Fractured (Dividing Line #4) (5 page)

He grinned, got to his feet and held out his hand to help her up. She gave him a shy smile before accepting his hand and he hauled her upright. Nick was shocked by how light she was. Their eyes locked and they stared at each other, still holding hands. Feeling something tickle her bare foot she looked down and released a squeal when she saw a spider crawling across her toes.

“Get it off, get it off,” she cried, kicking out her leg, catapulting the creature into the air. The danger over, she sighed and shook her head. “I just made an idiot of myself again but I bloody hate spiders.”

“That was hilarious,” he laughed.

“Yeah, thanks,” she said dryly.

He scooped her up in his arms, making her shriek with surprise.

“I’ll make sure the nasty spiders don’t get you,” he smiled, walking back towards the car with her. “Keep an eye out for your shoes.”

She beamed and wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to rest her head on his shoulder but hardly daring. He was just being friendly and probably didn’t feel about her the way she’d just realised she felt about him. When he looked at her again the intensity in his eyes made her reconsider that theory.

CHAPTER 6

“You fucking what?” roared Mikey. They were closeted in Alex’s office at the Maguire compound for a meeting and Mikey couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Alex’s expression was hostile. “I said we’re starting up with the stately home robberies again.”

“Are you mental?”

“Right now Mikey you’re one mouthy comment away from being thrown through the bastarding window.”

“If you go ahead with this where do you think the police will go to first? Here because they know Terry and Jake were responsible for the last lot.”

“We won’t do them up here you arsehole. Nick Jordan’s given us a list of places ripe for turning over down south. There’s loads of houses in Essex just begging to be done. Col’s put a crew together who’ll do the legwork and take all the risk while we watch the money roll in.”

“There’s so many things wrong with that plan that I don’t know where to start,” sighed Mikey. “You can’t just walk in on someone else’s patch and start robbing the place. The Slatterys are the major force down there, they’ll go mental.”

“You just leave the Slatterys to me.”

Mikey’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve already got an in with them, haven’t you?”

“I’m not a fucking amateur, I know what I’m doing.”

“What’s to stop the crew or the Slatterys from keeping stuff back for themselves? What if they kill someone? Can they be trusted?”

“Course they can be trusted, they’re my crew,” frowned Col.

“Exactly - your mates, not ours.”

“I’ve met them and they’ve got my approval,” said Alex.

The muscle at the base of Mikey’s jaw throbbed with anger. “A word. In private.”

Alex appeared amused and nodded at Col to leave them alone.

“Why did you not discuss this with me first?” exploded Mikey the minute the door closed behind Col.

“Why the fuck should I? I am capable of making a decision on my own.”

“I’m supposed to be your second and you act like I don’t exist. You’re pushing me out in favour of Col, who is not a Maguire.”

“Just because we share a surname doesn’t mean I have to share everything with you. You’re turning into a nagging fucking shrew, like my missus.”

“Don’t you start on Beth. All she does is love you and you treat her like shit. You don’t deserve her.”

Alex shot to his feet and the two men glowered at each other across the desk.

“My marriage is sod all to do with you so keep your fucking beak out and maybe I wouldn’t have to rely on Col so much if you weren’t such a whingeing little bitch.”

“You mean I’m the only one with the guts to stand up to you. All the others do is kiss your arse and in my book that’s fucking spineless. They’re not giving you good advice, they’re just trying to earn brownie points, especially Col, he’s the worst of the lot.”

“Don’t you have a go at him, he’s a lot more fucking intelligent and creative than you. What have you contributed lately? All you care about is getting home at night.”

“You’re actually calling me for wanting to be with my family. What’s wrong with you? Someone’s got to tell you Alex, you’re out of control. What about that little display you put on at your own mum’s wake? How could you say that to Leah in front of everyone? It was bang out of order.”

“There you go again, sticking up for Rachel. You always were her little lapdog.”

“Better hers than yours.”

Alex banged both fists down on the desk. “You want her running this family, don’t you?”

Mikey was thrown. “What are you talking about?”

“I bet you’d love it if she was in charge. You wouldn’t always be having a go at her, would you? You’d do anything
she
ordered without question.”

“Why are you talking about Rachel?” said Mikey, genuinely confused.

“Don’t act like you don’t know, I know you fucking do,” he growled.

A conversation from years ago replayed itself in Mikey’s memory and suddenly he knew what was eating away at Alex, but for the moment he’d keep that little nugget to himself. “At least she’d have the sense not to start up the robberies again. They’re too showy and obvious and draw lots of unwanted attention and if you don’t call a halt to it then you’re a fucking moron.” With that Mikey stormed out, letting the door slam shut behind him. “Piss off Col,” he muttered on his way out.

Col just smiled at his retreating back before rejoining Alex in his office. He waited patiently for Alex to come out of his brooding. Mikey had only pissed him off even more, which could only be to his benefit. Little did Mikey know that every one of his stupid comments put another nail in his coffin.

“I’m sick of that little bastard,” Alex eventually said.

Col continued to wait, not wanting to put the words in his mouth. It had to come from Alex himself otherwise if he had a change of heart he’d blame him.

“He wants to take over,” Alex said after more pondering. “If I don’t act first I’ll be dead before the year’s out. Mikey’s not real family, he’s my aunt’s useless younger son and he’s too close to Rachel. For that reason alone I can’t trust him. Don’t believe all that shit she talks about wanting to be legit, her and Ryan are just biding their time.”

Col knew Alex was just paranoid but he’d been careful to play on that paranoia and drip poison in his ear not only about Ryan and Rachel but Mikey too. Mikey was in Col’s way and he wanted him gone, but most of all he wanted Ryan Law dead. He’d always wanted to kill him in retaliation for murdering his older brother. He’d nothing against Rachel, despite how much Alex hated her, but she could be used to hurt Ryan and for that reason alone she had to go. Both his enemies gone in one fell swoop. All he needed was for Alex to give the word.

“What do you want me to do?” Col replied.

“Mikey’s got to go, but not just yet.”

Col tried not to sigh with impatience.

“I don’t want to piss off Frankie McVay again with more infighting. We’ve got to make it look like an outside hit.”

“Who?”

“The Barlow brothers we’ve recently gone into business with in Moss Side might be a good choice. They’re getting too big for their boots and they’ve forgotten they’re working for us. We’ll pin it on them then wipe them out in retaliation, then we’ll control the drugs and prostitution entirely in that area. But best of all, we’ll have the heroin there too, something Jez has never managed to achieve.”

Col smiled at the prospect of hurting Ryan Law’s brother. “And what about Jez?”

“What the hell, let’s get rid of Mikey and Jez in one fell swoop. Rachel and Ryan will be up here like a shot after blood and they’ll walk straight into a trap. Then you’ll finally get your wish.”

Col’s smile broadened at the prospect of all the tortures he’d dreamt up especially for Ryan Law, a lot of which involved his wife.

Alex opened the front door to the massive five bedroomed detached new build with his own key. As usual calm descended upon him when he entered, which was a relief after his row earlier with Mikey. Unlike his own home this house was always quiet and ordered. No screaming kids, no toys cluttering the place up and best of all, no shrewish wife. Just like Katia it was elegant and organised, decorated in the cool greys and greens she so loved.

“Katia?” he called as he walked through the house, but there was no response. He entered the massive kitchen, the black granite worktops and dark wood positively gleaming. Although a woman came to clean twice a week he suspected Katia still did a lot of it herself, she said cleaning relaxed her.

He wandered through to the utility room and found Katia bent over loading the washing machine, giving him a wonderful view of her amazing backside. Her beauty had been the first thing about her that he’d noticed but it was her intelligence, cunning and class that kept him coming back for more. In her he saw a kindred spirit.

“Looking good Katia,” he smiled, leaning against the doorframe.

She released a yelp and straightened up. “Alex, you made me jump,” she chided, slapping his arm, the only person in the world who could get away with such a gesture. In the year she’d been in Manchester her thick accent had softened, her voice husky and sexy. He found everything about the woman sexy, from her pink painted toenails and long slender white feet to her silky golden hair that curled around her sculpted face in a sleek bob.

“Why don’t you let Mrs Walker do that? That’s what I pay her for,” he said, gesturing to the laundry basket.

“I don’t want anyone touching my underwear, except you,” she said, twirling a white lace g-string around one finger.

“I can’t argue with that.”

She let the knickers drop back into the basket and took his face in her hands. “How was the funeral?”

“It went well, we gave Mum a good send-off.” His face creased into a frown. “Rachel and Ryan were there.” He’d told her all about them, including why he hated them so much. He didn’t trust anyone else enough to confide in them.

“I hope they behaved themselves?”

“Oh yes. You can’t say they don’t have a sense of occasion. It stuck in my throat how hypocritical they are, all righteous and judgemental after they made a fool of my brother. I told Leah she wasn’t Ryan’s daughter. Unfortunately they’d already got there first so it wasn’t the shock I intended.”

“Have they gone back to Devon?”

“Yes. I had them followed just to make sure. They didn’t have a clue. They’ve lost their edge, which gives me the advantage. I had Beth followed too. She had breakfast with Rachel before she left and didn’t tell me.”

“She didn’t? What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet, I’ll have to think about it, but it proves I can’t trust her.”

Katia saw her ultimate goal was in sight and that was becoming the second Mrs Maguire. She’d dropped many subtle hints over the past year that it would be best to get rid of Beth in whatever way he saw fit, she didn’t care how just as long as the woman was gone. But Alex remained reticent because she was the mother of his children. Katia was taking steps to rectify that balance, then he’d have no reason to keep the witch around.

She started to strip for him right there in the utility room. Not the most romantic of settings but Alex liked to have sex in unusual places. She loved the feel of his eyes on her bare skin, drinking in her body. He took her over the washing machine, which was going through its cycle. The vibration of the machine beneath her and Alex driving into her from behind made her body hum with pleasure, which erupted when the machine started its spin cycle. When it was over he carried her upstairs to start all over again in a more comfortable setting and she gloried beneath his touch, he could go for hours. She loved Alex Maguire more than her own life, she’d do anything for him, including saving him from the family that was dragging him down.

Beth couldn’t remember when she’d last laughed so much. She and Nick had so much fun just walking around the estate grounds and talking, learning more about each other. Nick felt more like a friend than a member of Alex’s staff and she sensed he wasn’t keeping an eye on her anymore, just enjoying her company. The wonderful spell was broken when they turned up the drive to her home.

“Alex isn’t back yet,” she said, relieved. He probably wouldn’t come home until very late or maybe not at all, which was fine by her. “Would you like to come in for a coffee?”

Nick glanced at the clock on the dashboard. He was supposed to be meeting his brother for a pint but Beth had never extended this invitation before and he had the feeling it was significant. They’d had a great day together, he’d felt so at ease in her company. She was made for him. “Why not?”

They walked into the house to be greeted by silence.

“Where are the kids?” he said.

“The au pair’s taken them to my parent’s for tea.”

“Didn’t you want to go with them?”

“No, my mum keeps getting on my case about the weight loss. I’ll make the coffee,” she hastily added before he could comment on that.

He followed her through to the huge kitchen. The whole house reeked of unhappiness.

“I had a really good time today,” she smiled as she bustled about the kitchen.

“I’m glad about that.” She looked so much more relaxed, the colour was back in her cheeks and her eyes were bright. All she needed was a bit of tender loving care to bring her back out of her shell. “He doesn’t deserve you Beth,” he said quietly.

“I know,” she replied, the carefree smile falling away. “I’m not so completely without my dignity that I don’t know that.”

He took her hand and turned her to face him. “I’ve not been able to stop thinking about you since the day we met.”

She stared up into his handsome face. Once upon a time she’d thought she could only ever love Alex but Nick lit a fire inside her. “You can’t say things like that. He’d kill you.”

“You’re worth the risk,” he said before pressing his lips to hers.

Beth’s insides twisted with desire, the scent of his aftershave filling her head, his strong arms sliding around her waist. She wrenched herself away and turned her back on him.

“Beth…”