Carnage

by Heather Atkinson

  Riley glanced at Ashley, wondering if he was going to question her about that statement but it didn’t appear as though he was even listening. Or he was just trying to be tactful.

  Leah glanced at the clock. “Gran and Granddad will be back soon. They’ll go mental if they find the place like this.”

  “Then let’s get it tidied up,” said Michelle. “Quickly.”

  Ashley nodded. “I’ll get off then. You obviously don’t need me.”

  “I’ll see you out,” said Riley, following him to the front door. “I have to ask,” he said, stopping him before he could step through it. “How can you be so relaxed about all this?”

  “Because this way I’m much happier. Ignorance is bliss and all that.”

  “Not so long ago you would have insisted those men be arrested and processed through the justice system.”

  “I found out the justice system is just a sham, a pathetic crumbling machine limping along, letting everyone down, despite the best efforts of people like me and I’m sick of it. If you want to see real justice look at your brother and his wife.”

  With that he left, leaving an astonished Riley gazing after him.

  He shook himself out of it, closed and locked the door and hurried back to the kitchen to find Leah and Jacob on their hands and knees, mopping up the blood. He wasn’t sure whether to be proud of or sorry for his niece by how this task didn’t bother her.

  “We’re seriously letting this shower go?” Michelle asked Riley, gesturing down at the men.

  He nodded, handing the gun to Michelle to hold so he could untie them. Not wanting to admit she’d never handled one before she did her best to look confident with it in her hands.

  He freed the Liverpudlians first, the one who hadn’t been shot helping his injured friend to his feet, supporting his weight on one arm.

  “This is just a temporary reprieve,” said Riley when they stood there, smirking at him. “My brother will find you and when he does he won’t be aiming for your leg.”

  “Yeah, right,” said the one who hadn’t been shot, feeling more confident now. “They’re not going to leave Liverpool alive.”

  “Think so, do you?” said Michelle, shoving the gun into his crotch.

  “I could be wrong,” he squeaked.

  Keeping the gun trained on them Riley marched them through the house, out the door and down the drive, right to their car parked down the road.

  As they were opening up the car, Riley took the knife out of his pocket and slid it into the back of the man he’d shot, twisting it. The man gasped and his knees went out from under him, only his friend holding him preventing him from sliding to the ground.

  “You’re bleeding out,” said Riley. “But slowly. If you get medical attention within the next six hours you’ll be fine. Just a little insurance policy in case you decide to be stupid and make another try for those kids.”

  The injured man slumped into the back seat of the car, lying down flat while the other man slammed the door shut behind him, jumped in the driver’s seat and sped off. Riley hoped they didn’t get pulled over by the police.

  He returned to the house and looked down at Dominic and Duncan, who were still on the floor. They regarded him uncertainly as he stared down at them.

  Duncan released a gasp of fear when he knelt down beside him and drew the knife but he used it to cut his bonds.

  Duncan cast his sister a smirk as he sat up. The smirk fell when Riley pressed the knife to his throat.

  “I highly recommend you don’t come here again,” said Riley. “If you go within a mile of my niece and nephews I will slit you open from ear to ear.”

  “Fine,” he muttered. “We’ve already been paid a big chunk of cash anyway.” He glanced at Michelle. “And you’re not getting a penny of it.”

  “I don’t want your dirty blood money,” she said. “I’m earning plenty of my own now. And I’m moving out. I’ve rented a nicer place for me and the kids in a better neighbourhood away from you lousy shitbags.”

  “I don’t care what you do,” said Dominic. “But do you seriously think I’m going to let you take my kids from me?”

  “Since when do you care about them?”

  “You’re not having them,” he retorted.

  “Fine. Me and Jacob will move into the new house. You can cook and clean and run around after all the younger ones.”

  Dominic blanched at the prospect. “Alright, you can bloody take them. I’ll be free and single again.”

  “I’m sure the women of Devon will be queuing up at your front door,” said Leah, making Jacob snigger.

  “Don’t you ever shut that mouth of yours?” Duncan frowned at her. He squeaked when Riley pressed the knife against his left cheek.

  “Don’t ever speak to her again,” he said. “Don’t look at her, don’t go near her. Do you understand?”

  Duncan didn’t dare nod. “Yes.”

  “And just to ensure you don’t go causing Michelle and the children any problems either…”

  “What are you doing?” demanded Duncan when he pocketed the knife and took hold of his right forearm with both hands. There was a loud crack and Duncan screamed as his arm was broken. He threw up all over himself before passing out.

  “No, don’t. Please,” screamed Dominic, who was still trussed up, writhing about on the floor like a maggot.

  Another cracked filled the air. Dominic stared at his left foot in horror, which now lay at an odd angle. All the blood drained from his face and he passed out too.

  “That was fucking beautiful,” grinned Michelle. “They’ve had that coming for a long time.” She glanced at Jacob, afraid he would be upset but on the contrary, he was gazing at Leah, who was gazing right back at him, entwining their fingers together.

  “I’ll dump them at the hospital,” said Riley.

  “What if they go to the police?” said Jacob.

  “And tell them what? They were caught in the act of abducting three minors and got injured for their trouble?”

  “Suppose,” he mumbled.

  Michelle, Fletch and Leo helped load the two men into the back of Riley’s car. Fletch went with Riley while Michelle and Leo remained at the house tidying everything up. They finished two minutes before Rick and Gill returned, Leo quietly slipping out the back door to resume his vigil in the garden.

  “Did you have a good night?” Leah asked them breezily.

  “Yes dear, thank you,” smiled Gill. “And how have things been here?”

  “Oh, pretty quiet,” she replied.

  “Good. Well, I’ll make a cuppa, shall I?”

  “I’ll help you,” said Rick, Leah grimacing when he patted his wife’s bottom. They always got a bit frisky when they’d been on the wine.

  As her grandparents disappeared into the kitchen, Leah and Jacob looked at each other and grinned.

  CHAPTER 43

  It had been a cramped night in the house with Ryan, Rachel, Jez, Bruiser, Mark and Shane plus Raven and Damon. The arrival of two more meant some of them had to share a room.

  Rachel and Ryan, together in the master bedroom, woke wrapped around one another. When they opened their eyes they smiled at each other and kissed.

  Mark woke to find Shane wrapped around him in the double bed in the second bedroom. He said ‘urgh’ and kicked him off.

  Jez tossed and turned, tormented by dreams where Cathy was calling for him but he couldn’t find her, yanking open every door down a seemingly endless corridor. He found her in the final room, lying dead, shot in the chest. He jumped awake with horror.

  Bruiser didn’t sleep at all. He spent the night lying on his back in the bed in the small box room, staring up at the ceiling, preparing himself for what was to come, imagining the vengeance he was going to take on those responsible for the death of his brother. On the surface he was calm, the only movement the rise and fall of his large chest.

  As soon as the sun came up he rose and dressed, feeling absolutely no fatigue. He required
very little sleep and was pumped up on adrenaline. Today he was determined to do his brother proud.

  Bruiser walked into the kitchen, surprised to find Rachel and Ryan already up. Rachel left the bacon sizzling in the pan to hug him. He hung onto her, pleased that they would get revenge for Battler together. She was as much of a daughter to him as she had been to Battler. It was only right they went into battle together.

  Raven was up next, calm and composed, accepting the coffee Ryan handed her with a polite ‘thank you’.

  “How did you sleep?” Rachel asked her.

  “Good,” she replied. “Once Damon got it in his head that he wasn’t getting into my bed.”

  Rachel’s eyebrows went up. “Isn’t he your brother?”

  “Adopted brother. We’re not related by blood.”

  “And I’m an eternal optimist,” said Damon himself, walking into the room, hair damp after his shower. “One day you’ll give into me Raven.”

  “Doubtful,” she said before taking a swig of coffee.

  Jez shambled into the room, pale and washed out, eyes red.

  “Jesus, you look like crap,” said Ryan.

  “Yeah, cheers bruv,” he muttered, sinking into a chair at the table.

  Ryan plonked his coffee before him. “Drink.”

  Jez ground the heels of his palms against his eyes before picking up the mug and taking a swig. “Urgh, that’s too strong.”

  “You need it. Drink.”

  Jez sighed and stared into the thick dark liquid miserably.

  Mark was up next and Shane last, who was rubbing his right arm.

  “What happened to you?” said Ryan.

  “Mark kicked me out of bed.”

  Ryan wished his sister was here. He could almost hear her reply to that comment.

  “You were molesting me,” retorted Mark.

  “I wasn’t, I only hugged you.”

  Damon’s deep chuckle filled the room.

  “In my sleep I mean,” he exclaimed. “I thought I was in bed with Jenna, my girlfriend.”

  “Because we look so alike,” said Mark wryly.

  “No you bloody don’t. She doesn’t snore and fart.”

  “I bet she does. Women like to pretend they don’t but they all do.”

  “Maybe the munters you shag,” muttered Shane.

  Everyone enjoyed listening to their light-hearted banter, it relaxed them, preparing them for the day ahead, which was going to be intense, to say the least.

  Rachel piled Bruiser’s plate high with food and refilled his mug with strong, bitter coffee, just the way he liked it.

  “He’s got more than me,” frowned Damon, looking from his own overpopulated plate then back to Bruiser’s.

  “You’ve got the same,” said Raven.

  “He’s got three slices of bacon. I’ve only got two.”

  “Here, have mine,” said Jez, dumping one of his own rashers on Damon’s plate.

  “Cheers,” he grinned, looking happier.

  “Just eat and keep your mouth out of trouble,” Raven told her brother, who joined Rachel and Ryan in eating low fat cereal while the rest tucked into the greasy food.

  “So,” began Ryan. “Everyone understands the plan?”

  They all nodded.

  “Then once we’ve finished eating, let’s begin.”

  They all looked at each other, every pair of eyes shining brightly with the anticipation of battle.

  Raven stalked into the office block owned by Andrew Clayton, her dark hair hidden by the blond wig she often used for undercover work, which changed her appearance entirely. Not that she thought Clayton would be looking for her, he was going to be keeping an eye out for Mancunians.

  “Can I help you?” smiled the receptionist.

  “I’m looking for Red House Publishing,” she replied, glancing at the name badge pinned to the woman’s shirt.

  “Fourth floor,” she smiled.

  “Thank you.”

  As Raven headed towards the lift she took out her phone and dialled. “Janine,” was all she said

  “Is she pretty?” replied Damon.

  “Yes.”

  “Good,” he said before hanging up.

  She meandered about the lifts, just out of sight of the reception desk, waiting for Damon to make his grand entrance. It didn’t take long. He rushed through the main doors clutching an enormous bouquet of flowers. She had to admit he looked good, dressed in one of Ryan Law’s expensive designer suits, the shirt a crisp white, jacket and trousers dark blue, his thick red hair for once tamed with gel. He raced towards the reception desk, everyone leaping out of his way.

  “Janine,” he cried, practically hanging over the desk. “Thank God. I’ve missed you so much.”

  The receptionist gaped at him before glancing at her colleague, who appeared amused.

  “Err, do I know you Sir?” she said.

  “Know you? How can you even ask that after the incredible night we spent together?”

  Janine turned bright red. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You’re playing coy, I like that,” he said with his devastating smile. “But there’s no need, I enjoyed it as much as you did and I’d like more. A lot more,” he added, dropping his voice into a deep husky caress.

  Janine blushed again but with another emotion.

  “These are for you,” he said, thrusting the bouquet at her. “For the most beautiful, passionate woman in the world.”

  “Err, thanks,” she said, accepting them. “They’re very nice but you’ve made a mistake. We’ve never met.”

  “Never met?” he cried, raking his fingers through his neat hair, dishevelling it. “You’re ashamed of me?”

  “No, not ashamed,” she stammered, looking to her colleague for help, who was trying not to laugh. “I just don’t remember you.”

  “How can you not remember the earth moving? That’s the term you used if I remember correctly, along with stallion.”

  “Stallion?” she said, eyebrows shooting up while her colleague, unable to resist any longer, burst out laughing.

  Raven however wasn’t paying much attention to her brother’s theatrics, she was watching Andrew Clayton who had come through the main door with two of his bodyguards and was watching the dramatic scene at the reception desk with an amused smile, as was everyone else in the lobby. It seemed their distraction was working. He was off his guard.

  “He’s here,” said Raven into the microphone hidden in her clothes.

  “Nice one,” replied Mark’s voice through the microphone in her ear. “We’re in position.”

  Clayton was making his way towards the lift, so Raven pushed the button to call it. Damon’s voice was still audible as he continued to shower the unsuspecting Janine with declarations of love and devotion. She sensed Clayton and his men standing behind her, waiting for the lift and she forced herself not to turn around.

  The lift doors pinged open and she stepped inside. It was quite a roomy lift but the three men were so large she was forced to stand at the back.

  “Which floor?” Clayton asked her.

  “Fifth please,” she replied with a sweet smile. Despite what she’d told the receptionist she wasn’t going to Red House Publishing. She was heading to the vacant offices on the fifth floor.

  His responding smile was flirtatious as he pressed the button for the fifth floor followed by the sixth, which was for his own offices. Raven held his gaze, twirling the blond strands of the wig around her finger. As the lift began its ascent he turned to face her, his bodyguards facing the doors.

  “So, what’s your name?” he began.

  “Giselle,” she replied with a coquettish giggle.

  “Beautiful name. Do you have a French heritage?”

  “My mother’s French. What’s your name?”

  “Andrew.”

  “Andrew,” she purred. “Sexy.”

  He leaned into her, planting one hand on the lift wall behind her head. “I
like to think so,” he smiled.

  “You’ve been a very naughty boy Andrew,” she said.

  His grin dropped. “Excuse me?”

  Raven headbutted him and down he went. She pulled a small device out of her coat pocket and closed her eyes as it hit the floor, unleashing a blinding white flash that caused the bodyguards to cry out, their hands clamped to their eyes.

  Raven drew a cosh and whacked them around the backs of their heads in quick succession, silencing their cries and they landed in a heap on their boss.

  The lift arrived at the fifth floor, doors opening with a polite ping to reveal Bruiser, Mark and Shane waiting, dressed up like maintenance men. Beside them was a large trolley draped with a sheet.

  “Bloody hell Raven,” grinned Shane when he saw the pile of unconscious men. “Good work.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, stepping out of the lift.

  Clayton was hauled out of the lift first, hog tied, tape slapped over his mouth before being manoeuvred onto the trolley, the sheet pulled back down to hide his form. The two goons were dragged out next, similarly hog tied and hauled into a vacant office, Bruiser giving them an injection to keep them asleep for a good few hours before locking them in. This floor was unoccupied, having been rented by an estate agency that recently went bust, so no one would stumble across them.

  Mark pushed the trolley towards the service elevator, the rest of them following.

  They took the lift straight to the basement, Shane poking his head out, looking up and down the corridor.

  “All clear,” he said.

  As they headed towards the exit they became conscious of voices echoing through the corridor behind them. As yet whoever it was wasn’t visible but soon they would be.

  “I’ll stall them,” said Raven. “You lot go.”

  They nodded, Mark propelling the trolley towards the door, which was held open by Shane. A large white transit van was waiting for them in the alley behind the building.

  Ryan and Jez got out and opened up the back doors. Both Clayton and the trolley were loaded in.

  “Where’s Raven?” said Ryan.

  “Someone was coming so she said she’d delay them,” replied Shane.