Shattered (Dividing Line #5) (16 page)

“At least it would make them come back,” added Charlie.

“Pierre said he knew it had been planted and he thinks he knows by who,” continued Ryan. “That morning he had a delivery of dry goods from a company we’ve used for years. Apparently he had to look for the delivery man because he spent longer in the dry goods store than he normally does. Obviously he was looking for somewhere to plant the coke. We use that company for all our businesses. A few checks and I think we’ll find the same man made all four deliveries.”

“We need to find him,” said Mikey.

“Don’t bother. We already know who got him to do it and why, he won’t be able to tell us anything useful. Declan, I’d be grateful if you and your brothers could find him and give him a good kicking, give him a reminder of who he’s fucking with.” Ryan glanced at his watch. “That will have to wait until morning though. We need you to take Beth and the kids to the airport. You’ve got the flight tickets?”

Declan nodded.

“Riley will be going with you. Two of Battler and Bruiser’s people will meet you at the airport and they will fly out with Beth. Alex might not be willing to let his children go. Be on the alert, all of you.”

CHAPTER 16

At the airport Riley stuck close to Beth and the children. He refused to allow what had happened to Rachel to happen to her. With the assistance of Declan and his brothers he was able to maintain a tight guard on them. He felt sad having to say goodbye to Beth knowing he would be lonelier for her absence. Neither did he know if he’d see the first woman he’d connected with since Zoe ever again. However he reasoned that as she was Rachel’s best friend there was a good chance their paths would cross again.

Beth was sticking close to him, so close in fact that her arm pressed against his. He knew it was nothing sexual, he made her feel safe, that was all. Her eyes kept darting about, watching for danger in the busy airport, face white and pinched and she absolutely refused to put Holly down even though her arms were tiring. The two boys stood either side of her, Archie sucking his thumb while Alfie regarded everyone in the building with suspicion, brow furrowed in intense concentration. The boys had had every ounce of innocence brutally knocked out of them. Hopefully Holly was too small to remember, she might escape the mental scars but the boys certainly wouldn’t. He anticipated Beth was going to have a tough time with them in the future.

“Looks like Battler’s men are here,” said Declan.

Riley studied the images of the two employees Battler had sent to his phone so they could be sure they were handing Beth and the kids over to the right people. It was indeed Levi and Tia in the flesh. Levi was a Battler and Bruiser clone; big, shaven-headed and grim. Tia however was a diminutive woman with beautiful coffee coloured skin and glittering deep set dark eyes. Her black hair was cut short and framed a pretty elfin face. Despite her fragile exterior Riley sensed she was all business and thought Battler had chosen wisely because she was non-threatening to the children.

“Hello, I’m Tia and this is Levi,” she smiled at them all, revealing perfect white teeth. She bent down before the boys to address them. “We’re going to take you to see your friends.”

Archie turned away from her and buried his face in his mum’s side while Alfie stared back at her sombrely.

“Say hello boys,” encouraged Beth.

Only Alfie replied with a curt
hello.

Tia straightened up and flashed Holly a dazzling smile. “And who’s this little lady?”

“Holly. She’s my little sister,” replied Alfie, growing more confident.

“She’s beautiful, aren’t you little girl?” smiled Tia.

Holly blinked back at her with her big blue Maguire eyes.

“I’m afraid it’s time to head into the departure lounge,” Tia told Beth.

Beth looked to Riley, face tight with strain. “Can’t you come with us?”

He was delighted by the invitation but he told himself it was just because she trusted him and he made her feel secure. Still, it was a step in the right direction.

“Sorry I can’t, I’ve so much to do here,” he reluctantly told her. “You’ll be fine. Once you’re on that plane you’re home-free. Next thing you know you’ll be soaking up the sun with your friends and this will all seem like a distant memory.”

“I hope so,” she replied with a sad smile. “Please keep an eye on Rachel and Ryan. Don’t let Alex hurt them.” She’d insisted on visiting Rachel one last time before she left, afraid the next time she saw her friend would be in the funeral home.

“I won’t. Don’t worry about a thing, just have fun. If anyone deserves it, it’s you.”

When she grasped his hand he found himself holding on tightly. The physical contact with another human being was very pleasant. Watching Ryan and Rachel together had made him realise he was fed up of being alone.

“I’m scared,” she said quietly.

“That’s good. It will keep you on your toes.”

The emotions she stirred within him unsettled him but they also made him feel like a real person, just for a brief moment. He was going to miss her but he couldn’t tell her that, she was still wracked with pain over losing Nick. It would take her time to get over it but he thought he might be waiting for her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her and Holly to him. Beth didn’t protest, in fact she rested her head on his shoulder. Riley told himself she was only seeking comfort but her warmth pressed against him caused him a surge of emotion, accompanied by thoughts that were less than honourable. “I won’t go until you’re on that plane,” he told her and she gave him a grateful smile.

They walked to the doors of the departure lounge where they said their goodbyes.

“Thank you for everything Riley,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Once again he was delighted, until she bestowed the same upon Declan and his brothers, yet he was the only one she looked back at as she walked into the departure lounge with Levi and Tia, Holly still clutched tightly to her as though she was afraid someone was going to take her from her. Their eyes locked and he gave her an encouraging smile. Then the door swung shut behind her. There was a window into the lounge through which Riley could watch them hand over their tickets then take their seats to wait before boarding. Archie sat beside his mum, looking completely bewildered, on the verge of tears. Alfie was still grim-faced, forced to grow up too quickly, a man in a boy’s body. The bodyguards sat either side of the family and Riley was pleased to see they were on the ball, not letting their guards down for a single second. Battler and Bruiser had trained them well. Personally Riley didn’t think Alex would bother with Beth and the kids, at least not yet. He probably thought he was going to win this war, leaving him free and clear to take care of them later. Riley thought it testament to the man’s madness that he’d given them up for a vicious prostitute. The prat had no idea how lucky he was to have a family like that.

“Shall we go?” said Declan.

“I’m not leaving until they get on that plane. I promised Beth,” replied Riley.

When his brothers regarded him questioningly, Declan nodded at them and they all settled down on the plastic chairs to wait. Only Riley remained standing.

Beth kept glancing at him intermittently, each time both relieved and surprised to see him still there. He made her feel so safe, although she wasn’t exactly sure why, she hardly knew him. But there was something about his solid presence that told her no one could get through him if he didn’t want them to and that he’d fight to the death for her and her children. Despite his close resemblance to Ryan she saw a completely different man. She’d heard about what had happened to his fiancée and daughter and, as well as feeling bad for him, she felt he understood what she was going through, she saw it in his eyes, even now as he looked back at her through the glass.

The call was put out for them to begin boarding and they all got to their feet. Just before Beth walked out the door that would lead her to the plane, she looked back one last time. Riley gave her a small smile and a wave and she waved back, not wanting to lose sight of him because if she did she knew she’d feel lonelier for it.

“It’s time to get going,” said Tia gently.

“Okay,” Beth replied, taking one last look at Riley.

When she disappeared from sight Riley sighed, feeling the isolation return. “Right, let’s go,” he said, finally managing to drag his eyes away.

“Should we be meeting Dane so publicly?” said Jez. “What if someone sees us and reports back to Alex?”

“Dane’s here every Friday night so this is where we have to come,” replied Ryan as he, Mikey and Jez approached the doorway of Club Decadence, the low throb of heavy bass music filtering out through the narrow doorway.

A bouncer with long black hair slicked back into a low ponytail greeted them at the door. “Mr Law, we haven’t seen you for a while.”

“Hello Wolf,” muttered Ryan as Wolf stood aside to allow them to enter. Mikey and Jez hesitated by the kiosk to pay but Ryan walked straight past and deeper into the bowels of the club, the kiosk lady waving them all through with a friendly smile.

“You’ve been here before?” Jez said to his brother as they made their way down a long dark corridor, the music growing even louder. “Ryan, why are you ignoring me?” he persisted when Ryan didn’t reply.

Jez had his answer when they entered the main room. The club was huge, the décor entirely black and red. There was a bar running the entire length of one wall and opposite was a large stage, at the foot of which stood massive cages containing dancers. Tables were set close to the stage, red candles burning on the black tables and towards the back of the room were booths for those who wanted to get away from the crowd. It could have been any club anywhere, but it was the clientele that made it unique in that they seemed to be wearing very little and what clothes they did wear were composed of black leather or PVC. The outfits were complimented by chains and studs and some of them brandished whips and riding crops.

“It’s a fetish club,” said Jez. “Oh my God Ryan, you are such a dark horse.”

“You never told us you were kinky,” said Mikey.

“I’m not. I went through a phase, that’s all.”

Mikey and Jez grinned at each other.

“Does Rachel know?” said Mikey.

Ryan chose not to reply and headed for the bar. The barmaid was dressed in a latex catsuit - the zip open to reveal as much cleavage as possible - and she greeted him like an old friend. She chatted away while she prepared a whisky for Ryan and two pints of lager for Jez and Mikey, oblivious to the fact that Ryan wasn’t responding to her remarks, his expression growing stonier. When he dumped a twenty on the bar top the barmaid shook her head and tried to hand it back but he ignored her, took his drink and waltzed away, Jez and Mikey picking up their drinks and hurrying to catch up.

Mikey was so occupied with trying to cross the busy dance floor without spilling his pint that he almost walked into a woman in a leather dress with an elaborate Marie Antoinette wig balanced on top of her head. She had a dwarf on a chain who wore nothing but leather shorts.

“Sorry,” Mikey told them.

“Quite alright Sir,” replied the dwarf in a surprisingly deep voice.

“That’s okay Sugar, you can bang me anytime,” smiled the woman, touching Mikey’s face with the business end of a riding crop.

When a man approached wearing nothing but a metal cage around his privates, a face drawn on the end of his member complete with moustache, Mikey recoiled and hurried after his friends. He was momentarily seized by panic when he couldn’t see them anywhere, then he spotted them taking a seat in a booth at the back of the room. He rushed towards them, careful to give the man with the cage a wide berth, and sat down beside Ryan.

“Bloody hell I’ve never been anywhere like this before,” said Mikey.

“You’ve obviously led a sheltered life,” replied Ryan in a bored tone before taking a sip of scotch. When Mikey and Jez both looked at him expectantly he sighed and put down the glass. “Look, I came here a few times years ago. I met a woman who was into the scene and I was trying to show willing to impress her. When we broke up six months later I stopped coming. I got to know Dane and we did some business and before you say anything Mikey, that is not an innuendo.”

Mikey closed his mouth.

“Did you wear bondage gear?” said Jez, trying to keep a straight face.

“Yes,” Ryan replied through gritted teeth. “And yes, Rachel knows all about it.”

“What did she say when you told her?” said Mikey.

“She took the piss like you two only when she did it it was funny. Now fucking drop it.”

“Why did you never tell me?” said Jez.

“What would you have said if I’d told you every Friday night I dressed up in black PVC and went to a fetish club?”

He shrugged. “I’ve no idea.” Jez scanned the room, finding himself admiring these people for their sheer daring. He could understand what they got from it, it must be so liberating. He wondered if Cathy would be up for it?

“Listen,” said Ryan. “I know you both see this as a bit of a laugh but this is Dane’s place and he takes it very seriously, everyone here does. You take the piss and he’ll throw you out on your arses so keep your narrow-minded opinions to yourselves. Do you hear me?”

“Yes,” they both replied.

“Good because here comes the man himself.”

They turned to look as a tall broad figure strode across the dance floor, the crowd parting before him. His torso was bare, revealing a powerful chest and rippling stomach muscles, huge arms covered in tattoos. He wore tight black leather trousers and big boots but his face was obscured by a disturbing black leather mask. He had two semi-naked women on the end of a leash who crawled on all fours, hurrying to keep up with his long legged stride.

Ryan was amused to see Mikey and Jez staring at Dane as though he was a creature from another planet.

“Why are they on leashes?” said Mikey, mesmerised by the bizarre procession that seemed to be headed their way.

“He’s only living up to his name. He’s known as The Great Dane. I heard from a reliable source that his fondness for leashes isn’t the only reason why he’s called that,” smiled Ryan, enjoying their shock. However as he got nearer they regained their professionalism and smoothed out their expressions.

The masked figure stopped at their table and looked down at them all, dark eyes glittering at them from inside the mask.