by Faye Parker
I recognized the sick laugh before I saw him, and I knew exactly who was in that chair before I looked him in the eye. But the sound didn't have the hold on me that it once did. I had no reason to fear him anymore. He’d lost control over me a long time ago.
The Kindred Sons looked to Daniel to see if he recognized the man, which, as I already knew, he wouldn't. It was as if they didn't see me as they discussed whether it was worth trying to get information from him.
"I have one question for him." The place fell silent and everyone turned to me in shock. "I'd like to ask him something."
Daniel looked at me blankly. "Do you know this man?"
"Oh yes," a twisted smile played at my lips as I moved closer to the captive.
"Oh yes, Daniel, I know this man. I've known him for a long time… in fact, I haven't seen him in a while."
I spoke directly to Robert. "I remember you being bigger… you're a bit disappointing really when I look at you now."
I watched the fear build in his eyes, as he looked at me and back to Daniel.
"I'd just love to ask him one, teeny, tiny, question."
I stood again, right in front of the chair. Daniel moved right beside me, towering over him. I regretted leaving the handgun behind, but that would have been too quick an end for this vile fucker.
There was laughter from a corner when someone noticed the wet patch beside the chair.
"He's pissed himself!" I looked down to the gathering pool and laughed dryly.
"What do you want to ask him, babe?" Daniel was serious, ready to do whatever was needed.
"I'd like him to tell us why he tried to kill me."
Daniel seemed to get bigger as he loomed over him. "That's an excellent question, pet." He put his arm around me, kissing me on the forehead.
"Why don't you tell us all about why you tried to kill the woman I love?"
Shock rippled through me - he'd just referred to me as his love?
I thought I’d heard him say the word earlier, but that had been in the middle of all the chaos.
I hadn’t dared believe it to be true.
But this time I knew it. A huge grin exploded on my face as the realization hit.
Daniel reached a rough hand down and tore the tape off the captive's face.
"Love that bitch?" Robert spat. "That whore's had more cocks in her than I’ve had hot dinners."
I stepped forward before Daniel could react.
I tutted.
"Ahhh, Robert, you know what happens to little bitches that talk back, don't you?"
The memories flooded back of him saying that to me so many times. "Mouthy little bitches get lots of stitches.… isn't that what you always said?"
I remembered the stubby knife Andy had given me earlier and took it from my hip pocket.
"So where first then?" I felt a sick pleasure as he saw what I held. "How about your stomach? Or…" I laughed, "Your back, or your legs?" I spun around.
"Wouldn't want to pick somewhere that lots of people could see, eh?"
I held the knife close to his jaw. "Maybe, just this once, it should be somewhere that people do see. Y'know, for a change." His face was ruddy with anger, there was no remorse there. Not even the slightest bit.
I thought about the baby he'd killed inside me when he'd beat me last.
"I do have another question."
My words echoed off the concrete and metal of the building.
No one so much as breathed.
Absently, I realized there were no other noises in the area. Even after all the gunfire, I didn't hear a single police siren in the distance.
The people in the warehouse stood, silent, behind me.
"Why did you kill a defenseless child, still growing in her mother's belly? What did she do to you?"
He laughed manically. "Because that thing was the product of you spreading your filthy legs with dozens of other men. Think I was going to be tied down to some bastard you threw out of your cunt?" he coughed, "Besides, did that thing a favor - imagine having you as it's mother… be even worse than that excuse of a whore that was your mother."
Daniel punched him, knocking Robert to the floor, still tied to the chair. I looked at my hand in shock, the knife was gone.
A sick gurgling sound came from him, and I realized the knife had been knocked into his neck. It didn't matter how it happened, but with the amount of blood now pooling around him I knew it was done.
Desperate gasping noises spluttered from Robert’s mouth and from the area around the knife. Blood bubbled and spurted from both too. His hands were still bound but despite that, he was still fervently trying to break free.
I wanted to be a good person. I’d always tried to be good.
But I felt nothing as I watched him gurgle and struggle.
We all just stood there, in ambivalent silence as the life ebbed from his body.
Later I would wonder if it was me or Daniel who had killed him.
Later still, I'd realize that I wouldn’t care.
Eventually, after the rest had quietly left, Daniel pulled me into his arms. "He's gone."
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Daniel
Dad had left the scene before Robert had been brought to the warehouse. He'd insisted on going with Eleanor as our doctors checked her over. It wasn't until that evening that I actually got to meet her.
And I had never been as nervous about something in my entire life.
This woman had known of our family for decades. She would have heard the many rumors over the years. Knew how things operated.
How could she honestly approve of me for her granddaughter?
Usually, we clear up our messes - no bodies left behind. But when so many of the Doyle’s died, we decided to just leave them where they lay… let them collect their own. It would also serve as a reminder to the Triad of our strength. The only one who was disposed of was Robert.
We have a specialist guy, a trained butcher, who works well with making sure bodies that may be of particular interest disappear.
I watched Ellie for any signs of shock, and yes, she had been shaken up, but nowhere nearly as bad as I expected. I phoned Da on the way back to my house and he let Ellie speak with her grandmother. That pacified her enough that we didn't have to go around right away, which was just as well. We both looked like hell after the fight. Well, I looked like hell, Ellie, even covered in muck and blood, still looked beautiful to me.
We showered and changed quickly... but not too quickly. I got to experience the real Ellie in my shower and the way she wrapped her lips around me was infinitely better than what I had fantasized. When we were dried off and dressed I came up behind her and wrapped my arms around her. I loved how big she made me feel - big and strong. I would kill everything that stood in her way.
"So I've decided you're staying here with me, then." I smiled into her hair.
"Oh, really?" she spun around, looking at me playfully. "And what makes you think I’d want that?"
"Simple, it's because I love you, that's why." I shrugged my shoulders. "And I'd do anything for you, and I'll do everything to make you mine."
It felt freeing to say it out loud. It felt right.
And I wouldn’t have cared whether the entire world heard me saying it.
She shook her head and looked away, "You're forgetting something there." Panic shot through me and my heart stopped. Had today been too much for her, was she really going to leave as I said I would let her? I didn’t think I could.
My heart stopped in my chest.
No.
Please no.
Don’t leave me.
A smile played on her lips before taking over completely, "I'm already yours, and you're already mine." Her hands reached around my neck to pull me down for a kiss. "I love you, Daniel."
Relief and love filled my heart that I thought it might burst.
She loved me.
When we arrived at Chester House, Eleanor was already holding court, regaling anyo
ne who'd listen - which was everyone - with stories about Ellie as she grew up.
"Gran!" Ellie squealed and she rushed to the old woman, all but crushing her with a hug. "Are you alright? What did the doctor say? What did they do to you?"
"Give the critter a chance to breathe!" Da laughed. He'd taken his old chair in the corner of the room and was swirling what looked like whiskey in a glass. Mum was standing close by him. "She's had several once-overs by three different doctors, the woman's in as fine fettle as she was when she used to clip me over the ears as a wean." I looked at him in shock.
"Aye, son, I see you looking at me." He stood and walked over to me. "Do you mind your Aunt Agnes’ old house? Long before it was hers, and long before your time that was your grandmother's house. In them days, Eleanor and her late husband, Mervyn and us were neighbors. I used to sneak into her garden to eat her strawberries."
Eleanor mocked scorn and shook her finger at him. “I always knew it was you, I just wasn’t fast enough to catch you.”
Da laughed just as heartily as she did.
“Aye, they were very different times then.”
Later, the women were chattering away and I walked into the kitchen with da. "Da, can I…"
"Here." he held his hand out to me, "Thought you might be wanting this." He dropped the contents of his hand into mine.
"How'd you know?"
"You're me son, I know everything there is to know about you. And it doesn't take much to see how much you mean to her." He shook his head.
“And it was your Ma that thought you’d want it.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Daniel
When the conversations had died down, I took my chance to speak with Eleanor alone, part excited and part fearful that an old woman held the answer to such an important question. "I think a lot of your granddaughter." I started, more nervous than I’d been in years.
"I would hope so." she said, giving nothing away.
With a deep breath and steeling myself for her answer I spoke quickly, "I love her, and with your permission, I'd like to ask her to marry me."
"I see that you love her, Daniel." she spoke quietly, "And I respect you asking me. You probably only see an old woman in front of you, an old woman who doesn't know much." I didn't know how to answer that, so I remained silent.
"I'm not stupid; I know what your family is. I knew about the Kindred Sons long before you were even born. You have my permission under one condition."
"Anything," I said instantly.
"You see that smile on her face right now?" Ellie was chatting easily with Louise and a few of the other women. Louise said something that made them all burst into laughter.
"Aye."
"If she ever lands back out to see me with anything less than a smile like that on her face, you'll be hearing from me. And if you ever make her cry as sore as she did when she did land back at mine, I’ll kill you myself. You got that, son?"
"Aye." I smiled, a new respect for the woman who had looked after my sweetheart - and a new realization of precisely where Ellie got her fire from.
The women laughed at another joke, and I took the distracted moment to kiss Eleanor quickly on the cheek. "Thank you. I will do everything in my power to keep her happy - it will be my one duty in life. That and to protect her."
I stood tall, patted my clothes down and walked straight over to her. From the corner of my eye, I saw my Da wink at me, mum smiled from behind her tissue, already dabbing at her eyes beside him. I took Ellie’s hand and pulled her from her seat to stand in the center of the room. Everyone quietened, knowing I had something to say.
"Ellie, I've never been great with words, and I'll probably say something wrong here." Her eyes looked up at me in confusion. "You're everything to me." I dropped to one knee and I heard excited murmurs amongst my family.
"I love you. I always will love you. I swear to protect you, look after you, and to always make you happy. It would be my greatest honor if you would be my wife."
I pulled my own grandmother's engagement ring from my back pocket and held it up to her. Her eyes shone and she smiled even though one tear over spilled and ran down her face.
"Daniel, I love you too." She sniffed, "Of course I'll marry you!" the crowd cheered and once I slipped the ring onto her finger all the women in the house flocked to see it. The men came to congratulate me, shaking my hand and giving me celebratory pats on the back.
Ellie went to her Grandmother, wrapping her in a hug. Eleanor looked at the ring and then to both of us. "That's your grandmother's ring." I nodded as her eyes grew misty. "Your grandmother was a great woman, and I saw how happy they were. I wish you both nothing but the very best for the future." She reached for a tissue and a mischievous grin played across her lips, "And may all your troubles be little ones."
Louise burst over to hug us both. "Oh my god! Congratulations! I hear April is a great month for a wedding…" She smiled with raised eyebrows.
I looked at Ellie and couldn't see why not. "Sooner the better as far as I'm concerned."
She giggled, "As in April - next month, April?" I laughed and Louise practically bounced. "I guess I need to get planning!"
Ellie lifted her left hand to her face, making a show of rubbing her chin with her hand.
Pride filled me as the diamonds glittered.
“I wonder who would be able to help me plan something like that?”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Daniel
The weeks that followed after the fight were filled with fighting and fucking. During the daytime, I'd either be at the gym, putting our men through their paces or at home with Ellie.
Either way, I always worked up one helluva sweat.
The treaty had been seen to be officially ended between the Kindred Sons and the Doyles. We pulled Louise from her undercover job at Sawyers and with both her knowledge and Ellie’s fast learning, we were pretty sure that they would be able to run the payments operation alone.
That was when they weren't knee deep in bridal magazines. They'd become close friends now and I couldn't' have been happier. Firstly, because Louise was like a little sister to me and it was important to me that she and Ellie would get along. Secondly, because I knew that Louise was more than capable of protecting them both if it came to it.
We didn’t anticipate any further attacks or reprisals. There’d been two pathetic attempts, both of which saw even more Doyle’s meeting their bloody fates. Their head guys, the ones that weren’t already dead, disappeared.
My guess was that they’d went over the water to lay low for as long as it took. It didn’t matter whatever length of time they thought that might be because it would never be long enough.
If I, or any of the Kindred Sons, lay eyes on them, the order was to kill them on sight.
As far as their foot soldiers, reports had come in about a few sightings but no further disturbances or attacks. Their gang had all but disappeared. I would have done the same: regroup, refocus, renew energy and re-strategize.
Both Da and I knew that would mean it was only a matter of time before they'd come back at us.
What was the bigger concern was how the Triad had so easily taken over the drugs and sex trades that the Doyle’s had ran. Word on the street was that they’d fought each other for it, but we knew that was the Triad’s attempt to take the glory for bringing the Doyles to their knees.
It was, of course, utter bullshit. Yet their lie had been convincing enough that the cops barely bothered to question us.
My focus should have solely been on the increased training that all of the Kindred Sons were now doing - not just the guys who answered to me. When I had told Da about the training I'd set up, his first instructions were to roll it out with everyone - old boys, new recruits; everyone. Nevan got the shitty end of that stick as I delegated that responsibility to him so I could monitor but keep Ellie as my main focus.
The guys had initially been hurt when I said I wasn't going to have a Batchel
or Party, however, that was short-lived. When I said that they should go on ahead and celebrate in my honor without me, they were happy again.
I believed there'd been three stag parties so far: the first had been a stag weekend in Holland; next came a rally driving stag weekend at home; and the only one I did attend: the massive men-only dinner my mum insisted on having at Chester house.
Ellie, my Ellie. She was already mine, and everyone knew it. As much as I’d always insisted to others that marriage was the end of a sexual relationship, right now I thought there would be nothing better than slipping away for a month or two with my new wife and fucking in every possible position imaginable.
Coming up with new places and positions had become my favorite hobby.
Our new favorite hobby.
Ellie had not been keen on a church wedding and in light of the potential security risks, having the ceremony in the hotel's best room was a safer option. The minister had enthusiastically agreed to whatever we'd wanted.
Mum had insisted on us attending Sunday School as children, so I had the impression part of his interest in doing the ceremony was to actually confirm I had got married.
To ONE woman. One who I'd settle down with.
Andy joined the rest of the men at the front of the room, speaking briefly to me before taking his place. "Congratulations mate. Ellie's as mad about you as you are for her." He nodded at the woman sitting behind the baby grand piano in the corner who changed the piece of music she was playing.
I heard everyone gasp in awe as they turned to watch the woman I would love for the rest of my life. I heard her quietly thank Ryan, and his “Love you, sis.” My wife-to-be was by my side. It wasn't until then that I turned to look at her.
Tears pricked my eyes - she really was beautiful.
The ceremony, whilst not exactly old-fashioned with this setting, still felt traditional - if that made sense.