by AJ Adams
“Six shop windows broken! Plus arson attacks on the garage, the Oak Leaf and the Dog and Duck!”
“All the arson attacks failed,” Rex soothed. “What we have is a little broken glass plus a dozen thugs in jail.”
“My chief is asking questions,” Harding moaned. “A year of perfect peace and the month I take over, all hell breaks loose.”
“I’ll have a word with him,” Rex promised.
Harding wasn’t in the least bit grateful. He instantly looked as if he’d a poker shoved up his bum. “This is a police matter.”
“Don’t be a damned fool.” Rex snapped. “Write up your report so that you take credit for the arrests. And while you’re at it, dump responsibility on Lincoln. Tell them to get their act into gear because you’re fed up repelling thugs from their patch.”
“You just want me to push them into dealing with the Horde,” Harding protested.
“Damn straight, I do. Jail Pig and it’s problem solved.”
“We’re not doing your dirty work for you.”
“Fine. So we’ll leave you to deal with Bonnington tonight then?”
Harding swallowed. He knew as well as us that there was no way that he and his dozen plods could deal with Pig’s men. It would be a massacre.
Rex saved him from answering. “Look,” he sighed. “We’ll be there.”
“It’s not that we don’t want to arrest Pig,” Harding offered reluctantly. “We had him for assault, but the victim refuses to press charges.”
“I know,” Rex nodded. “We offered to help with protection, but he turned us down too.”
The inspector wasn’t best pleased with what he would see as interference, but he decided not to say so. “Any sign of Mrs. Hyde’s ring?” he asked.
“No. In fact, it slipped my mind,” Rex admitted.
“Nathara Hyde claims she may have lost it in the grounds,” Harding said. “While she was on a country walk.” He clearly didn’t believe it.
“Possibly,” Rex didn’t give an inch.
“You intimidated that woman somehow,” Harding said evenly.
“Nonsense. I just warned her that unsubstantiated accusations hurt Bonnington.”
Harding wasn’t having it. “You’ve got a title, Lord Ravenshurst, but you’re as bad as the Horde.”
Rex didn’t move a muscle, but I felt a mental wince. “If that’s all, Inspector, I will have someone see you out.” He was every inch the aristocrat, but Harding came out of that spat the winner.
To be honest, I didn’t know what to think. I hadn’t liked Rex threatening Mrs. Hyde, even if she was a right cow, but I’d seen how much Bonnington depended on its reputation. And while it’s not right that Rex could pull strings because of his birth and connections, I knew that he had nothing but the best intentions.
He never made a fuss about his title, but having seen Rex up close and personal, I knew that he did think of himself as unofficial protector of Bonnington. He’d brought wealth to the village, and he was determined to keep the people there safe.
Rex was also good to his own staff. Everyone from Mitch and Brianne to the stable lads and the girls who looked after the donkeys in the sanctuary were well paid and well treated. Rex was tough, but he looked after his employees as if they were family.
So after Harding left, I went to find Rex. He was in the blue room, head stuck under the bed. “Looking for that ring?”
“You never know,” his voice was muffled. “I once lost a cufflink in my room, and it took me a year to find it.”
“Because your room’s a pigsty,” I replied automatically. “Look, is there anything I can do?”
He surfaced, pink-faced but his usual cool self. “If you can spare the time away from Miss Bonnington, could you push the village in general? Monitor TripAdvisor and get a couple of Instagram influencers on our side?”
“Will do. Want me to push you?”
Rex blinked. “You mean, you spank me?”
Typical. “Not sex, you moron. I meant, do you want me to arrange some good coverage for you personally?”
“I don’t need it.”
He was blank-faced, just like the time I’d asked about his mum. Rex was hurting, but he’d be damned if he admitted it. Last time I’d let him be, but this time I wasn’t letting him push me away.
“Listen, Rex. I know you’re good people, but Harding and David proved a point: the general public is an arse, and it’s time you got a little credit.”
“Thanks,” he grinned. “But really, concentrate on promoting the village.”
“But what about you?”
“I live and die with Bonnington,” he shrugged.
He meant it, too. The village nicknamed the Winslows the Wicked Barons but this one had his heart in his home. “Then consider Bonnington pushed,” I agreed. “But tonight, we play that spanking game you suggested.”
“How about now?” He wrapped himself around me, lean and limber, smelling as always faintly of leather and spice. “I could do with a little kink,” he murmured. “I think I’ll tie you down and have my wicked way with you.”
My knickers were dampening just at the thought of it. Heart banging away, breath shortening, I ran my hands over his back. “Come to think of it; I’ve been a very naughty girl.”
“Rex! Crush is here.” Brianne, looking for all the world like a schoolteacher policing the halls, popped her head around the door. “He’s asking for you,” she said pointedly.
“Bugger,” Rex sighed. “Keep that thought for later, Lacy.”
As he rushed off, Brianne gave me the evil eye. “Is it true you’re married to one of the Horde?”
“No.”
“There’s a bloke called Barrows who says you’re his wife and you ran off,” Brianne contended. “With all his savings.”
Great. Jason was at it again. “And last week he and his mates said I was dead,” I reminded her patiently. “I’ve got a crazy ex, okay? He makes up shit in order to annoy me.”
“But Rex doesn’t want you here,” Brianne persisted. She gazed around the blue room. “Why don’t I help you pack up your things?”
It dawned on me that she thought I was sleeping in the guest room but I wasn’t going to tell her I was still bunking up with Rex next door.
“You’re not right for him,” Brianne said.
“Oh, get bent.” I pushed past her and went downstairs.
I heard Crush’s rumble while I was still on the stairs. “Pig sent a message: if we hand over Lacy, he’ll sit down and discuss a truce.”
I stopped and eavesdropped.
“No way,” Rex was loud and immediate.
“Of course no way,” Crush replied. “But I’d like to hear what he has to say.”
“Why?”
“Because Pig has a plan and I want to know what it is.”
“World domination.” That was Kraken, clear as day.
“Well, at least England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales,” Flash joked.
“He’s after a lot, that’s for sure,” Crush replied.
My mind went straight to Skegness. It had been six long days since I’d seen Mia and even the twice-daily video chats and stream of texts couldn’t reconcile me to our separation. My head said the number one job was to keep her safe, and that meant away from my shit, but it broke my heart.
“Pig’s got no brakes,” Crush rumbled. “He’s got three dozen of his people in hospital and a dozen more in lockup, but he’s not stopping.”
“You think he’s planning something big?” Rex asked.
“Yes,” Crush replied simply. “But I’m fucked if I know what.”
I was in the kitchen and talking before I could catch myself. “He’s not after Skegness, is he?”
The executive were all there, and they turned to me as one.
“Why Skegness?” Rex asked surprised.
I mouthed a bit, suddenly uncertain. I wanted to tell them about Mia, and I think I might have done if Brianne hadn’t come in right behind me.
“Just an idea,” I offered lamely. “After all, it’s quite rich, right?”
“But it’s not a good target strategically,” Crush said patiently. “Bonnington runs next to Lincoln, so if Pig were take over, it would just mean expanding. He’s a bit short of staff, but given enough time and money, he could recruit. But Skegness is too far south. He’d need to set up an entirely separate organisation to run it. He might take it, but he couldn’t keep it.”
“Right. I’m an idiot.”
“You should go.” Incredibly, Brianne was coming into the kitchen, pink with nerves but banging on nevertheless. “If you weren’t here, the Horde would go away.”
“No, they wouldn’t,” Rex said immediately.
“We were fine until she got here,” Brianne insisted. “They’re saying on Twitter that she ran away from her husband and that’s why the Horde keep coming here.”
Rex was pinched with fury, but Kraken spoke up. “Come on, love,” he said to Brianne. “When one of the customers sticks his hand up your skirt, do we blame you?”
“That’s different!” Brianne cried.
“No, it’s not,” DT said seriously. “You can’t hold Lacy responsible for the things Barrows does, Brianne. That’s victim blaming.”
“But they say on Twitter that she took this bloke Barrows’ savings,” Brianne said stubbornly.
“That’s not true,” Rex said immediately. “Don’t fall for those lies, Brianne. Lacy has done nothing wrong.”
“I don’t see why you like her so much!” Brianne wailed. “She’s just a tart!”
“You’re fired.” Rex didn’t even raise his voice.
Brianne was white as a sheet, and for a moment I thought she’d faint. “You can’t be serious,” she whispered. “She’s a thief, and she stole from you, for God’s sake. Don’t you care?”
“What?” Rex snapped. “What do you mean?”
Brianne held out her hand. “I came to tell you I found this,” she stammered. It was the ring, sparkling like a malevolent sun.
“Where?” Rex exclaimed.
“In Lacy’s things,” Brianne whispered. “I’m sorry, Rex. I didn’t want to tell you, but you have to know. She’s not just a liar; she’s a thief.”
There was complete silence.
“She’s got a record,” Zero said reluctantly.
“What?” Kraken asked sharply.
My heart sank. I’d been a fool to think the Disciples were on my side. Harding had considered me a thief from the word go, my clients were picking Jason over me, even though they knew what he was like, and now the Disciples would believe Brianne. I was backing up without thinking, seeking the safety of the stairs, when my phone rang.
Seeing it was my half-sister, I answered automatically.
“Lacy?” Rachel was tense. “It’s Mia.”
My heart stopped. “What is it?” I heard myself say.
“She fell off a pony,” Rachel was weeping in fear. “I think she’s broken her arm.”
The world came back with a bang. “I’m on my way.”
I don’t remember exactly what happened next. I know I ran up to the bedroom, picked up my bag and then I was standing in front of Rex’s Jaguar. It would be faster than my Volks.
It was significantly faster, or perhaps it was shock that blanked out the trip. One moment I was exiting through Stony Farm gate and next I was in the Lady of Mercy Medical Centre in Skegness.
“Mummy!” Mia’s arm was red, swollen and tender but she was smiling. “I fell off Peanut!”
I swept her up carefully. “Poor baby. Are you okay? Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore,” she snuggled into me. “I missed you.”
“Lacy,” Rachel was in floods. “It’s all my fault.”
I was hugging her instantly. “Don’t be silly. Accidents happen.”
“It happened so quickly. One second she was in the saddle and the next -”
“Sweetheart, you can’t control the universe. This is not your fault.”
Alex appeared, Sue and Rose in tow. “Lacy, love. I’m so sorry. I’ll never forgive myself.”
In a word, total drama all around.
When the doctor came out, we were all red-eyed and tearstained. “It’s just a sprain,” she announced cheerfully.
Of course, the happy news set us off again. By the time they iced and bandaged Mia’s arm, and given her painkillers, we were all wiped.
We stood at the hospital exit, Mia clinging like a limpet. “You’re not going are you, Mummy?”
“No, love.” The answer was instinctive. I was already wracked with guilt; there was no way I could leave her. We’d run away, hide in Scotland or Wales maybe, and figure it out from there. “I’m not leaving you ever again.”
Behind me, Alex started. “Lacy,” he said urgently. “Bikers.”
The Horde had spotted me leaving the safety of the village, and now they were here. My heart in my mouth, I handed Mia to him. “Take the back door,” I said urgently. “Go straight to the hotel. Lock yourselves in.”
“But Lacy,” Rachel said worriedly. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to kill them all.” It just floated out of me, and I meant it. I’d had enough of being scared, of having my life disrupted. I’d kill Jason, Pig and any other bugger who threatened me and mine.
There was a telltale stomp of biker boots and the kind of silence you get when people are afraid of what they see. The Horde were on their way. I braced myself, ready to fight to the death.
“Quick, run,” I told Alex.
“No way am I leaving you,” he snapped.
The door swung open. There was nowhere to run.
“What the bloody hell were you thinking?” Rex was white-faced with temper. “Don’t you have any bloody sense?”
“Rex.” I was faint with reaction. “Ohmigod, what are you doing here?”
He’d brought the Disciples with him. The entire executive were there, blocking the exit and staring in amazement at me holding my weapon, the Jaguar car keys.
“You pinch my car and leave Perdition,” Rex snapped. “And you’re asking me what I’m doing?” Then he clocked Rachel, Alex, and the kids. “Who the hell are you lot?”
I just stood there, totally blank.
A little hand pushed into mine. “Mummy?” Mia’s eyes were huge with fright.
Rex blinked, and then he was hunkering down and saying, “I’m sorry for shouting. I won’t do it again.” With a smile, he added, “I’m Rex. What’s your name?”
“Mia.”
“That’s a great name.” The charm was flowing nicely. “And who’s the pretty pony?”
“Buttercup.”
Rex put out his hand solemnly. “Does Buttercup shake hooves?”
“Yes.”
It was friendly, and Mia was smiling, but I was aware of continuing tension. My heart was plummeting again as I remembered that scene in the kitchen; they must have chased me, thinking I had taken that bloody diamond.
Rex shook hooves and asked Mia, “What happened to your arm, sweetheart?”
As one, the executive loomed and focussed.
“Peanut wouldn’t stop,” Mia explained.
The executive exhaled.
“I’m sure Peanut didn’t mean it,” Rex said smoothly.
It wasn’t until he looked up at Alex and nodded that it hit me. “Rex, for God’s sake, this is Alex, my brother-in-law!”
“And I do not hit kids,” Alex said outraged.
“Sorry,” Rex was on his feet and offering his hand. “It’s been a difficult few weeks, and I just jumped to all the wrong conclusions. I apologise.”
Alex was stiff with anger, but the apology was so patently sincere that he shrugged and took the outstretched hand, “Any friend of Buttercup’s a friend of mine.”
While they were making nice, the executive were making calls.
“Snake, we’ve found her, and she’s safe,” Crush rumbled. “Tell your boys thanks for us?”
“Fred, hold the fort, we’re on our way back,” Kraken was updating Bonnington.
I was weepy again. “You came right after me?”
“What did you expect?” Rex put an arm around me. “Why didn’t you say, Lacy?”
“Sorry.” My heart was too full for words.
He kissed my hair. “You’re coming back to Perdition. Mia too.”
“Perdition?” Mia asked.
“My house,” Rex explained. “I’d like you to come and stay with me.”
“I didn’t take that ring.” Suddenly I had the shakes. “Honestly, I didn’t.”
Rex hugged me tighter, “I didn’t for a second think you did! Brianne finally found the dratted thing. It had rolled under a loose floorboard.” He kissed me again. “You were right, she went nuts and tried to frame you.”
I leaned into the hard comfort of him. “It’s all your fault, Rex Winslow. You drive the girls mad.”
The blue eyes were gazing directly into mine, tired, bloodshot and tense. “The only girl I’m interested in is you.”
I could barely breathe. “Really?”
“Yes. You’re the girl for me, Lacy. I’m crazy about you.”
There were no words; my heart was overflowing. I kissed the hard mouth, sinking into him, lost to the world, until a small hand tugged at my top.
“Rex, can Buttercup come too?”
He hunkered down on the spot. “Of course. I particularly want her to come because I think she’ll like my donkeys.”
Mia went pink with excitement. “You have donkeys at your house?”
“And ponies.”
Mia put her hand in his. “Let’s go now,” she said earnestly.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “As I said, you drive all the girls mad.”
Chapter Sixteen
Rex
“Now I get why she wouldn’t go abroad,” Crush said. “It’s too much of a wrench for a kid.”
The executive were gathered around the kitchen table, going over the events of the day before.
“She’s a single mum,” Flash sighed. “Now that’s a tough gig.”
“Yeah, hats off to her,” Zero agreed.
“But why the fuck didn’t she just come out and say it?” Kraken asked exasperatedly. “Why not tell us there was a kid in the mix?”
Because she thought I wouldn’t have cared. And I knew I’d been such an arsehole that she was probably right. While the executive marvelled at the whys and wherefores, I just couldn’t bring myself to speak.