Carnage

by Heather Atkinson

  CHAPTER 24

  Jacob ducked when the man with the rifle fired more shots in his direction, the bullets bouncing off the stone around him. Yes he was scared but oddly elated too. Christ this was exciting. But he couldn’t sit here because the man with the rifle would come after him, he’d pissed him off too much.

  Keeping low, he crept around the back of the barn, meeting Ryan and Rachel halfway.

  “Jacob, are you alright?” said Ryan, clapping him on the shoulder.

  He nodded. “Bruised but fine.”

  “Good. We’re going to take down the bastard with the rifle. Stay here and keep out of sight.”

  “I want to help.”

  “And we’re not risking you getting hurt.”

  “It’s a bit late for that.”

  “You’re staying here,” said Ryan, giving him the full force of his steely glare.

  But Jacob refused to be swayed. “I want to help, for Leah. She’s still out there.”

  Ryan sighed before nodding. “Okay but you do what I say when I say it and no deviations.”

  “Understood,” he said, eagerly following.

  “What is going on?” Katia demanded of Hayden. She’d called him, worried when she’d not heard anything for a while. “It’s taking too long.” Andrew had insisted she put the call on speakerphone so he, Luke and Mick could all hear.

  “Things have gone a bit wrong,” he replied.

  “I don’t want to hear these words,” she said, able to hear the retort of gunshots in the background.

  “Three of our men are down. There’s only me and Carl left.”

  “How did that happen? You all have guns and they don’t.”

  “It’s a long story but don’t worry, we can finish it. Jules, Mikey and Jez are all down.”

  “Then that is enough. They are the leaders. Get out of there.”

  “Rachel, Ryan and Bruiser are still alive, Mark and Shane too. The family will still be a force to be reckoned with.”

  “Can you take them out?” said Andrew.

  “Yes.”

  “Then do it,” he said before ending the call, not giving Katia the chance to order them home, he knew she was thinking with her heart not her head. Only natural he supposed when her husband was in the line of fire. “Don’t worry, he’ll handle it and the next thing you know he’ll be back safely.”

  “You’d better be right,” she hissed at him.

  Andrew thought how her love for her husband and her kids was her only weakness. Other than that she was made of metal. Still, it was a chink in her armour that he was going to exploit to topple her once the Laws and Maguires were out of the way and they had their deal with Toni McVay. Then everything would be his.

  Mick had listened to all this with a sinking heart. Hayden wouldn’t be successful, he was sure of it. Some of them would survive and that family would come back at them harder than ever. It occurred to him that it wasn’t because everyone who’d gone after the Maguire-Law clan was cursed. It was because that family was blessed, protected by a force greater than all of them and anyone who fucked with them would wind up dead. When he looked to Andrew and Katia already their faces looked like skull’s heads, as though they’d already died. He shook his head and the hallucination cleared. Shit, he was going to wind up the same way if he didn’t do something. He was on the wrong side.

  Katia looked sharply up at him, as though she’d sensed his thoughts. “Are you alright Mick?”

  “Yeah fine. Why?”

  “You look…uncomfortable.”

  “It’s just a strain waiting for it to be over.”

  “Yes, you are right. We’re all feeling it,” she said, giving him another odd look before returning to her conversation with Andrew, the pair of them discussing contingency plans should their own plan fail, or only partly succeed anyway. The three main players were dead and gone.

  Mick was relieved Katia’s icy stare was off him but he was well aware she’d sensed his unease, perhaps even his thoughts of defection. He understood how Katia operated, she lulled people into a false sense of security before taking them out. It was vital he decide what to do before she removed him too.

  Hayden was about to go charging around the side of the demolished barn after Ryan and Rachel when he noticed Jules move. She was still alive. Christ, she was one tough bitch, tougher even than her husband who lay dead on top of her. Her right leg was moving, as was her right arm, her left side entirely pinned down beneath Mikey’s weight. She was touching her husband’s face with her free hand, talking to him but of course he wasn’t responding.

  A plan formed in his mind and he strode up to Jules, the rifle trained on her head. She didn’t even notice him, too concerned with her husband, tears rolling down her face. He’d never seen the infamous Venom look so vulnerable before and it was a startling contrast to the woman he’d once worked with.

  “Come out now Ryan before I finish off your sister,” he yelled. He glanced over at Shane, who had run out of bullets and was glaring at him but he didn’t make a move, knowing he’d pump a bullet into Jules’s skull if he did. “Ryan,” he repeated, louder. “I’m not fucking about. You know I’ll do it. Come out and bring your wife too.”

  “You can’t go out there,” Jacob told Ryan as he and Rachel strode around the side of the barn.

  “Yes we can,” said Ryan. “And this is what you’re going to do.”

  Jacob listened in wide-eyed wonder, praying he didn’t fuck it up.

  “Do you understand?” said Ryan when he’d finished.

  Jacob nodded.

  “Ryan,” roared Hayden, voice filled with frustration and rage.

  “Coming,” he called back.

  Jacob could only watch as Ryan and Rachel fearlessly walked out to face a mad gunman, full of respect for them both.

  “We’re here,” said Ryan, emerging from the side of the building, Rachel beside him.

  “At fucking last,” said Hayden with satisfaction. “It’s typical of your family to make everything ten times more complicated.”

  “Get your gun off Jules.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Can you really do this? We’ve been friends for years.”

  “You could easily do it to me.”

  “Right now I could,” glowered Ryan. His expression cleared. “You know, I always thought there was something honourable about you, you had a code of ethics that inspired respect. But it seems you’ve lost all that. You were perfectly willing to blow up the barn knowing it was packed full of children. The Hayden Brody I knew would have been revolted by such an atrocity. It’s not your fault. It’s Katia’s.”

  “Don’t talk about her like that,” he yelled.

  Ryan noted that the barrel of the rifle had moved slightly off Jules, who had wrapped her free arm around Mikey, still struggling beneath him and it struck Ryan that she was fighting to breathe, not only because of her injuries but because of Mikey’s weight crushing her. He feared if they didn’t reach her soon she’d die anyway. “She did the same thing to Alex,” he continued. “Dripped poison in his ear to make him turn against everyone who loved him until he lost his mind. She’s done the same to you and you can’t see it.”

  “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” He went rigid at the sound of sirens. Judging by the distance they were still a bit of a way off but they’d be here soon enough. Who the fuck had called them? The signal jammer was still in action.

  “It’s over Hayden,” said Ryan in his reasonable tone. “Go now, before you get caught.”

  Hayden swung the rifle off Jules and aimed it at Ryan’s head. “Not until the job’s done.”

  At that point, without starting the engine, Mark shifted the limo into first gear and released the handbrake. It began to roll forwards, Mark aiming it at Hayden’s turned back. He couldn’t believe he’d used to work with this prick. As it gained momentum he opened the door and leapt out.

  “Hayden, look…”

  C
arl, who had been more concerned with Hayden’s exchange with Ryan had failed to spot Bruiser sneaking up on him. He was only aware he was even there when Bruiser’s arm wrapped itself around his throat. He dragged him to the ground, snapped his neck and wrenched the gun from his dead hand, just in time to see Hayden throw himself out of the way of the approaching limo, which sped past him and rammed into the side of the barn, causing it to completely collapse in on itself with a rumble, sending up more dust.

  Bruiser shot at Hayden, ducking when he turned and fired back. The range of the handgun long distance wasn’t very good but naturally the sniper rifle was shit hot, so Bruiser was forced to throw himself to the ground to avoid the lethally accurate shots.

  No one was more astonished than Hayden when that annoying but ballsy teenage boy emerged with the second unexploded bomb in his hands, frantically beeping, its lights flashing.

  Between that, an armed Bruiser and the approaching sirens, Hayden decided it was time to beat a hasty retreat. He ran back the way he’d come, pausing to drag the man Archie had half beaten to death to his feet, dragging him up into the hills, the scouser who’d been hit by the car staggering after them with one of his men on his arm.

  They all whipped round when a Land Rover roared up the drive towards the barn, Ryan putting himself before Rachel.

  The car rolled to a halt and Cathy leapt out brandishing a shotgun, joined by a grey haired and heavily whiskered man who was similarly armed.

  “It’s alright,” said Ryan. “They’ve gone.”

  “Thank God,” she said, lowering the gun. The old man lowered his weapon too, looking rather disappointed to have missed out on all the action.

  Cathy’s eyes widened. “Bomb,” she cried, pointing at Jacob.

  “Actually no,” he said. “Ryan’s phone,” he grinned, taking it off the bomb and silencing it.

  “Jules,” said Ryan, racing to her side, Rachel following.

  “Oh God. Mikey,” cried Rachel.

  Everyone else came out of their hiding places while Bruiser checked all the bodies to make sure they were in fact dead.

  “We need to get him off her,” said Ryan, frightened by the choking sounds Jules was making, her skin ghostly and lips turning blue. “Rachel,” he snapped when his wife stared at the wounds to Mikey’s back in appalled silence. He knew what she was thinking - that she couldn’t bear to lose someone else she loved after losing Battler today but her expertise was needed. He took her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. “How do we move him?”

  It worked and her eyes snapped into focus. “Keep him on his front. Gravity will stop him bleeding out.”

  “Jacob, I need your help,” he said.

  Ryan hooked his arms around Mikey’s chest while Jacob got his legs and together they lifted him off Jules and lay him on his front beside her, Jules dragging in a deep, wheezy breath. Rachel pressed her fingertips to his neck, panicking when she couldn’t find a pulse. “Please, please,” she said over and over. “Got it,” she cried. It was weak and fluttering but it was there. She put him in the recovery position then turned to Jules, unable to do anything more for him.

  Jules lay on the ground shivering and shaking, her head tilted to one side, weakly reaching out to Mikey unconscious beside her.

  “Don’t talk,” Ryan told her, gently stroking her hair as her mouth opened and closed.

  “She was hit on the right side, away from the heart,” said Rachel.

  “So she’ll be okay?” said Ryan hopefully.

  “She’s still been shot in the chest, even though it’s off to one side.”

  Ryan sighed and buried his face in his hands

  Jules groaned as Rachel clamped her hand down on the wound.

  “Sorry honey,” she said. “The ambulance is on its way.”

  “Mikey?” she breathed.

  “He’s alive. Don’t worry.”

  Despite her words Ryan saw the despair in Rachel’s eyes. “Bruiser,” she said, watching him jog across to them, eyes scanning left and right. “He doesn’t know about Battler.”

  “Want me to tell him?”

  “No. It’s best coming from me.”

  “Then let me take over here,” he said, putting his hand to Jules’s chest when Rachel released her.

  Rachel wiped her hands on the grass before approaching Bruiser. Seeing the look on her face and noting the fact that his brother was nowhere in sight he slowed to a halt, staring back at her.

  “I’m so sorry,” she began, tears filling her eyes.

  Bruiser stared at her, stricken as he attempted to process this information.

  “He’s gone,” ended Rachel, her voice cracking.

  Bruiser swept her to him, holding on tight, Rachel wrapping her arms around him as his shoulders shook with silent tears.

  “He saved us,” she sobbed. “He held the whole fucking building up so me and Ryan could escape.” Part of her had been afraid he’d blame them for his brother’s death but he only held her tighter.

  When the shaking of his shoulders stopped he straightened up, wiping his eyes on the backs of his hands.

  “We’ll kill every single last one of them for taking him from us,” she said.

  Bruiser nodded once, eyes blazing.

  “Beth, Cathy,” called Shane.

  Both women ran over to where he was crouched beside Jez, who had been snapped out of his catatonia by the pain he was in from the bullet wound to the left arm.

  “Fuck,” he groaned.

  “It’s okay babe,” said Cathy, stroking his hair while Beth assessed the wound. “Help’s nearly here, just hang on.”

  “He’s bleeding quite heavily,” said Beth, tying a tourniquet around his arm formed from a torn segment of her dress and pulling it tight, making Jez cry out.

  “I can’t believe this,” wept Cathy, cradling her husband. “I can’t fucking believe it.”

  “I know mate,” sighed Beth. “The wound’s not too deep though, the bullet only nicked him, thanks to Shane.”

  Cathy grasped Shane’s hand. “Thank you for saving him.”

  Shane nodded in response. It looked like Jez would survive, thank God but as for Jules and Mikey, who knew? If they died and Jez was laid up in hospital they could all be well and truly fucked.

  CHAPTER 25

  The police were the first to arrive, the armed response unit leading the way. Seeing the danger had passed they waved the bomb squad through who would only allow the ambulances in once they’d ascertained that the second bomb was entirely defunct. Ryan was heartened when DCI Taylor appeared leading the cavalry. He was in Mikey and Jez’s pocket.

  Rachel sat by Mikey, watching over him as the paramedics tended to his wounds, stemming the bleeding at the back before turning him onto his side. As with Jules, the bullets were still inside his body. After he was turned onto his side he went into shock, body jumping and jerking. Jules, still lying beside him released an anguished cry, reaching out for him. The sight of her wedding band glinting in the light brought a lump to Ryan’s throat.

  “It’s okay, they’ll help him,” he said in what felt like a feeble attempt to console her.

  “What in the name of holy hell happened here?” said Taylor, hands on hips and expression grim. “It’s carnage.”

  “Bombs were planted around the barn,” said Ryan, keeping his gaze on his sister as he spoke. “Snipers were waiting for us after we escaped.”

  “How the hell did you escape that?” said Taylor, staring incredulously at the collapsed barn, which the fire brigade were tentatively starting to explore.

  “Not all of us did,” said Ryan sadly.

  “Who?” demanded Riley, looking around, attempting to ascertain who was present.

  Ryan sighed, the melancholy pressing down on him. “Battler. He stayed behind so Rachel and I could get out.”

  “Oh hell,” said Riley.

  “Not Battler?” said a small voice.

  Ryan cringed. He hadn’t realised Leah was so c
lose, he’d thought she was still down the embankment with Alfie. “I’m sorry sweetheart,” he said softly. “He’s gone.”

  “But he could still be alive in there,” she said, starting to cry. She’d loved Battler as much as her mother had.

  When Ryan shook his head she cried harder. Jacob stepped up and pulled her to him, Leah clinging onto him, sobbing.

  “Anyone else?” said Taylor.

  “Grant,” said Ryan.

  “He’s around the back,” added Jacob.

  “Who did it?” said Taylor.

  Ryan shrugged. “No idea. They wore masks.” Taylor’s sceptical look said he didn’t believe him for a moment but they were going to have to kill Katia and Hayden for this, so telling the police they were responsible wouldn’t be very smart.

  Jules murmured her husband’s name as her wound was dressed and she too was placed on a stretcher.

  They were placed in separate ambulances, a grumbling Mark forced to go into the ambulance with Jules, the paramedics insisting his arm wound needed tending to. Riley was sat in the back of the third ambulance, waiting while Jez was loaded onto a stretcher.

  “We need help,” Ryan told Rachel, Bruiser and Shane. “We’re the only able-bodied ones left and they won’t stop. On the contrary, they’ll be even more desperate.”

  Shane was incredibly grateful Ryan and Rachel were here. If they weren’t the weight of responsibility would be on his shoulders and he was painfully aware he wasn’t ready for that yet. “Dane Black?”

  “Just what I was thinking,” said Ryan, taking out his phone, sighing when there was no signal. “The signal jammer must still be active.”

  “The police won’t let us wander off to make a phone call.”

  “Leave it to me.”

  Ryan jogged over to Riley and pressed the phone into his hand. “Dane Black. We need help.”

  Riley nodded in understanding and pocketed the phone before anyone saw.

  “How is he?” Ryan asked the paramedics as Jez was placed in the ambulance, out cold.