“I can’t stand the Slatterys either,” said Hayden. “But despite everything they’re still the most powerful family around here and we must stay on their good side until we’re strong enough to take them out. But until then you must keep it together babe,” he said, pulling her into his arms.
“They want you to kill Isaac Jones. He is a very dangerous man and they want you to do their dirty work because they can’t do it themselves. They will hide and cower while you put yourself in danger. They are weak and pathetic.”
“Yes they are.”
“I don’t want you to do this, it is dangerous.”
“It’ll be alright,” he said, kissing her. “I’ve faced a lot more dangerous than Isaac Jones in my time.”
“I can’t lose you, I would die.”
“Don’t say things like that,” he said gently.
“I would. Me and the boys need you. Please don’t do this.”
“Perhaps something will come up that will get us out of this?”
“I hope Jared and Tanya will die,” she said, green eyes flashing.
“I’m not sure we’re that lucky.”
They both went silent when the front door clicked open and Marie the au pair walked in, pushing the boys in their double buggy, followed by Robbie Jordan. Robbie had come up with Katia from Manchester, he’d been one of Alex’s men. He hated the Maguires and Laws as much as she did because they’d killed his entire family. He and Katia had naturally stuck together after Alex’s death when they’d been left alone with no one else. After her boys had been kidnapped by Mikey she’d insisted Robbie accompany them whenever they went out, terrified he’d try again.
“You’re back,” said Robbie.
“We are,” replied Hayden coolly, keeping Katia close to him. He was well aware Robbie had a thing for Katia and that he resented his presence here but Hayden was going nowhere and if Robbie didn’t accept that then he’d have to come up with a way to get rid of him, which would be difficult as Katia, unaware of his crush, was very fond of him.
“How have the boys been?” said Katia, kneeling down to look at her children. They were big handsome boys with the dark Maguire hair. They were very well behaved, rarely crying and the way they looked sometimes, especially Alex, made her feel as though they were a lot older than their years. Daniel grinned at her, he could be quite free with his smiles but Alex rarely smiled and when he did it was reserved for his mother.
“Good,” said Marie. “They enjoyed the park and Daniel loved the ducks.”
“Good boys,” she said, kissing each of them in turn. “They need their nap,” she added when they both yawned in unison.
“I’ll settle them down,” said Marie, taking Daniel out of his seat, Katia taking Alex.
When they’d disappeared into the nursery Hayden turned to Robbie. “Thanks for taking them out. You can go now.”
Robbie’s gaze was hostile. “Katia dismisses me, not you.”
“She doesn’t need you when I’m here.”
“You want a bet about that?”
Hayden thrust his face into his. “Yeah actually, I’d be willing to bet everything I’ve got. Now do one, this is our home, not yours.”
Robbie huffed and stalked out of the front door, only just managing to resist the urge to slam it behind him because the twins were being put down for their nap.
Hayden glared at the door, he thought the man was a useless prick and the sooner he was gone the better. He just needed to convince Katia of that. Still, they had more important things to deal with than Robbie Jordan.
Robbie stormed his way downstairs and outside, furious at how Hayden had spoken to him. That arsehole was going to get what was coming to him.
Cathy stretched and leaned back in her chair, rubbing a hand up and down her swollen belly. “If I hadn’t seen the scan I would have sworn I was having twins,” she yawned. “He’s going to be a big lad is this one.”
“A typical Law male,” smiled Beth.
They’d met up for lunch in a restaurant owned by Beth, which had previously been owned by her dead husband Alex, part of the Maguire empire. She’d inherited it when he’d died, along with the majority of his other legitimate businesses. Mikey hadn’t contested it, he’d been happy for her to have them, seeing them as her due after what she’d suffered at his hands. Beth had thought she would be useless at running one business never mind multiple ones but she’d taken to it very well and was making more money than she had ever thought possible. Best of all it came to her and she didn’t have to answer to anyone.
“That’s just what Jez said,” replied Cathy. “I think he sees it as a sign of his virility. Talking of virility, what about you and Riley?” Riley was Ryan’s half brother. Ryan’s mentor had an affair with his mother Estelle, which meant they had the same father.
“He’s great,” she smiled eagerly. “He Skypes me all the time.”
“Ooh, lucky you,” said Cathy with a saucy smile, popping an olive into her mouth. She picked up another and stared at it. “I usually hate these nasty little things but when I’m pregnant I can’t get enough of them. Anyway, enough about my olive addiction. When’s he coming back?”
“Not for another nine months, he has to complete his tour of duty.” Riley was in the SAS and he had already handed in his resignation but they wouldn’t let him leave immediately, to her consternation. He had to work out a year’s service. Due to the secretive nature of his work he couldn’t tell her where he was in the world and that terrified her. After losing her lover Nick Jordan - who Alex had murdered - then Alex himself to a violent death she was so scared of him being killed before they could enjoy a life together.
“It must be so hard for you.”
Beth nodded. “It is but I keep thinking to the future, it gets me through.”
“Oh hon,” said Cathy, giving her hand a squeeze. “I feel the same every time Jez steps out the door. After what happened recently…”
Beth nodded. “I used to feel like that about Alex, then I started praying he wouldn’t come home. Sorry,” she added. “You don’t want to hear shit like that.”
“I don’t mind. You need to get it off your chest.”
She nodded. “But you’d never get any of that from Jez, he adores you.”
“True and Riley adores you.”
“I think he does,” Beth smiled.
“And at least Riley’s going to be legitimate when he comes out of the army, he’ll be brilliant working for Battler and Bruiser’s security firm up here.”
“He certainly will. I just hope women don’t start clamouring for him to guard their bodies.”
“Even if they did he wouldn’t bother with them. He’s like Jez and Ryan, faithful to his woman.”
“I do hope so.”
“Course he is. All he wants is a nice little family.”
“I’m not sure mine’s that nice.”
“Archie still playing you up?”
Beth nodded, her left arm still aching from where he’d punched her just that morning. He used to be such a happy boy but ever since his dad had gone completely insane, kidnapped them all and tortured and almost raped their Aunty Rachel in front of him he’d turned into a little monster. Beth knew it wasn’t his fault, he’d been exposed to his father’s evil and she was taking him to a child psychologist who was in Mikey’s pay, who wouldn’t get any ideas about repeating what he told her to the police. “Yep. The therapist is really trying but it doesn’t seem to be making a difference. The only one he listens to is Riley. He’ll have a talk to him over Skype and he’s good for a couple of days then he starts to revert back. Poor Alfie tries to help with him but Archie won’t listen to him either and it’s breaking his heart, they used to be so close. I’m worried he’ll go the same way as Alex.”
“That won’t happen, we’ll make sure of it.”
“There’s something rotten in the Maguire genes, everyone knows it. First Uncle Terry, then Mikey’s brother Jake then Alex. It’s the same story -
one of the brothers goes good, the other bad.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call Frank, Mikey and Danny saints.”
“No but they’re decent men with codes of ethics. At least Mikey does, the other two used to,” she said sadly. “Alfie is the good boy and Archie, well he’s the…”
“Rotten apple?”
Beth nodded, tears filling her eyes.
“Hey, we won’t let that happen. Archie will get better. We’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t get into that life.”
“Yes we bloody well will. Anyway, I want to not have to think about that just for a little while. What about Jules and the baby eh?”
“I know, talk about a surprise. I feel sorry for her. Just when she’s getting back on her feet something comes along to knock her over again.”
“At least this is good news. Do you think she’ll marry Jackson?”
“I’ve no idea. It’s hard to tell what’s going on in her head.”
“You know I thought I’d hate Jules but I actually really like her.”
Cathy nodded. “Me too. She’s done some truly horrible things but she’s really easy to get along with and she’s so funny, I love the way she winds Jez and Mikey up.”
Beth’s eyes filled with mischief. “I bet her and Ryan will drive each other up the wall while she’s staying in Devon.”
“Probably but only because they’re actually really similar in a way, not that Ryan would ever admit it though.”
Beth laughed. Cathy never failed to cheer her up. “I thought Amber would have joined us for lunch today.”
Cathy pulled a face. “She’s too high and mighty for us now, she’s got her posh friends.”
“Yeah, she’s gone a bit up herself lately.”
“It’s that mother of hers, she’s such a nightmare.”
“I don’t think all the blame can be put on her,” said Beth. “I think the sweet, innocent girl we all thought she was might have been an act.”
Cathy looked shocked. “You really think so?”
“Think about it. She said her parents pressed her into seducing Mikey when he was drunk but she didn’t have to go through with it, she could have said he wasn’t interested in her, anything. But she went the whole way.”
“Hmm, that crossed my mind too but Rachel thinks she’s okay and it’s practically impossible to pull one over her.”
“When Mikey and Amber got together properly Rachel had just lost Thomas, she wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“There is that. There’s something else too.” Cathy paused to look round to make sure no one was listening before continuing. “I think Mikey has a thing for Jules,” she whispered.
Beth’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding?”
“Nope. He talks about her all the time and he gets this soppy look in his eyes when he looks at her.”
“But they’re cousins.”
“I know but it’s not like they were raised together or anything, they’ve only known each other a year.”
“Jules sacrificed herself at the compound to save Mikey,” said Beth, making connections. “She said it was for the family but by handing herself over to Jared she saved Mikey’s life.”
“She never expected to get out of that alive. She was willing to die for him.”
“Bloody hell,” said Beth. “And if Amber’s clicked onto that…”
“I wouldn’t like to be in Mikey’s shoes. I bet she can be a proper bitch if she wants to be.”
“Bloody hell,” Beth repeated.
CHAPTER 8
Mikey lay back on his bed completely naked and breathing hard after rolling about with Amber for a good hour, enjoying the cool air on his fevered skin. Amber was nestled in the crook of his arm, languidly kissing his chest. He’d satisfied her but he felt frustrated and empty. Amber just wasn’t enough for him anymore and he knew why. Jules had been in his head the entire time he was inside his wife and he didn’t know how to get her out of there. One day Amber was going to realise there were three people in their marriage.
“That was lovely,” purred Amber.
“Yeah, great,” said Mikey.
“You were a lion.”
“Thanks,” he smiled. Getting the feeling she was waiting for a similar compliment he said, “and you were…a lioness.”
“Thank you.” She sighed when the sound of crying drifted down the hall. “Josh has woken up. Still, it could be worse timing.”
“I’ll go,” he said when she moved to get up. “You have a rest.”
“Thanks babe,” she said. As he got up she slapped his bare backside. “Try and get him back to sleep then come back to bed.”
“I’ll do my best,” he said, slipping on his robe before padding across the hall to Josh’s room. “Hello little man,” smiled Mikey, picking up his eighteen month old son and cradling him to his chest.
The boy stopped crying immediately, blinking up at him with big green eyes just like his own. This child was the reason he’d married Amber. If it hadn’t been for him he would still be single now, he could have been the one offering to marry Jules to protect her and her baby.
“Stop it,” he told himself. He didn’t regret his son for one second, he loved him deeply, he was central to his world.
Would he really be willing to marry Jules if he’d been free to? Christ he didn’t know, his head was mashed but it had been a stressful time lately thanks to Jared Slattery, the fucking idiot. And now Jules was carrying Jared’s child.
Josh was already drifting back off to sleep so Mikey settled down with him in the armchair, recalling Jules’s face as he’d been hauled out of the compound by Grant, shot and bleeding. Her expression had been one of acceptance.
Goodbye Mikey.
His body jumped and his head snapped up. He’d drifted off and not even realised it.
Gently he put Josh back in his cot and tiptoed out of the room. It was with reluctance that he returned to his own bedroom, telling himself he was just tired and it wasn’t Amber’s offer putting him off. What was wrong with him? His wife was gorgeous with all those red curls and lithe little body. Most men would have killed to have her as their wife. She was also a much safer bet than Jules, who was unpredictable to the point of being scary. Neither was Amber a murderer while Jules was a renowned assassin. Part of him was proud at how good her reputation for killing was. He found her dangerous side so bloody sexy and that wasn’t good. But he also liked how she was a walking contradiction, how she was as hard as nails but capable of acts of great love. He didn’t think Amber would be willing to sacrifice herself to save him.
He hesitated before his bedroom door, sighing heavily. Just for a moment he allowed himself to imagine it was Jules waiting for him on the other side of that door, naked and full of life. Determinedly he pushed his cousin aside and fixed his wife firmly in his mind. He opened the door to find Amber fast asleep on the bed, red curls tumbling about her face.
Thank God for that, he thought, quietly stepping into the room. Finally he could get some sleep.
Leah, Aaron and Ethan raced into the house after Ryan had picked them up from school, laughing and talking excitedly. They came to a halt when they saw Jules standing in the middle of the lounge.
“Hello,” said Leah politely. “Who are you?”
“This is your Aunty Jules, your dad’s sister,” explained Rachel, who had been waiting with her for them to return.
“Hello,” smiled Jules. “You must be Leah?”
The girl nodded.
“It’s lovely to meet you at last, I’ve heard so much about you.”
But Leah wasn’t listening, she was staring in wonder at the tattoo on Jules’s right shoulder, visible because she just wore a black vest and jeans. “Is that a snake?”
Jules nodded. “She’s called Venom. Do you like her?”
“She’s awesome,” said Leah enthusiastically. “I want a tattoo one day.”
“Great. I own a tattoo shop. When you’re ready you can come to me. For you, free.�
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“Thanks Aunty Jules,” she said happily. She looked to Ryan. “Can I get a drink Dad?”
“Course you can Cupcake, help yourself,” he replied, disapproving gaze on Jules.
“Dad, I’m too old to be called Cupcake,” she said in a way that indicated she was still pleased he’d said it.
Jules bent down to greet the boys. “Look at you handsome little fellas. It’s nice to meet you.”
There was something open and honest about Jules that children responded to. She talked to them like adults, she didn’t patronise them and they liked that. They both smiled at her.
“Hello,” said Ethan a little cockily.
“Hello handsome man.”
Aaron, the younger and shyer of the boys gave her a coy smile. “Hello.”
With that they followed Leah into the kitchen for drinks.
Jules straightened up with a smile. “Well I think that went well.” Her smile fell when she saw Ryan and Rachel’s disapproving stares. “What?”
“You offered to give our twelve year old daughter a tattoo,” said Ryan.
“I didn’t mean now, I meant when she was eighteen.”
“We still don’t want her getting one done, even then,” he replied.
“Better she comes to me than she goes to some cowboy and gets blood poisoning. If she’s determined to get one done, she will.”
“I understand that,” said Rachel. “But it’s not something we want to encourage.”
“Hey, I hear you but don’t try and restrain her too much as she grows up, she’ll only start rebelling.”
“We’ll bear your wise counsel in mind,” said Ryan sarcastically.
“I knew you were smart, even though your IQ’s lower than mine,” she grinned.
Rachel winced. Ryan’s massive IQ was a point of pride and Jules knew it.
“I’ve no proof of that,” he said.
“I’ll have to show you my MENSA certificate,” she added with that same taunting smile.
“I’ll wait with baited breath,” he said with a raised eyebrow.
When Jules arched her eyebrow in a similar manner Rachel laughed. “You two or so alike.”
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