“How the fuck did that old cow get the better of Jules?”
“She might have had her hands full dealing with Jared. I promised her we’d get Cara back.”
“Course we will.” Jez kicked one of the plastic chairs. “Why the fuck does this happen every time we’re all happy and things are going well? Some cunt comes along and wrecks everything.”
Jez spun round, turning his back on Mikey before he saw the tears shining in his eyes. He’d built a strong, loving relationship with his sister and now it might all be taken away because of that big loon and his mad mum. “We should have finished the Slatterys while we had the chance.”
“We couldn’t back then,” said Mikey. “We were fighting a war on too many fronts. We thought everything with them was finished, they’ve been quiet for two years. Something sparked this off.”
“And I’m going to find out what. Have you told Ryan?”
“No, just you and Jackson. I thought I’d leave Ryan to you.”
Jez nodded, wishing he hadn’t.
“Mikey,” boomed a voice.
They turned to see Jackson and Benson tearing down the corridor towards them.
“She’s still in surgery,” said Mikey.
“And Cara?”
“The Slatterys took her. I’m sorry.”
“Oh Jesus,” he groaned, dragging his hands through his hair. “We need to tell the police.”
“Don’t be daft,” said Jez.
“They can get her back.”
“Think about it,” said Mikey. “It won’t be the Manc police looking for her, it’ll be the Essex police, who we have no influence with but who Jared has in his pocket. All they’ll do is say they’ve looked and she’s not with them. We can’t rely on them.”
“We need to find her.”
“And we will.” He pointed from himself to Jez. “We’re going to bring Cara back.”
“I want to come, she’s my daughter.”
“You need to stay here, for Jules.”
Jackson released a groan and turned his back on them, wrestling with himself.
“Listen to them,” urged Benson. He was the only one not of the family Jackson had told Cara wasn’t his biological daughter but he’d never said who the real father was. “She can’t be worrying about you as well as Cara when she’s getting better.”
Jackson nodded. “Okay, I’ll stay. For Jules.”
“You know it makes sense.”
Jez couldn’t stand witness to Jackson’s anguish, it was only compounding his own. “I’d better call Ryan.”
Ryan bustled about the kitchen, making sure everything was perfect. He was actually a very good cook and he’d made Rachel her favourite meal - skinless roast chicken with roast potatoes, veg and Yorkshire puddings followed by red velvet cheesecake for dessert. He’d bought the cheesecake as baking wasn’t his strong suit but he’d cobbled the rest of the meal together himself. He’d carefully set the dining table, using the best silver, lit candles and subdued the lights. Ethan and Aaron were spending the night at Gill and Rick’s house while Leah was at her friend’s. They had the house to themselves but to Ryan tonight wasn’t about romancing Rachel into having sex, it was simply an attempt to get them connected again. He hoped a nice, relaxed chat over an intimate dinner would get her to open up about what was really going on. Part of him didn’t want to know, he was so afraid of the consequences but he couldn’t endure this situation for much longer.
“Oh no you don’t,” said Ryan, grabbing Teddy before he could jump up on the table, lured in by the smell of chicken. “I gave you some of your own chicken but you wolfed it down and now you’ve none left. Sorry, tonight is really important and chicken covered in cat saliva is only going to spoil it.”
He carried Teddy out of the dining room and shut the door. The cat gave him a haughty look before turning his back on him, tail in the air, exposing his puckered bum hole before disappearing down the hallway, no doubt intent on peeing in his shoes in retribution. It wouldn’t be the first time.
There was the slam of the front door and Ryan hurried into the hallway to see Rachel removing her coat, shaking the rain from her long dark hair. A lump formed in his throat as he realised he wouldn’t be able to bear life if he didn’t have this woman coming home to him every day.
“Something smells good,” she said, hanging up her coat and removing her shoes.
“I made dinner.”
“Lovely, I’m starving.” She put down her handbag. “It’s suspiciously quiet.”
“The boys are at your parent’s and Leah’s at Britney’s.”
She hesitated. “All night?”
He nodded. “I thought we could use some time, just the two of us.” His heart sank when she looked uneasy.
“I’m still feeling really tired, I’ve had such a busy day.”
“I’m not trying to get you in the sack Rachel,” he said, hoping he didn’t sound as frustrated as he felt. “I just want us to relax and talk, that’s all. It feels like we’re drifting apart and I’m trying to stop that from happening.”
Her gaze softened and she nodded. “Okay. I could use a big glass of red wine.”
“Ready and waiting for you,” he said, pleased he’d anticipated this.
She followed him through to the dining room and smiled. “This looks lovely. You’ve gone to so much trouble.”
He kissed the top of her head as she took her seat. “You’re worth it.”
Rachel picked up the glass of red wine and took a deep gulp, Ryan’s forced smile faltering slightly as it looked like she was fortifying herself for the evening ahead.
He cleared his throat to disperse the lump, which had returned. “Shall I serve up?”
“Yes please, I’m starving.”
“Great. What would you like?”
“A bit of everything please.”
Ryan actually felt nervous when silence descended on the room as he dished up the food for them both, Rachel anxiously sipping her wine. She’d finished half the glass before her plate was even placed before her.
She smiled as he seated himself opposite her. “It looks great,” she said with what he thought was false cheer.
“Thank you. Have you got everything you need? Would you like some apple sauce or maybe white sauce?” He felt anxious, he just wanted everything to be perfect for her.
“No thanks,” she said before stabbing a carrot and popping it into her mouth.
He couldn’t help but notice that in the candlelight the scar on her throat - put there by Alex Maguire - seemed rather prominent, the red line raised and angry. Dragging his eyes off it he looked down at his dinner, which he suddenly had no appetite for. Rachel however was tucking in with gusto, which made him feel better. There didn’t seem to be anything physically wrong with her. This thought in turn caused his stomach to plummet. If she was indeed physically well that meant something else was wrong. Maybe she’d met someone else or maybe she’d simply stopped loving him.
“You’re not eating much,” she said.
“Cook’s curse,” he smiled wryly. “I’m not really hungry anymore.”
She just nodded and carried on eating.
“So,” he began, taking a sip of wine. “How was your day?”
“Fine,” she shrugged.
For a moment he thought they were going to descend into awkward silence, until she carried on.
“I went to the salon. Tracey was telling me about the trainee. She was shampooing a client’s hair when the hose slipped out of her hand and drenched herself, the client, Laila and Daina. Tracey had to turn it off, you should have seen her, she looked like a drowned rat.”
He laughed, even though his heart wasn’t in it. Her ability to maintain normal relationships with everyone else just went to confirm that her problem was with him. He just let her run on without interruption, enjoying the sound of her voice. She hadn’t spoken so much in days.
Therefore when the phone started ringing, interrupting her mid-flow, h
e was furious.
“I’ll get it,” she said, getting to her feet.
“Ignore it,” he replied. “Finish your dinner.”
“I’ve never been able to ignore a ringing phone, you know that.”
Ryan was upset, it was starting to go wrong. “You finish eating, I’ll get it,” he said, rushing out of the room before she had the chance. The mood she was in she more than likely wouldn’t come back.
“What is it?” he snarled, snatching up the handset in the hallway.
There was a pause before a voice said, “Ryan?”
“Yes it’s me Jez. What do you want?” He didn’t mean to sound harsh but he couldn’t help it. Why hadn’t he taken the phone off the hook?
“It’s Jules,” he began, voice cracking.
As his brother continued to talk, Ryan slumped onto the bottom step of the stairs, a hand pressed to his forehead.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can get a flight,” was all he said before hanging up and cradling his head in his hands, forcing back the tears that threatened as his life felt to fall apart around him.
“Ryan?” said a gentle voice. “What’s wrong?”
He looked up to see Rachel framed in the doorway leading into the dining room, looking concerned.
He had to take a deep breath to steady himself before replying. “It’s Jules. Jared Slattery found out Cara’s his daughter. He took her.”
“And Jules?” said Rachel, her heart in her mouth.
“She…” With a growl of frustration he screwed up the emotion wanting to erupt and swallowed it down. “She was stabbed. Badly. She’s in surgery.”
“Oh Christ,” she said, paling.
Ryan looked back at his wife, pleading in his eyes, trying to tell her he needed her. For one horrible moment he thought she was going to leave him to it, until she charged across the hallway and wrapped him in her arms.
“God, I’m so sorry,” she said.
Ryan clung onto her, burying his face in her shoulder, basking in her warmth.
“We need to get to Manchester,” she continued. “I’ll organise the flights.”
“Thank you,” he said, so relieved she was coming with him. He didn’t know what to expect from her these days. Right now he needed her more than ever.
Jez, Mikey, Jackson and Benson all shot to their feet when Jules’s surgeon finally approached them.
“Well?” demanded Mikey before Jackson could get a word in.
“Are you her husband?” the surgeon asked him.
“No, that’s me,” interjected Jackson. He pointed to Mikey. “He’s her cousin.” Next he indicated Jez. “And he’s her brother.”
“I see. Well, Jules made it through surgery.”
“Thank God,” breathed Jackson, dragging his hands through his hair.
“However,” continued the surgeon, turning all their blood to ice. “She went into cardiac arrest. Technically she died twice on the operating table.”
Jackson blanched. “Go on,” he rasped, voice tight.
“We managed to resuscitate her but I’m afraid as yet she hasn’t regained consciousness.”
“Will she?” said Jez.
“All we can do is wait and see.”
“You mean, she might never wake up?” said Mikey while Jackson stared at the man in dumb horror.
“Like I said, all we can do is wait and see. Mr Driscoll, may I have a word?”
He slowly nodded, following the surgeon into a room further down the hall, walking like a zombie. Once they were alone Jackson stared at the man uncertainly, heart racing, terrified of what bombshell he was going to drop on him now.
“Your wife was pregnant,” began the surgeon.
Jackson swallowed hard. “Was?”
“It was early days but I’m afraid she lost the foetus.”
Jackson just nodded, looking down at his shoes. Somehow he’d already known his baby was gone.
“Your wife suffered a lot of trauma to the womb,” continued the surgeon. “We were unable stop the bleeding or repair the damage. I’m very sorry to say we had to perform a hysterectomy.”
Jackson’s knees went weak. “So…she’ll never be able to have kids again?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Tears blinded Jackson and he sank into a chair.
“I’ll fetch your friends,” said the surgeon, heading for the door.
“No please, I need some time alone.”
“As you wish,” he replied. “I’ll let you know when you can see her.”
Jackson didn’t reply because he hadn’t even heard him. The surgeon left but Jackson remained where he was, struggling with the fact that his daughter had been abducted, his wife was on death’s door, his baby was gone and they would never have another, if his wife even lived. How the fuck had that happened? Just this morning he’d been on top of the world, everything had been perfect. Plus it was killing him that while Jules had been fighting for her life and to protect Cara, he’d been laughing and joking with his friends at the gym. He hadn’t even protected them and he should have.
“Go away,” he said when there was a knock at the door.
Benson ignored the order and walked in, followed by Mikey and Jez.
“What did the surgeon say?” demanded Jez.
“Leave me alone,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms.
“She might be your wife but she’s my sister. Tell me what he said.”
Jackson sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to give up until he knew. “Jules lost the baby and because of the damage that was done to her, she had to have a hysterectomy.”
There was a moment of silence as they all digested this, broken by Jez saying, “fuck,” and kicking the wall.
They were all thinking the same thing. It was so cruel. All her adult life Jules had believed she couldn’t have children, until Cara had proved her wrong. Now she’d dared to plan a family it was taken away from her again. Mikey wondered if her fear that she’d never be able to have any more kids had been some sort of premonition.
They were all startled when Jackson shot to his feet. “This is your fucking fault,” he said, gesturing from Mikey to Jez.
“How do you work that one out?” frowned Jez.
“This is all because she was put in the path of Jared fucking Slattery. If it wasn’t for you they wouldn’t even have met and she wouldn’t be lying half-dead in a hospital bed missing most of her insides.”
“Don’t you fucking dare lay that one at our door,” hissed Jez, squaring up to him. “We never asked Slattery to come charging up here, he did that off his own back because he’s a greedy bastard. We never went near them.”
“It’s true Jackson,” said Mikey, his mind only half on the argument, too consumed with thoughts of Jules to bother himself too much with their row. “The Slatterys started this, we were just defending ourselves.”
Jackson’s eyes flicked from Jez to Mikey and back again before he shook his head and sighed. “Sorry. I’m lashing out at the wrong people.”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Jez, patting his arm. “It’s understandable.”
“I want to speak to Mikey. In private.”
Benson and Jez frowned but didn’t object, quietly filing out.
Mikey looked expectantly at Jackson, waiting for him to begin.
“Why did Jules call you?”
“Excuse me?” said Mikey, not sure what he was talking about.
“When the Slatterys attacked, Jules called you not me. What the fuck was that about? I’m her husband, I’m the one she should have called for help.”
“Don’t you know your wife at all?”
“You cheeky bastard,” he snarled, pushing him up against the wall. “What the hell is going on between you two? Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you look at her.”
“And don’t you dare insult her by insinuating something’s going on,” retorted Mikey, pushing him off. “Yes, I admit it, I’m in love with her, I have been for
ages. When she fell pregnant I even offered to leave Amber for her.”
Jackson was stunned. “You did?”
“Yes but she turned me down and do you know why? Because she loves you. She chose you so don’t you fucking ever dare make her out to be something she’s not.”
“Then why did she call you when she needed help?” he snapped back.
“Because she didn’t want to risk you getting hurt, you stupid bastard,” spat Mikey, furious. “But she was willing to risk me and you know what? I’ve no problem with that because I’d do anything for her. Now do you get it?”
Jackson’s anger wilted and he nodded.
But Mikey wasn’t finished. “Jules loves you,” he continued. “And she’d do anything to protect you, including putting herself in the line of fire. Instead of whinging about it you should be grateful you’ve got something some of us can only dream about.” With that Mikey turned his back on him and took in a few deep breaths to try and calm down. How dare he attack Jules when she was unconscious and defenceless?
“I’m sorry,” Jackson eventually said. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
“It’s alright,” replied Mikey, voice tight.
“I was out of order. When are you going to get Cara?”
“As soon as we can organise everything. Ryan and Rachel are on their way. They’ll want to be a part of that and we need all the help we can get, Slattery has a lot of men.”
“This time you finish him. Jules and Cara will never be safe if he’s still alive.”
“We will, I can promise you that.”
“I want to come with you.”
“No way.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I’m well aware of that but someone needs to stay here for Jules, not only for when she wakes up but if the Slatterys try to finish the job.”
Jackson paled. “You think they might?”
“It’s very possible. She’s the only witness.”
The door opened and Benson stuck his head inside. “You can see her now.”
Both men charged down the corridor, alongside Jez, Benson hanging back a bit.
They were confronted by the surgeon at the door, holding up his hands. “I’m sorry, only two of you in at a time.”
Darkness Page 11