A Family Divided (Dividing Line #3)

by Heather Atkinson

  “That’s not fair. I was a different person then. I’ve put all that behind me, as have you. I agreed to this because I know you need it. That’s the only reason.”

  “So you’re not behind me?” he frowned, straightening up and releasing her.

  “I’m always behind you Ryan but you can’t go around beating up innocent people.”

  “I never had you down as a hypocrite Rachel. I watched you torture Fedir Lutsky, you ordered him to be water boarded and his right hand cut off even though you knew he had nothing to do with Danny’s death.”

  “You did that Ryan.”

  “For you, on your say so, because I loved you even then. Can’t you allow me this because you love me? Or is it because I’m not Danny?”

  “Will you stop talking about Danny, this is nothing to do with him. This is about us. Thomas was ours.”

  “Yet still he doesn’t deserve the same retribution as Danny Maguire.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, that’s not it at all. I don’t have the stomach for all this violence anymore Ryan. I was terrified going into that meeting with Jan Jordan. It was only because I had Battler and Bruiser with me that I got through it. So no, it’s not because I think Thomas doesn’t deserve the same, it’s because I’m scared of being pulled back into a world I despise and of having my family ripped apart.”

  Ryan appeared chastened. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re my whole world Ryan, you and our children. I’ve already lost Thomas and I’m not going to lose you too.”

  He pressed his forehead to hers and took her face in his hands. “You’re my world too but I have to find who did this, I have to,” he said firmly.

  “I know Babe.”

  He kissed her. “Let’s go back to bed.”

  He helped her up the stairs and they curled up in bed together. Soon Rachel was sleeping soundly in his arms but Ryan lay awake, unable to rest, the desire for revenge consuming him.

  Katia was doing her best to find herself duties that would keep her in the kitchen next to the room in which Alex Maguire was in conference. He was coming here a lot more lately to hold his meetings and it amazed her how Patti had the front to be so calm and pleasant to his face when she was robbing him blind, bringing in punters during the day and pocketing the cash. Neither were they the rich, connected clients Alex wanted but lowlife scum. Katia was glad she was Patti’s number two because it meant she didn’t have to go near any of those men, who were ugly and smelly. Patti only put them with the worst of the girls, the most drug-addicted who were losing their looks. Katia hadn’t succumbed to the heroin like some of the other girls, she didn’t need drugs, she was too strong. She had far greater ambition than dying with a needle in her arm or being beaten to death.

  She’d taken drinks into the men in conference, which wasn’t difficult. One bottle of scotch and four glasses and Alex had looked up at her and smiled, he’d been noticing her a lot more lately and often spoke to her to ask about the club. Now she busied herself with tidying up and cleaning the work surfaces. It was important to Alex that the entire place was spick and span.

  From next door she heard the scrape of chairs as they all got to their feet, the door opening and the sound of laughing and joking. She pretended not to notice, continuing with her chores.

  “Cleaning again Katia?” said a deep voice that caused her heart to pound.

  She turned to see Alex standing in the doorway, filling it up. She gave him her vacant smile and nodded.

  “You can drop the act. I know you can speak English.”

  She didn’t even flinch. “How did you know?”

  He entered the room and closed the door behind him, strolling up to her, taking his time. Excitement and a little fear filled her. She was in no doubt as to how dangerous he was.

  “I’ve seen you lurking about, listening in,” he said. “You might fool Patti, but you don’t fool me.”

  He walked right up to her but she refused to back away, staring into his face fearlessly. She was so tall she could look directly into his eyes without tilting her head.

  “You’re strong, I like that,” he continued. “It’ll serve you well here. Patti says she couldn’t manage without you. What brings you to Manchester Katia? Clearly you’re very intelligent.”

  “I was training to be a doctor but I had to stop.”

  “Why?”

  Pain briefly filled her blue eyes before she pushed it away. “Both my parents died. I have a little sister to support. She is training to be a doctor instead of me so I came here to earn money.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. How would you like a big bundle of money to send back to her?”

  “I would like that very much. What must I do?” she said, hoping he’d say what she wanted him to say.

  “You can drop the smile, not that. I don’t need to pay for sex. I know Patti’s stealing from me. You’re smart, you speak English when she thinks you can’t. I want you to find out how she’s doing it.”

  Katia bit her lip uncertainly and rather sensuously. If she gave Patti up too easily he wouldn’t trust her, he’d think she had no loyalty. “I don’t know, Patti has been very good to me.”

  “I understand and I admire your loyalty but she’s ruining this for all of us, you and your friends included. Tell me who she’s sneaking in and when and you’ll take her place.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Deadly.”

  “But I like Patti, she’s given me everything.”

  “Correction, I’ve given you everything and I want to give you even more.” He took a step closer and stared deep into her eyes. “Do this for me Katia and I’ll set you up for life.”

  His face was so close she could have kissed him and the temptation was strong. “I will help you because you have been good to me too.”

  “Thank you Katia,” he said softly, the sound of her name on his lips sending arousal shooting through her body. Usually she was the one who worked her magic on men, not the other way around.

  Alex saw her nipples pushing proudly against the thin material of her t-shirt and smiled. He leaned even closer to whisper in her ear. “There’s so much I want to give you.” His thumb brushed her left nipple and she physically jumped, a gasp falling from her lips. Alex pulled away and smiled. “Call me when you find out.”

  With that he left her to stare after him, her eyes wide and panties soaking wet.

  Alex’s erection refused to go away and was only starting to wilt when he pulled up his drive. That moment with Katia in the kitchen had been seriously exciting. Things with Beth had got stale, there were no surprises left, no excitement, just rows. He sat in the car and stared up at the house while he waited for his erection to go away, knowing he’d be going inside to more grief. When he saw Beth peering out of the window he knew he’d run out of time.

  Walking inside he was glad to see Henrieta had gone, the skinny fucking scarecrow. He only agreed to let her stay on in case Rachel remembered their row and tried to stir things up, but it seemed that wasn’t going to happen. Give Henrieta her due, the house was cleaner, tidier and Beth a lot calmer.

  “Alright lads?” he grinned when his boys rushed up to him.

  “I’ve got footie tomorrow. Are you coming to watch?” Alfie asked him.

  “What time?”

  “Half ten.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Beth appeared cradling Holly to her. “Go and finish your homework Alfie. I need to talk to your dad. Take your brother with you.”

  As Alfie led Archie away by the hand, Alex rolled his eyes, knowing what was coming.

  “Are you in for the night?” she asked him.

  “No, I’ve got a meeting after tea.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “Don’t know yet,” he shrugged.

  “I thought we could spend the evening together, your mum’s having the kids for the night.”

  “Like I said, I’ve got a meeting.”

  “Please Alex, I
hardly see you anymore.” She moved Holly onto one shoulder and reached out to take his hand. “I’m worried I’m losing you.”

  “Look, I’m a bit busy at the moment, I’ve got a lot on.”

  Beth took a deep breath, determined to keep her temper. “I understand that but surely you can spare me just a couple of hours of your time?”

  She’d made an effort with her appearance, straightened her blond hair, which was shiny and glossy and put on make-up. She even wore a dress. She looked so pretty he softened to her slightly. “Alright, I can be back by eight. Would that be okay?”

  She went up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Yes it would. Your tea’s ready if you are?”

  “I am.”

  The grin he gave her reminded her of the Alex she fell in love with and she smiled back. “Take a seat, I’ll get it out the oven.”

  Alex ate quickly and went out again. Beth took the kids to Martina’s then returned home to anxiously await him, touching up her make-up, enjoying a large glass of white wine to steady her nerves. She had no idea which way this would go, she half-expected him not to return at all, but he did, right on eight o’clock.

  “Drink?” she said, the moment he entered the room.

  But he didn’t reply. Instead he swept her into a kiss and pushed her back onto the couch. Beth was astounded by his passion, he hadn’t touched her like this in ages and she welcomed it. What she didn’t know was that the entire time he was inside her he was thinking of a tall blond prostitute with keen blue eyes.

  Beth woke the next morning with a sense of harmony. Alex had stayed with her the whole night and they’d made love three times. He was still there when she went downstairs for breakfast, reading the newspaper. She sighed when his mobile phone rang, it was a constant in their lives.

  “What? I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he said before hanging up. He got to his feet. “Sorry Babe, I’ve got to go. Some business.”

  “But you promised Alfie you’d watch his football match.”

  “Shit.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s only half eight. I can go and get back in time. Is it at the school?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll be there, promise but I have to leave now.”

  “Can’t it wait till after? It’s only a couple of hours,” she said, knowing that if he left now there was a good chance he wouldn’t be back at all.

  “No it can’t, it’s urgent. Bye Babe,” he said, planting a kiss on her lips before rushing out, not giving her time to object.

  Alex sped over to his gentleman’s club after collecting Col and entered via the back way, Katia opening the door to him. When he saw her he was drawn back into the fantasies that had filled his head, pretending it had been her lying under him instead of his wife, it was the only reason they’d done it three times last night. He was excited to the extreme not only by Katia’s presence but by what was to come.

  “Where is she?” he demanded.

  “She’s in her office but the man she brought in is in room three with Jovana. He is a disgusting smelly pig.”

  “How much is Patti charging him?”

  “Five hundred to be with Jovana.”

  “Five hundred? She brings in over a thousand. She’s going to ruin all the girls.”

  “I think he’s hurting her, I could hear her crying.”

  “Wait by Patti’s door. Don’t let her leave,” he told her before rushing inside and downstairs.

  Alex burst into room number three to find a pot bellied, unshaven middle aged man pinning Jovana face down to the floor and brutally raping her. Alex dragged him off and proceeded to beat seven bells out of him while Col picked the sobbing girl up off the floor, her thighs streaked with blood, skinny legs threatening to buckle. “He’s not touched her face,” he told Alex.

  “Course not because if he did I might find out.” Alex punched the fat man in the gut then rammed his head into the wall. “Take her back to the room and call the doctor.” Alex had a man who worked for him on the side, checking the girls regularly for STD’s and patching them up when required. “Then throw this piece of shit out,” he said, gesturing to the unconscious naked fat man on the floor. “I’m going to sort out Patti.”

  Alex went back upstairs to the first floor. Patti, ensconced in her office, hadn’t heard a thing.

  “Is she still in there?” he whispered to Katia.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Are you with me on this?”

  “Of course.”

  “It won’t be pleasant.”

  “I didn’t think it would be.”

  He smiled and touched her face. “Good girl. You go in first so she doesn’t realise anything is wrong.”

  Patti was sat in her flowery armchair with a cup of tea. “Hello Katia Love. You can take the tray, I’ve finished,” she said, waving to the empty plate. She didn’t so much as flinch when Alex entered behind her. “Alright Alex, what can I do for you?”

  “I think you know Patti,” he replied, closing the door.

  “No I don’t, unless you’re here for a bit of fun.”

  “Why did you do it Patti? I was making you a wealthy woman, but then again you always were a greedy bitch. No matter how much I gave you, it would never be enough.”

  “I’ve not a fucking clue what you’re talking about,” she said calmly, putting down her cup.

  “You’ve been sneaking men in here during the day to use the girls and pocketing the cash, cheap sleazy men who can’t pay the full whack.”

  “No I haven’t. It must have been her,” she said, gesturing to Katia.

  “You lying cow. It was all you,” yelled Katia and Patti appeared shocked by how clearly she spoke English.

  “Don’t make me laugh. Katia’s been in the country five minutes and that fat ugly bastard who was abusing Jovana downstairs is a mate of yours. You’ve been rumbled Patti. Don’t make it worse for yourself.”

  “Fine, it’s a fair cop,” she sighed, getting to her feet. “Out with it. What’s my punishment?”

  “I think you know,” he said coldly. “No one steals off me.”

  “Oh I see. You’re going to make me disappear, are you?” she chuckled. “Let’s get it over with then.”

  With staggering speed she drew a small knife from the sleeve of her dress and lashed out at Alex. He shoved Katia out of harm’s way, grabbed Patti’s wrist, twisted it and punched her hard in the face, knocking her out. Katia looked from Patti to him and back again in surprise.

  “I had no idea she carried a knife,” she breathed.

  “She has done since she was fifteen and started flogging her arse. Patti might look old and harmless but she’s a dangerous cow.”

  Col entered the room and groaned when he saw Patti spark out on the carpet. “Oh great, am I going to have to carry her out too?”

  “Afraid so Mate,” grinned Alex.

  He helped him get her to her feet, Col staggering beneath her weight as he hauled her to the door.

  “Wait here. I’ll be back soon,” Alex told Katia. Then he was gone.

  Triumphantly Katia took the chair recently vacated by Patti as though it were a throne. Never again would she have to make the tea.

  Alex returned to the club an hour later alone to find Katia tidying up Patti’s office. She didn’t hear him arrive and he leaned against the doorway to watch her, admiring her figure. Those fantasies came surging back and he wondered how real life would compare to his imagination.

  “You like tidying up, don’t you?” he said.

  She straightened up and smiled. “It helps clear my head.”

  “You can do what you want with this room now. It’s yours. From now on, you’re in charge here.”

  Katia was too smart to ask if Patti was coming back. Of course she wasn’t.

  “I hope you won’t make the same mistakes as your predecessor?”

  “No. You have given me everything. You have my loyalty.”

  “Good. That’s all I ask. Do your job, don’t take the
piss and you’ll be well rewarded. Come on, there’s something I want to show you.”

  She followed him upstairs, perplexed when he walked past Patti’s old bedroom, she’d assumed she’d be in there. Instead he took her to the room at the end, which she’d never been in before because it was always locked. He opened it with a key he took from his pocket to reveal a spacious elegant room with a bay window, white walls and luxurious furnishings. The dark wood floorboards were bare and beautifully finished.

  “This is yours now,” he said.

  “Mine, why?”

  “Because you deserve it. I didn’t want Patti in here because she’d have put up flowery wallpaper and ruined it but I think it will suit you. Look,” he said, opening the wardrobe to reveal a rack of expensive clothes. “They’re yours.”

  “They’re beautiful,” she breathed, astonished, letting her fingers trail over the silks and satins. There was even a cashmere scarf and everything was in her size. It seemed he’d been planning Patti’s downfall for a while, a lesson she would never forget.

  “You’re to wear these clothes at all times when you’re here. Throw away your old ones. You’ve got an image to project. The girls answer to you and you alone and if they step out of line you can discipline them any way you see fit. And you don’t sleep with the customers.” he said, taking a step towards her, his gaze intense.

  “I don’t?” she said, delighted. “Why is that?”

  “Because you’re above all that. No one else is to touch you.”

  “I don’t understand why,” she purred.

  “Because I said so. That’s all you need to know,” he said, all too aware of the large white bed behind him, welcoming, inviting.

  “Did you tell Patti the same thing?”

  “No because no one would want to touch her.”

  “Do you want to touch me?”

  “I’d be lying if I said no but I’m not going to.”

  She smiled confidently. “You will one day.”

  “I have very strong willpower, certainly strong enough to resist the delights you have to offer.”

  “How do you know, unless you’ve tasted them?”

  The word taste evoked a wild set of images in his mind, just as she’d intended. “I have to go, I’m late for my lad’s football match,” he said, taking a step back. “Do as I say and me and you will get along fine.”