “Take Rachel back to the hotel. She needs to arrange new things for her and the kids then get them away as quick as you can. It might be a good idea if Rick and Gill went with you too, Alex could try getting to us through them.”

“They’re going to have some awkward questions,” replied Battler.

“Better that than ending up dead,” retorted Ryan.

Rachel nodded in agreement and bent over to kiss him. “I’ll come back to see you before I go.”

“Don’t. Just get yourself away before Alex tries again.”

“I’m coming back to say goodbye,” she said firmly, afraid she’d never see him again.

He understood this and nodded.

She kissed him. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” he replied, trying to give her his most reassuring smile. “Riley, go with them will you? Rachel might need some help.” He looked to Battler then flicked his eyes to Jez, telling him he wanted to get Riley away from his brother and he wasn’t sending him with them because he didn’t trust them. Battler nodded and wrapped a big arm around Rachel as he escorted her from the room, Rachel constantly looking back at Ryan as she left.

The moment the door closed, Ryan erupted. “Jez, what the fuck was that display about?”

“I don’t know how you can trust him so easily. Don’t tell me you’re losing your edge.”

“Do not speak to me like that after what you’ve done. Riley has proved himself and he’s not a part of your world, he’s legit. Why would he even side with Alex against us?”

“I don’t know, money, power? Maybe he’s tired of being in the army and wants some easy money.”