Shattered (Dividing Line #5) (7 page)

They all watched as Gavin limped as quickly as he could towards the door, their eyes constantly flicking between him and Ryan.

“You’re not letting him go,” roared Frankie, throwing his hands into the air.

Mikey and Jez started to protest too but Ryan ignored them all, able to see nothing but Rachel lying on the floor of that warehouse, almost battered to death, her throat cut. Then he saw his kids crying after only just escaping from the fire with their lives.

“I didn’t say you could leave.”

Ryan’s voice cut through the noise of the other men’s chatter, instantly silencing them.

Gavin stopped and turned, eyes wide and scared. “But I told you what you wanted to know.”

“You nearly killed my whole family. Did you seriously think you were just going to walk out of here?” said Ryan, advancing on him. “I only let them untie you to even up the odds.”

“I didn’t hurt any of your family, it was all Alex,” said Gavin, hastily backing up towards the door.

“You were a part of it too,” replied Ryan, his face taking on that unnerving stony appearance.

“But…but…,” babbled Gavin, his terrified brain unable to come up with a logical argument.

“I’ll give you a chance. Fight me,” he said before slamming his fist into Gavin’s face.

Riley, Mikey and Jez watched in silence while Frankie shouted out encouragement, cheering when there was the splintering of bone or mashing of cartilage. “Ding ding end of round one,” he declared when Gavin lay on the floor not moving or breathing, face obliterated beneath the force of Ryan’s fists, limbs splayed out at odd angles after they’d snapped beneath the relentless attack. “What a woofter. He didn’t even get one punch in.”

Ryan stood in the centre of the room, blood dripping from his knuckles, taking in long deep breaths, trying to calm down. He still burned from the inside out but at least the torment had eased slightly.

Mikey walked to the door to call in his two henchmen, who were on guard duty.

“Take it to the freezers,” he told them, gesturing to Gavin’s body.

As Gavin was dragged away, leaving a bloody trail behind him, Ryan washed his hands in the sink in the corner, scrubbing away the gore. He had thought all this was behind him and now he’d just beaten someone to death. Even when he’d been in the business he’d never been so brutal. Yes he’d tortured people to get information but he’d put them out of their misery quickly, usually with a bullet to the back of the head. He leaned on the sink and closed his eyes in an attempt to regain his famous control but it was being eroded by the burning inside him. The only way it could be exorcised was by Alex Maguire’s death.

He thought back to that last wonderful day before they’d learnt of Martina’s death and their lives had changed forever. He’d woken up with Rachel in his arms and the boys had run into their bedroom. They’d gone swimming then enjoyed a nice family dinner. Now he was stuck in a torture chamber with a ginger psychopath and blood on his hands.

The tap on his shoulder made him whip round and draw back his fist, but it was only Mikey holding a clean bundle of clothes.

“Easy, it’s just me. You should change. We keep these down here in case of situations like this.”

Ryan looked down at himself and saw his clothes were splattered with blood.

“Thanks,” he said, removing his t-shirt and jeans and pulling on the clean clothes. He hesitated and looked at Mikey. “Has anyone else worn these?”

“No, they’re brand new.”

“Good.” Ryan couldn’t have borne wearing something Alex might have worn first.

“You okay Bruv?” Jez said quietly.

“Fine.” Ryan could see the concern in his brother’s eyes but he lacked the energy to reassure him.

When Jez wandered across the room to talk to Mikey, Ryan turned to Riley. “Is this how you feel all the time?”

“Pretty much.”

“How do you deal with it?”

He shrugged. “You get used to it.”

Ryan thought that explained Riley’s tight control. At first he’d thought it was his army training but now he realised that quiet demeanour contained an horrific rage. Come to think of it, his way of standing with his arms folded across his chest gave the impression that he was trying to contain something very big and angry that he would only unleash upon Jasper White. Ryan intended to do the same to Alex Maguire. “It’s burning me up,” he said.

“There’s only one cure and you know what it is,” replied Riley.

Ryan nodded. “But I can’t, not yet.”

“Then you’ll just have to deal with it. There’s no choice.”

Ryan wished his brother had more answers for him, he wasn’t sure he could deal with it. To take his mind off it he picked up Gavin’s gold teeth off the gurney where he’d left them. They could come in useful.

“Here, you can put them in this,” said Frankie, producing a small plastic tube with a lid from inside his jacket.

“Thanks,” said Ryan, accepting it. “You carry these around?”

“They’re great for storing fingers in. See,” he replied, producing another tube from the opposite jacket pocket complete with a severed finger still wearing a gold ring.

“Who does that belong to?” said Ryan, glad his voice once again sounded calm.

“Some fucking ned who thought he was the bollocks. He hasn’t got any of those left either,” he grinned.

Ryan thought that explained why the Greater Glasgow Police were looking for him.

“What’s a ned?” said Mikey.

“Non-educated delinquent. In other words, a fucking turd in a tracksuit,” replied Frankie before roaring with laughter.

Ryan was keen to move the conversation on before Frankie pulled someone’s testicles out of his jacket pocket too. “Let’s go get Sabine. Hopefully she’s still alive.”

“Why do we need to bother?” sighed Frankie.

“This is for Rachel. I made her a promise.”

“Then that’s your problem. I’ve got a very cosy money-laundering operation going on with a Russian and for all I know they could be related so I am not risking pissing them off. You’re on your own with that one.”

“No he’s not,” said Riley and Jez in unison. This habit they were developing irritated them both and they frowned at each other.

“In that case, why don’t you check out the other two brothels?” Ryan told Frankie.

“Why the fuck should I? It’s a smart business idea.”

The fire inside Ryan flared, lighting up his eyes and tightening every muscle. Jez and Riley took a step forward, ready to put themselves between him and Frankie should the need arise. Fortunately Ryan remembered Riley’s words and forced himself to contain it. When his demeanour relaxed, so did his brothers.

“Because we’re trying to hit Alex’s finances,” Ryan patiently explained. “As hardly anyone knows about the brothels I assume the money is going straight to him and don’t forget, he didn’t bother to tell you about them.”

“You’re right,” said Frankie, his eyes rolling back in his head. “I don’t like being kept in the fucking dark.”

“We’ll put the attacks on the brothel on Alex so if the Russians do retaliate they’ll take their displeasure out on him instead,” said Ryan wearily, wondering how he could have got involved in this business in the first place. It was one endless fight and he was sick of it. He longed for the peace and happiness of his life in Devon.

“Nice thinking,” said Frankie. “Turn all his allies against him, cut him off from everyone who might back him up.”

“Exactly.”

“You know, I can’t wait to work with you. You’re almost as smart as me. That makes you unique.”

“Thanks,” he said dryly. “Why don’t you and Mikey check out the other two brothels owned by Alex while me, Riley and Jez find Sabine.”

Mikey sighed inwardly. He was lumbered with the axe-wielding psychopath again.

CHAPTER 7

The hatred in Ryan’s eyes when he looked up at the exterior of the brothel Rachel had been taken to could have cut through the brick. “I’m looking forward to burning the fucking place to the ground,” he said.

“Yes but there’s something I want to check first,” replied Jez. “When we came here looking for Rachel I noticed something I thought we could use so I got a couple of my men to guard the place.”

Ryan followed Jez and Riley inside with mixed feelings about being back here. On the one hand he had no urge to see the revolting place again but on the other he wanted to raze it to the ground for what had been done to his wife. He wouldn’t feel easy knowing it was still standing.

Inside it was deathly silent. Jez’s crew had removed the dead security guards and done a clean-up so no trace of the raid had been left behind. As they walked down the corridor past the bedrooms Ryan spied rumpled beds and horrible sexual paraphernalia left lying around. One room consisted of a complicated system of pulleys and chains, the manacles bloodstained. Ryan averted his gaze, feeling sick, unsure which room Rachel had been held in. He prayed it wasn’t the one with all the chains. He wondered if, to Alex, this place was a simple money-making operation or whether it represented his hatred of women because, judging by his treatment of Rachel, Beth and Martina, he did hate women. He shook himself out of his psychoanalysis. Alex was sick and depraved and this was a symptom of that.

“What do you want to show us?” said Ryan.

“A little further,” replied Jez.

At first Ryan thought they were heading towards the office, but Jez bypassed it and continued on to a small room at the end of another corridor, leading away from the bedrooms, which looked to be nothing but a store cupboard. However inside it was full of electronic equipment and two chairs, one of which was occupied by a pinched-faced man with glasses and a huge domed forehead.

Ryan frowned at the bank of monitors. “Looks like Alex was recording his clients.”

“I’ve had Arnold here studying the footage. He’s a whiz with electronics,” said Jez. “What have you found Arnold?”

“Take a look for yourself,” he replied, tapping at the keyboard.

One of the monitors burst into life, the image of a flabby middle aged man with black hair, back covered in moles, yelling furiously at a cowering girl. She held her hands out before her, crying as he slapped her around the face. He paused to spit on her then dragged her to her feet and threw her face down on the bed to urinate over her, the poor girl sobbing into the mattress.

“That’s that bloke on TV,” said Arnold. “He’s an actor in that soap opera.”

“Is he? I don’t watch drivel like that,” said Ryan. “Rachel might know him though.”

“Like’s to make out he’s squeaky clean, does a lot for children’s charities,” continued Arnold. “He’s always in the papers.”

“Kids’ charities?” said Jez. “That girl must be fifteen at most. Dirty paedo bastard.”

“Any other well known faces on here?” Ryan asked Arnold.

“Just one. I don’t know who he is, but you might.”

“Why does that face look familiar?” said Jez, frowning at the screen.

“It’s Harvey Pallister,” replied Ryan. “He’s a TV journalist and broadcaster.”

“Looks like Alex had himself a little blackmail operation on the side,” said Jez.

“The rest of the footage was recently wiped. I think it was being saved onto another system then deleted from here,” said Arnold.

“The question is,” interjected Ryan, “who else does he have compromising footage of?”

“I think we ought to find out,” said Jez. “Arnold, can you get anything else off here?”

“It was a professional job. It was probably wiped every day.”

“Fits in with Alex’s paranoid personality,” said Ryan.

“But I can have a look,” continued Arnold. “I’ve not found a system yet that can beat me.”

Half an hour later Arnold and his paraphernalia had cleared out and the downstairs rooms had been saturated with accelerant. As the flames ignited behind Ryan he walked away, a smile curling his lips, feeling like he’d finally done something to avenge Rachel.

“Hello gentleman, after a little afternoon entertainment?” said Orlov, who ran the brothel for Vladimir. He was delighted to see three obviously prosperous men enter his establishment. His clientele were usually less than savoury.

Ryan, Jez and Riley had all changed into expensive suits before coming here, Riley borrowing one of Ryan’s, making them look even more like twins. Jez hated the fact that this made him jealous.

As they had prearranged, it was left to Jez to do the talking. Ryan didn’t trust himself to keep his temper. He eyed the short fat man with disgust. No doubt this revolting piece of sweaty obese humanity regularly helped himself to the women.

“That’s right,” replied Jez with a man to man smile.

“Then come inside, please. We have many beautiful girls to cater for all tastes. What would you like?”

“Actually it’s my brother here who wants to be entertained. He’s getting married in a few days and wants one last fling before he’s tied down for life.”

“Very wise,” smiled Orlov, scratching his belly that protruded from the bottom of his t-shirt. “What girl would you like? Tall, short, curvy, flat, dark, light. We even have a girl with an arm missing for the more discerning tastes.”

Ryan wanted to throw up all over the man. “I like tall and slender with black hair and blue eyes.”

Orlov’s grin broadened. “I have just the girl for you. That will be two hundred pounds for one hour.“

Ryan thought the price wildly inflated but the man had obviously clocked on to the fact that they had money so he handed over the amount requested.

“Gentlemen, there is a bar through that door,” Orlov told Jez and Riley, pointing to a gloomy doorway. “Enjoy the best vodka while you wait for your friend.”

Ryan’s eyes constantly moved left and right as he followed the fat man down a dimly-lit corridor. Judging by the sounds emanating from behind all the closed doors the brothel was busy. He wanted to clamp his hands down over his ears to block out the hideous noises, knowing this is exactly what Rachel had heard when she’d been abducted.

They stopped outside a door and Ryan patiently waited while Orlov fumbled for the key.

“If you would wait here just one moment Sir I will see that Desiree is ready.”

The man unlocked the door and opened it just wide enough for him to squeeze through so Ryan couldn’t see inside before closing it behind him. Ryan hoped the girl in there was Sabine and that Desiree was just an alias. Through the door came the sound of raised voices followed by a loud slap then silence. Orlov reappeared. “She is ready for you, she is a very beautiful woman.”

“Thank you. You’re not going to lock that door behind me, are you? I don’t like being locked in.”

“No, the doors are not locked when they are being used, only when the girls are alone, to keep them safe.”

Ryan knew that was a load of bullshit, it was to stop them escaping. He walked inside the room and the door closed behind him. He paused, listening to make sure Orlov didn’t lock it then turned his attention to the only occupant in the room and realised he’d hit the jackpot. The girl stood before him was clearly the same one in the photograph with long jet black hair and huge blue eyes. She was a girl too, not a woman, with her skinny frame and barely-there breasts. She’d hardly had time to mature before being thrust into this horrific life. She would have been beautiful if she hadn’t looked so pale and wasted. Her left cheek was bright red from where Orlov had slapped her when she’d protested that she was tired.

Sabine for her part was delighted to have such a handsome man walk into her room. Her clients were usually old, fat and ugly, the type that could only get a woman by paying for one. This one made a refreshing change.

“Hello,” she purred, sauntering up to him.

She attempted to make her hips sway seductively but they were too thin and bony to pull it off. Ryan thought of Rachel, she was the queen of that move.

“My name’s Desiree,” she went on, “and I’m here to fulfil your every desire.”

Her Latvian accent was thick but her English excellent and he had no problem understanding her. When she snaked her arms around his neck he gently pulled them away.

“What is wrong? Do I not make you happy?” she pouted.

“I’m not here for sex, I’m very happily married thank you.”

“They all say that but if you were you wouldn’t be here.”

“Laila sent me,” he said, anxious to get out of there.

She dropped the seductive look and she suddenly looked vulnerable and much younger. “I knew she would, she swore she’d get me out of here. That’s what you’re here to do, isn’t it? Free me?”

“Yes.”

“And Laila is waiting?”

Compassion for her welled inside him. “You should sit down.”

She sank onto the bed, her eyes fixed on him. “What’s happened to her?”

“I’m sorry Sabine, she’s dead.”

Sabine went absolutely still, processing this information before a keen wail escaped her lips, tears starting to run down her face. “No, she was all I had left. All our family are dead. She can’t be dead too.”

Ryan sat beside her. “I’m so sorry.”

“How did it happen?”

“You know Alex Maguire, who abducted you and took you to his brothel?”

“Yes, he is a bastard.”

Ryan found himself warming to her. “You’re right, he is. He kidnapped my wife and took her to the brothel. Laila helped her escape. In return my wife promised to free you but they were caught. Alex had Laila executed.”

“Executed how?” she said bravely while the tears continued to run down her face unchecked.

“Shot in the head. It was quick. My wife saw it all, she said she was so brave, that she was calm and strong. She didn’t let Alex break her.”

“She always was brave, she kept me going when I wanted to die.” She looked at Ryan, her eyes suddenly blazing with anger. “Your wife is alive?”

“Yes.”

“How is she alive when my sister is dead?”

“She nearly died too. Alex beat her, stabbed her and cut her throat, but she made it.”

“I’m sorry, that was cruel of me.”

“It’s alright. You’re upset.”

“Can I speak to your wife? I have to hear it all from her.”

“Yes you can but first things first, we need to get you out of here. Get dressed.”

“How will you do it? Orlov has guards.”

“I’ve got two friends with me, don’t worry, we can handle them no problem.”

“Can my friend come too?”

“We’re getting all the girls out then when that’s done we’re going to burn the fucking place to the ground.”

Sabine gave him a gentle smile. “Laila always told me a miracle would come along and here you are.”

“Your sister’s the miracle, not me. Now get dressed. Quickly.”

When Riley and Jez finished their vodkas Orlov waddled into the bar and ordered the barman to top them up. They reluctantly sipped at the clear fiery liquid, wanting to remain clear-headed. Orlov inwardly thought they were a couple of pussies before taking a stool at the end of the bar and opening up the newspaper. Jez and Riley glanced at each other. On the front page was a photo of Ryan with Rachel, the kidnapping still all over the news. Fortunately Orlov hadn’t even glanced at it. They both took another sip of vodka, raising their glasses and putting them to their lips at the same time, causing them both another flicker of annoyance.

Orlov got bored and closed the paper. When his eyes alighted on the front page Riley and Jez both sensed him go absolutely rigid. Slowly he looked up at them, suspicion all over his face. They’d lied to him. The man he’d just learnt was called Ryan Law was already married, but why lie?

“What is the meaning of this?” demanded Orlov, holding up the paper. “Why are you here?”

“Listen mate, it’s just…,” began Jez. “Fuck it, I can’t think of anything.”

Before Orlov could call for the attention of his barman, who had his back to them refilling the optics, Riley had launched himself at him, wrapped his arm around his neck and thrown him to the floor. He pressed one booted foot down on the man’s throat so he couldn’t make a sound. Jez whacked the barman round the back of the head with a vodka bottle and he dropped.

Orlov’s podgy little body wriggled on the floor like a maggot on the end of a hook.

“How much security do you have?” said Riley, releasing his foot so the man could speak.

“Just two guards,” he replied, shaking. “Why are you doing this?”

“Alex Maguire. You fucked him over so we’re fucking you over,” said Jez.

“But I didn’t do anything to him.”

“Yes you did. You burnt down his brothel. Now we’re going to do the same to yours.”

“You’re mad. Do you know who owns this place?”

“Course we do you wanker and he’s nothing compared to us.”

“You are all dead men.”