“Yeah Mum, it's me.”
With a cry of joy she flies into his arms and showers him with kisses.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she sobs. She gazes up at him adoringly with her tear-stained face. “Are you here to stay? You're not going to leave again are you? I need you now more than ever.”
Danny glances at Rachel before replying. “Course I'm not leaving. I'm here to stay Mum.”
She beams at him and kisses him on the cheek. “Thank God.”
She links arms with both her sons and leads them to the waiting cars, which will take them to the graveyard. Danny looks back at Rachel and Terry smugly as he goes. Even Alex is regarding him suspiciously.
“Cheeky bastard,” mutters Terry.
“What do we do?” says Mikey.
“Nothing,” replies Terry. “For now. Let's get today over with first.”
Rachel and Mikey both nod.
Rachel barely registers a single word the minister utters at the graveside because Danny stares at her the entire time with those beautiful blue eyes she so adores. He has acquired a new found confidence and doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks of his presence here. Martina clings to him, sobbing into his shoulder. Rachel is glad that he’s at least here for her sake. She stares right back at him, refusing to be the one to look away first, her black eyes blazing. This does not go unnoticed by the rest of the mourners.
Only family and close friends are allowed back to the house for the wake. Martina’s hired caterers for the occasion and one of the waiters she has brought in offers Rachel a glass of wine the moment she arrives. She snatches it up, downs the contents then snatches another glass and does the same again. The waiter stares at her incredulously.
“What's your problem?” she scowls.
With an indignant look she picks up another glass and walks off. She’s so agitated she can't keep still and she wipes her sweaty palms covertly on her skirt. She hasn't seen her husband for five months and suddenly here he is. She is torn. Half of her wants to grab him and never let him go, the other half wants to kill him. Added to that she has no idea how he feels about her anymore. She just doesn't know what to do for the best. Gillian corners her in the living room.
“I can't believe he's back,” she whispers. “What are you going to do?”
Rachel downs her wine and snatches another glass off the tray of a passing waiter. “I was just wondering that myself.”
Gillian eyes the wine with distaste. “Go easy on that. Getting drunk's not going to help.”
“Maybe not but it's making me feel better.”
“What are you going to do?” Gillian repeats with more urgency.
“Nothing yet. This is Frank's wake and I'm not going to disrupt it. You heard Danny, he said he's here to stay, we can talk another time.”
The room starts to fill up with mourners but Danny, Martina and Alex haven't arrived yet. But Beth has. She immediately approaches Rachel and gives her a tight hug.
“Can you believe that? Walking in bold as brass after everything he's done. What are you going to do?”
“I've just asked her that and she says she isn't going to do anything. She's just going to get drunk,” tuts Gillian.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” says Beth, taking a glass for herself.
Rick joins in the discussion. “The smug little bastard. I'll beat the living shit out of him,” he fumes.
Gillian rolls her eyes in annoyance. “And what good will that do? Really, you can be so ridiculous at times.”
“You think I'm going to take what he did to my little girl lying down?”
The two start to bicker quietly, only ceasing when Martina and Alex arrive, followed by Danny. Everyone watches as he settles Martina onto the couch. At first no one is sure what to do but Alex leads the way.
“Come on mate, let's get you a beer.”
Danny and Alex disappear into the kitchen and the conversation starts up again.
Rachel watches Martina lost in her own world, bewildered without Frank by her side. She sits beside her on the couch and gives her a small smile.
“How are you holding up?” Rachel asks her gently.
Martina's eyes fill with tears but she blinks them away and pats Rachel on the hand. “I'll be fine love, I always am and now both my sons are here, everything will be okay.” She leans into Rachel confidentially and whispers in her ear. “You must be pleased to have your husband back.”
Rachel studies Martina carefully and realises she is being serious. She thinks Martina's grief must be colouring the past. Tactfully she does not reply.
“Here you go Mum,” booms Danny's voice and Rachel jumps slightly at the sound. She looks up into his handsome face with a frown.
“Thanks son,” says Martina, taking the proffered glass of wine. She frowns as Danny and Rachel stare at each other. “What's wrong with you two? You've not seen each other for months. Danny, sit next to your wife.”
“Actually I was just going to…,” interrupts Rachel.
But Martina talks over her. “I insist Rachel. After what I've gone through today you should be grateful to have your husband by your side, safe and well.”
Rachel bites her lip, not wanting to upset Martina. Across the room she can see Mikey, Beth and her parents anxiously watching. Even Battler and Bruiser look nervous. Terry is talking to the Laws but all three keep glancing at Danny with hatred in their eyes.
Danny sits beside Rachel and whispers in her ear. “I missed you Rach.”
She turns to look at him, eyes shining with anger. “Do you actually remember what you did to me the night Frank locked you up, or were you too messed up on drugs?” She speaks under her breath, so Martina can’t hear.
“Bits,” he replies. “But it’s like a dream, like it didn't really happen.”
“Well it did and I have the scars to prove it,” she taps the side of her head, “in here.”
He traces his fingers down her back, causing her to shuffle uncomfortably in her seat.
“Don't touch me,” she hisses, black eyes turning blacker. “You lost that right a long time ago.”
“Has there been anyone else, since I've been away?” His lairiness evaporates. She can see the genuine concern in his eyes.
“No. You?”
“Nah. I've been too busy.”
“Doing what exactly?”
“You sure you want to know?”
Rachel glances round the room. Everyone is pretending to talk amongst themselves but she knows they are all watching. The pressure of the day starts to get to her and tears well in her eyes.
“What are you doing Danny? What do you want from me?”
He leans so close she can feel his breath on her neck and part of her enjoys the sensation.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
His hand slides up the back of her blouse, the feel of his fingers on her bare flesh exciting. She bites her lip as the tears spill down her cheeks. Realising the entire room is now watching she wipes the tears away angrily on her sleeve, gets to her feet and rushes upstairs. Beth moves to follow but Gillian holds her back.
“Let her be for a while. She’ll want to be on her own right now.”
Beth nods. They all look at Danny, who walks through the patio doors into the rear garden for some fresh air. Ryan, who hates seeing Rachel upset, can contain himself no longer and follows him out.
“Oy, you,” calls Ryan.
Danny turns and smiles at him affably. “Ryan, how are you?”
“Never mind that. What the hell do you think you're doing, coming back here and opening up old wounds?”
“It's my dad's funeral. I’ve more right to be here than you.”
“I think right now he'd be ashamed of you.”
Danny's face hardens and he squares up to Ryan. “This isn't about my father, it's about Rachel, it always is with you.”
Ryan remains expressionless.
“Don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at her, not that
I can blame you, she's one sexy woman.”
“Is that how you refer to your wife?”
“She's my wife, I can call her what I like.”
“You're a fucking idiot and she's finally seen you for what you are. Maybe now she'll be ready for a real man.”
Danny's shoves Ryan in the chest, eyes full of anger and jealousy.
“You want to try it Ryan? I'll fucking tear you apart.”
Ryan laughs. “I don't think so.”
He punches Danny in the face who, barely affected such is his rage, retaliates and they start fighting. Battler and Bruiser pull them apart and they strain to get at each other but are unable to free themselves from their captors’ vice-like grips.
Terry storms out of the house, face like thunder. “Have you no respect? Your mother's in there in pieces and you're out here brawling. What's wrong with you?”
Both Danny and Ryan have the good grace to look ashamed.
“It's okay Battler,” says Danny, holding up his hands.
Battler relinquishes him and Bruiser does the same with Ryan. Both men glare at each other before Ryan walks away. Rachel stands in the doorway watching the scene, confusion on her face.
“I see you’ve still got them all running round after you,” Danny snaps at her as he enters the house.
“Oh grow up,” she replies before turning her back on him.
Saturday is the busiest night of the week at Martina's Bar. Rachel is helping out behind the bar when she gets a call through to go up to the security office. Battler and Bruiser are already there, staring at the security monitors solemnly but it's Gary who speaks.
“We've been gate crashed by the Sugars. We reckon there's six of them.”
The Sugars are Alan Sugar’s younger brothers. They still blame the Maguires for their elder brother's death and have intermittently caused trouble for them ever since.
“Then why call me? Just round them up and throw them out like you normally do.”
Gary looks to Battler, whose normally hard expression softens.
“Danny's with them.”
Rachel stares at him in disbelief, overwhelmed by a variety of conflicting emotions but she pushes them all aside. Right now she needs to put on a show of strength.
“How the hell did he get in here?” she demands.
“We've no idea. He didn't get in through the main doors, me and Bruiser have been on them all night.”
“And I had all the locks changed when I took over the club,” she says thoughtfully. “That leaves only one explanation. Someone let him in.”
The three men are shocked. “Who would do that?” says Battler.
“We'll think about that later. Right now, let's sort this lot ou. Where are they all?”
Gary gestures to the monitors. “Four of them are by the dance floor. They've been causing a bit of trouble, hassling some of the women. The other two are by the second bar. They've been pretty quiet.”
“Battler, Bruiser, sort those two out,” she says, pointing at the two men sat by the bar.
Battler raises his eyebrows. “Surely we should sort that lairy lot out first,” he says, indicating the group of four.
“No, they're decoys. Those two are too quiet, they're up to something. I want you to sort them out personally. Get the rest of the lads to see the others out.”
Battler and Bruiser nod and stride out of the room purposefully while Gary gets on the intercom and passes on Rachel’s instructions to the rest of the security staff.
“So where's Danny?” she says.
Gary shrugs. “He was stood by the main bar just before you came in but now he's gone and he's not popped up on any of the other cameras.”
“Have Des check the toilets. I doubt he'll be there but it's worth a try.”
Gary relays her orders and she takes the stun gun from her belt, ensures it's in working order and moves to the door.
“You're not going down there are you?” says Gary incredulously.
“Course I am. I need to find my husband.”
She strides out of the door, heart thudding in her chest as she descends the stairs to the club level. She puts in her earpiece, which will relay Gary's directions to her. She scans the sea of people and the impossibility of the task does not fill her with hope. All she can see in every direction is people dancing, drinking and laughing. The gloomy lighting makes it difficult to make out any features clearly.
“Any sign yet Gary?” she says.
His voice comes back slightly crackly. “Nothing and Des has checked the toilets. He's not in there either.”
“Okay. Keep your eyes open.”
“Will do.”
Rachel slowly makes her way through the club, her eyes constantly scanning the crowd. As she passes the dance floor she sees two of the Sugars being confronted by her bouncers.
“There were four of them Gary. Where are the other two?” she says into the intercom.
“I'm just looking....ah found them. They're at the main bar. Someone had better get over there quick, they're hassling Dolores and Kelly.”
“I'm on my way.”
“By the way you were right about the two at the second bar. Battler's just radioed in, they had machetes hidden in their coats. Don't worry, they've been sorted.”
Rachel's stomach flips over. Things are spiralling out of control. She spots the remaining two Sugars at the main bar. They've got Kelly - the youngest and prettiest of her staff - by the arm, laughing as she strains to get away. Dolores is yelling obscenities and throwing ice cubes at them, which has no effect whatsoever. Rachel shoves her way through the crowd, drawing her stun gun from her belt, which she keeps hidden behind her back.
“Leave her alone you cowardly bastards,” screams Dolores, relieved to see Rachel.
“Let her go,” orders Rachel. The two men turn and laugh at her.
“Oh no, I'm keeping hold of this little peach,” grins the larger of the two. “I've heard about your fetish for stun guns. You won’t shock me while I'm holding her.”
In the dim light Rachel catches the glint of a knife in the larger man's hand. The blade is pressed to Kelly's side, who looks back at her with large scared eyes.
“That's where you're wrong,” hisses Rachel.
Before he can react Rachel jams the stun gun into his side. He and Kelly both fall to the floor twitching and jerking. The second man is astonished and she is gratified to see the fear in his eyes. He had not expected her to shock one of her own. She holds the stun gun to his crotch.
“Where's Danny?”
“I...I don't know. He said we were to cause a diversion while he went after you.”
She studies him carefully, weighing up whether he's telling the truth or not and decides that he is. At that moment Battler and Bruiser appear by her side and glare down at him, awaiting orders.
“Take him outside and give him a good kicking,” she says coldly.
They both nod. As they commence dragging the two men out, one struggling and one, not she turns to Dolores who has run out from behind the bar and is helping a disorientated Kelly to her feet.
“Dolores, tell her I'm sorry for stunning her. Make sure she gets a large bonus in her pay-packet tonight.”
Dolores nods. “She'll understand. There was no other way you could have got her out of that.”
Rachel turns to walk away.
“By the way Rachel,” calls Dolores.
Rachel turns back to her.
“Nicely done,” she grins.
Rachel smiles back and strides off purposefully.
“Gary, any sign of Danny yet?” she says into the intercom.
“No nothing. It's really weird. We've got a man on every possible exit so we know he's not left. He's still in the club somewhere but he's not showing up on any of the cameras.”
Then it hits her. “I know where he is.”
“Where?”
She doesn’t reply.
“Rachel, are you there?”
She pulls
the earpiece out and turns it off, cutting off communications then battles her way towards the staircase leading up to her office. Her heart is in her mouth as she races up the stairs, coming to a halt outside her office door, the only room in the entire building that isn't covered by security cameras. She’d locked this door earlier this evening and now she has a feeling she will find it open. Gritting her teeth she pushes the door, which swings open beneath her touch to reveal Danny sat in her chair, his feet up on her desk.
“Alright Rach?” he grins.
“Oh look,” she replies sarcastically. “My loving husband.”
“It's great to see you again Rach. You're looking gorgeous as usual.”
She doesn’t reply but continues to stare at him steadily.
“I've been going through the books,” he continues.
Her eyes widen when she sees her accounts ledgers sprawled out on the desk before him.
“How the hell did you get to those? They were locked in the safe and I had the combination changed.”
“I've learnt a few tricks during my time away.”
“And where've you been? Inside?”
He laughs. “No.”
“So where have you been Danny? Why didn't you get in touch and let us know you were okay? Have you any idea how worried we all were?”
He shoots to his feet and walks round the desk to face her. “Worried were you? Oh I bet you were. You got the clubs and the house, you got what you wanted. You didn't need me anymore.”
His words cut her to the quick. “Is that what this is all about? You think I'm a gold digger?”
“I should have listened to my dad when we first met. He tried to warn me and I wouldn't listen.”
“Your dad never believed that about me. He knew I loved you more than anything. Why do you think he gave me the clubs and the house in the first place?”
“You pulled the wool over his eyes, made him think you were something you’re not.”
“Your dad was the shrewdest man I ever met. No one could pull the wool over his eyes.”
“You're good Rach, I'll give you that. Fooled us all didn't you? Well I'll show everyone what you really are.”
She stands inches from him, breathing hard, hands balled into fists.
“I would give it all up right now to have us back the way we were. All I ever wanted was you,” she says.
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