Reckoning (5 page)

Jax looked down at his hands, knowing she was right. “Then there’s no way for us?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m sorry Jax.”

He forced a smile. “It’s okay, if that makes you happy then that’s fine by me. That’s all I want.”

She kissed his forehead and gazed down at him, running her fingers through his hair. “I love you Jax.”

His jaw fell open. “You do?”

“Yes. I never wanted to admit it before because I knew it could never work.”

He kissed her hand. “I love you too. Always have. Shame though.”

“I know.”

They lapsed into silence as they stared at each other.

“So, are you going to get started on this tattoo, or what?” he said, breaking the moment.

Jules smiled. “If you still want me to?”

He nodded. “You’re the best.”

She smiled at him gratefully before retaking her place on the stool and picking up the tattoo gun, grateful to be able to lose herself in her work.

Jax watched her work, a knot of pain in his chest.

CHAPTER 5

“Wow, this is beautiful,” beamed Gill.

Ryan was driving the people carrier they’d collected from Aberdeen Airport with Rachel in the passenger seat beside him, her parents and the children in the back. They were making their way up the long driveway of Abercraig Castle, the ancient building opening up before them.

“It’s like Cinderella’s castle, isn’t it Leah?” said Rick.

“I’m too old for Disney Princess Granddad,” she replied, a very grown-up nine year old. “But yeah, it is,” she said, eyes shining with excitement. “Does it belong to us?”

“No sweetheart,” said Rachel. “We just invested money in it. It belongs to Thane, the Laird. His family’s lived here for centuries.”

“And the inbreeding shows,” muttered Ryan.

Rachel tapped him on the arm, hiding a smile. “Be nice to him, please.”

“I’ll do my best,” was all he was willing to reply.

“There’s Thane waiting at the door,” said Rachel throwing Ryan a sideways glance.

“Oh look, he’s wearing a skirt again,” said Ryan.

“It’s a kilt,” said Rachel flatly.

Thane, tall, dark and very handsome, was standing beneath the stone arch that vaulted over the massive oak front door in his full regalia - kilt with sporran, black Prince Charlie jacket, bow tie, Ghillie brogues and kilt hose.

“He mustn’t have any real clothes,” observed Ryan.

“Don’t forget your promise to be nice,” said Rachel as the car rolled to a halt.

Thanks to her words Ryan resisted the urge to drive over Thane’s foot.

The second the car doors opened they were surrounded by staff offering to take their luggage. Ryan tossed the car keys to the valet and Thane rushed up to meet them.

“So good to see you again,” he said, sweeping Rachel into a hug and kissing her cheek. “Ryan,” he said, holding out his hand to him.

When Rachel threw him a warning glance he shook it.

“Thane, this is my dad Rick and my mum Gill,” said Rachel.

“Delighted to meet you both,” said Thane with his devastating smile.

Gill turned bright red when he kissed her hand. “Thane, what an unusual name.”

“It means
laird,”
he replied.

“What’s a laird?”

“A Scottish lord.”

“Oh my,” she said, her eyes slipping to his kilt then to his strong, bared legs. “Is it true what they say about a Scotsman in a kilt?”

“Gill,” exclaimed Rick.

“Usually,” replied Thane with a twinkle in his eye. “But it’s a breezy day and I knew you were bringing the children.”

Gill released a girlish peal of laughter while Rick looked put out.

“Thane, these are our children, Ethan and Aaron,” said Rachel, indicating the two boys racing around on the gravel, enjoying the freedom after the journey. “And this is Leah.”

Leah looked up at him coyly, blushing as brightly as her grandma. “Hello.”

“Hello Leah. Well aren’t you a beautiful little lady, just like your mother,” he said, making her giggle. “Let me show you to your suites,” he continued, putting his arms around Gill and Rachel and steering them inside, Leah eagerly following, leaving Rick and Ryan to sort out the boys with frowns on their faces.

They were swept upstairs in an entourage of staff, Thane relating interesting stories about the castle to Gill. Rachel was glad he didn’t tell her any ghost stories, otherwise there’d be a mum-shaped hole in the wall.

“And here is the family suite,” said Thane, nodding at one of his staff, who flung open the door in what appeared to be a rehearsed, theatrical gesture.

“Ooh, lovely,” said Gill. The suite was huge, the bare stone walls hung with old but well maintained tapestries. There was a huge four-poster bed in the centre of the room.

“The children’s beds are through this door,” said Thane, throwing open another thick wooden door. “And for the guests of honour, the second suite,” he said, leading them all back along the corridor to a room three doors down. This suite was just the same but on a slightly smaller scale. There was even a suit of armour in the corner. A huge basket of fresh fruit and champagne on ice awaited them on the grand coffee table beneath the window.

“He’s really going all out,” Rick whispered to Ryan. “He must want something.”

“I have the dreadful feeling you’re right,” he replied as they watched Thane pop open the champagne and pour Rachel and Gill a glass each.

“Can I have some Mum?” said Leah.

“No, you’re far too young,” she replied.

“Aw, it’s not fair,” she pouted, wanting to look grown-up in front of Thane.

“I’ve got a special cocktail just for you,” said Thane with a wink, handing her a glass containing a dark liquid. “It’s just orange juice with some red colouring,” he whispered to Rachel.

This pacified Leah, who graciously accepted her drink then decided to study the suit of armour with her brothers.

“You’ll dine with me tonight in my suite as my guests?” said Thane.

“Alright,” said Gill excitedly.

“We also want to take a look at the work that’s been done on The Steadings,” said Ryan. The Steadings was the business they’d invested in, converting the old barns and stables into shops and a café.

“Of course but I didn’t think you’d want to do that today,” replied Thane. “Why don’t you show your parents around and we can discuss business in the morning?”

“That’s a good idea,” said Gill. “Let’s have some fun, we could certainly use some…” She dropped her voice before ending, “…after recent events.”

“Mum’s got a point,” said Rachel. “Let’s grab something to eat then take a walk around the estate.”

“Good idea,” said Rick. “I’m gagging for a whisky.”

“That’s something we’re not short of around here,” smiled Thane. “Right, I’ll leave you to get settled in. Treat the estate as your own, go where you like. I’ll meet you in my rooms at seven for dinner. You remember the way, don’t you Rachel?” he said saucily.

“I do,” she replied, deepening Ryan’s frown.

“Well he’s…interesting,” said Rick once Thane had left.

“I think he’s lovely,” said Gill. “Hark us, mingling with aristocracy.”

“Who’d have thought it,” said Rachel.

Gill took her daughter’s hands. “I am so proud of you.”

The delight in Rachel’s eyes lifted Ryan’s frown.

The following morning Thane took Ryan and Rachel on a tour of The Steadings. Work was progressing quickly, the old stables already transformed into a smart contemporary block of shops but retaining just enough old world charm to impress the tourists.

“Your men work fast,” said Ryan, grudgingly impressed.

“My cousin owns a building firm, he gave me a knock-down price and they’re the best in the area. They’re true artisans, not cowboys.”

“So I see. So what have you done with the extra money if you’ve saved on the building bill?” said Ryan, hoping to catch him out. He was certain Rick was right, that Thane wanted something else from them and he’d expected him to bring it up at dinner the previous evening but he’d mentioned nothing.

“I reinvested it.”

“May I enquire into what?” said Ryan, eyes boring into him.

“Ponies.”

Ryan’s eyebrow arched. “Ponies?”

“The terrain around here is ideal for pony trekking. The kids will love it.”

“Great idea,” said Rachel. “Leah certainly will, she’s big into ponies.”

“They’re already here in the new stables. I saw no reason to delay, everything’s in place and I’ve hired an experienced instructor and guide. Can you imagine a better way to see the beautiful Aberdeenshire countryside?” he said with a dramatic sweep of the hand.

“Alright, we’re sold,” said Ryan. “We don’t need your cheesy spiel.”

“Bring Leah along, she can go on a trek, gratis.”

“We will,” said Rachel. “And the adventure playground and petting zoo?”

“They’re coming along.” His eyes darted off Rachel and onto something in the distance. They both turned to see three figures lurking in the doorway of one of the old outbuildings that was still awaiting renovation.

“Excuse me,” said Thane, his expression uncharacteristically serious as he made his way across the grass.

“I wonder who they are,” said Rachel as she watched Thane greet the men then disappear into the ramshackle building with them.

“Thugs. You can always tell.” He glanced at his watch. “Let’s get something to eat.”

“Wait,” said Rachel, grabbing his arm. “What if he’s in trouble?”

“He’s a big boy as he’s so fond of reminding us. Leave him to it.”

“He might be in danger.”

“Good.” When she regarded him with a raised eyebrow, hands on hips and foot tapping, Ryan sighed. “Fine, let’s make sure the clown’s okay.”

They approached the building from the side, so they wouldn’t be seen through the door, which had been only partially closed, probably due to the fact that it was too knackered to shut properly.

“I can hear Thane,” whispered Rachel, pressing her ear to the thick wood.

“I’ve told you there’s no more cash,” said Thane’s voice. “You’ve drained me dry so you can fuck off.”

Ryan was forced to admit that he was impressed by the steel in Thane’s tone.

“You’ve got a big hoose up there full of lovely antiques and oil paintings,” returned a harsh voice in an Aberdonian accent so thick Ryan and Rachel struggled to follow what he was saying.

“You’re not touching any of that, it belongs to my family.”

“You sure aboot that? It would be such a shame for anything to happen to this place. It’s so old I bet a wee bit of fire would devastate it.” There was a practiced menace in the voice, as well as a big dollop of sadism.

“You dirty bastard,” said Thane.

“You know what we’ll do if you don’t give us something.”

“You can fucking try,” bellowed Thane.

“Okay your lordship, you’re fucked then.”

Ryan was rather enjoying listening to the conversation, a smirk on his face.

“Let’s get in there,” whispered Rachel.

“What? Oh…alright.”

They pushed open the door and walked inside to find Thane facing off against three burly, ugly men, one of whom had a small hatchet in his hands and murder in his eyes. They all appeared surprised when Ryan and Rachel walked in.

“What’s going on?” said Ryan politely.

“Get out of here, this isn’t your fight,” said Thane.

“I do believe it is. You’re our business partner.”

“Fuck off you posh English prick,” yelled the biggest and ugliest of the men.

Ryan’s eyebrow arched. “What an intelligent remark. Oscar Wilde would be proud.”

The three men gaped at him.

The biggest and ugliest hurled an insult at him in a rapid, heavy accent.

Ryan looked to Thane. “Translation please.”

“He wants you to leave, to put it mildly.”

“Oh.” Ryan looked back at the gorillas. “No.”

“Ryan, this isn’t your fight,” said Thane. “Get Rachel out of here before things get ugly.”

“They got ugly when Shrek and Sons arrived.”

“You fucking what?” exploded the big man, mashing his fist into his hand.

Ryan ignored him. “And if you’d ever tried to get Rachel to do something she doesn’t want to do Thane then you’d realise how futile it is. She was the one who insisted we come in here and I’m starting to wish we hadn’t bothered. We do have other things to do, you know,” he said in a bored tone, examining his nails and stifling a yawn.

“Is he fucking serious?” the big man demanded of Thane.

The look in Ryan’s eyes silenced him. “Deadly, I assure you. Now, I repeat - and this time I had better get an answer because I am rapidly running out of patience - what is going on here?”

“Stu and his pals want me to pay them money not to damage my house,” replied Thane, glaring at the three men.

Ryan looked to his wife. “Do you hear that Rachel? A protection racket. How quaint.”

Rachel didn’t bother to hide her smile.

Gorilla number one squared up to her. “You think this is fucking funny, do ya bitch?”

Her smile dropped, gaze cold. “I find it entertaining watching a bunch of amateurs stumbling about in the dark making complete prats of themselves.”

“Rachel please, that’s not helping,” said Thane.

“You’re right, it’s not and I’m bored,” she said before slamming her forehead into the gorilla’s nose. His eyes rolled back in his head and he toppled backwards. Her black gaze flicked to the remaining two. “If that’s what I’m capable of, imagine what my husband can do,” she said before Ryan launched himself at the second man, battering him unconscious in seconds while Thane knocked the third out with the handle of the hatchet the head gorilla had dropped.

“Well that was amusing,” said Ryan, winking at Rachel.