Shattered (Dividing Line #5) (31 page)

Battler was relieved and he and his brother went off to organise their weapons.

Ryan took Rachel’s hands and kissed her.

“Please don’t get shot,” she told him.

“I’ll have my vest on.”

“It doesn’t make you invulnerable. Be careful.”

“I will. When this is over Alex will be much weaker then we can finish him, which I won’t even dream of keeping you from.”

Rachel stood framed in the doorway, watching the men set out in the two black four by fours, armed to the teeth. Riley had been responsible for making the bombs that would be thrown through the windows of the clubhouse and he had packed them ever so carefully into the back of one of the vans.

“They’ll be fine, don’t worry,” said Declan, putting his arm around her shoulders as they watched the vehicles thunder down the dirt track leading away from the house.

“I hope so.”

“Come on, why don’t we see what’s on the box? Try and take our minds off it for a while.”

“Okay,” she said, following him back inside, knowing nothing could do that.

CHAPTER 31

The building was smaller than they’d thought, squat and two storeys. Ryan thought so many people cramped together in that space couldn’t be very pleasant. As it was the base of the MC’s criminal operations it was built for privacy, sheltered by some dense woodland away from prying eyes. No one was coming to their aid.

They’d met up with Dane and three of his men in the woods surrounding the building, so they could assess it from a safe distance.

“We’ve been watching it for twenty four hours now,” said Dane. “They’re all in there, including Jasper White.”

Riley lowered his binoculars. “He’s mine. No one else touches him.”

“And Alex?” Ryan asked Dane.

“No sign.”

“At least we can take out his dogs. Riley, what do you see?”

“There’s lots of movement inside. They look to be drinking and partying.”

“Jasper always did like to live in the moment,” said Dane.

“I hope he’s enjoying it because it’s his last,” said Ryan. “Let’s get started.”

They all pulled on gloves and black balaclavas. When Ryan nodded at Battler and Bruiser they picked up the shotguns and moved through the trees to the rear of the building, Riley following, petrol bombs in hand. As the brothers reached the back of the building and raised the shotguns, Riley lit both bombs and stood in readiness to throw them. Finally his moment had come.

At Ryan’s nod Riley heaved the bombs, his aim perfect. They crashed through the two rear windows and ignited inside.

Ryan and the others stepped out of the woods and formed a tight semi-circle around the building just as the front door burst open and everyone ran out. Caught between the barrage of bullets from the front and the raging fire behind they were trapped and helpless. Some of the patches threw themselves behind the bikes or whatever hiding places they could find and returned fire but they had been caught unawares and were panicking, so most of their shots missed.

Frankie jumped into the fray with his hatchet, bringing it down on a patch cowering behind a Harley, his men clearing a path for him with their guns. He sliced into the man’s neck with the blade, almost taking his head off, threw his arms wide and yelled, “bring it on ya fucking beauties.” With his clothes blood-splattered and the fire raging behind him he was a disturbing sight.

“Shit, there’s women in there,” yelled Ryan when two screaming girls wearing next to nothing ran out of the building, crying. “Don’t hit them.”

One of the patches heard this and grabbed one of the women and held her before him like a human shield. Riley took aim and shot the man in the head. His body slumped sideways and the girl, now released, ran into the woods with her friend.

The sound was deafening, particularly the roar of Battler’s and Bruiser’s shotguns, as they all fired mercilessly, Ryan keeping poor Gaynor and her mother firmly in mind in order to keep going. As bodies ran out the front door they immediately fell, caught in a hail of bullets.

He held his fire as another woman came running out. This one was dressed in skin tight black jeans, a cut-off tight black sleeveless top, arms and chest covered in tattoos. Rather than scream she ran out firing back at them, screeching a war cry at the top of her lungs, long black hair streaming out behind her. Ryan had to duck and roll behind the shelter of a large transit van as she fired in his direction.

“Who the fuck is that?” he demanded of Dane, who ran to join him.

“Venom, Jasper’s old lady. They call her The Queen. She’s a mad bitch.”

Venom entrenched herself behind a clapped out car and pumped more bullets in their direction. One passed so close to Ryan’s head he felt the rush of air it created. She was certainly putting up a much better fight than the men.

When Riley saw Jasper run out of the building he forgot about the battle raging around him, able to hear only Zoe’s screams. He charged at the man, dodging bullets, knocking down anyone who got in his path. Jasper clocked him barrelling towards him, panicked and ran round the side of the building towards the woods.

“No Riley. Stop,” cried Ryan when he saw Venom taking aim at his brother’s back.

Ryan leapt out of his hiding place and emptied the clip in her direction. She ducked back down out of sight and something slammed into Ryan from behind. He was knocked onto his front and was yanked furiously up and down. At first he couldn’t quite work out what was going on, then he realised someone had stabbed him in the back, only they hadn’t realised he was wearing a bullet proof vest and the blade had embedded itself in the Kevlar. Now they were trying to pull it out for a second try.

He’d dropped the gun when he fell but he drew his own knife from the waistband of his jeans, twisted and rammed it into the side of a big bald-headed man. As Ryan looked up at him the man’s head exploded and Dane was standing over him, helping him up with one arm while firing back at Venom.

Once they were safely back behind the shelter of the van, Dane writhed the knife from Ryan’s back.

“Did it go through?” Dane asked him, having to shout over the noise.

“No, I don’t think so. Where’s Riley?”

“I don’t know. It’s fucking chaos.”

The clubhouse was now completely engulfed by flames and if there was anyone still inside then they were no longer a threat. It was getting hard to see through the thick black smoke, fanned by the breeze that had kicked up.

“That fire’s going to attract a lot of attention,” said Dane. “We have to get out of here and quick.”

“Agreed,” called back Ryan.

Despite the smoke Riley managed to keep Jasper’s skinny frame in sight. He hadn’t changed at all with his long greasy black ponytail and tattered clothes, the jeans as usual perpetually hanging so low they revealed a bit of bum crack. Riley pursued him to the edge of the woods, determined not to let his quarry escape. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jez involved in a furious fight with two patch members. It looked like, despite the odds, that he was winning. However a punch from one patch wielding a knife sent him staggering backwards and the other moved in for the kill, snatching up the gun Jez had dropped.

Riley looked from Jasper’s retreating figure then back to Jez.

“Oh fuck,” he yelled before stopping to shoot the patch in the head, who dropped. Jez wrenched the knife off the other one and plunged it into his heart.

Jez looked to him and nodded. “Thanks.”

By the time Riley looked back at Jasper, he’d gone.

“You fucking idiot,” roared Riley. “I almost had Jasper then, after all this time. Thanks to you he got away.”

“I’m sorry mate, I didn’t realise.”

Riley grabbed him by the shirtfront. “From now on you stay the fuck out of my way.”

He pushed him away with disgust and skirted the trees, making his way back to Ryan. This time it was Riley’s turn for a telling off.

“What did you think you were doing?” Ryan yelled in his face. “You almost got killed running after Jasper like that.”

“And your brother got a knife in his back saving you,” said Dane.

Riley was horrified. “Are you okay?”

“Thankfully it went into my Kevlar but don’t you dare make a fucking stupid move like that again.”

“I won’t. Jesus Ryan, I’m sorry.”

“Never mind that now. We need to finish this and get the hell out of here.”

The three of them rose as one and began firing into what stragglers were still putting up a fight. Venom had taken the opportunity while they were talking to escape and they soon had the remainder put down. The only injury on their side was a cut to Mikey’s left cheek after he dodged a knife attack and Battler was nursing his right arm where a bullet had nicked it. Nothing life threatening.

“Don’t take any body parts,” said Ryan when he saw Frankie raise his hatchet over a dead patch. “You may as well leave the police a card with your name and address on.”

“Aye, you might have a point there. Sometimes the compulsion gets the better of me,” he smiled.

“Is he all there?” Dane whispered to Ryan.

“No, he’s a fucking loony-tune.”

“Not who you want as a business partner.”

“Exactly.” Ryan noticed one patch lying on the ground was still moving so he shot him in the head. It was a casual gesture and he hardly realised he’d done it until the body went still. When had it become so easy for him to kill?

Rachel couldn’t rest. She paced back and forth, mobile phone clutched in her hand, praying for good news. In fact she felt so uneasy that she’d retrieved her gun from upstairs and tucked in the waistband of her jeans. She just wanted them all back safe and well.

“Kian, turn the TV down,” Declan told his brother.

Kian was sprawled out on the couch next to Charlie while Declan kept watch at the window. With an irritated expression he turned the volume down just a couple of notches. Rachel hadn’t spent much time with the Irish contingent of the Maguire family and hardly knew them but she found she was very comfortable alone in their company. Declan was the most serious of the three and took his responsibilities to heart. His younger brothers still had a lot to learn but they were pleasant enough.

“They should have called by now,” said Rachel, staring at the phone, willing it to ring.

“They will, don’t worry.”

She regarded him curiously. “Is this still the life you want, after everything you’ve seen?”

He nodded. “What’s the alternative? Spend our lives on benefits, because we’ve no qualifications. We had to turn to robbery just to put food on the table. This is the only way we’ll make some serious money.”

“What about the danger?”

He shrugged. “It’s the price we pay and we can live with that.”

“I thought I could.”

“You’re lucky, you’re a millionaire. Sometimes there’s no other choice.”

Declan had come a long way from the jovial boy who came over from Ireland just over a year ago. The Maguires were good at giving harsh life lessons.

Declan frowned, squinting through the window. “There’s a van coming up the road, a big red one like the posties use.”

Rachel joined him at the window. “We haven’t seen a postman the whole time we’ve been here.”

“I know and I don’t like it.”

Rachel and Declan looked at each other and nodded.

“Charlie, turn the telly off, Kian hit the lights then grab your weapons,” ordered Declan.

“But I’m watching it,” protested Charlie.

“Do it you fecking eejit. We’ve got trouble.”

They decided not to protest further and did as they were told.

“Let’s go out the back way,” said Rachel.

Declan locked the front door and they followed him through the house and out the back door, which he also locked. Then they were tearing across the overgrown grass towards the barn. From there they could still see the front of the house and snuck inside seconds before the van pulled up.

“Are you going to call Ryan?” Declan asked her once they were safely inside.

“Let’s see what happens first. I don’t want to disturb him because someone’s come to post a letter.”

They felt pretty silly standing in a barn watching a man in full Royal Mail uniform knocking on the front door holding a letter.

“See, nothing to worry about,” said Charlie.

“I’m not so sure,” replied Declan. “Why is he knocking for a letter? Why not just put it through the box?”

“Could be recorded delivery?” offered Kian.

“But no one knows we’re here,” said Rachel. “As far as the rest of the world is concerned, this property is empty. Get the car open just in case, but don’t start the engine. It’s so quiet up here he’ll hear it.”

Rachel was glad Battler and Bruiser had insisted on keeping one vehicle separate from the others in case they couldn’t access the garage. The vehicle was a small four by four, tough enough to deal with the rugged terrain but light enough to make a quick getaway.

Charlie and Kian got in the front while Declan and Rachel kept watch on the postman who had knocked several times, to no avail. After peering through the windows he ambled back to the van and Rachel started to relax.

The postman opened the back doors of the van and out jumped half a dozen large men, all armed to the teeth. They rushed up to the house and a loud crack filled the air as the front door was kicked in.

“Oh shit,” whispered Declan.

“It’s only a matter of time before they find us. Let’s go,” said Rachel.

She and Declan leapt into the back of the car. “Drive,” he ordered Charlie.

“They’ll hear us.”

“There’s no fucking choice.”

“The doors are still closed,” said Kian.

“Floor it, the wood’s rotten,” said Declan.

“Are you sure?”

“Just do it,” snapped Rachel, drawing the gun.

The engine burst into life. Charlie put the car into gear and stomped on the accelerator. They lurched forward, the barn doors growing ever closer. There was a loud crack and suddenly they were outside. As they roared past the house the figures ran out. Her eyes locked with Alex’s and he smiled and raised his gun.