“Stupid bastard,” roared Jared, throwing himself behind the island as Ryan pumped bullets in his direction.
“Fuck,” muttered Ryan when Jared vanished from his line of sight, so instead he turned the gun on Jared’s man and shot him instead clean through the centre of the forehead and down he went.
Deciding this had gone on long enough, Ryan cautiously approached the island, gun in hand, careful to keep one eye on the door, it had been foolish of him to turn his back on it. Examining the island he saw that although the top was solid granite the sides were made of wood, which the bullets he was using should easily go through. He took aim and fired…but nothing happened. The gun had jammed.
“Fucking Cake,” he hissed, diving behind the other side of the island as Jared, realising what had happened, leapt to his feet and started firing. Fortunately the bullets all went wide of their mark.
“Cake?” he laughed, feeling like he’d finally gained the upper hand. “Don’t tell me you approached that daft bastard? His guns are well dodgy.”
Ryan had positioned himself beside the body of the man he’d thrown the knife at and he yanked it out of his chest with a sickening squelch, which alerted Jared to where he was crouched. Knowing this, Ryan leapt up, surprising Jared and hurled the knife, which missed his chest but embedded itself in his hand, causing him to drop the gun.
“Fuck,” bellowed Jared, kicking the gun out of the way when Ryan made a play for it.
Jared tore the knife from his hand and lashed out at Ryan with it, causing him to leap backwards, the blade narrowly missing his chest. Ryan blocked his arm when he tried again, knocking the knife from his grip. Jared released another bellow of rage, the frustration of not being able to kill this bastard unleashing his famous temper and with his head down he charged at Ryan, rugby tackling him to the floor.
“No,” cried Rachel when the second man and the nurse both tried to run at Leah. She managed to grab the woman by the hair and pulled her back, slamming her fists into her face in desperation, the woman only just managing to block the blows. As Rachel had one eye on her daughter the nurse backhanded her, knocking her back against the wall.
“Finish them quickly,” the bruised and bleeding woman yelled at her companions.
“You see to her,” said the first man, indicating Leah, still cradling his injured eye while the two women launched themselves at each other again. “I can’t see fuck all.”
“Pleasure,” said the second man, turning his vicious glare on Leah. “Come to me honey.”
“Leave her alone,” screamed Rachel, repeatedly smashing her fist into the woman’s ribs and stomach but for some reason she wouldn’t go down and she was seriously starting to tire. In sheer desperation she decided to throw herself forward again, throwing the nurse off balance but a blow to her face momentarily stunned her, knocking her onto her knees and the woman managed to snake her arm - which felt pretty muscular - around her neck and started to squeeze.
For a moment Rachel wasn’t concerned with what was being done to her, all she could do was watch in horror as the man advanced on Leah. “Run,” she yelled.
“I’m not leaving you,” retorted Leah, her eyes riveted on the man.
“I said go. Don’t you dare disobey me…” Her words trailed off when the woman squeezed her neck harder. Knowing Leah wasn’t going to run, Rachel decided she had to get herself out of this headlock or both she and Leah were dead. As the woman had grabbed her from the left, Rachel turned her head that way, so her airway wasn’t restricted. She took a firm hold of the woman’s arm, shrugged up her shoulders and tucked her chin into the crook of her elbow. It would have been easier if she’d been standing up, but as she wasn’t Rachel snaked her other arm around the woman’s calf and, careful to keep herself leaning slightly forwards, she turned violently to the right, dragging the woman along with her, drawing in a deep breath when her neck was freed and the woman went sprawling on the floor. Rachel leapt up to run to her daughter’s aid but the woman grabbed her foot and down she went again.
“Get the fuck off me,” snarled Rachel, jerking her foot free and slamming it repeatedly into the woman’s face, causing her nose to burst with blood.
“Hold on Kaz, I’m coming,” the man with the injured eye called to the woman, finally dragging himself upright and hurtling towards them. Now the pain had worn off he was hell bent on revenge for the damage that bitch had done to his eye because he couldn’t see through it.
But Rachel wasn’t looking at the leviathan chugging towards her on unsteady legs, she was watching her daughter who - to her enormous credit - looked poised and steady. When the man tried to grab her she dodged back out of his way, moving a lot quicker than he ever could and - to all their astonishment - punched him in the mouth. The man released a cry and staggered backwards, whether out of surprise or pain no one was sure. With her long legs Leah kicked him in the shin then punched him in the side of the face, delivering a powerful right hook. She produced a canister of pepper spray from her jean’s pocket and sprayed it in his eyes, making him scream.
“Take that you bastard,” exclaimed Leah before kicking him in the face, knocking him flat on his back.
The first man, deciding to forgo his revenge to help his friend turned back to Leah, drawing a knife.
“Leah, look out,” cried Rachel.
When the nurse came back at her, Rachel shoved her up against the wall and slammed her fist into her face three times before headbutting her, bouncing her head back off the wall. For good measure she banged her face off her knee before casting her aside, the woman finally spent and charged at the man advancing on Leah.
As he turned, swiping at Rachel with the blade, she ducked and backhanded him across the face while Leah slammed her foot into his knee. There was a crack and down he went.
Warily he looked up at Rachel and Leah circling him, expressions equally cold.
“What do we do Mum?” said Leah.
“This,” replied Rachel, kicking him in the face, knocking him out.
“Awesome,” smiled Leah.
Rachel turned back to the fake nurse, who was just coming round. Usually she would have caused her some severe pain to get her to talk but there was no way she was going to torture someone in front of her daughter. Instead she crouched before her, eyes jet black.
“I just want you to know that our family is tearing the Slatterys apart as we speak, so you’re screwed. All I care is that you and your useless little friends do one and never return. Spread the message that Jules Driscoll is untouchable. Do you get it?”
“That bitch is dead,” spat back the woman.
She was silenced by Leah kicking her in the ribs. “Don’t talk about her like that,” she screeched. “You’re the dead one,” she added, moving to kick her again.
“It’s okay sweetheart, take it easy,” said Rachel, putting a hand to her leg, forcing her to replace her foot on the floor.
“Sweetheart?” laughed the woman. “That’s not a sweetheart, it’s a fucking demon.”
“Get your friends and go back down south,” said Rachel coldly. “You failed.”
“What are you doing Mum?” said Leah when she started checking the woman’s pockets.
“Looking for ID. Oh here we go,” she said, producing her purse and opening it up to reveal a driver’s licence. “Looks real to me, I don’t think it’s a fake. Karen Pratt,” she read off the card. “How appropriate,” she added, making Leah snigger. “We have your name and address. Don’t make the stupid mistake of coming near us again. Do you get it?”
The woman sighed and nodded. “Fine. If you’ve got rid of the Slatterys you’ve probably done us a favour, they’re arseholes.”
“Yes they are. Next time be more careful who you choose to take work from.” She looked to her daughter. “Let’s go.”
“We’re just letting them leave?” demanded Leah as they walked back down the corridor, stepping over the two unconscious men, heading back towards the stairs.
> “What do you suggest?”
“Get Uncle Riley down here.”
“To do what exactly?”
“Well, make sure they never bother us again.”
“I don’t know what you’re implying and I don’t want to know. We’ve done enough. That wasn’t personal, it was business. They were hired muscle.”
“Muscle,” snorted Leah. “Where?”
As they opened the door leading into the stairwell, Rachel looked back at the three attackers, the woman helping the two men to their feet. She was satisfied they were no longer a threat. “Where’s the pepper spray canister?” she asked Leah. “You didn’t leave it behind?”
“Course not Mum, I’m not an idiot. It’s in my jean’s pocket.”
“Good girl. Where did you learn to fight like that?”
“Aunty Jules,” she shrugged. “She was the one who gave me the pepper spray too.”
“You do know that’s illegal in this country?”
Leah rolled her eyes. “Seriously Mum?”
“Yes, well, I must thank Jules when she wakes up.”
“If,” said Leah miserably, her smile falling.
“No, when,” said Rachel determinedly. She hesitated halfway up the stairs.
“You alright Mum?”
“No, I need to sit down for a minute, I’m knackered.”
Leah sat beside her on the step. “You look pretty beat up.”
“Thanks,” said Rachel wryly. “You got a mirror on you?”
From her jean’s pocket Leah produced a compact with a diamante skull on the top along with a tissue.
Rachel opened up the mirror and her heart sank. Both cheeks were bruised, her lower lip was split, her hair was stuck to her face with sweat and her left eye was blackened.
“Great,” she sighed.
“You should get checked out at A&E,” said Leah.
“No need. I’m fine.”
“What if there’s some internal damage?”
“There isn’t. Honestly Leah, I’m fine. Not as good as you though,” she smiled, touching her face. “I was terrified when I saw that man approaching you but you took him down so easily.”
“I know, it was ace Mum. He was useless anyway.”
“You reminded me of when I was younger, you fight the same way. Don’t smile,” she added when Leah beamed. “That is not what I want for you.”
“Isn’t it good that I can defend myself?”
“Of course it is sweetheart but I saw that you’re capable of inflicting serious damage. That man was huge and experienced in violence and you took him down like he was a little girl.”
“I had my pepper spray.”
“Then you stood up to the second man with absolutely no fear.”
“I still don’t see how that’s bad.”
Rachel held up her bruised hands. “Have you any idea how often I saw my hands like this growing up? So many I lost count and it never made me feel good because I knew I’d just hurt someone.”
“Mum, there’s no way I’m going to feel bad about hurting those idiots. They were here to kill Aunty Jules and they tried to do the same to you. No one does that.”
Leah had large blue eyes, just like Danny’s and she was disheartened to see them turn hard, like shards of ice, just like his had when he was angry. “I don’t know why I’m surprised,” sighed Rachel. “Violence is in your blood.”
“Not violence. Just the determination not to let anyone hurt me or my family, there’s a difference.”
“Just as long as you don’t go too far. You’ve no idea how easy it is.”
Leah opened her mouth to ask a question that had bothered her for quite a number of years but had never dared ask before. However now she felt it would be acceptable. “Have you ever killed anyone Mum?”
It broke Rachel’s heart that her daughter even felt she had to ask her that. “No sweetheart. I have come close a few times but I’ve never killed and that’s the truth.”
Leah nodded, knowing she was being completely honest with her. She didn’t need to ask about her dad - real or step - she already knew the answer to that. “Thanks for being honest Mum.”
“It’s the least I could do. You came to my rescue back there.”
“Nah, you had it in the bag.”
“That’s very sweet of you to say.”
“I’m proud of you Mum, you’re such a bad ass. Britney’s mum fainted when her cat brought a mouse home.”
Rachel chuckled. “She’s a drama queen. Come on, let’s get back to your Aunty Jules. What is it?” she added when Leah hesitated.
“Are you and Dad getting a divorce?”
“No. What makes you say that?”
“You’ve been so off with each other lately. I was worried something was wrong.”
Rachel took her hand. “I was feeling a bit rundown, work’s been really hectic and I admit I did get a bit short with him a few times but everything’s fine now.”
“You’re sure? Because I couldn’t stand it if you split up.”
“Me and your dad are never splitting up. He’s the love of my life and always will be. You’ve no worries on that score.”
Leah smiled. “Thank God for that, I’ve been really worried.”
Rachel stroked her face. “I don’t want you to worry about a single thing. I wish I could protect you from the whole world.”
“But you can’t Mum. I’m getting older and I have to start dealing with things.”
“And you’re already doing that so well. I’m so proud of you.”
Despite the fact that she was a sophisticated teenager, Leah threw her arms around her. “I love you Mum.”
“I love you too sweetie, so much,” said Rachel, hugging her tight, so grateful she was safe and well.
As they resumed climbing the stairs, Leah said, “is Dad okay? You said he’s attacking the Slatterys right now.”
Rachel forced a smile. “Yeah, course he is. You know your dad.”
CHAPTER 35
Ryan and Jared stood before each other, both tiring and covered in sweat, so equally matched in strength and ability that neither was able to gain the upper hand. But Ryan had determination on his side. This man would not pose any further threat to his sister or niece.
When Jared came at him again - both men realising they were fighting for their lives - Ryan decided it was time to end this nonsense. He dodged Jared’s clumsy charge, darted behind him, snaked his arm around his neck while simultaneously kicking his legs out from under him and started to squeeze, driving a knee into his back and pushing Jared onto his front.
“Just die,” said Ryan, hoping the bastard expired before his strength gave out.
Ryan thought the situation was just getting ridiculous when Jared managed to grab the dropped knife and swiped it backwards, forcing him to release him. Jared took advantage of that and scrambled to his feet, aiming for the door. Ryan spotted a dropped gun - he’d long ago lost track of who it belonged to - and opened fire but Jared was through the door before he could hit him. For a big bastard he was fast.
“Fuck,” snarled Ryan, making chase.
Mikey was drawn by the sound of a cry, a child’s cry. Cara was close, which also meant Tanya was.
Silently he crept down the corridor, the crying growing louder the closer he got. The poor little thing sounded terrified. Mikey took a moment to calm himself down from the heat of battle and ran a hand through his hair to straighten it. The last thing he wanted to do was scare Cara even more by looking like a gun-wielding maniac.
Cautiously he pushed open the door of the room the crying sounded to be coming from, careful to stand to one side, ducking back when gunshots slammed into the wall behind him, sending Cara’s wailing into overdrive. It seemed Tanya wasn’t going to let her go without a fight. He holstered his own gun. There was no way he was shooting in there and no way he was going to kill Tanya in front of Cara. He had to get Tanya to come out to him.
“Your son’s dead,” he called, careful
to keep tucked behind the wall, out of the line of fire. He had no idea if that was true or not but he probably was, he hadn’t seen Jared about and his men were either dead or had runaway.
There was a moment’s silence followed by an ear-piercing scream that managed to drown out Cara’s cry.
“It’s your fault,” he added when he heard Tanya start to cry. “If you hadn’t stolen Cara and tried to kill her mother he’d still be alive. Still, at least he’s with his sister and dad now. It’s just you, all alone.” He paused to listen and heard her softly sobbing. “It’s funny how you manage to get your family killed Tanya. Everyone knows Jared topped Vince on your say-so and now you’ve got your son killed because you wanted something you had no right to take. And I heard that you drove your daughter to take drugs because she couldn’t stand you. The only way for her to get away from you was to OD.”
Bingo, he thought when he heard a screech followed by the click-clack of charging high heels. He just managed to duck out of the way as more bullets slammed into the wall behind him and Tanya came steaming out of the lounge, eyes wild and face streaked with tears and make-up. The gun empty, she cast it aside and drew two knives. Mikey was furious to realise they belonged to Jules, the jewelled snake eyes glinting in the light. He was tempted to draw his own gun now she was away from Cara but he had something better in mind. So instead he pulled the large knife he’d brought just for Tanya.
“You think you can beat me with a knife?” snarled Tanya, tears continuing to roll down her face. “You ridiculous little boy, I’ll cut your head off.”
“Come on then,” he said coldly.
Mikey was surprised by how adept Tanya was with a blade, she was fast and extremely practiced whereas Mikey was used to a gun or his fists and he found himself blocking blows more than inflicting them. Deciding this just wasn’t his thing, he chose to go with his strength. He waited for his moment, successfully avoiding all of Tanya’s strikes, apart from one, which cut painfully through the top of his left arm. When she brought the blade back to lash out again, he punched her full in the face. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she staggered backwards a few paces before landing on her bottom. Mikey had to own he was impressed she was still conscious, he’d knocked out prize-winning fighters with that punch before.
Darkness Page 26