Fractured (Dividing Line #4) (23 page)

“Thank God for that,” sighed Alex, pushing her off him into the footwell.

CHAPTER 25

Battler returned to the shop out of breath after trying to chase Rachel through the airport. She’d completely vanished and he wasn’t afraid to admit to himself that he was terrified. He’d not alerted his brother to the situation yet, not wanting to scare the kids unless he really had to. He’d seen Rachel dump her phone on a shelf in the shop and thankfully it was still there, so he picked it up and began scrolling through the recent calls. The last call was from an unknown number. There was also a text message from an unknown number seconds after the call.
It’s make your mind up time.
Battler frowned at the screen. That was just the sort of thing Alex would say.

“Shit,” he sighed, taking out his own mobile phone.

Ryan had just had his burn redressed and was buttoning up his shirt when Mikey, Riley and Jez assembled in his room.

“Well?” Ryan demanded of them, fastening the buttons on his cuffs.

“They’re at the airport with Battler and Bruiser, they’re safe.”

“That’s a relief,” he said, perching on the edge of the bed to pull on his shoes, trying not to grimace at the pain in his shoulder.

Mikey tutted when his phone rang. “Yeah?” He listened in silence, eyes widening. “Oh shit.”

“What?” demanded Ryan, head snapping up and fear in his eyes.

“That was Battler. Rachel legged it out of the airport.”

“What?”

“Battler was with her in one of the airport shops getting some last minute things when she got a phone call. She told him it was the hotel manager. Then she hung up and just ran out of the airport. She left her mobile behind. There was a text message on it from an unknown number saying it’s make your mind up time.”

“Was she alone?” said Jez.

“Yes. Battler went after her but you’ve seen this size of him. He couldn’t catch her.”

“Where the hell did she go?” yelled Ryan.

“Battler thought she went outside.”

“The kids?”

“Fine as well as Gill and Rick. It’s just Rachel.”

“What’s Battler told them?”

“Nothing yet, not even Bruiser knows. He’s waiting for me to get back to him.”

“Oh Jesus Rachel,” Ryan sighed, burying his face in his hands. He took a deep breath and lifted his head to regard them. “So she gets a call, probably from Alex who somehow gets her to leave safety and go to him. He must have threatened the kids, it’s the only way she would have done that.”

“We’ll get her back,” said Jez, patting his brother’s shoulder.

“What about Gill and Rick and the kids?” said Mikey. “Do we still send them away?”

“Yes,” said Ryan.

“What if they won’t go without Rachel?”

“Give me your phone.”

Mikey handed Ryan his mobile so he could call Battler back.

“Battler, this is what I want you to do,” said Ryan. “Tell Gill and Rick that Rachel started feeling ill and has come back to the hospital to get checked over. They’re still to go abroad. Do not tell them she’s disappeared.”

“I don’t think they’ll believe it,” replied Battler’s uncertain voice.

“If they don’t they can phone me. Tell them Mikey and Jez themselves picked her up.”

“They won’t believe she went without saying goodbye.”

“Rick might not but the others will. I’m trusting you Battler to get them to safety.”

“I will.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m so sorry Ryan, it was the last thing I was expecting. I’ve let you down.”

“I don’t blame you. There’s no stopping Rachel when she gets an idea in her head, believe me, I know. When they’re settled abroad I need you and Bruiser back here. Call me if there’s any problems.”

When Ryan hung up Battler sighed and put his phone away, desperately trying to think up some tale there was a possibility Rick might actually believe.

“Where’s Rachel?” demanded Rick when Battler returned alone.

“I’ve just left her with Mikey and Jez, they’ve taken her back to hospital,” he replied, the lie easily tripping off his tongue.

“Why?”

“She wasn’t feeling well. She’s gone back for another check-up, just to make sure it’s safe for her to fly.”

“What’s wrong with her?” said Gill.

“Just a bit of a headache and some blurred vision. She thought she might have concussion, she banged her head escaping from the fire. She told me to tell you not to worry, she doesn’t think it’s anything serious, she just wants to make doubly sure before flying out to a foreign country.”

Gill nodded approvingly. “Very sensible but that’s our Rachel. We’ll wait for her.”

“She said for you to go on ahead, she’ll meet you out there,” added Battler.

“I don’t believe this,” said Rick. “She wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye to her children.”

Leah nodded in agreement, looking scared.

“She didn’t want to worry you.”

Rick gave him a look that told him he didn’t trust him an inch. “I’m calling her.”

“You can’t, she left this behind,” he replied, holding up her phone.

“Then I’m calling Ryan,” he said with a suspicious frown.

“You’ll have to call Mikey’s phone, Ryan lost his in the fire. Here, use mine.”

Rick snatched the phone from him, mistrust in his eyes. Battler was relieved, let Ryan set him straight.

“Ryan, it’s Rick, is Rachel there? Battler said…” As Ryan spoke Rick looked like he’d been punched. He slowly nodded. “Yes, I understand. Bye,” he rasped before hanging up.

“Well?” said Gill.

“Rachel’s at the hospital, Ryan’s with her. They think she’ll be fine, she just needs a bit more rest before she can attempt a long journey. Doctor’s orders.” He hugged Leah. “See, she’ll be fine, she just needs some sleep. Your dad’s with her.”

“Oh, okay, but I wish she was coming.”

“I know but the next thing you know she’ll be with us sunning herself around the pool.” He picked up some of the bags and started marching away. “We’d better get to the departure gate or we’ll be late.”

“Wait,” said Gill, hurrying to catch up while carrying Aaron. “You’re sure she’s okay?”

“Fine. Now let’s go.”

He was so commanding they all did as he said without further protest. Battler walked alongside him.

“Promise me you’ll get my daughter back,” Rick quietly told him.

“We will, have no fear there.”

Rick grabbed Battler’s arm and stopped him in his tracks, allowing the others to go on ahead. “You kill Alex once and for all. I don’t want him hurting my little girl again. Do you understand me? Get rid of the bastard.”

Battler was shocked and a little saddened by this decent law-abiding man being reduced to ordering someone’s murder. He saw the shock in Rick’s eyes as he realised what he’d said.

“Now I understand how Rachel got sucked into that life so quickly. It’s easy wishing rid of someone when it benefits you. I hate the Maguires,” he said angrily before storming off after his family.

Despite his years of loyalty to the family, Battler couldn’t blame him.

“Ryan, calm down and think,” said Jez, grabbing him by the shoulders and giving him a firm shake. “What do we do?”

“I don’t fucking know,” he snarled, kicking over the bin. When the police officer on the door glanced through the window with a frown Ryan glared at him until he looked away.

“We need to get back to Manchester,” said Mikey. “That’s where he’ll take her, back to his home turf where he’s most comfortable and he’s got coppers in his pocket.”

“Did it occur to you that she could be dead already?” said Ryan, his voice cracking.

They were talking quietly so the police officer guarding the door wouldn’t overhear.

“She isn’t, you can’t think like that,” said Jez.

“He wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble just to kill her immediately,” said Riley from the back of the room. “He’s got plans.”

“You mean he’s going to torture her?” said Jez. “Yeah nice one Riley.”

“Not necessarily. He might intend to use her to draw Ryan out.”

“He knows the best way to hurt me is by taking her from me,” said Ryan, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms, trying not to give way to panic. Rachel needed him calm and thinking clearly. “Anyway Riley’s right, Alex has got a bigger plan than simply killing her. This is about revenge and he’s going to take his time and enjoy it. We have to go to Manchester.” He looked to Riley. “Maybe you should stay here? This is going to get rough.”

“I’m in.”

“You’d better stay, you might get hurt,” said Jez sarcastically.

Riley fixed him with a cool stare. “I bet I’ve seen more action and killed more people than you.”

“Yeah, you think you can take me on? Let’s go right now.”

“Stop being an idiot Jez. Riley could probably take all three of us on at once,” said Ryan. “He’s in the Regiment.”

“What Regiment?”

“The SAS so don’t doubt he can’t handle what we’re going to do,” Ryan snapped. “But Jez does have a point Riley. This is highly illegal and that’s something you’re not into.”

“Can I speak to you alone?” said Riley, his face a mask, giving nothing away.

Ryan nearly burst with impatience. “Alright but make it quick, we’ve got to get to Manchester. You two, go and book us on the next flight.”

Mikey and Jez left, the latter casting Riley a glare.

“You wanted to know about how I lost my baby?” said Riley.

Ryan nodded. “But only when you’re ready to tell.”

“I am now.” He took a deep breath, forming the words in his mind. He had to get it out while his mental defences allowed it. “My fiancée Zoe was pregnant with our daughter when an enemy of mine kidnapped and raped her before murdering them both.”

“Jesus Christ,” said a stunned Ryan.

“It happened right in front of me. They chained me to a radiator so I couldn’t escape, forced to watch while they did all that to her right in front of me. They made it last two hours, all the time Zoe screaming for me to save her when I couldn’t. Some friends of mine managed to get me out before they killed me too but they were too late to save Zoe and Maisie, that’s what we’d decided to call our little girl.”

“When was this?”

“Three years ago,” he said, jaw tense.

“Did you get the bastard who did it?”

“Not yet but I will. So you see, that’s why I need to help. I couldn’t save Zoe but I know I can help you save Rachel.”

Ryan patted his shoulder. “Alright, we’ll get Rachel back then we’ll find the bastard who killed Zoe. Together.”

“Thank you,” Riley quietly replied, attempting to push the memories of Zoe’s screaming aside.

“First I need to get past that nosey bastard copper,” said Ryan, gesturing to the door.

“Allow me,” said Riley before opening the door. “Alright Mate? Can we have a word?”

The officer nodded and stepped inside. Riley closed the door behind him then his fist connected with his jaw. The officer’s eyes rolled back in his head and he slid to the floor, Riley catching him before he hit the ground. Ryan was astonished by how fast it had happened, he doubted the copper even knew what had hit him, which could prove useful.

“Not very subtle, but effective,” said Ryan as they picked up the unconscious man between them and hauled him onto the bed. “Let’s get out of here before Boyle comes back.”

Seeing the man himself at the nurse’s station chatting up a pretty redhead they snuck down the back staircase, outside and into the back of the taxi Mikey and Jez had arranged.

“So where are we dropping Riley off?” said Jez from the front as they set off.

“Nowhere, he’s coming with us,” replied Ryan.

“But…” The look on Ryan’s face was enough to silence him so he settled back in his seat to sulk for the duration of the journey.

CHAPTER 26

Rachel was woken by a slap to the face.

“Wake up Rach, time to get out,” grinned Alex, looking extremely pleased with himself.

She groaned and pushed herself upright. “What did you give me? I feel like shit.”

“Just something to keep you quiet for the long drive back.”

“Where are we?” she said, attempting to focus her eyes.

“Manchester.”

She groaned again. So far from home.

He hauled her out of the car and she started to struggle, trying to knock him off balance but he just punched her in the stomach and threw her over his shoulder. He carried her into a stinking rundown redbrick terrace. Inside the floorboards were bare, the men’s weight causing them to creak and groan.

“I thought you might enjoy a little reunion,” said Alex, throwing her to the floor.

The air was knocked out of her, causing her aching head to pound.

“Rachel?” said a soft voice.

She pushed herself upright, her stomach threatening to evacuate all over the filthy floor. She strained her neck to look up, blinking when her vision swam out of focus. When it cleared she saw a terrified Beth sat on a stained magenta couch with an equally scared Alfie and Archie, Holly cradled in her arms. The little girl nestled into her mum sucking her thumb, eyes wide like saucers.

“Aren’t you going to say hello to your old friend?” said Alex.

“Beth, are you alright?” said Rachel calmly.

“Yes,” she whispered, so scared she could barely speak.

“What the hell are you doing Alex? Look at your kids, they’re terrified,” said Rachel.

“Blame that slag for that, she tried to take them from me. They’ve all got to learn that no one leaves me.”

“Who do you think you are?” she said, furious. “Martina would be ashamed of you. I’m just glad she’s not here to see your fall from grace.”

He kicked her in the stomach and she gasped, crumpling up into a ball on the floor.

“Stop it,” yelled Alfie, leaping up off the couch and crouching beside his aunt, putting himself between her and his dad. “Leave her alone.”

Alex appeared astonished by the boy’s defiance. “She’s not worth protecting Son. She’s a back-stabbing cheating bitch. What’s so fucking funny?” he added when Rachel started to laugh.

“Ryan was right. You know about that night between me and him in Martina’s Bar, don’t you?”

“Yes I do.”

“Who told you?”

“Gary. He doesn’t even remember telling me, he was pissed out of his head at the time.”

“You get told some tale by a drunk barman and you go off on one, you stupid bastard.”

He moved to kick her again but Alfie refused to budge. “No.”

“Alfie, get out of the way.”

“No, you won’t hurt her again.” He actually stared down his enormous dad, who looked away first. Alfie gave him a disgusted look before attempting to remove the tape binding Rachel’s hands. “Take it off, it’s hurting her.”

With a sigh Alex took a knife out of his pocket and cut the tape then pulled Rachel to her feet and shoved her into an equally stained and equally pink armchair. He rounded on his eldest son. “You sit back down and don’t say another word. Do you fucking understand?”

The boy just stared at him sulkily.

“It’s okay Alfie Sweetheart, sit down with your mum,” said Rachel, not daring to take her eyes off Alex.

He retook his seat, hatred in his eyes when he looked at his father. Beth was shaking violently, on the verge of disintegrating completely.

“You were saying?” Alex said to Rachel, his jaw set and tendons popping out in his neck.

“Why didn’t you just talk to me about it? We could have sorted it out ages ago but instead you let it fester and rot. Yes, I admit it did happen. I was scared and lonely and I thought me and Danny were over but nothing else happened until a year after Danny died.”

“I don’t believe you.”

She shrugged. “That doesn’t change the fact that it’s true. I loved Danny and I wouldn’t have cheated on him.”

“You would have one day. Admit it.”

“No,” she replied, trying not to think about what her dad had said.

“Admit it,” he yelled, causing all his children to jump.

“I will not admit to something I didn’t do. Why are you having such a hard time with this? The old Alex would have confronted me about it ages ago and believed me when I denied it. What’s happened to you?”

“I realised we’ve had a traitor in our midst all this time.”

“You’re the traitor Alex. I won’t tell your wife about the offer you made me in Devon,” she smirked. “You’re the one with the problem with loyalty, not me.”

“What do you mean?” said Beth, finally finding her voice.

“Nothing, she’s just desperate,” retorted Alex. He smiled down at Rachel. “We did have it out once but you don’t remember. It was the day you lost your baby. You denied it then came out with a load of nasty shit that proved what you really are.”

“I remember not long before that happened you were down on your knees begging me to meet with Jan Jordan and I agreed because I wanted to help. Then they killed my baby.”

Beth released a whimper. “Rachel I’m so sorry.”

Rachel kept her gaze focused on Alex. “I did that for you Alex because I loved you, I thought of you as my brother but all the time you were crawling on your belly begging me to help you hated me, and for what? Because you think I might have cheated on your brother years ago? No, come on, there’s more to it than that. What else did I do to hurt you?”

“I’ve already told you.”

“No you haven’t. There’s something else.”

“My dad wanted you running the family,” he exploded.

“Finally, the truth,” she exclaimed.

“Mum told me everything not long before she died. Dad told her that he didn’t think me or Danny were up to it. He thought you were the logical choice with me and my brother as your seconds, his own fucking sons cow-towing to a scheming slag.”

“I wouldn’t have taken it even if he had offered it me, which he didn’t. You offered me it yourself and I turned it down, its never been what I wanted.”

“You infected my family like a cancer. Everything started going wrong when you showed up. Dad died, Terry and Jake turned against us then Danny died. Now Mum.”

“You can’t blame me for Martina, she had a stroke…” She saw the guilt in his eyes and her stomach dropped. “Oh my God Alex, what did you do?”

He clutched at his hair with both hands. “It wasn’t my fault, she kept going on and on about what a bad husband and father I was, telling me Dad and Danny would be ashamed, why couldn’t I be more like Ryan? Fucking Ryan Law. She wouldn’t stop.”

Rachel shot to her feet. “What did you do?”

“She kept pushing me and pushing me…”

“What did you do to her?” she screamed in his face.

He appeared to be on the verge of confessing before his face twisted with rage. Fortunately this time Rachel was ready and she dodged out of the way when his fist shot out. She grabbed his wrist and kicked him in the chest, knocking him backwards.

“Frank was right about one of his sons not being up to the job,” she said before punching him full in the face. “Run,” she yelled at Beth and the kids.

Beth leapt up clutching Holly to her, the boys following and ran for the door while Rachel grappled with Alex. She knew she didn’t have long, there was no way she could stand up to him. All she could do was avoid the rapid blows as his big fists came at her. When she’d hit him in the face it had been like punching granite and her hand ached. He backhanded her, knocking her over and she grabbed onto the fireplace to remain upright, kicking out when he got too near, her foot connecting with his stomach. When she tried to punch him again he seized her wrist and shoved her backwards. She hit the windowsill hard and slumped to the floor. Alex flipped her onto her front and pulled her head to one side so she could see Beth and the kids being ushered back in by his stooges.

“You see that?” he whispered in her ear. “They’ll never escape me and neither will you.” He twisted her arms behind her back so hard it felt like they were being pulled out of their sockets and she grunted with pain. “Tape,” he called and he held her while Gus tethered her wrists together. He hauled her to her feet by her hair and she saw tears pouring down her best friend’s face. On the bright side Beth looked like she’d come back to life. There was still fear in her eyes but now it had been joined by anger.

“Alex, let her go,” Beth told him firmly.

“No. Don’t you see she’s the cause of all our problems?”

“No she’s not, you are. Stop blaming everyone else for how you’ve messed up.”

“Shut it,” he said, dragging Rachel to the door. “Me and her are going to talk in private.”

Beth paled. “What are you going to do to her?”

He didn’t bother to reply. Instead he spoke to Gus. “Make sure they stay in here.”

He nodded as Alex dragged Rachel towards the door.

“Alex, what are you going to do?” screamed Beth, getting to her feet.

Gus put himself before her to stop her following.

As Alex dragged Rachel up the stairs backwards she struggled just to remain upright with her hands tied behind her back. At the top he kicked the door open and she was thrown onto her back on a musty old bed, the pink blankets matching the suite downstairs, grimacing with pain as she landed on her hands.

Bile rose in her throat. “Why are we up here?”

“You look scared Rach,” he grinned.

“What are you going to do?”

“It would really fuck you and Ryan up if he knew you’d been with another man.”

“No, you’re not doing that to me,” she cried, trying to clamber off the bed but he grabbed her legs and held her down as he climbed on top of her. “No, oh God please no, not that,” she screamed. She’d rather be beaten or tortured, anything else.

“It would tear you both apart,” he grinned humourlessly, pushing up her skirt. “Your life with him would be over.”

“No,” she cried, lashing out with her feet while writhing furiously but he simply flipped her onto her front. With her arms pinioned behind her she was helpless.

“Get off me,” she yelled when she felt his hands on her thighs.

“Danny told me about these stockings, he fucking loved them. I’ve been curious to see for myself for a long time. I understand now what he meant.”

“Alex, don’t. Think of everything we’ve gone through together, how we used to be, like brother and sister. You cross this line and there’s no going back. Think what your dad would say if he could see what you’ve become.”

He bent over to whisper in her ear. “I’m going to fuck you like you fucked my family.”

“No Alex, please,” she said, disintegrating into tears.

“Not so tough now. You’ve gone soft Rach,” he said, pulling down her panties.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she said, lashing out with her feet. She couldn’t see what she was doing but she felt her feet connect with something.

“Ow you bitch” he said, punching her in the back of the thigh, causing her to scream with pain. He grabbed her legs and pulled them apart. “This will hurt.”

When she heard his zip go down she buried her face in the blanket, praying it would be over quickly. “Ryan,” she whispered.

“You may as well forget about him because I’m going to break you….oh what is it?” he said when the door creaked open.

“Daddy?”

Rachel closed her eyes and sighed, her heart breaking. Archie. What must the poor boy think seeing his dad like this?

Gus appeared behind the boy. “Sorry Boss. Alfie distracted us so he could get up here.”

“Can’t you control a couple of kids you useless bastards?” Alex sighed heavily. “Go downstairs Archie. I’ll be down in a minute.”

Rachel heard the door close and held her breath, fearing what he would do next. She almost wept with relief when he got up off the bed and fastened himself up. All she could do was lie there with her bare backside on display. He pulled her underwear back up and her skirt down then hauled her to her feet.

“Congratulations you’ve just scarred your son for life,” she said but her voice was tired and flat. She was exhausted and felt like she could fall over at any moment.

“Don’t think I’m done with you. There’s another way to show you what happens to slags.”

He led her back downstairs and shoved her through the door, steering her back into the armchair then he stormed out, slamming the door shut behind him, leaving Gus to watch over them.

Alfie and Archie ran to Rachel and hugged her.

“Thank you boys,” she said, kissing the tops of their heads. She couldn’t hug them because she still had her hands tied behind her back.

“Did…did he…,” stammered Beth.

“No he didn’t, thanks to these two.”

“Was he going to?”

Rachel took in a deep shaky breath. “Yes.”

“Oh Rach, I don’t know what to say. He’s turned into a monster. Do you think…Martina…?”