“Hey Barry,” called a voice.
He turned and, before he could process the fact that Col Sugar was stood before him, a blade had been plunged into his heart. Barry’s eyes bulged and the phone started to slip from his hand. Col caught it before it hit the ground then withdrew the knife and knocked him down, so he was hidden from view by his own car.
“Barry,” Jez yelled down the phone.
“Sorry, he’s unavailable.”
“Col you fucker, you killed him, didn’t you?”
“Just a drop in the ocean compared to what your brother’s done to me. Put him on the phone.”
Col patiently waited as he listened to the mutter of voices before the phone was passed over.
“Which poor bastard just got shot?” demanded Ryan.
“Just some sick homeless person willing to help out for food in his belly and a bit of medicine, much good it did him.”
“You cold bastard. What rock is Alex hiding under?”
“You sound angry Ryan. Not used to failure, are you?”
“Unlike Alex, no.”
“Not the genius you thought you were.”
“We hold the compound, the businesses, the muscle and the cash. What have you got except a loser with two holes in his belly. If I were you I wouldn’t be getting ahead of myself because of one little victory,” said Ryan before disconnecting.
Col scowled at the phone, annoyed he’d been cut off before he could have a really good gloat. He pocketed the phone and took a shortcut through some bushes leading off the hospital premises. He could hear the wail of sirens approaching. Someone must have finally twigged that Alex’s double had been murdered.
Battler and Bruiser had been ordered to wait outside Rachel’s door while she studied her reflection in the full length mirror. The move to the private hospital had done her the world of good. Now the constant threat of danger was gone she was rapidly improving, strong enough to stand and take walks around the garden. It had taken her some time but she’d finally plucked up the courage to see what scars she was going to be left with. She’d started with her face and thankfully the bruising was disappearing, her eyes finally looked properly open, the skin marred by yellow patches but all the swelling had gone. She’d skipped over the bandage around her neck, unable to deal with that yet. She let her nightgown slide to the floor and stood there naked except for a pair of light blue panties. The stab wounds were well on their way to healing, leaving small puckered marks surrounded by bruising. Ugly. The memory of Alex on top of her, pressing his hardness against her, his heavy body smothering her returned and she buried her face in her hands, bile creeping up her throat. The scar he’d left inside her was worse than the ones on her body. It was the betrayal that was the hardest thing to take. Somehow it was worse that it had been someone so close to her rather than a stranger. She recalled how he’d touched her thighs and leered over her stockings, how helpless she’d been to stop him. She also worried about her and Ryan. So far his caresses had been purely loving because of her fragile condition and she’d basked in them but one day he would want more and she prayed she was able to give herself to him. What if when her husband was on top of her the memory of Alex on top of her returned? Rachel lifted her head and stared defiantly back at her reflection. Alex Maguire would not break her, she wouldn’t allow it and she would certainly not let him destroy her relationship with Ryan.
She was disturbed by a knock. “Rachel, can I come in?” called Ryan’s voice through the door.
“Just a second,” she called back, pulling her nightgown back on, wanting to hide the scars. “Okay.”
Ryan walked into Rachel’s room with a heavy heart, feeling as though he’d let her down again but his spirits lifted when he saw she was back on her feet. “You’re up.”
“I thought it was about time,” she said, hobbling back to bed.
“Let me help,” he said, taking her arm.
Rachel thought she might explode with love as he fussed over her, helping her settle back into bed, plumping her pillows and tucking her in. She was slightly reassured. No force on earth, not even Alex Maguire, could stop her wanting this man.
“How did it go today?” she said.
“We failed Babe.”
Rachel’s smile dropped.
“Alex has gone underground,” he added.
“Good.”
“You’re pleased?”
“This way we can kill him personally. He’s just cheated himself out of a quick painless death because he can’t hide from us.”
“That is true.” He sat beside her and gave her a kiss.
“You look done in,” she said, stroking his cheek.
“I can’t sleep without you next to me.”
“I’ve been in here for two days. Surely I can leave now?”
“What does the doctor say?”
“She says I’m okay.”
“Rachel, what did she really say?” he asked in a strict teacher-like tone.
“That I have to stay in a bit longer,” she sighed. “Just a few more days.”
“Then that’s what you must do. It’ll pass before you know it.”
“No it won’t. Time runs backwards in this place.” She frowned when he appeared to drift into his own world. “Ryan, whatever it is you want to tell me, just spit it out.”
“How did you know?” he smiled.
“Because I know you. Now spill.”
He couldn’t put it off any longer and if she found out he was keeping her in the dark she’d be furious. “Frankie wants me and you to take over when Alex is gone.”
“What?”
“I’ve tried talking him out of it. I’ve told him repeatedly that Mikey’s the perfect replacement but he just won’t listen. I can’t get through to him Babe, I’m so sorry.”
“You have to try again because we are not doing it.”
“You know what he’s like, he’s blinkered when it comes to getting what he wants.”
She grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard. “You make him listen Ryan. If anyone can make him see sense you can.”
“I will.”
“You’ve known this for a while now, haven’t you?”
He nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me? We don’t keep things from each other.”
“Because you’d been through enough and I wanted you to concentrate on getting better.”
“I can cope with it, I’m not a child Ryan.”
“I was hoping I could get him to change his mind so you wouldn’t ever have to know. Mikey’s doing so well, I thought he could impress Frankie, but he thinks he’s too young for the responsibility.”
“Bullshit. Frank was younger than Mikey when he took over. He’s more than capable.”
“He’s matured so much, I can’t believe how smoothly he’s taken over. Frankie’s a fool if he can’t see it.”
“Promise me you’ll try again.”
“I will.”
“We are not getting back into our old lives.”
“I know. Don’t worry, I’ll sort it. Leave it to me and concentrate on getting well.”
“What do we do if he won’t back down?”
“It’s not an issue because he will.”
“But what if he won’t?”
“I don’t know Babe, I really don’t.”
Rachel wasn’t sure she had ever heard Ryan admit he didn’t know the answer to something before and she didn’t want him starting now, not when so much was at stake.
CHAPTER 21
“Alex,” exclaimed Katia excitedly.
He was laid in a huge four-poster bed in the large country house he was using as a safe house, feeling much better just for being out of that busy, noisy hospital and away from the Laws.
Katia rushed to him and threw her arms around his neck, sending pain shooting through his torso.
“Ow bloody hell, steady on Katia.”
“Sorry my love I would never hurt you. I’ve just missed you so much.”
“I have been so scared, I thought I’d never see you again.”
“Now you have so you can relax,” he said, unable to repress a smile, touching her face.
“I have some news that I have been bursting to tell you but I haven’t been able to. Col said he would tell you for me but it just has to come from me.”
“What news Babe?”
She pulled a small white envelope out of her handbag. “I had my first scan, for the baby. Here it is.”
She handed it to him and he eagerly opened it up and frowned. “What am I looking at? I’ve never been able to see anything in these, they’re all blobs to me.”
“Blobs,” she sighed, shaking her head. “Let me show you,” she said sitting beside him. “This is our baby. Do you see it?”
“I see something,” he said good-naturedly.
“And you see that?”
“You mean that other blob?”
“Yes. That is our other baby.”
Silence reigned as Alex processed her words. “Other baby?”
“Yes,” she replied, a smile playing on her lips.
“There are two of the buggers?”
“I do not like our babies being called this word,” she pouted.
“Twins? We’re having twins?”
“Yes we are.”
He released a shriek of joy and kissed her. “Twins? I can’t bloody believe it.”
“And they will both be boys, I feel it.”
“Yes they will.”
“This pleases you?”
“Fucking loads Babe. After the last shitty few days this is just the news I needed.”
When they started to kiss Col decided it was time to withdraw. “Congratulations both,” he told them.
“Cheers Col.” Alex’s first instinct was to share his good news with his family then he remembered they were all gone and what remained would blow his head off given the chance.
“What is wrong my love? You look so sad,” said Katia.
“My mum would have been over the bloody moon to hear this. On second thoughts maybe not, she wouldn’t have approved that you were the mother.”
“She is gone now and she can’t tell you to get rid of me anymore.” She’d launched into a frenzy when Alex had told her his mum had encouraged him to dump her and work on his marriage. It had taken him ages to calm her down.
“I wouldn’t get rid of you for anyone, you understand, no one. You are mine.”
Katia lapped it up when he got possessive like this. It made her feel wanted and loved. She also derived great satisfaction that she had been the driving force towards Martina getting exactly what she deserved. She and Col had agreed to drip poison in Alex’s ear about his mother because that woman had stood in both their ways. Alex would never have plotted with Col to get Mikey out of the way if she was still alive. Neither would he have put aside his wife for his mistress. Alex had been reluctant at first until Martina’s nagging pushed him to breaking point. Katia herself had come up with the idea of killing her in her sleep. She’d dropped the idea to him casually after they’d made frantic love and she lay in his arms, feeling wonderfully content. She’d said how convenient it would be if Martina fell asleep and never woke up again, how free they would be. When the thoughtful look had come into his eyes she’d realised he was seriously considering it. A couple of weeks later she was dead and Katia had rejoiced. Everything was falling into place. Then the fucking Laws had struck.
“What’s the matter Babe? You look like you could kill someone,” he said.
“I could kill the Laws and Beth. Everything was perfect and now they have spoilt it.”
“No they haven’t, it’s just a temporary setback. I’ll plant them all six feet under, Beth included. Someday soon she’ll come home and I’ll be waiting. Then Katia, I’ll marry you.”
“Finally,” she exclaimed.
He smiled and took her hand. “Come closer.”
She leaned so close their noses touched.
He tilted his head to whisper in her ear, brushing back her hair. “I want you to be my number two,” he whispered so softly she had to strain to hear.
Katia gave a cat-like smile. “What about Col?” she whispered back, aware he could be listening on the other side of the door.
“He’s not number two material. He’s too busy telling me what I want to hear. But you are perfect, it is what you were born to do.”
Katia was thrilled and she knew she was more than up to the job. “I will fight by your side. I can’t imagine anything better.”
“And we will raise our boys to take over when we want to retire.”
“We will destroy the Laws and Manchester won’t know what hit it,” she said determinedly.
“You are so fucking sexy,” he smiled before kissing her.
Jeremy Hammond threw his briefcase onto his very expensive cream leather couch, pulled off his tie and poured himself a large scotch. It had been a long hard day and all he wanted to do was get drunk. He hated it when the Laws and Maguires hit the news, which they had the habit of doing on a regular basis. He had never forgotten the night Ryan Law had cornered him in the car park just outside his office. The threat had been quiet, casual even, but it had scared the crap out of him. Ryan hadn’t threatened him with physical harm that night, he hadn’t needed to come out and say it, the warning had been in his eyes and voice, in the way he’d stood, in the air surrounding him. He’d ordered him to make Rachel out to be an innocent businesswoman, victim of the obsessive Superintendent Benton, and he had. Once again he’d ordered his newspapers to report that she was an innocent woman unfortunate enough to be abducted for a ransom, although all his staff knew it was a complete lie, but fear of her husband compelled him to keep his promise.
Now he was meeting with May Roberts, Crown Court Judge and the only other surviving member of The Coalition, the shadowy outfit they’d formed to take down the Maguires by means that had been less than legal. The Maguires had killed the other members. Jeremy cringed at the memory of their complete stupidity. The Coalition’s actions had led to nothing but death and heartbreak.
He answered the doorbell to May, who appeared equally troubled.
“Come in,” said Jeremy. He had hoped never to clap eyes on the woman again, she reminded him of the biggest mistake of his life. From the look on her face, she thought the same about him.
May swept inside, placed her handbag on the coffee table and removed her black shawl, carefully hanging it over the back of the couch.
“Drink?” he said.
“Scotch please.”
She followed him to the small bar in the corner of the room. “What is the meaning of this meeting?” she said. “We agreed never to speak again.”
“What are you talking about? You contacted me to arrange this.”
“No I didn’t, I got a message from you.”
They stared at each other in surprised silence.
“I sent the messages.”
The deep cultured voice from the back of the room raised all the hairs on the back of Jeremy’s neck, taking him right back to that night in the car park years ago. A lamp went on behind them to reveal Ryan Law sat in an armchair.
“How did you get in here?” said Jeremy.
“Don’t be so naïve. Please sit, we have much to discuss.”
“Jeremy,” said May, her eyes riveted to Ryan. “Make my drink a double.”
Ryan waited until they’d settled down with their drinks, sitting next to each other on the couch in solidarity. His lips curled into a sardonic smile. “The Coalition. It feels like old times.”
“We’ve kept our promise,” said May. “We haven’t started it up again and we have no intention of doing so.”
“I’m well aware of that. Don’t think I haven’t been keeping a close eye on the pair of you. I’m not here about that. I’m here to offer you the chance to redeem yourselves.”
“Redeem ourselves?�
�� said a haughty May. “We’re not criminals.”
“But you are. Your actions caused people to die and you set Martina Maguire up to be murdered by a man she thought was a friend. If myself and Rachel hadn’t arrived when we did she would have been killed because of you two. And you set Benton on the loose and he tried to kill Rachel.”
Jeremy wanted to run out of the room when Ryan’s countenance turned dark and threatening.
“I saw him shoot her,” continued Ryan, eyes narrowing. “You unleashed him on her, you made him think he could get away with anything.”
“We were tired of the gang warfare plaguing our city,” said May. “Your feud with the Maguires was causing death and mayhem.”
“Those deaths were entirely in-house. Both sides made sure no innocent people got caught up in it. Then you lot decided to stick your noses in and tried to arrange the murder of Martina Maguire, a woman who had never hurt anyone in her life. She only lived because we realised what you were up to. Anyway, that’s all in the past,” he said, forcing himself to relax. “How would you like the opportunity to bring down a ring of corruption on a massive scale?”
“We’re listening,” May said coolly.
Jeremy marvelled at her, he wished he had an ounce of her courage. However she was more used to dealing with criminal elements than he was. He started to shake all over again when Ryan’s eyes focused directly on him.
“I want to thank you Jeremy for the way you have portrayed Rachel in your newspapers as the innocent businesswoman, which is what she is now. This recent fiasco is not her fault. However, what you have been writing is incorrect.”
Jeremy was overwhelmed with panic. “Is it? I do my best to make sure my people report only the verified facts. If I’ve done anything to cause offence I would like to apologise wholeheartedly.”
May turned in her seat to give him a disgusted look. “You crawling little worm.”
“You misunderstand me,” said Ryan. “I am not displeased. We purposefully put the lie out there because it suited our purposes. The incorrect part is the bit about Alex being a hero and trying to save Rachel when in fact he was the one who orchestrated her kidnapping then tortured her and tried to kill her.”
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