“Hey babe, you’re home,” said Amber, pecking him on the cheek. “I know we went a bit overboard but it really did cheer Mum up. Here, I bought you this,” she said sweetly, holding up an ugly tie.
He hardly heard her he was so angry, his gaze riveted on Joyce. “I’ve just been to see Ken.”
“Oh yeah?” she said, only half-listening, too busy cooing over her treasures, like a great big fucking magpie.
“He’s a mess Joyce.” He gritted his teeth in irritation when all the woman did was shrug. “He can’t cope without you. Why don’t you go back to him before he falls apart completely?”
“It’ll do him good to be on his own for a while. It might make him appreciate me.”
“I think he’s learnt his lesson. He’s already set fire to the vacuum and flooded the kitchen. You’d better get home before he does any more damage.”
“Are you trying to get rid of Mum?” frowned Amber.
He looked down at his wife triumphantly as he prepared to pull out the ace up his sleeve. “Your dad told me something very interesting. He said your mum walked out on him because she wants a cleaner and he refused to ask me to pay for one.”
Joyce sighed and finally looked him in the eye. “So? Why shouldn’t I have some comfort in my old age?”
“You’re fifty eight and you haven’t worked since Amber was a little girl.”
“Mikey,” scowled Amber. “Stop being rude.”
“She’s the one who’s being rude. I pay for everything for her and her husband and she’s just wasted another big chunk of my money on crap. Now she expects me to pay for someone else to do the one job she has in life. It’s a piss take is what it is and I’m not putting up with it. You can get out and go back to Ken right now.”
“Mikey I will not have you speaking to Mum like that,” yelled Amber, stamping her little foot.
“She’s taking the mickey out of me babe, don’t you get it?”
“All I get is that you are being very rude. Mum’s run round after Dad for years with his pretend sore back. She deserves a break and why should she carry on being taken for granted?”
“She has a bloody good life and that’s thanks to me but do I get any gratitude? No. All I get is my bank account attacked.”
Amber’s pale cheeks turned bright pink and her eyes flashed. He thought she looked adorable and wanted to take her in his arms but instead she turned from him and snatched up the shopping bags. “Come on Mum, let’s look at this lot upstairs. I can’t stand to be around him when he’s in a mood.”
“What have I done wrong?” he exclaimed, thrown by this turn of events.
“You are a very vulgar man Mikey Maguire. I didn’t know that when I married you,” Amber yelled over her shoulder as she headed out of the room clutching all her shopping bags.
Vulgar? Since when did Amber use words like vulgar? It was snobby and stuck-up, just like her mum. The muscle at the base of Mikey’s jaw throbbed as Joyce gave him a sly smile before following her daughter out. The bitch had been dripping poison in Amber’s ear about him.
He grunted when his mobile phone rang. “What?” he barked into it.
“It’s Jez. What’s up with you?”
“Joyce,” he growled.
“Not that daft old cow. I’ve got something that will cheer you up. We’re on for tonight.”
“You called our friend?”
“I did and we’re ready.”
Mikey smiled with pleasure. He was just in the mood to indulge in a bit of violence.
Rachel winced as the door slammed shut so loudly it reverberated through the house. She’d just informed Leah that they wouldn’t be moving just yet. After screaming about how unfair it was she’d stomped upstairs to her room.
“What was that? Sounded like a gunshot,” said Ryan, leaning against the doorframe leading from the kitchen to the living room of their rented house, which was nice but it wasn’t home. “Did Leah not take the news about the house very well?”
“That is an understatement, but she took it better than you.”
“Amusing,” he said, striding towards her.
Rachel shifted from one foot to the other, squirming with excitement. He had that look in his eye again, the one that said he was capable of taking her there and then, no matter where they were or who was about. It was the look that never failed to send her blood pressure soaring with excitement and make her panties wet.
He pulled her into his arms then pushed her up against the wall. “Shall I speak to her?”
“Yes but let her calm down first.”
He straightened up when Ethan and Aaron raced into the room, both boys pretending to be airplanes. “At least someone’s not upset about it,” he smiled as he watched their sons play.
“Oh to be young again,” said Rachel wistfully. “You took your time. Did Ashley tell you anything?”
He pulled her into the hallway, out of earshot of the boys. “No. He’s not taking it seriously, so I went to see Battler. He and Bruiser have already begun an investigation.”
“And?” she breathed as he caressed her neck with his lips.
Ryan wasn’t just doing this because he enjoyed it, he hoped to soften her up a little before he broke his news to her. “He’s got some good leads.”
“Mmm, good for him.” She released a small gasp as his fingers played up her inner thigh.
“I said I’d help him.”
All the lust drained right out of her and she took a step away from him, looking cross. “Why?”
“Because someone needs to do something.”
“Then let Battler and Bruiser do it, they’re more than capable.”
“They also have other cases too. They can’t devote all their time to it. I offered to give a helping hand, that’s all.”
“Why Ryan?” she exclaimed. “Haven’t we been through enough?”
He lowered his voice. “Because one of those missing men was probably the body that was dug out of the bottom of our annex. It just got personal.”
“Personal? We were in Manchester when that body was planted there, it’s nothing to do with us.”
“It is now.”
“Leave it alone.”
“This man has to be stopped and the police aren’t taking it seriously.”
“Maybe there’s a reason why they aren’t that we don’t know yet?”
“Battler and Bruiser are certain.”
Rachel found it hard to argue with that. “Why are you doing this to us Ryan?”
“Because it’s too close to home. I have to be certain it doesn’t pose a threat to us.”
She recognised how anxious this fresh shock was making him and that it wouldn’t release its grip on him until he knew who had put that body there. “Alright, if you insist.”
He took her face in his hands and pinned her with his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Don’t make me regret my decision.”
He kissed her gently then pressed his forehead to hers. “I won’t.”
“You’d better not.” She ran her fingers down his face, touching the downy hair sprouting there. “You’re going to grow a beard if you’re not careful.”
“I’ve decided I will.” When she screwed up her face he chuckled. “I take it you do not approve?”
“No I don’t. What do you want a beard for? They’re scratchy and tickly.”
“I would like a change. I’ve kept the same look all my life.”
“And what’s wrong with it? It’s a good look.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “A very good look.”
“Temptress,” he breathed when she kissed his neck. “You can’t convince me that way. I’m growing it. I’m curious to see what I’ll look like with a beard.”
She lifted her head so her eyes met his. “We’ll see.”
“We most definitely will.”
They smiled at each other. A challenge had just been set.
“Would you like me to talk to Leah now?” he said.
Ryan kissed Rachel then jogged upstairs. Leah had always listened to him in the past. He’d never kept anything from her, not even during the ordeal that was Alex Maguire. In hindsight he wondered on the wisdom of that, but he’d never lied to his daughter and he didn’t intend to start now.
“Leah, can I come in?” he said, gently rapping on her bedroom door. He thought it important she have her privacy now she was turning into a little lady.
“Yes,” called a forlorn voice.
He walked into the bedroom, which was decorated in pinks and purples, Leah’s favourite colours. She was lying on her side on the bed flicking through a book. Ryan got the impression she wasn’t really taking it in.
“Your mum told me you were upset about not being able to move into the house yet,” he opened, perching on the edge of the bed beside her.
Leah nodded. “She said it’s because it’s not ready but I know what they found under the annex. Everyone was talking about it at school. They all knew before I did and they kept asking me about it but I didn’t know anything and I looked stupid and Mum lied to me.”
She hurled all this at him, lip wobbling and eyes filling with tears, although she was trying her hardest not to cry.
“She didn’t mean to lie to you,” he said gently. “She was just trying to protect you.”
“I’m not a baby anymore.”
“I know that Cupcake and so does your mum but when you’ve got children you’ll do anything to protect them from the bad things in life. You’ll understand when you’re older and you have children of your own.”
Leah considered this. “You mean like when you went after Uncle Alex to protect us all?”
Ryan hated that she was aware of any of this but she was so sharp it was difficult to keep anything from her. She truly was her mother’s daughter. “Yes, although this is a bit different.”
“Is that body Uncle Alex?”
Ryan had been expecting this question. He could only imagine what horrors had run through her head when she’d heard the news from her school friends. “Absolutely not Cupcake. He is far, far away from us and he can never hurt anyone again. That body has nothing to do with us, it was put there before we moved in.”
“It was there all the time we were living in the house?”
Ryan nodded weakly, hoping he wasn’t making everything ten times worse, but if he didn’t tell her she’d only hear it from someone else.
“Do the police know who it is?”
“Not yet. They’re still trying to work that one out.”
“You don’t like police, do you Dad?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not their biggest fan.”
“Because they’ve arrested you?”
“Yes, when I was young and foolish. Now they’ve no reason to, I’m a good boy,” he smiled. “So, do you forgive your mum for telling you a little fib?”
Leah sat up and nodded. “Yes. After Uncle Alex stole her I don’t like falling out with her in case someone else steals her.”
“Come here,” he said, pulling her into a hug so she wouldn’t see the anguish in his eyes. He would love nothing more than to cut Alex Maguire’s head off again for what he’d done.
“I tell you what, since it’s Friday why don’t we go out for dinner then we’ll go to the pictures?” he said.
She released a cheer then hugged him again. Ryan clung onto her, he loved this little girl dearly. It didn’t matter to him that she was Danny Maguire’s biological daughter and not his.
“Now, do you want to go downstairs and make up with your mum?” he said.
“Definitely,” she said, jumping up and racing downstairs, looking much happier. As he’d suspected she just needed to know what was going on and be reassured that Alex Maguire wasn’t coming back.
He stood at the top of the stairs and smiled, listening to the sound of Leah apologising to her mum for sulking and to Rachel apologising for not telling her the truth. His girls.
CHAPTER 7
Joel Starklaw strode past the queue waiting to get into Club Decadence, everyone arrayed in a variety of bizarre and imaginative outfits. He was followed by his younger brother Ollie, backed up by two of their bodyguards. Joel never went anywhere without protection now. He’d heard Mikey Maguire and Jez Law were gunning for him and, if he was really honest with himself, he was a little scared. But his life had always been about front and if he showed anyone he was afraid he’d be finished. So here he was brazening it out, sticking to his normal routine. It was all he could do.
“Evening Wolf,” said Joel, striding into the club past the huge bouncer with the ponytail.
“Evening Mr Starklaw,” he replied.
“I always did like your nice manners Wolf,” said Joel, sliding a twenty into the top pocket of his black blazer.
“Prick,” muttered Wolf after Joel and his entourage had gone inside.
Joel and Ollie handed their long black trench coats over to another bouncer, revealing very elaborate and risqué costumes consisting of leather and chains, their two bodyguards doing their best not to look disgusted. The costumes left little to the imagination.
“Sam, what are you doing there? Where’s Jennifer?” Joel chirpily asked the man behind the coat check counter, who was usually seen working the door with Wolf.
“Off sick Mr Starklaw, so I’m stuck in here doing a girl’s job,” he muttered unhappily.
“Never mind,” grinned Joel, sliding him a twenty pound note along with his coat. “I hope that’ll cheer you up.”
“Yeah, thanks,” replied Sam, not looking too impressed by the tip.
The four men made their way deeper inside the club, their excitement growing as the throb of music grew louder, the chains on their costumes rattling.
They stepped inside and stopped.
“What the fuck? This is a bit dead, isn’t it?” remarked Ollie.
They surveyed the vast room, which was completely empty. They both jumped when the music came to an abrupt halt and the doors slammed shut behind them.
“Dane,” breathed Joel with relief. “Thank Christ. What’s going on here?”
“Private night gentlemen. VIP’s only.”
“Sounds great. Got some special entertainment lined up, have you?” grinned Ollie.
Dane resisted the urge to roll his eyes. God these two were thick. “Actually I have.”
Joel and Ollie turned to look in the direction he nodded, wilting when they saw Mikey and Jez walking towards them.
“Oh shit,” cried Joel, making a lunge for the door but his way was blocked by Dane’s big chest. “Do something,” he yelled at his two bodyguards, whose pluck was rapidly deserting them.
“What’s going on? I don’t get it,” exclaimed Ollie, looking from Mikey and Jez to Dane. “You can’t hurt us, there are people outside waiting to come in.”
“Don’t be a dick,” said Jez. “They were paid to stand there. They’ll be long gone by now.”
Joel and Ollie’s hopes soared when the door leading outside to salvation opened, but it was Wolf and Sam, looking dour.
“I gave you two a tip,” said Joel sulkily. He realised how pathetic that sounded but there was still a little rebellion left inside him. He fixed Dane with an indignant glare. “You set us up. We’ve been friends for years.”
“Correction, we’ve been acquaintances for years, but you’ve overstepped the mark.”
“Why? What have we done?”
“You tried to kill me,” said Jez, voice dripping menace.
“We didn’t,” retorted Joel.
“You bloody did, you got this little shit here to try and stab me in the chest outside the MMA arena.”
Joel rounded on his brother. “What the fuck did you do you stupid little faggot?”
“I didn’t do anything,” replied a bewildered Ollie. “It wasn’t me.”
“What a big pile of bollocks. We know it was you because you were se
en,” said Jez.
Ollie looked from his brother to Mikey and Jez. “It wasn’t,” he cried hysterically.
“You stupid, stupid little prick,” roared Joel, punching him hard in the face.
At a nod from Dane, Wolf and Sam dragged him off before he beat Ollie to a pulp and ruined Mikey and Jez’s fun.
“Nice try Joel but it’s not going to work,” said Jez. “We know Ollie wouldn’t have made a move like that without the go ahead from you, so you’re both going to fucking pay.”
Mikey was keeping quiet, allowing Jez to do all the talking. After all, he was the one who was almost stabbed.
“I don’t get this, we didn’t try to stab anyone in the chest,” said Ollie. “Honestly,” he screamed in panic, knowing what was to come and powerless to stop it. Their bodyguards were already melding into the shadows, the treacherous bastards.
“Give it up Ollie, you’re just embarrassing yourself,” said Jez, removing his jacket, carefully laying it over the back of a chair and rolling up his sleeves with an elegance and precision that would have been at home on his older brother.
While Ollie starting crying Joel released a bellow of rage and charged Mikey, who knocked him to the floor with one punch. He laid into him, deciding he wasn’t going to go easy on this prick, he needed a fucking good hiding. It was also very cathartic, a way to vent his horrible rage at his mother-in-law.
Beth gripped the phone tightly, clinging onto every word Riley said. He was in a war zone while she lived in her own personal one. Archie was becoming even more of a nightmare, throwing tantrums for the smallest thing, adopting the attitude that everything in the house was his, becoming a mini dictator. A mini Alex. Poor Holly was retreating into herself, terrified to make a noise or do anything that might set him off and Alfie was rapidly running out of patience with him. On top of that Archie was having nightmares during which he called out for his dad. Riley’s calls were the only thing that were getting her through these dark days, she lived for them. She hadn’t thought it possible to fall in love with someone just by talking to them and not actually seeing or touching them but she had Riley. Her feelings for him had changed so drastically so quickly and she was accepting of that. Rachel was right, Nick would have wanted her to be happy and she thought she just might be with Riley.
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