Reckoning

by Heather Atkinson

  All she could do was hope that the news she was going to marry Riley would soothe Archie’s temper.

  “Getting twitchy?” Ryan asked his brother as they drove around the back of the nightclub and parked up.

  “No, I’m just being alert. It’s natural after someone tries to kill you.”

  “Go on then Shane,” Ryan called to him over his shoulder. “And remember, act natural. Guilty people rush, just take your time.”

  “Got it,” he said solemnly before climbing out of the car and walking round the building to the front. His heart beat hard in his chest as he walked into the nightclub, past the glowering bouncers. He paid his ten pounds entry fee - provided by Jez along with money for a drink - and made his way inside. Unlike his friends, Shane had never liked these places, he couldn’t stand the heat, the noise and the press of bodies. An attractive blond in a tiny silver dress flashed him a welcoming smile as he squeezed past her on his way to the bar but he didn’t bother to return her smile, he had a job to do and he would not allow himself to be distracted.

  When he’d finally reached the bar he took a moment to look around while he waited to be served. To his right there was a spacious seating area and in the centre spot was Denny Lambourne, just as Jez and Ryan said he would be, sat between two attractive women with fake boobs and vacant expressions, whether that was from drugs, alcohol or low intelligence he wasn’t sure. Apparently Denny had been a respected hard man in his younger days but had run to fat thanks to his appetite for drink and rich foods, but he was still highly regarded in the Mancunian underworld, even if he did have a reputation as a drinker and womaniser.

  “Oy, do you want a drink or not?” yelled a voice.

  Shane realised the harassed barman was trying to get his attention.

  “No thanks, I’ll leave it.”

  The barman rolled his eyes and shook his head before moving onto the next customer. Casually Shane stuffed his hands into his pockets and strolled towards the bathroom, doing his best to look casual, like Ryan had counselled him.

  Instead of entering the toilets he bypassed them entirely for a fire door leading out into an alley that stank of piss. He walked to the end of the alley, ears ringing from the loud music, glad to be out of that place. He turned right onto the main road and climbed back into the car.

  “He’s in there,” said Shane.

  “You’re sure it’s him?” replied Ryan.

  “Definitely. He had two birds with him.”

  “Blond?”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s definitely Denny. Time for you to be a ghost Jez.”

  “Looking forward to it,” he grinned, putting on the baseball cap and pulling his hood up over it before climbing out of the car.

  Denny was a creature of habit, sticking to his routine anally, which in their world was dangerous because it meant everyone always knew where you were, but it was a habit he’d found impossible to break. Denny’s routine gave him a stabilising comfort he lacked in all other areas of his life. Jez had decided to kick off his plan with Denny for this very reason. He was easy to find.

  Denny always left his club at precisely ten thirty every Thursday evening to go on to a bar owned by a friend, usually accompanied by at least two blondes and tonight was no different.

  Just as Denny stepped outside, the door held open by a fawning bouncer, Jez spotted his chance. He stuffed his hands into his pocket and, keeping his head down, he approached, as though he was just a passer-by walking past the club.

  As Denny exited the club on his way to the car waiting for him at the kerb, Jez bumped into him accidentally-on-purpose.

  “What are you doing you idiot?” exclaimed Denny.

  Jez thrust his face into his, allowing him just a glimpse before he continued on his way, head down, leaving Denny to gape after him.

  “Honey, are you alright?” said one of the blonds. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “I have,” he spluttered.

  Two hours later it was all round Manchester that Jez Law at least may not be out yet.

  Jimmy Springer, small-time burglar, bank robber and debt collector jumped awake, head thumping. He lay still, trying to figure out what had disturbed him. The woman he’d picked up at the pub earlier that night lay beside him, snoring, looking a lot less attractive than she had a few hours ago. He grimaced at the sight of her slack jaw, tongue lolling, the thin sliver of drool on her chin shining in the moonlight that streamed through the window. In his alcohol and cocaine-induced lust for sex he’d neglected to draw the curtains. He hoped no one had been looking in, he’d had complaints from the neighbours before about lewd behaviour at his window. The fucking racket the tart was making must have woken him up, it sounded like someone jumping up and down on a pair of bagpipes.

  Already his hangover was kicking in and he groped for the glass of water he habitually placed on his bedside cabinet before going out for a night on the town, knowing he’d need it later when he was too far gone to get up and fetch it.

  As his hand closed around the glass he released a squeal and the glass slipped from his hand, landing on the floor - which was fortunately carpeted - with a thud. The face staring down at him was terrible, the bloodshot eyes wide and staring, but it was the emotion in those eyes that was the most frightening thing - anger, desperation, grief and Jimmy could understand why after what had been done to this man.

  “You’re dead Mikey,” he said, just wanting the terrible spectre to go away. “Go towards the light.”

  Those awful eyes rolled derisively, there was a loud clap of thunder and the face was lit up in bright white lightning, making Jimmy shriek. Then the room was plunged into blackness.

  “Wotsit?” mumbled the woman beside him, whose name he couldn’t even remember. “Why are you screaming?”

  Jimmy, dazzled by the sudden burst of light, could see nothing so he switched on the bedside lamp and scanned the room, reassured to see the spectre had gone.

  “He was here,” he whispered, clutching his knees to his chest and rocking back and forth.

  “Who was here?”

  “Mikey. His ghost is haunting me. I don’t know why, I was nothing to do with what happened to him. He must think it was me, he’s going to haunt me until I go mad. He even made it thunder and lightning, listen, it’s stopped now he’s gone. He’s got powers.”

  The woman gaped at him. “Thunder and lightning? It were car headlights shining through the window you daft pillock and the thunder were the engine, some prat acting flash probably.”

  Jimmy was forced to admit that she might be right. “But he was here, he was,” he insisted.

  “You were dreaming,” she said dismissively. “What are you doing?” she exclaimed when he buried his face in her chest and wrapped both arms around her tightly, seeking comfort. She was disappointed, she thought she’d netted herself a hard man but instead she’d got a shaking loon.

  CHAPTER 30

  The last person Jules was expecting to see at the Homestead was Hayden Brody. At first she thought he’d been taken prisoner too, until Katia entered carrying her two babies. A dark haired woman she didn’t know followed.

  “Hayden?” said Jules. “What’s going on?”

  “He helped me get my babies back,” said Katia, revelling in her victory over this woman who’d promised to kill Ryan and Rachel for her then gone back on her word.

  Fury welled up inside Jules. She tried to run at Hayden, intent on giving him a good kicking, but Jared wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back.

  “You fucking traitor,” she yelled at Hayden, who had the grace to hang his head.

  Jules’s cries were silenced when Tanya punched her hard in the stomach, pushing all the air out of her and she crumpled up.

  “Shut your filthy mouth,” Tanya screeched at her. “Keep a close eye on her,” she ordered Jared.

  Jared aimed the gun at Jules’s head while Tanya welcomed Katia with open arms, kissing her once on each cheek.
“I’m so happy you have the boys back. We’ve you to thank for that?” she asked Hayden.

  “He took me to where Mikey had hidden them in a house in Cheshire,” said Katia, eager to talk Hayden into the Slatterys’ good books. She knew if he got Tanya’s approval then Jared wouldn’t harm him.

  “And what made him do that?” Tanya’s smile was friendly but both Katia and Hayden could see the suspicion in her eyes.

  “He thinks stealing children from their mothers is wrong.”

  Tanya looked to Hayden. “A sentiment we have in common. I’m just wondering if we have a Trojan horse in our midst?”

  Hayden didn’t even flinch. “You haven’t. I did it for Katia and those boys.”

  “Are you sleeping with her?”

  “No,” he retorted.

  “She’s not opened her legs to you yet? She will, once a prostitute always a prostitute.”

  Katia’s cheeks turned pink with anger and humiliation. “I am not a prostitute now.”

  “No, you just pimp them out,” she smiled nastily, patting her cheek.

  Katia glanced up at Hayden, her secret was out, but he didn’t react or even look her way and she was unsure whether this was good or bad.

  Tanya touched Alex’s cheek with the tip of her thumb, smiling down at the boy with genuine fondness. The boy opened his blue eyes and stared back at her, unblinking.

  “Already he’s so fearless,” she said.

  Katia’s eyes blazed like her son’s, all her fear evaporating. She would rip this woman’s throat out if she hurt her child or tried to take him away from her, she didn’t care about the guns and gangsters all around them.

  “Just like his mother,” added Tanya, reading Katia’s look perfectly. She let her hand drop. “You’re so lucky. I miss having children about the house. It’s so empty without them.”

  Katia recognised the longing in the older woman’s eyes and clutched her babies to her tighter.

  Jules recovered from the blow to the stomach and straightened up to glare at Hayden. “Mikey’s going to kill you,” she told him.

  “Mikey Maguire is finished,” said Tanya, still staring at the babies. “We own Manchester now, although Nilsen and the Starklaws are labouring under the delusion that they do.”

  Jules’s glower said it all.

  “I believe you two ladies have met before,” continued Tanya.

  “Yes,” replied Katia, glaring back at Jules. “She came to me when I was in hospital after having my boys telling me she would kill Ryan and Rachel for me.”

  “Why would she do that when she’s Ryan’s sister?” said Tanya.

  “I have no idea. I didn’t know she was Ryan’s sister then and I don’t think Ryan did either.”

  “Yes, why did you say you’d kill your own brother Jules?” said Tanya, turning to her with nothing more than mild curiosity.

  “I was angry because they’d killed my club, men I’d thought of as brothers for years.”

  “They meant more to you than your biological brother?”

  “Ryan wasn’t my brother then, he was just a name and a thought.”

  “Then you got to know him?”

  “Yes.” Her face split into a grin. “And you don’t stand a chance.”

  Jules was prepared for the second blow, which was delivered to the side of her face. Tanya could pack quite a punch. Jules shook her head to clear her vision.

  “You’re on your last warning,” hissed Tanya. “One more misplaced comment and you will be executed by me personally. It’ll be worth ruining my nice shiny floor for. Are we clear?”

  There was a hesitation before Jules nodded.

  “Excellent.” For good measure she punched Jules in the stomach again and pushed her into Jared’s arms. “Hold her and don’t let her speak again.”

  He wrapped his arms around Jules, clamping a hand down over her mouth.

  Hayden felt extremely uncomfortable, not liking the way Jules was being treated. She wasn’t his favourite person in the world but he respected her for her abilities and for the fact that she was Ryan’s sister. At least she was still alive, which was a miracle in itself. He’d no idea the Slatterys had her but he’d expected her to be tortured for information before being disposed of, but she was alive and kicking and in seemingly good health. What were the prissy clothes about? They weren’t Jules’s style at all. Something about the entire situation gave him the creeps. Plus it was a surprise to him that Tanya was doing all the talking and Jared - who he’d thought was head of the family - was acting like an ordinary heavy. Was she the real brains behind the assault on the compound?

  “By the way Hayden,” said Tanya, rounding on him. “Jules’s brothers and cousin all believe she’s dead and we want it to stay that way. If anyone were to find out that she’s still alive I’d be really pissed off but I wouldn’t take it out on the person responsible. I’d take it out on those most important to them,” she said with a meaningful look at Katia and the boys.

  Hayden sighed inwardly and looked to Jules, her mouth still smothered by Jared’s large hand and she looked back at him pleadingly. “I won’t say a word.”

  “Excellent,” smiled Tanya. “So what will your role here be?”

  “I’m working for Katia,” he quickly said before he could be conscripted into this weird clan.

  “He is my sons’ bodyguard,” Katia announced. “No one will ever take them again with Hayden in charge.”

  “I hear you’re a man of many talents Hayden,” said Tanya, eyeing him up and down. “It seems such a waste to use you as a glorified babysitter.”

  “I’m happy to accept the position.”

  She looked to Katia. “I bet you are. Anyway, we have something else to discuss. Irina, step forward please.”

  Irinia glanced at Katia before stepping past her, standing before Tanya, doing her best to keep her eyes off Jared. Seeing Jules wrapped in his arms was causing her untold pain, even if his caresses seemed less than friendly.

  “You’re a strong girl,” said Tanya, walking round her, looking her up and down. “You were in the army?”

  “I was,” she said solemnly, staring straight ahead.

  “I have a very special duty for you. Jules needs someone to keep an eye on her, to make sure she stays out of trouble, that sort of thing and we can’t spare any of our men.”

  “You mean you want me to guard her?”

  “I do. Are you up to the job?”

  Irina was secretly thrilled. This meant she would actually get to stay in Jared’s house, be closer to him. She was careful to keep her face impassive. “Yes I am.”

  “Good. Jared, take Jules upstairs. Irina can guard her door.”

  Jared nodded and practically dragged Jules backwards up the stairs, his hand still over her mouth. She didn’t waste the opportunity to shoot daggers at everyone gathered below in the hallway.

  “I understand I’m leaving you short staffed at your brothel Katia but I’m sure you’ll manage.”

  “I have no choice,” she muttered, resisting the urge to glance at Hayden again, dreading seeing loathing in his eyes when he looked back at her.

  “Then I’m sure you’ve a lot to do. You may leave.”

  “And Hayden?”

  Tanya tossed back her head and stared at him hard before saying, “he can go too, as long as he keeps his trap shut.”

  “I will,” he said.

  “You seem like an honourable man. I like that,” she said, running her hand across his chest. “Strong too, even better.”

  Hate and jealousy rose in Katia’s chest. “Let’s go Hayden, the boys will need feeding soon.”

  “Curtis,” said Tanya as she watched the pair of them leave.

  “Yes Ma’am?” he said, moving to her side.

  “Keep an eye on that pair. I don’t trust them.”

  “Yes Ma’am,” he replied.

  From upstairs came the sound of a loud crash and yelling. Curtis looked to Tanya questioningly.

  “
Ignore it. It’s just my son getting something out of his system.”

  Jared hurled Jules back into the bedroom that was her new cell.

  “Stay here,” he told Irina without taking his eyes off Jules, who was picking herself up off the floor. “You don’t open the door until I tell you.”

  “Okay,” she said as he strode inside, slamming the door shut.

  She tried to ignore the painful jealousy that rose in her breast at the noises that followed.

  Jules kicked off the hated high heels and shot to her feet. “That’s it, I’m sick of being thrown about and hit. I’ve had enough,” she yelled, yanking off the pearls, snapping them, sending the little white orbs scattering across the floor. “If you’re going to kill me just do it but I’m sick of being treated like crap.”

  Jared drew the gun and pointed it at her. Jules just stood there, wanting it to end one way or the other. Instead of firing he placed the gun on the dressing table, grabbed her and kissed her.

  Jules wrenched her face away. “What the hell are you doing now?”

  “I really like you. Get this off,” he said, ripping open the blouse and pulling it down her arms.

  “Just hold your horses, okay? I don’t get it.”

  “I want you Jules.”

  “Yeah, that bit I do get but why? We’re enemies.”

  “It just makes it even hotter, don’t you think?”

  Her smile was sly. “I suppose.”

  He pushed her up against the wall, Jules releasing an involuntary groan of pleasure when her back was jarred.

  “It would make it even more exciting, wondering whether you were going to try and kill me,” he said before kissing her neck.

  “True,” she said, ripping his shirt open and running her hands over all the bulging muscles. “Impressive.”

  Jared released her, pulled off the shirt and tossed it aside. Then he gathered up the shoes and held them out to her. “Put them back on.”