Shattered (Dividing Line #5) (10 page)

“He’s obviously been taking lessons from Frankie. Now calm down and think. You said you came here to tell me something.”

Col sat upright, attempting to gather his thoughts. He’d come here with something vital to tell Alex but that had gone out the window when he’d been struck by the realisation that another of his brothers was dead. The need for revenge was overriding everything else and he struggled to remember why he’d come here in the first place.

“Think Col.”

Alex’s savage snarl brought him back to his senses. “I had a phone call from a very pissed off Vladimir calling me an English dog and telling me he’s going to feed me to his pet pigs.”

“Why? We’ve always been good to Vlad.”

“The Laws burnt down his brothel and all of ours.”

Alex thought he’d misheard. Surely this couldn’t be happening? “What did you say?”

“They torched the brothel Rachel was held in as well as the other two. They must have tortured the addresses out of Gavin. Then they attacked Vladimir’s.”

“Why his?” Alex hissed the words through his teeth, so enraged he couldn’t get the muscles in his jaw relaxed enough to talk.

“They took two girls from the brothel. Some fat bint named Daina and another, Sabine.”

“Sabine.” His eyebrows knitted together. “Fucking Laila. She must have done a deal with Rachel, that was her price for helping her escape.”

“The Laws told Orlov the attack on the brothel was on your orders and now we’ve got Vlad after our blood.”

“Didn’t you talk him down?”

“Course I did and I think I managed to get through a bit but he’s insisting on meeting you.”

“Not here, I am not having him seeing me in this condition. I’ll meet him when I get out of here. Try and keep him sweet until then. We could do with his muscle.”

“I will Boss.”

“Did you speak to Vic Slattery?” This man was head of a very powerful family down south, the Jordans’ old rivals. When the women he’d trafficked got too messed up to work in his brothels, Alex sold them onto Vic to use in his own, less salubrious establishments.

“I did and he said he doesn’t want to get involved. Apparently he’s heard Frankie McVay’s supporting the Laws and he doesn’t want to piss him off.”

“Fucking spineless bastard, he’ll get no more favours from me.”

Alex couldn’t believe how much damage Ryan and Rachel were doing him. His brothels gone, the compound out of his reach, now Vladimir had turned against him. He wanted to rage at someone and Col was a convenient target but right now he needed him so he had to keep him sweet. But the fact that he was allowing their enemies to run rings around them proved he wasn’t number two material. He needed a substitute and he thought he had just the person.

CHAPTER 10

Ryan was exhausted by the time the taxi dropped him off at the hotel. He was practically asleep on his feet in the lift and was dismayed when he opened the door to the suite to find everyone still up, Beth and Daina doling out food that had just been delivered by room service.

“How’s Rachel?” Beth asked him as he shut the door behind him and hung up his jacket.

“Getting stronger. Battler and Bruiser are staying with her tonight.”

“That’s good.”

“Where’s Rick?”

“Flaked out in one of the bedrooms. I think all the worrying got to him.”

“Have you arranged for his flight back out?” he asked Mikey.

“Battler has because only he knows where they’re staying. He leaves tomorrow afternoon.”

“Do you want anything to eat?” Beth asked Ryan.

“No thanks,” he replied, sinking into a chair beside Jez and rubbing his eyes.

“When did you last eat?” she continued.

“Can’t remember,” he yawned.

“Then you’re having something and no arguments. Rachel won’t be impressed if she finds out you’re not looking after yourself.”

Ryan looked at Mikey with surprise, who shrugged his shoulders. The new Beth was so much stronger and assertive than the old one that he thought it best not to protest and just let her do as she pleased. He noticed Riley sat at the breakfast bar watching her. He could understand why his brother would feel an affinity for her, they’d experienced similar traumas, but he made a mental note to advise him in private not to make a move, it was far too soon for both of them.

“How did you get on with Frankie?” Ryan asked Mikey, stretching out his long legs and resting his feet on the coffee table. If they’d been at home Rachel would have killed him for putting his feet on the furniture. The memory of her admonishing him for doing that very thing made him smile.

“Don’t bloody ask, the man’s a lunatic.”

“Only just realised that?”

“You won’t believe what he did.”

“I shudder to think,” he replied, resting his head back in the chair and closing his eyes.

Mikey glanced about to make sure no one was listening before leaning in. “We went into the first brothel Alex owns and the man on the door laughed at him and asked if he was in The Proclaimers.”

“Oh dear. He doesn’t like that.”

“That’s an understatement. You know that plastic tube he gave you for those teeth?”

“Yes.”

“He had a larger one in his pocket. That one doesn’t contain fingers or teeth but a much more vital part of the man’s anatomy.”

Ryan’s eyes opened. “He didn’t?”

“He did, it was bloody disgusting. He’s only going to take it home with him. I mean, why would you want someone’s cock on your wall?”

“I have no idea. So what was the outcome?”

“Neither of Alex’s other two brothels are standing. Frankie’s mates from Glasgow arrived and we burnt both of them down. After that insult Frankie decided he didn’t want them left standing.”

“Did you get the women out first?”

“Course we did. They all legged it. It’s done, thank God.”

“Where’s Frankie now?”

“Back at the flat with his mates getting lashed. I got out of there as quick as I could.”

“At least he’s out of our hair for a few hours.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a pale Sabine approaching them almost tentatively.

“Can I speak to you in private please?” she said, wringing her hands.

“Sure,” replied Ryan, hauling himself to his feet and following her to the back of the room.

“I am very ashamed,” she began, “but I am used to being given…” She shook her head and pressed her hands to her eyes. “The drugs,” she said, unable to look at him while she said it.

He noticed how much she was shaking, how twitchy she seemed. “We can arrange that and it will be safe and clean. Go to your room and Jez will bring it to you.”

“Thank you. I am very humiliated.”

“Don’t be.”

She wandered back to her room, staring at the floor. She was a proud girl and her involuntary drug addiction was a source of torment for her.

Ryan sank back into his chair. “Jez, Sabine needs a top up.”

“Top up? Oh I see.”

“Just enough to take the edge off. Hopefully this time tomorrow she’ll be in rehab.”

“I’ll sort it,” he said, just wanting to collapse into bed. It was dark and cold outside and he was reluctant to leave.

“Don’t go alone,” Ryan warned him.

“Take Declan and his brothers with you,” said Mikey.

“Cheers mate.”

“Aw bless, I don’t think he wants to go out,” said Mikey as they watched Jez lumber to the door, steps dogged with fatigue.

“Can’t say I blame him. I have a concern Mikey.”

“Oh yeah?”

“When this is over and you find yourself top of the tree, what place will my brother take?”

“We’ve already discussed it. We’re going to honour the truce you and Frank brokered. We’ll be business partners.”

“So you won’t get carried away and try to seize the heroin as well?”

“You’re joking? Frank didn’t want our family to touch it and I agree.”

“Alex said he’d respect Frank’s wishes too but I’m sure Jez was on his hit list right after you.”

“No fucking way, I’m not Alex. He’s always had a screw loose, you know that. Look, it’s like this. The past few months have been hell. You and Rachel were in Devon, you didn’t see Alex degenerating. Through it all Jez was the only one I could trust enough to discuss it with and make plans.”

“And how successful those plans were. Idiots.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“I like you Mikey, you came through for us when we needed you and Rachel adores you.” He leaned in closer, cool grey eyes boring into him. “But if you betray my brother I will be straight back here with a Tupperware box of my own. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Excellent.”

A plate of hot noodles and chicken was thrust before Ryan. “Beth says eat this or she will be very angry with you.”

“Thank you Daina, tell her I will obey orders,” he replied.

“I will,” she smiled.

“Daina, you look happy.”

“I am in a beautiful place with kind people who don’t want to hurt me. So yes, I am happy.”

“I suspect Bruiser is something to do with it too,” he teased.

She blushed but her smile was broad. “Maybe.”

“Her and Bruiser?” said Mikey as she hurried back to assist Beth. “He must be twice her age.”

“Let’s find out. Daina, how old are you?” Ryan called across the room.

“Twenty five,” she called back.

“Exactly half his age,” grinned Ryan.

Mikey was relieved when Ryan smiled. After watching him beat Gavin Sugar to death he was eager to stay on his good side.

Ryan slept solidly until six the following morning. Instinctively he reached out to the space beside him and it was a shock when he found it empty. Eager to return to his wife’s side he jumped up, took a hot shower, dressed in freshly laundered blue jeans and a black shirt and walked into the main living area. Only Riley was up, making coffee.

“Want one?” said Riley, holding up a cup.

“Please. How long have you been up?”

“About an hour. I can’t sleep past five.”

“Army training?”

“Yeah.” Riley didn’t add that the nightmares had a lot to do with it too.

Ryan seated himself at the breakfast bar. “Thanks,” he said when Riley put a steaming mug of coffee before him.

“You’re welcome. Sleep well?”

“Surprisingly yes.”

Riley sat opposite him nursing his own coffee. “So, what’s the plan for today?”

Ryan took a thoughtful sip before replying, “not sure yet. I might wait and see what happens. We got a lot of backs up yesterday.”

“True. Let’s hope it doesn’t rebound on us.”

“It won’t.” Riley seemed his usual composed self so Ryan determined to have that chat with him. “I saw how you were looking at Beth last night.”

Riley took a sip of coffee, giving himself time to mull over his reply, giving away nothing. “And how was that?”

“Like she fascinated you.”

“She’s a good woman and I’ve always had a weakness for blonds.”

“She is nice but I know you think more of her than that.”

“I feel so guilty.”

“Why?”

Riley stared into his coffee as he decided whether to confide in him or not. But this was his brother. If he couldn’t talk to him then who could he talk to? He took a slow deep breath as he lowered his mental defences. “Since I met Zoe I’ve not been interested in any other woman. There have been a couple of one night stands since she died but they were purely physical just to fulfil a need and were as meaningful as eating and sleeping. But Beth’s….oh I don’t know, there’s just something about her.”

“She’s all over the place and so are you. The last thing either of you need is an added complication because it will be on the rebound and you’ll both get hurt.”

“I’m not going to act on it. It’s just nice to feel normal emotions again. I feel guilty too, like I’m being unfaithful to Zoe.”

“You can’t be alone your whole life.”

“I know but I’m not ready yet.”

Reassured that Riley wouldn’t try anything inappropriate with Beth and upset the delicate balance of their current living situation, Ryan let the conversation go and they sat in silence for a few minutes, drinking their coffee. One thing he liked about Riley’s company was the absence of meaningless chatter. The silences were just as comfortable as the conversation.

“I’ll have some breakfast then go to the hospital,” said Ryan.

“You just can’t keep away from her,” smiled Riley.

“No I can’t. It was a long lonely night last night without her next to me.” He cringed at his own tactlessness. “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. You don’t need to tread on eggshells around me.”

Riley’s gaze moved off his brother when Beth walked in, Holly in her arms. She looked exhausted, blond hair all over the place, dark shadows around her eyes but to Riley she looked glorious.

“Sleep well?” Ryan asked her.

“Not really,” she yawned.

“Are you not comfortable?”

“It’s nothing to do with the room. It’s the dreams.”

Riley felt an even greater affinity with this woman and the sense of loneliness decreased a little more. He watched as she placed Holly in the highchair and set about preparing her breakfast.

“Are you going to see Rachel this morning?” she asked Ryan as she worked.

“Yeah, straight after breakfast.”

“Can I come with you?”

“Maybe not a good idea. A lot happened yesterday and we don’t know what the repercussions are going to be. You’re safer staying here.”

“I want to see her,” she replied in that hard determined voice she’d recently adopted.

“You will but we need to be cautious. Alex will be seriously gunning for you and your kids need you.”

“Okay, but if not today then tomorrow.”

“Promise.”

Rick was up next, looking much better than he had the day before. He was once again his usual neat and tidy self and his skin was a much better colour.

“Morning,” he yawned.

“Morning,” they all chimed back.

He paused by Holly’s high chair, who gazed up at him, her lips stained with milk. “Hello cutie pie.”

She just stared at him impassively and Beth swallowed down the lump in her throat. It seemed her daughter’s big beaming smile was gone. She just prayed it came back.

Beth looked so sad and it broke Rick’s heart. He’d known her since she was a little girl and he thought the world of her. He gave her a hug and she gripped onto him. She’d always felt a closer affinity to Rick Thomas than she had her own dad.

“Have you told your mum and dad about all this?” he asked her.

“Course not, they’d flip. They’re not as understanding as you.”

“I don’t think I’m understanding love, in fact I’m bloody baffled,” he replied with a gentle smile.

“I’ve told them me and Alex have split up and I’m taking the kids away for some space. They didn’t believe it but I don’t think they want to know the truth.”

“Can’t say I blame them. The truth’s a bitter pill to swallow.”

Rick settled himself at the breakfast bar and Riley poured him a coffee.

“Thanks,” he said, releasing another yawn.

“I want you to go abroad again Rick,” said Ryan.

Rick almost choked on his coffee. “Not a bloody chance. I’m not leaving until I know my daughter’s safe.”

“She is safe.”

“Not as long as that bastard lives.” He recalled the man’s wife and daughter were in the same room. “Sorry Beth.”