“Hi. What can I do for you?”
“You can text me the address of Ryan and Rachel’s house.”
Amber didn’t ask why. She could pretty much guess. “Is that it?”
“Yes, unless you’ve heard anything about Ryan, Rachel and Jez?”
“No, sorry. They keep us little women out of the loop.”
“I’m not surprised to hear this, they are very arrogant. You haven’t told them anything?”
The danger was back in Katia’s voice, making her heart pound with fear. “No, course not. Jesus, they’d kill me.”
“Excellent,” she purred. “Keep up the good work just a little longer. There will be a big reward in it for you.”
“Please hurry,” she said. “I’m so scared.”
But Katia had already hung up.
Amber remained outside a few minutes longer while she calmed down. When her heart rate had returned to normal she reluctantly wandered back into the house. It was a beautiful farmhouse but it was starting to feel like a prison.
Raven and Damon were greeted warmly by the rest of the Maguire-Law clan on their arrival in Liverpool.
“Jules told us what you did for her and Mikey,” said Jez. “Thank you, from us all.”
Raven nodded once, expression serious while Damon basked in the gratitude.
“You’re welcome,” he beamed. His eyes settled on Rachel with interest. “Hello,” he purred. “And who might you be?”
“My wife,” retorted Ryan, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“What a waste,” he grinned.
“I can’t believe Taylor,” said Jez. “That bastard has been on our payroll for years. He’s helped us out of a lot of tight spots.”
Ryan was very disappointed. He’d rather liked Taylor. “Well, he can’t cause us any more trouble.”
“So, have you got a plan?” said Raven, neatly turning the conversation back to business.
“Yes,” said Jez. “And you two are pivotal to it. Does Clayton know what you look like Raven?”
“No. I did some work for his predecessor but I’ve never met Clayton.”
“And does this work mean you have any loyalty to Clayton?” said Ryan.
“No. It was just another job. Apart from my own family the only person I have any loyalty to is Jules. That’s why I’m here.”
“And we appreciate that,” said Rachel, not forgetting how she’d helped get her daughter back when she’d been kidnapped.
“Clayton doesn’t know what Damon looks like either,” added Raven.
Ryan looked to Damon. “Can you act?”
Damon’s grin split his face.
Leah was on her bed wrapped in Jacob’s arms, the two of them frantically kissing, taking advantage of the fact that her grandparents had gone out for the evening with friends. Gill’s dramatics had been getting on all their nerves, so Rick had thought it prudent to get her out of the house for a bit. Michelle had come round to sit with them. Leah’s grandparents wouldn’t have allowed them to be alone together in her bedroom but Michelle didn’t see a problem with it, they were both over sixteen. So she was downstairs in the lounge watching a film with the boys.
Leah had never experienced anything as amazing as this. She’d fooled around with boys before. Sometimes it had felt nice but most of the time it had been awkward, uncomfortable pawing. Jacob however was working her up into a frenzy she hadn’t thought possible. His hand had slipped under her t-shirt, sliding inside her bra, gently stroking her breasts, lips sliding down her neck.
“Oh God,” she breathed.
“Is that nice?” he whispered in her ear, teasing the lobe with his lips.
“Yes, very.”
“How about now?” he said, his hand moving to her crotch, remaining outside her jeans but applying gentle pressure.
“Yes,” she moaned before pulling his face down to hers for a kiss. He was obviously much more experienced than she was but this didn’t intimidate her, on the contrary it excited her.
He lay her back on the bed, gazing down at her, thinking he’d never seen anyone so beautiful in his life. Her eyes slipped down to his crotch, widening at the bulge. He rolled up her t-shirt, careful to keep it under her bra, not wanting to rush her. He had far too much respect for her to ever do that. No way was he doing something stupid and ruining this relationship.
She breathed his name as he kissed her stomach, sliding his hands under her buttocks. He looked up the length of her body to her for permission to push her t-shirt higher and she gave her assent with a nod of the head. Her eyes sparkled with arousal, burning like jewels in the gathering gloom. Only a single lamp was on in the room, casting a warm orange glow across her smooth skin.
She raised her arms so he could pull the t-shirt off over her head and she gazed up at him steadily as he stroked the soft flesh protruding from the top of the bra. He lowered his head to kiss her breasts and, unable to help himself, he ground himself against her. Leah released a small gasp, biting her lip as he did it again then again. Her heart beat so fast she went dizzy, her body filled with an overwhelming ache it had never felt before. She wanted him so badly but she didn’t know if it was right that she gave him her virginity so soon.
“I get it now,” she breathed as he kissed her neck.
He lifted his head to frown down at her. “Get what?”
“My mum and dad.”
“Seriously, you want to talk about your parents now?”
“If you’d let me finish,” she smiled. “They’re all over each other all the time and I never understood why. All my experiences with men before had been so crap, I thought it must be horrible for them.” She cradled his face in her hands. “But now I get it. I really do.”
He beamed down at her, his gaze for once soft and gentle.
She opened her mouth to say the words she’d been building up the courage to say but before she had the chance they were distracted by a noise from outside.
“What was that?” said Leah, going rigid.
“Sounded like a shout.”
“A shout?”
He nodded. “A man’s shout.”
“It could be Fletch or Leo?”
“Why would they shout, unless they’ve found something?”
They leapt up to peer out of the window but could see nothing in the gloom.
“We’d better tell your mum,” said Leah.
“I think you’re right.”
They adjusted their clothing, both thinking the interruption couldn’t have come at a more inconvenient time.
Together they hurried downstairs, Leah gasping when she saw a shadow outside the kitchen window. They pressed themselves back against the wall.
“Careful,” said Jacob when Leah peered around the corner.
“Whoever it is, they’re too thin to be Fletch or Leo.”
“Come on,” he said, taking her hand and leading her away from the kitchen.
“Mum,” said Jacob as they burst into the lounge. “There’s someone at the kitchen window and it’s not Fletch or Leo.”
Michelle switched off the television and got to her feet, the boys joining them in a huddle in the middle of the room. She tried calling both men on her phone but neither answered.
“Something must have happened to them,” said Leah. “They always answer their phones.” She hoped they were okay, she couldn’t stand to lose anyone else after losing Battler.
Michelle called Riley next. Jacob was so grateful for the way she just got on with things rather than questioning what they’d seen or making out it was just their imaginations. Stupid delays like that got people killed.
“We think someone’s here,” Michelle said into the phone. “Fletch and Leo aren’t answering their phones.”
They all gasped when the lights went out.
“And somebody just cut the power,” she added. She nodded before hanging up. “He’s on his way.”
“What do we do?” said Jacob.
Michelle put a finger to her
lips and nodded at the window where a shadow lurked. They glimpsed a pair of eyes peering in at them, which vanished.
“Definitely not Fletch or Leo,” said Michelle. “Move, now.”
“Where to?” said Jacob.
“The panic room.”
“What panic room?” said Leah.
“Yours.”
“We have a panic room? Why don’t I know about it?”
“The doorway is hidden in the cellar. Your parents didn’t tell you because they didn’t want to freak you out but they thought it wise after all the, err, adventures your family’s had. Now no more questions,” said Michelle, drawing a taser. “Move.”
“Where did you get that from?” gasped Jacob.
“Battler trained me to use one,” she said sadly. “I’m licensed to carry it so don’t worry. Now go.”
She ushered them out of the room, Leah leading the way back towards the kitchen, coming to a halt when the back door slowly swung open to reveal a large, hulking shadow.
“Fletch?” said Leah hopefully.
The shadow shook its head.
“Run,” yelled Michelle.
CHAPTER 41
Leah raced through the kitchen and down the hall, past the utility room, the others following. Michelle turned and fired the taser, the electrodes flying through the air and latching onto the intruder’s clothing. He shuddered and shook before dropping to the floor. She continued running, still gripping the taser. The electrodes might have been discharged but this weapon had stun-gun electrodes, so it could still be used, just not at a distance.
The children had disappeared from view but she could hear them running up ahead. A fist shot out from behind a doorway and slammed into her face, knocking her flat on her back. It was then she was grateful for Rachel’s recent tuition because it forced her to fight off the encroaching darkness. She blinked up at the tall figure peering down at her.
“Fuck me, it’s a woman,” he said in a thick Essex drawl.
“Fuck me, it’s a talking scrotum,” she retorted before attempting to jam the taser against his leg.
He leapt backwards and kicked out but she rolled and hopped to her feet, surprising him with her speed. The two circled each other, the man drawing a knife while Michelle clutched her taser.
“Think you’re hard enough, do you sweetheart?” he said.
“To take down a cowardly cock who goes after kiddies? Too right I am.”
They ran at each other, weapons raised.
“The cellar’s just down here,” called Leah, pelting down the corridor, Jacob gaping in wonder at a part of the house he hadn’t even known was here.
“Jesus, you actually have a pool,” he said, gaping at it through the large expanse of glass.
The door to the utility room flew open and they all staggered backwards when two large men ran through it. The boys tore through a side door that led back towards the lounge while Leah and Jacob were forced to run into the pool room.
“Boys,” she called to her brothers as they vanished into the darkness.
The two big men decided to follow them into the pool room. Leah raced to the door that opened out into the garden but it was locked.
“Is there another way out of here?” said Jacob, backing up away from the two men who were armed with knives.
“The sauna but that’s a dead end.”
“You have a sauna too?” he exclaimed.
“Focus, please.”
“Yeah, sorry,” he said, turning his attention back to the men.
“You should have stayed at home tonight,” she said. “Then you wouldn’t be in this mess now.”
“And right now you’d be facing that pair of dickheads on your own. So no, I’m glad I came.”
She smiled at him, taking his hand and giving it a grateful squeeze.
The men produced torches and shone them in their faces, blinding them.
“What have we got here?” said one of the men.
Jacob squinted into the light, holding up his hand against it. “Dad?”
A pause. “Jacob?”
The torches were lowered and Jacob was astonished to see the intruders were his own father and uncle. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I thought you were at home,” said Dominic. “In your room.”
“That’s because you don’t pay the slightest bit of attention to what I do,” he retorted. “Why are you here?”
“We’re being paid big money to take your girlfriend and her brat brothers,” said Dominic. “And when I say big money, I mean big money. A hundred grand.”
“Where are Fletch and Leo?” demanded Leah.
“Those two big handy buggers in the garden? Out cold. You should get better bodyguards.”
“So they’re not dead?”
“Nah, that’s not why we’re here. We’re just going to take you and your brothers somewhere safe for a while.”
“You mean to some scouse git and the Slovakian slapper.”
This comment threw them, they hadn’t expected her to know anything. “Just come along nice and quietly Leah and you won’t get hurt.”
“Fuck off you pair of wankers.”
Dominic and Duncan looked at each other and laughed.
“I can see why you like this one Jacob,” said Duncan. “Sassy. Very nice.”
“You’re not taking her,” said Jacob, taking Leah’s hand. “Those people will hurt her just to get to her parents.”
“No they won’t, they promised. Now come on Leah, be a good girl.”
Jacob planted himself before her when his dad attempted to take her by the arm. “No.”
“For fuck’s sake Jacob,” he sighed. “This is our family’s big chance. A hundred grand in our hands. We can only dream of cash like that. This could be the making of us. If we pull this off they’ll give us regular work.”
“That’s all you’ve ever cared about - money. You’re as bad as each other. I finally find someone who means something to me, who gets me, who I actually feel comfortable with and you want to kidnap her and hand her over to a bunch of psychos.”
“They’re not psychos,” said Dominic. “They’re just business people. Think of it as a transaction.”
“I can’t believe you. Leah and her brothers are people, not things.”
“Jesus, listen to you boy,” said Duncan. “You sound like a proper soft sack. What’s she done to you?”
“She’s made me realise that I’m not a worthless piece of scum like you two.”
“Oy,” frowned Dominic. “Don’t talk to your father like that.”
“When have you ever been a father? Since I was old enough to walk you got me involved in your dodgy crap. I even took the rap for Duncan more than once. I had to admit I attacked an eighty year old woman just so his sorry arse wouldn’t be thrown back in prison.”
“I knew you didn’t do those things,” Leah beamed at him.
He gave her a gentle smile before turning back to the two men. “I’m not letting you drag me down again. Just go home before you get yourselves into any more trouble.”
“Yeah, it’s nice that you’ve got yourself a little girlfriend,” sneered Dominic, brandishing the knife. “But this is too good an opportunity to turn down and you are not fucking this up for us.”
Jacob looked to his uncle. “You want to go back to prison? Because that’s what’s going to happen if you press ahead with this stupid idea.”
“Won’t happen,” he said with infuriating smugness. “Not with the new contacts we’ve got.”
“What contacts do you think that bunch of scouse dicks and the Slovakian slapper have down here?” said Leah. “None. She might be top bitch in Kent and parts of London but she’s nothing here.”
“They’ve played you,” said Jacob. “Got you to do their dirty work for them because they keep attacking Leah’s family and failing. If anything goes wrong you’re the ones up shit creek, not them and you fell for it.”
“They’ve already p
aid us fifty grand you stupid little twat,” Dominic hissed at him. “Another fifty when we deliver the goods, plus a bonus if we snag all three.”
“Mum’s here you know,” he retorted. “She’s going to pound your arses into the dirt for this.”
“Do you think we’re scared of that fucking munter?” said Dominic.
“Yeah,” he grinned. “I do.”
“Well she’s being kept too busy to interfere.”
Jacob’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean by that?”
“We didn’t come alone. We have some scouse help.”
“Mum,” cried Jacob, panicking.
“With a bit of luck,” said Dominic, brandishing the blade. “She won’t be able to hear you.”
“She’s your wife and your sister,” he said, gesturing at Duncan.
“Half sister,” he replied. “And we’re sick of her ruling the roost, always putting us down and thinking she can tell us what to do. Well no more. We’re taking matters into our own hands.”
Leah was only half-concentrating on their conversation. She was worried sick about her brothers and Michelle, Fletch and Leo. “Oh I’ve had enough of this,” she said before slamming her fist into the side of the unsuspecting Duncan’s face.
Duncan was knocked backwards, astonishment written all over his face, amazed by the speed and strength with which she’d hit him.
“Come on,” said Leah, grabbing Jacob’s hand and pulling him towards the door leading deeper into the house.
“Oh no you don’t,” said Dominic, making chase, Duncan stumbling after him, one hand to his bruised face.
Dominic, seeing that huge amount of cash slipping away from him leapt at his son, grabbed the back of his t-shirt and hurled him into the deep end of the pool.
“Jacob,” cried Leah when she saw him struggling to tread water.
“Did he tell you he can’t swim?” said Dominic with an infuriating smirk.
“You bastard, you’d risk killing your own son for cash?”
He shrugged. “I’ve got six more kids.”
“Run Leah,” gasped Jacob, struggling to doggy paddle his way to the side of the pool and failing, his head disappearing beneath the surface.
“Shit,” said Leah before executing an elegant dive into the water .
Carnage Page 36
