Tentatively she took a step forward, ankles wobbling alarmingly, but thanks to the thick carpet she managed to stay upright.
“Another step,” he ordered, still staring at her feet.
“They hurt,” she complained after taking her second successful step. “They’re pinching my toes.”
“Jesus, you’re a woman, have you never worn heels before?”
“No, I’ve always worn boots. They’re what I like.”
He gave her a disapproving look. “Then you have to practice. Come on,” he said, striding for the door.
“Where to now?”
“We’ve got a visitor coming who I want you to meet.”
“Who?” she said, praying he hadn’t got hold of one of her family or friends.
“You’ll see.”
“If you want me to come you’ll have to help me.”
He took her hand and pulled her aggressively towards the door.
“Slow down,” she cried. “You’re going to break my bloody ankles.”
“If you don’t hurry up I’ll breaking your fucking kneecaps.”
“I’m doing my best,” she snapped.
He stopped and frowned at her. “You’re not afraid of me at all, are you?”
“I’m afraid of no one.”
“I could shoot you,” he said, aiming the gun at her chest.
“If you do you’ll ruin your mum’s nice clothes.”
“Good point,” he said before lowering the weapon. “Let’s go.”
As he pulled her towards the door Jules glimpsed herself in the mirror and was appalled to see that he’d turned her into a perfect replica of Tanya Slattery. Creepy.
“What the fuck’s this?” demanded a voice when they reached the bottom of the stairs. “Why is that bitch still alive?”
It was Damien, the moustached man Jules had shot at the compound, his broken hand in a sling. In fact she was glad to see him, his words made sense to her in this house of insanity. The other four men with him nodded in agreement.
Without a word Jared raised the gun and shot him clean through the centre of the forehead, pitching him backwards onto the tiled floor.
“Does anyone else have any objections?”
Hastily they shook their heads.
“Good,” Jared smiled smoothly.
Tanya emerged from the living room and was appalled to see the dead body bleeding all over her nice hallway. “What did you do that for?” she demanded of her son. “You could have at least put plastic down first.”
“Sorry Mum but he cheeked me for the last fucking time.”
“You four,” she screeched, pointing at the other men, making them recoil. “Clean that up. Blood does stain.” She turned her attention back to Jules. “Jared, why have you dressed this Mancunian sewer rat up in my clothes?”
“Sewer rat?” exclaimed Jules.
Tanya ignored her. “Well, I’m waiting,” she demanded of her son, as though he were still a child.
“Her clothes were ruined, she needed fresh.”
“So buy her some. There’s no need to give her one of my best outfits. She doesn’t do them justice.”
“I think she looks lovely,” he replied.
Tanya frowned into her son’s eyes. “I want a word with you.” She pointed at Kirk, who was helping to clear up Damien’s body. “You, watch her.”
“Yes Ma’am,” he said politely. Jules found it amusing that these butch men were afraid of the matriarch.
He drew his gun and stood by Jules, who just gave him a bored look before deciding to ignore him completely.
Jared followed his mother into the living room and shut the door behind them.
“What the hell are you doing with that girl?” Tanya demanded of her son.
“I like her. I want to keep her.”
“She’s the enemy. Don’t you understand that?”
“Yeah, course I do but I think I can win her round.”
“Win her round, why? To work for us?”
“Maybe,” he shrugged.
“What do you mean maybe? You’re playing with fire with that one.”
“That’s why I like her. She’s very skilled and she’s not like other women.”
“You’ve got that right, she’s coarse and common and wears men’s clothes.”
“I can change her Mum.”
“Jared, women like that never change. She’ll play along with your game for a while then kill you the first time you let your guard down. She’s got to go.”
“No,” he said petulantly, like an overgrown kid.
“If her family realise she’s still alive they’ll tear up here on a rescue mission.”
“They won’t, they think she’s dead and I’m going to kill them all anyway so no worries. When she realises all her family are gone she’ll stay with me. What choice will she have?”
“You can’t trust that woman, she’s a snake.”
Jared thought of the tattoo on Jules’s body and experienced a spike of excitement. “It’ll work out, you’ll see.”
“I’m sorry Jared but I’m putting my foot down on this one. She has got to go and if you won’t do it I will.”
Jared put himself between her and the door. “No Mum. I’m the one putting my foot down here. I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me my entire life - I’ve topped people you didn’t like, dealt your drugs, I even killed Dad because you wanted me to. This is the first thing I’ve asked for myself and I will have it.”
Tanya had always been good at controlling her son but on occasion he could be incredibly stubborn and she knew it wasn’t wise to push him, he could be extremely unstable when thwarted and right now it was imperative he was stable and calm. She could dispose of the bitch later. “Fine, keep her but you’re responsible for her. If anything goes wrong it’s on your head.”
“It won’t,” he said, breaking into a smile. He kissed her cheek. “Thanks Mum.”
“You’re welcome Sweetheart,” she said. Tanya wasn’t really worried, once he’d had the bitch he’d get bored of her, as he always did with women, then she could finally be disposed of.
A bang and a cry had them rushing back into the hallway. Kirk was holding his gun in one hand, the other pressed to his bloody nose. “She hit me,” he exclaimed.
“That’s for helping torture me,” said Jules. “You’re not so tough when I’m not tied up.”
“See Mum, isn’t she great,” smiled Jared, eyes on Jules.
“She’s certainly different,” she replied, already plotting how she would get rid of Jules Maguire. She was the most dangerous thing to ever come into her house and that was saying something.
Kirk took his hand away from his bleeding nose long enough to answer his ringing phone. “They’re here,” he told Jared before hanging up.
“Who’s here?” demanded Jules.
“You’ll see,” Jared whispered, pressing his face into her hair.
CHAPTER 29
Mikey felt as though he was underwater. Everyone’s voices seemed faraway and out of synch with him.
“Mikey,” snapped Amber, bringing him back to the present.
“Sorry Babe,” he murmured. “It’s the pain medication, it’s knocked me out.”
Amber’s eyes filled with sympathy. “Of course it has. Sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you, I’m just so scared.”
He pulled her into a hug, wincing at the pain in his shoulder.
“I wish you were coming with us,” she said.
“I can’t, I’m sure you understand why.”
She looked up at him, big green eyes full of tears. “No.”
“If I don’t fight we’re all dead.”
Amber stared at him in shock before bursting into tears and burying her face in his chest. “No,” she whimpered.
Mikey sighed inwardly. He wanted to comfort her but he couldn’t think clearly and it wasn’t the painkillers fogging his mind. He was finding it impossible to get Jules out of his head. Like the others he simp
ly couldn’t believe she’d gone, he’d taken it for granted that they’d have years to get to know her and that had been a stupid assumption to make in their line of work. In his head he could see her give that sly smile of hers, the one that sent tingles down his spine and his whole body clenched.
“Ow Mikey, you’re hurting me.”
“Sorry,” he said, releasing her. “I’m just going to miss you.” Despite his thoughts about Jules, it was true. He did love his wife, at least he thought he did. At the moment he wasn’t sure of anything. He looked down at his son and smiled. Except for that little boy. His love for his son was his only certainty. It was an effort for Mikey to pick him up, but he managed it with his one good arm. “Look after your mummy for me, will you?” he said.
The boy smiled at him happily and nodded.
“Thanks little man,” said Mikey, kissing his cheek and cuddling him. Idly he wondered if he would have married Amber if it hadn’t been for Josh. Stop it he told himself. It was the painkillers, they were fucking him up. Right then he decided to stop taking them, he’d rather deal with the pain, at least it was raw and true and would keep him firmly anchored in the real world. Mikey looked to Riley. “All set?”
He nodded once, expression severe. “Yeah.”
“Good. You know we all really appreciate this.”
Riley just nodded again, not deigning to respond. Mikey couldn’t blame him for being pissed off, he’d wanted to spend time with Beth and the kids and instead he’d spent it caught up in more gang shit, which he hated.
“We have to leave now,” said Riley.
“Just a bit longer, please,” said Amber, clinging onto Mikey.
“There’s no time. I have to get you to the airport then I’ll just have time to spend an hour with Beth before I have to fly out myself.” He had to return to his unit today and he wasn’t impressed about it.
Amber caught his snippy tone and threw him a scowl.
“If Riley says you have to go then you have to go,” Mikey said, passing Josh to her. “He doesn’t have to help us.”
“Alright, I suppose. I’m just getting tired of being sent away.”
“It’s to keep you safe,” said Mikey. “We’ve already lost people, good people. I’m not losing any more.”
“I’m sorry about Jules,” she said.
Pain lanced through Mikey, so sudden and severe he was unable to hide the wince. Amber’s eyes gazed into his, a slight frown creasing her forehead.
“It’s hard losing another family member so soon after Jake,” he explained.
Amber’s eyes cleared and she nodded. “It must be so difficult for you.”
“It is,” he mumbled, praying the tears didn’t start up again.
She hugged him gently, planting a kiss on his cheek before taking Josh’s hand and leading him to the door of the safe house, Riley following, laden down with her bags. She took one last look at Mikey over her shoulder before Riley shut the door, blocking out the sight of them. Mikey sighed, feeling guilty for the relief he felt.
He was driven back to the bungalow, lying down on the back seat of the car driven by Mark hidden under a blanket, feeling like a coward.
Lethargy dragged at him as he hauled himself out of the car on their return, feet like lead as he tramped back inside.
“You okay?” said Jez with concern, his usual smart suit replaced by black jogging bottoms and a black hoodie, a baseball cap clutched in one hand.
Mikey just nodded.
“You’ll see her again soon enough,” he cheerfully told his friend.
Mikey almost said Jules’s name before he realised he was referring to Amber. “Yeah,” he replied, forcing a smile.
“How’s the shoulder?”
“It’s okay.”
“We’re off out now to start our haunting campaign,” said Jez with a grim smile. “Mark and Declan will stay with you.”
“Okay,” he sighed, sinking into an armchair.
Jez looked to Ryan, who was watching Mikey disapprovingly. “Ready to go bruv?”
“Yes I am.”
Mikey opened his mouth to wish them well then closed it again, lacking the energy.
After Riley finally saw Cathy, Amber and the kids safely onto the plane he raced out of the airport and back to the car. If he was quick he could spend a precious hour with Beth and the children.
Thanks to the city traffic that hour was reduced to forty five minutes. He practically ran up to the house and burst inside, coming to a halt when he saw Beth standing in the hallway, expression stony.
“Beth, I’m so sorry,” he began. “I had no idea I’d be kept away from you for so long.”
“It’s okay,” she quietly replied. “Mikey and Jez needed your help. It was good of you to give it.”
“I didn’t want to. I wanted to be here with you and the kids.”
“I know.”
He was relieved when she hugged him, he thought she was going to chuck him out and tell him to never come back. “I have to go in forty five minutes. Unfortunately.”
“I packed your things,” she replied, indicating the bags in the hallway.
“Thanks,” he said, kissing her hair. “Have I missed the kids?”
She nodded. “The boys are in school and Holly’s at nursery.”
“Dammit,” he said, genuinely annoyed.
“I told them you had to go back to your unit early, that it was very important.”
“How did they take it?”
“I’m not going to lie to you, they were upset but there was nothing else I could do.”
Riley felt awful. “Shit, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, really. You were protecting people, it’s what you do and those people are my family.”
“I’ve asked the security firm owned by Battler and Bruiser down here to keep an eye on you and the kids, just in case.”
“Are we in danger too?”
“Probably not, just a precaution because your last name’s Maguire.”
“Unfortunately,” she muttered.
He hesitated before saying, “how would you like it to be Cutter instead?”
Beth’s eyes lit up but she had to be sure they were on the exact same page. “What are you saying?”
“I know it’s quick but experience has taught me that when you find the right person you don’t hang about and Beth, I have really met the right person in you. I love you and I want a life with you and the kids. The question is, do you want me to be part of your lives?”
“Yes,” she cried, throwing herself at him, causing him to stagger back against the wall.
“There is something I should have mentioned first,” he said. “I really want a baby but you have three kids already.”
“I would love to have your baby,” she grinned.
“That’s a relief,” he smiled. He took her face in his hands and gazed into her lovely eyes, so happy he thought his chest might burst. “I wish I had time to marry you right now.”
“There’s something else we can do right now,” she said, unzipping his jeans. “There’s just enough time.”
Grinning, he pushed her up against the wall and slid up her skirt, revelling in her loud cry of pleasure when he entered her.
Beth held onto him tightly, silently praying that he got through his last few months in the army unscathed and that he returned safely, so they could start their new life together.
“Oh God,” she cried as she came, the phrase both a cry of pleasure and a prayer. She held onto him even tighter, burning the memory of him into her mind to sustain her while he was gone, taking note of the feel of his hair curling into her fingers, his scent, the growl he made as he spilled himself inside her, the feel of every muscle in his body tightening then relaxing.
“I love you,” he breathed.
“Love you too,” she panted.
Gently he released her and pulled a small black box out of his pocket. “I got this, I’ve been working up the courage to propose for a couple of days
now and I wish I’d done it sooner.” He opened the lid of the box and held it out for her to see. “I couldn’t afford anything too fancy on my pay but I swear you’ll always have the best I can provide.”
“It’s perfect,” she smiled, admiring the diamond solitaire as he slid it onto her finger.
He kissed her. “You’ve made me so happy.”
“And you’ve no idea how happy you’ve made me, especially after all the horror that was Alex.”
“We’ve both been given a second chance, which makes it even more special.”
“Oh Riley,” she said, wiping away a tear.
He glanced at his watch and sighed. “I’m sorry, I really have to go or I’ll miss my flight.”
“It’s okay, just promise me you’ll come back in one piece.”
“I will, then we can be married and nothing will come between us.”
Sadly she watched as he pulled on his jacket and gathered up his bags.
“We can do a video call with the kids when I get back to base,” he said.
“They’d like that.”
“And start deciding what sort of wedding you want because I’m marrying you as soon as I get back.”
“I’m already planning it. Any preferences?”
“Whatever you want is fine by me, just as long as you don’t put me in a pink suit.”
She released a delighted peal of laughter. “I won’t.”
“Thank God for that and tell Archie that if he doesn’t behave himself I’ll be very displeased.”
“I’m sure he’ll behave, he’s been so much better lately.”
Tears shone in her eyes as he kissed her then exited the house.
“Do you mind if I tell everyone about our engagement?” she called after him.
He stopped and turned to her with a heart-stopping smile. “Sweetheart, I want you to tell the world.”
With that he climbed into the car and started the engine, Beth watching until he’d disappeared from view. She shut the door and gazed at the ring on her finger, elated. For the first time in a long time the future was looking bright. Now all she had to do was get through the next few months until he returned.
She grimaced and put a hand to her aching left hip where Archie had punched her last night when she’d told him Riley had gone. Riley had unknowingly gripped the livid purple bruise when he’d made love to her. Fortunately he’d taken her cry of pain for pleasure, she didn’t want him worrying about her because that would mean his mind wouldn’t be fully on the job and for a soldier that could be lethal.
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