Authors: Heather Atkinson
“Take it easy,” said Jez, nose buried in a newspaper. “She’ll be here. She might be stuck in traffic.”
“Bollocks. She just likes making an entrance and having everyone run around like headless chickens.”
“True but we don’t want you wound up tight when she gets here. Try and relax.”
“Got any horse tranquilisers?”
“I wish I did,” he said dryly from behind the newspaper.
Mikey had to restrain himself from shouting
finally
when the door was opened by a man wearing a leather jacket and jeans, sporting a black goatee and chin length black hair streaked with grey, mean dark eyes darting from side to side, scanning the room for danger, the scars erupting from both corners of his mouth giving him a permanent grim smile. He entered the room followed by his employer.
“About time,” announced Mikey, earning himself glares from not only Jez but from Toni and her bodyguard, Caesar, too.
“I beg your pardon?” said Toni icily, black eyes narrowing.
“You’re late, we were getting worried about you,” said Jez, getting to his feet to greet her, smoothing over Mikey’s faux pas. Toni didn’t take kindly to hostility.
“The traffic was dreadful,” she said, seating herself in the chair Jez had just vacated.
Both Mikey and Jez noted she wasn’t draped in her usual finery. Toni loved her jewels and furs but she was wearing a simple black dress, impressive cleavage hanging out as usual with a plain black leather jacket and knee high black boots without an ounce of bling. This alone told them something serious was going on. This was only confirmed by Caesar, who stood directly behind her, on guard duty.
“Do you want a drink?” said Jez.
“No, I’d prefer to get straight down to business.”
“Has something happened?”
“You bet your cute little arse it has sweetheart,” she said. “Uncle Tam, you remember him?”
“You brought him along to my wedding,” said Mikey flatly.
“Aye I did. Well he’s a fat, ugly backstabbing wee shitebag,” she snarled, shocking them both.
“Uncle Tam?” repeated Jez.
“Aye, are ya fucking deaf or something?”
“My hearing is perfectly fine thank you,” replied Jez coolly, once again reminding Mikey of Ryan.
“Good because I could always get Caesar to unplug your ears,” she said, black eyes growing darker. She sighed and shook her head. “I apologise.”
Mikey and Jez gaped at her.
“You do?” said an incredulous Mikey.
“Aye. Truth is boys, I need your help.”
“Because of Uncle Tam?” said Jez.
She nodded. “He’s trying to take over the family.”
“And you want our back-up?”
She took another deep breath before saying, “yes. You know me boys, I don’t like asking for help but I have half the family backing me, the other half backing Tam. Your support could tip the scales in my favour.”
“It could,” said Jez thoughtfully, not committing.
Toni picked up on that and jabbed a manicured digit at him. “Hey, you owe me. Did I drop you when you had all that trouble with Jared bloody Slattery? Did my brother drop you when you had all that trouble with Uncle Terry, then the Jordans and then Alex? No, he was down here with his axe lopping bits off people for you and what did you do? You killed him.”
“We didn’t.”
“Rachel and Ryan did but you knew about it, you were probably there when it happened and did nothing to stop it. All of this I know and have I ever taken retribution? No. Like I said, you owe me,” she hissed at them like a rattlesnake. When they still didn’t speak she added, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I won’t ever mention it again. Rachel and Ryan can stop looking over their shoulders because I will let it go completely. I know that will bring them some peace of mind.”
Mikey thought what a sly cow Toni was because she was absolutely right, it would. He glanced at Jez, who nodded imperceptibly. Jez always let him take the lead when it came to the McVays because their original deal had been with the Maguires, not the Laws. “Okay Toni, we’ll help out.”
She nodded, all seriousness. “Thank you and I really mean that. I think you’re the first people I’ve ever said that to.”
Mikey nodded in acknowledgement. “We appreciate that. What do you want us to do?”
Her smile could only be described as shark-like. “I want you to come to Glasgow.”
Jez and Mikey glanced at each other, reading the worry in each other’s eyes.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” said Jez diplomatically.
She tossed back her head, eyes flashing, which rivalled Rachel’s in their blackness. “Of course it’s a good idea. I thought of it.”
“Us going up there will only kick things off even more,” said Mikey.
“That’s what I want,” she spat. “I want Uncle Tam wetting his fat little pants.”
“And you think we can make him do that?”
“You won’t do it all on your own but it’ll help.”
“You want us to flex some Mancunian muscle?” said Jez with a wry smile.
“Such as it is, yes.”
“And what guarantees do we have for our safety?”
“You pair of jessies,” said Caesar. “Worried the big bad Scots will kick your wee arses?”
“Caesar please,” said Toni, although she was smiling. “It’s only sensible for them to ask.” She turned her attention back to Mikey and Jez. “You’re welcome to bring as many associates as you like, in fact the more the better. Bring that rough one, what’s her name? Jules. Her skills could be very useful.”
“No can do I’m afraid,” said Jez. “She’s in Devon.”
“And what is she doing in Devon?” said Toni in a way that indicated Jules shouldn’t have gone anywhere just in case she needed her.
“Visiting Ryan and Rachel.”
“Then call her back.”
“It’s best if she doesn’t get involved in this. She’s pregnant.”
Toni’s eyes widened. “Pregnant, to a man?”
“Well, yeah,” said Jez.
“I thought she was into women?”
“She is but she likes men too, like you,” said Jez, smile falling when she gave him a hard look.
“And who is the father?”
Jez didn’t miss a beat. “Jackson Driscoll, he’s a cage fighter.”
“Hmm,” said Toni thoughtfully. “Maybe she does have taste after all. Alright, it would probably be best to keep her out of it. Dragging a pregnant woman into this mess won’t do much for my reputation. You may bring your other associates, the one with the pissed-off expression and thick eyebrows.”
“You mean Grant?” smiled Mikey.
“And the sniper.”
“Mark Cameron.”
“Yes. He could be very useful. This is no trick to wipe you all out. If I wanted to do that I could have done it long ago. Neither would I lure you up to Glasgow, I would do it down here, well away from my territory.”
Neither Mikey nor Jez could argue with that logic. “Alright Toni,” said Mikey. “We’ll come, as long as you let anything to do with Frankie’s death go.”
She nodded once. “Already done.”
“And you guarantee our business deal permanently. No undercutting with our competitors.”
It was a crafty move but one Toni had expected. If she’d been in their position she would have done the same. “Deal.”
“Excellent,” grinned Jez, causing them all to look at him stonily.
CHAPTER 9
Battler and Bruiser - once the Maguires most feared enforcers - were now entirely legitimate, owning a string of security consultancy businesses up and down the country. However they’d set up their main headquarters in Devon, not far from Ryan and Rachel, so they could distance themselves from their criminal pasts in Manchester. They were doing extremely well too, their company was very highly thought of.
Rachel entered their office in Torquay to find Battler talking with a tall, curvaceous woman with chestnut curls.
“Hi Battler, Belle,” smiled Rachel.
“Rachel,” said Belle, pleased to see her. They’d always got on well. “How are you and how’s Ryan after the court hearing?” she said with concern.
Rachel liked Belle, she was smart and sassy and worked for Battler and Bruiser in a variety of roles, but primarily she was a honey trap.
“He’s okay. You know Ryan, hanging in there.”
“It’s an awful business, I can’t believe it’s been going on all this time and no one noticed. Gives me the shivers.” She looked down at Battler. “Don’t you think?”
“Battler’s never got the shivers in his life,” smiled Rachel.
“True, he’s so big and strong,” said Belle, casting adoring eyes on Battler, who was oblivious, too caught up in writing something down.
“There’s the address pet,” he said, holding a yellow sticky note out to Belle. “Watch yourself, he’s a bit of a letch.”
“Will do,” she sighed, taking it off him. Belle looked back at Battler, who had returned to scribbling on a notepad. “So, will you be in the pub tonight?”
“Err, dunno yet,” he replied. “Be with you in a sec Rach, I need to get this finished,” he called without looking up.
“No rush,” she called back, taking a seat at Bruiser’s vacant desk.
Rachel watched, amused as Belle continued to hover around an oblivious Battler’s desk, hoping to get his attention. “Well, I might see you later then?” she said hopefully.
“Yeah, maybe.”
Belle’s eyes filled with disappointment and she turned from his desk dejectedly, forcing a sunny smile when she saw Rachel watching her. “Bye Rachel,” she said cheerfully.
“Bye Belle,” she replied.
She left and Rachel patiently waited for Battler to finish writing. She enjoyed watching him write, it always brought back memories of Frank Maguire, the father of her first husband, Danny. Frank had found Battler and Bruiser living rough on the streets and taken them under his wing. As they had never finished school neither of them could read or write, despite having good heads on their shoulders. Liking his workforce to have an education Frank had put them through school. She missed Frank, who was murdered by his own brother Terry, Jules’s dad. He’d got his comeuppance at Jules’s hands and was now dead too.
Finally Battler looked up and smiled. “And what can I do for you Rach?” He wasn’t handsome in the typical sense of the word but he was huge and solid as a rock with a shaved head and a craggy but oddly attractive face. The local housewives were always in and out with piddly little assignments for him simply to get some one-to-one time with him. His younger brother Bruiser had at first enjoyed the same attention, until it became common knowledge that he worshipped Daina, his pregnant fiancée.
“I think it’s more a case of what you can do for Belle.”
“What do you mean?”
“She fancies you.”
“You’re joking, she’s gorgeous.”
“I know and she wants you Battler.”
“I’m sorry love, I think you’ve got that wrong.”
“No I don’t. She was standing there waiting for you to say you’d meet her at the pub and when you didn’t she looked really disappointed.”
He frowned. “You sure?”
“Definitely.”
Battler was very intelligent and highly astute but when it came to his own personal life he was clueless. He’d been single for years, although he did enjoy personal time with women but that was just about some companionship and fulfilling a physical need. He liked his own space and said he was too old to change his ways now, although he was only in his fifties.
He looked puzzled. “Belle, seriously?”
“Seriously.” At that moment Bruiser walked into the office, who broke into a smile when he saw Rachel. “Bruiser, do you think Belle fancies Battler?” she asked him.
He grinned and nodded. Bruiser rarely spoke.
“See,” said Rachel.
“You’re both wrong,” said Battler before nervously clearing his throat. “Anyway, is this just a flying visit or can we do something for you?”
“Trying to change the subject?”
He hesitated before slowly saying, “no.”
She smiled and glanced at Bruiser, who grinned and shook his head.
Realising Battler was getting uncomfortable with the conversation she decided it was time to let it go. “I wondered if you had any information about the local gangs?”
“Any particular reason?”
She explained what had happened on her drive back from Bristol, both of them looking increasingly angry the more she went on.
“Any idea who could be behind it?” she ended.
“No one local,” glowered Battler. “These little wanks come in from the cities. We can look into it if you want?”
“No need,” she replied. “You’re busy and the police are investigating.”
“Police,” he snorted. “Fucking useless. If you want a job done you get us to do it.”
“I didn’t come here to get you started on this case, I just wanted your opinion.”
“We’ll look into it, won’t we Bruiser? No one attacks you,” said Battler. Bruiser nodded firmly in response. “We’ll track down this shower of arseholes and give them a really good hiding.”
“There’s no need to go that far.”
“After everything you’ve been through there’s no way we’re letting a group of little shites bother you. They saw your licence plate, they could think you’re unfinished business. I just hope they’ve done some research and found out who you are and decided to let it go. But losers like them don’t usually have any sense so you might not have seen the last of them.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I should warn Samantha, the other woman.”
“Might be a good idea.”
She nodded and got to her feet. “Thanks lads, I appreciate that. Right, I’m off to the salon.”
“You’re going alone?” said Battler disapprovingly.
Rachel didn’t like this comment, it frightened her. This was how it had been when Alex had turned on them, when Ryan had been abducted and when Jared Slattery and the Jordans had threatened them. She hadn’t been allowed to go anywhere without a bodyguard and this was starting to feel the same way. “Yes,” she said determinedly. “I’m not in any danger.”
Realising what she was thinking Battler hastily added, “yeah, it’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
She nodded. “Anyway, I’m not strictly alone. We’ve got a visitor, she just needed to use the bathroom.”
As if on cue the door burst open and Jules entered. “Alright boys? Up for a threesome?”
“Oh great,” sighed Battler while Bruiser rolled his eyes.
“I missed you too,” smiled Jules. “Been pining for me you big sexy men?”
“No,” said Battler flatly. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m on holiday and getting to know my big brother and his family.”
“So Mikey and Jez haven’t got fed up of you?”
“No,” she said sunnily, ignoring the insult. “And I bring exciting news. I’m pregnant.”
Battler and Bruiser blinked at her with surprise. “With a baby?” Battler eventually said, making Rachel snigger.
“Course with a baby. What the hell else could it be?” frowned Jules.
“I have no idea.”
“And Jax proposed to me.”
“Jackson Driscoll?” spluttered Bruiser, causing them all to turn his way.
“Yes,” said Jules proudly. “Magnificent, isn’t he?”
“Jared Slattery’s the father of Jules’s baby,” said Rachel. “You can trust them,” she added when Jules’s eyebrow arched.
“Suppose,” she mumbled.
“Oh hell,” said Battler. “You couldn’t have picked a worse dad unless you’d gate-crashed Wakefield Prison.”
“Yeah, I know,” she snapped. “It wasn’t exactly planned, accidents do happen.”
“Accident? This is a bleedin’ catastrophe.”
“Right, come on,” said Rachel, steering Jules to the door. “You’ve said hello.”
“Wish I hadn’t bothered now. Miserable bastards,” she yelled over her shoulder.
Battler and Bruiser listened to her voice die away.
“Jesus, she’s breeding,” said Battler when everything went silent.
Bruiser’s look was grim.
Jules muttered angrily to herself the whole journey to the salon Rachel owned. Clearly she’d expected the brothers to be more appreciative of her surprise appearance.
“Like they’re so perfect,” she said to herself as Rachel drove. “Fucking big bald bastards. You know what they say about men with no hair?”
“What?”
“I don’t know but it must be bad.”
“Take it easy, you shouldn’t get stressed in your condition.”
“It’s hard not to when I can’t have a fag.” She shoved the e-cigarette in her mouth. “This plastic shite just isn’t the same,” she said before desperately sucking on the empty tube. As they weren’t recommended for pregnant women she wasn’t about to take the risk but she found she needed something to hold in her hand and put in her mouth as a substitute to help with the cravings. “No drinking or gymnastic sex either. The next six months are going to be crap.”
“It goes by quicker than you think.”
“God I hope so. So, where are we going?”
“To the salon. I want to get my hair done for our girls’ night out tonight and I think you could use some relaxation. You could have a pamper, get your nails done…” She glanced at Jules’s bitten down stumps and said, “maybe not. Or you could have a makeover…maybe that’s a bad idea too. How about an Indian head massage? It’s really relaxing.”
“Yeah, sounds good,” she replied distractedly.
“What’s bothering you?”
“Oh just the fact that I’m going to be a mum and that I might be marrying Jax and that I can’t do anything fun anymore.”
“There’s something else on your mind.”
“No there isn’t,” she said quickly.
“Yes there is.”
“What are you, psychic?”
“No, I’m just good at reading people. So come on, what is it?”
“It’s nothing,” she said defensively,
“Fine, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to but you’re my sister-in-law. You can confide in me if you want.”
Jules looked down at her hands, unsure what to do. She wanted to tell someone that her feelings for Mikey were driving her up the wall but she knew Rachel was close to him, he was like a little brother to her and that fact was putting her off. “I’ll think about it.”
“Okay,” said Rachel, in a way that indicated she was done talking about it, which was fine by Jules.
Rachel was careful to park right outside the salon in full view of the windows. After Battler’s warning her old instincts were kicking in. Normally Jules would make the perfect bodyguard but in her condition she could not expect her to fight. Rachel shook thoughts like that out of her head. She was sure the gang wouldn’t seek any sort of retribution. So why had a feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach?
Daina was at the salon, who was four months pregnant. Rachel noticed Jules stare at her stomach curiously.
“Rachel,” exclaimed Daina, throwing her arms around her. Ryan had freed her and her best friend Sabine from a brothel after they were trafficked into the country from Latvia. Sabine’s older sister had helped Rachel escape after she was kidnapped by Alex and then was murdered for her trouble. Rachel had sworn to always keep these two safely under her wing in gratitude. As both women wanted to be beauticians she had given them jobs in her salon and intended to give them their very own business to run together once they were fully qualified. She had no worries about Daina, who would be marrying Bruiser soon. She was also one of the most outgoing and bubbly personalities she had ever met and she enjoyed her new life. But she did worry about Sabine, who had recently been struggling with the fact that she was gay. It had taken her a long time to admit it to her friends, terrified they would disapprove but naturally they hadn’t bothered and now she was doing better, but for a while she had been quite depressed.
Tracey - the manager of the salon - was present too, the mother hen to them all.
Rachel introduced Jules to them all, who nodded back a little sullenly - until she cast her eyes on Sabine.
“Hello,” she purred.
“Hello,” replied Sabine shyly, the corner of her mouth lifting into a smile.
“And what’s your name?”
“Sabine.”
“You’re not from round here?”
“No I am Latvian.”
“I love your accent.”
Rachel, Daina and Tracey all looked on in astonishment as Sabine and Jules began to blatantly flirt with each other.