Fractured (Dividing Line #4) (7 page)

Her heart went out to him. “I understand but I have to say I honestly don’t know how he’ll react. Last time you turned up we’d just lost Thomas and he was all over the place, but there’s a chance he might be more receptive now.”

“How big a chance?”

“I’m not going to lie to you, it’s a slim one but he’s in the same position as you. He lost three of his brothers violently and he hates his mum, he’s only got Jez left. They never used to be close but they are now and neither of them want anything intruding on that relationship.”

“I’m not here to intrude. I only want to get to know you all.”

She handed him his mug of tea. “Ryan’s a reasonable man. He’ll listen to what you have to say and I really hope you can work it out, you’d be good for each other and you look so alike it’s scary.”

This made him smile. “We do?”

“You knew each other when you were younger, did you never notice?”

“Not really, he was a lot skinnier than me and I had long hair. Then I joined the army and I’ve not seen him since.”

“He’s bulked up a lot, he’s got the same build as you. Just wait and see, I can guarantee you’ll be surprised by the resemblance. The DNA test wasn’t necessary.” There was the sound of a car engine and she glanced out of the window. “Looks like you’re about to find out for yourself.”

Riley saw the gleaming black Range Rover roll to a halt outside. He wasn’t a man used to feeling nervous but he definitely had butterflies in his stomach.

CHAPTER 8

“Wait here, I’ll go out to meet him,” said Rachel, thinking it would be best if Ryan had some warning. He didn’t like surprises.

Just as she hurried to the back door he burst in wearing a big grin and clutching a bottle of champagne. “It’s done Babe. Whispers is now officially ours.” This was a nightclub in Torquay they’d set their sights on and Ryan had gone to negotiate a deal.

“That’s brilliant. Listen, there’s something I need to tell you…”

“It was a hard sell but I pulled it off. Now I want to take you upstairs, remove all your clothes, spread your legs and …”

“Hold it right there Casanova. We’ve got a visitor.”

“Tell them to bugger off. I’ve got plans for you.” His gaze moved past her as movement caught his eye. Ryan was an expert at concealing his thoughts and emotions but he failed to hide his surprise at seeing a carbon copy of himself.

“Ryan, meet your younger brother, Riley,” said Rachel.

Riley stepped forward with his hand extended and for one awful moment Rachel thought Ryan wasn’t going to shake it but one look from her was enough to encourage him to accept his hand.

“What brings you here?” said Ryan, voice cool and emotionless as he hastily retracted his hand.

“I’m on leave. I’ve been to visit Neil so I thought I’d come here and perhaps build some bridges.”

“How is Neil?”

“Losing touch with reality.”

“I’m sorry.” His tone told Riley and Rachel that he wasn’t.

The two men sized each other up, Rachel standing between them looking from one to the other in astonishment. Their hair was the same dark brown and their voices had the same deep timbre, although Riley’s accent was pure Mancunian while Ryan’s was smooth Cambridgeshire. They even dressed alike in short black leather jackets and shirts, however Riley wore blue jeans while Ryan wore black trousers.

“Do you want a brew Ryan?” she said.

“Actually I think I could use something stronger.”

Rachel hoped he would crack open the bottle of champagne in his hand but instead he placed it in the fridge and took a bottle of whisky out of the butler’s pantry, tipping a generous measure into a tumbler. “Anyone else want one?” he said before knocking back the contents of the glass and refilling it.

“Go on then,” said Riley.

“Rachel?”

“I’ll stick to tea thanks.”

Ryan slid a glass across the worktop to Riley, his sharp grey eyes studying every feature, every expression and Riley appeared to be doing the same with his brown eyes, one of the very few differences between them.

“Well, this is nice,” said Rachel, taking a sip of tea.

Both men flashed her the same sceptical look.

“Have you been to Devon before Riley?” she said.

“No but it’s somewhere I’ve always fancied visiting.”

“It’s beautiful, there’s so much to see. Ryan can show you around, can’t you?”

“We’ll see,” was all he was willing to say before taking another swig of whisky.

“Where are you staying?” Rachel continued.

“I haven’t found a hotel yet. I wanted to make sure there was a reason for me to stick around first,” he replied, glancing at Ryan.

“You can stay here, we have a self-contained flat out back, you’ll have your own space,” she said.

“Err, thanks. That would be great,” he replied. “That’s if I’m not intruding?”

“Course you’re not, we’d be glad to have you, wouldn’t we Ryan?”

He chose not to reply.

“Why don’t you show Riley the flat?” she pressed.

“But…”

Rachel took the key for the flat from the kitchen drawer and put it on the counter before Ryan. “Show him,” she said in a hard tone.

He sighed, put down his glass and picked up the key. “Come on then,” he muttered before striding out the back door.

“Are you sure he’s okay with this?” Riley asked her as they watched Ryan’s angry figure storm outside.

“He’s fine, honestly. He can be a grumpy bugger sometimes.”

Riley picked up his rucksack and followed his brother outside.

Rachel was disheartened when Ryan returned two minutes later, alone.

“What have you done with him?” she demanded.

“I haven’t done anything with him. He’s unpacking. Jesus Rachel, why did you invite him to stay? We own two hotels.”

“Because I know you Ryan Law. If we’d put him in a hotel you’d have made every excuse not to see him. This way you can’t escape him.”

“What if I don’t want to see him? Did you ever think of that? Have you forgotten what I told Jez? I’ve got my family and I’m happy. There’s no room for anyone else.”

“You’re just being stubborn. You’ve both lost brothers, you need each other.”

“I see what this is.”

“What is it?”

“You’re trying to replace the brothers Danny fucking Maguire murdered.”

Rachel was thrown because she realised he was right. “Is that so bad?”

“They’re not things that can be replaced. I practically raised those boys single-handed because our so-called mum was so fucking useless and it’s insulting that you think a stranger walking in off the street can possibly be a substitute.”

He actually shouted this last sentence at her and it was a surprise because it was rare for him to yell at her but he had a point and rather than get angry she just felt sad and guilty. “You’re right, I suppose I am trying to compensate because I’ve always felt their blood was on my hands, especially Adam’s. He was killed because of me.”

“Adam attacked you and he was one sick bastard. If he’d been successful in kidnapping you he would have done horrible things to you before killing you, he wouldn’t have been able to resist having you at his mercy. I said I don’t blame you for his death and I meant it. I don’t blame the Maguires for killing him either, they were protecting you. Jamie and Simmy were nothing to do with you either, they were retaliation for attacks on the Maguires themselves. You’re blameless.”

“The Maguires were my family at the time.”

“There was nothing you could have done to stop it, you had no influence over family business back then and we hadn’t even met. I don’t blame you, I never have, so you don’t need to find substitutes for my dead brothers.”

“It’s not just that. I’m an only child so I don’t know what it’s like to have siblings but we’ve suffered so much loss. It’s nice being given someone rather than having them taken from us.”

This gave him pause for thought. “I didn’t think of it like that.”

“Just talk to him, please. I’m not asking you to become best mates or anything. Just talk and see if you get on.”

“Alright, I’ll try. For you.”

She scowled at him.

“What have I said now?”

“Don’t do it for me, do it for yourself.”

“I’ll try, it’s all I can promise and I won’t make you a promise I can’t keep.”

She smiled and kissed him. “Thank you.”

“Can we go upstairs now?” he grinned.

“We’ve got a guest.”

“He’ll be ages unpacking.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she said, looking through the window. “He’s coming back.”

This didn’t help Ryan warm to him.

“Am I interrupting?” said Riley as he entered by the back door.

“Not at all,” replied Rachel, stepping past her husband. “Do you think you’ll be comfortable in the flat?”

“Very thanks. It’s got everything I need and it’s paradise after six months away.”

“Riley’s in the SAS,” Rachel told Ryan, knowing how highly he regarded the armed forces.

“Neil said you were in the army,” he replied, minus the enthusiasm Rachel had hoped for. Still she couldn’t complain. He’d promised to talk to Riley and that’s what he was doing. In response to her thoughts he gave her a smug smile.
Sly bugger,
she thought.

“So, what do you like to do?” she continued, filling the silence left by Ryan.

“Sports, mainly jogging and swimming. I like hiking too.”

“Well there’s plenty of places you can go walking around here.”

“Do you like reading or philosophy?” interjected Ryan.

“No, I’m not a big reader.”

“Oh,” said Ryan in a way that indicated Riley was a lesser person for it. Rachel cast him a glare.

“I like biking too,” Riley continued, undaunted.

“Mountain biking?” said Rachel.

“No, motor biking.”

“You used to do that, didn’t you Ryan?” said Rachel.

“When I was a teenager. Then I grew up.”

Rachel exhaled noisily, struggling to maintain her temper with her husband. “I apologise Riley. My husband’s not usually so immature and petty.”

Ryan’s smirk fell.

“It’s okay, you’ve probably had a shock Ryan,” said Riley, his own smile becoming strained.

“You could go driving together,” suggested Rachel.

“You don’t drive a motorbike, you ride it,” corrected Ryan.

“Well excuse me,” she pouted.

This time she didn’t bother to fill the silence and they stood together in an uneasy circle.

“If my presence here is going to cause upset maybe I should leave?” said Riley.

Rachel gave Ryan a murderous look and he sighed. “No, that won’t be necessary. You’re right, it has been a shock. Stick around and we’ll see how it goes.”

Riley knew it was the best he was going to get and he was willing to take it.

“Do you want anything to eat Riley?” Rachel offered.

“That would be great thanks, I’m starving.”

“What do you like?”

“Anything, I’m not fussy. I just don’t eat anything sweet or fatty.”

“Well that’s good because neither do we. How does grilled chicken, salad and new potatoes sound?”

“Fantastic thanks.”

She couldn’t help but smile back at him. For a rough tough elite soldier he was very sweet.

“Do you need a hand?” offered Ryan.

“Wow, that’s a first. No thanks, I can manage. You talk to Riley.”

The brothers looked at each other uneasily and Rachel rolled her eyes.

“Ryan told me you’ve got a sister?” she began chirpily as she set about preparing lunch.

“Yeah, Lexie,” he said, glancing at Ryan.

“It’s alright, she knows we had thing,” he scowled. “I wish Stuart had told me she was my sister.”

“I think he was worried about Mum finding out. She would have insisted he cut you loose,” replied Riley. “His affairs drove her crazy.”

“Does Lexie know about all this?” said Rachel as she prepared the chicken.

“No, I’ve not been able to contact her, I’ve no idea where she is. Last I heard she was in Goa but that was a year ago. She contacts me when she can be bothered.”

“So she likes to travel?”

“Yeah. She’ll latch onto some rich businessman and live off them for a few months before moving onto the next one. She hasn’t been back to England for about five years.”

“What about your mum?”

“She knows, it all came out when Neil was arrested. She was furious.”

“Does she know you’re here?”

“I told her. She wasn’t pleased but it’s something I felt I had to do.”

“Had to do?” said Ryan, cocking an eyebrow.

“I mean I want to try. If it doesn’t work out then it doesn’t work out but I couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t given it a go. I’ve lost so many members of my family and I don’t want to lose anymore.”