If he’s surprised she’s sussed him out he doesn’t show it.
“We won’t let you,” continues Rachel. “The clubs are ours and you’re not getting your grubby hands on them.”
The smile leaves Terry's face and his expression becomes predatory.
“You forget who you're talking to. Perhaps you need a little reminder?”
Without another word Terry stalks out of the pub, shoving people out of his way as he goes.
“Well that went well,” mutters Mikey.
“I'm going to have a word with Alex,” says Rachel, scanning the room for her brother-in-law but he’s nowhere to be seen. Instead she spots a dejected Beth standing at the bar talking furiously with Martina. Rachel pushes her way over to them and doesn’t notice Mikey sneak out the back way, his face set.
“Where's Alex?” says Rachel but the words die on her lips as Beth looks at her with a tear-streaked face.
“I don't know,” she sighs, knocking back the last of her wine. “One minute he was joining in the celebrations the next he went all weird and quiet. He looked so angry he scared me.”
Rachel looks at Martina questioningly, who leans forward and whispers in her ear: “It was when Terry came in.”
“I’m so worried about him Rach,” continues Beth. “He’s not been himself lately, he’s so quiet and moody all the time. Something’s bothering him but he won’t tell me what it is. He won’t let me in.”
As Rachel processes this information Martina says, “Rachel, what the fuck is going on?”
“I have no idea.”
Billy Devlin is slumped on his couch in his flat drinking lager and watching TV. Although his eyes stare at the screen he is reliving his earlier encounter with Kelly. Just thinking about it fills him with excitement. However he is frustrated at having been thwarted before he'd had the chance to enjoy that ripe piece of fruit and he’s determined to go back for more.
A loud bang at the door interrupts his reverie and he frowns. He'd given his brother his own key but he keeps forgetting it.
“I'm gonna stick that key up your frigging arse Ron, that way you'll never be without it,” he calls as he hauls himself up off the couch, pleased with his joke.
The moment Billy opens the door he’s floored by a punch so powerful he sees stars. He lies on the floor groaning as Mikey Maguire slams the door shut behind him and locks it. Billy tries to grasp the knife he keeps hidden in his boot but Mikey kicks it out of his hand and lays into him with his fists, punching him until he goes still.
“So you like to rape women do you?” says Mikey, taking a length of lead piping out of his jacket. “I'm going make sure you never do that to anyone ever again.”
Mikey parts Billy's legs with his foot, carefully takes aim and brings the piping down as hard as he can on his genitals. Billy roars in agony and starts thrashing on the floor. Then the piping is brought down on his right knee. There’s a loud crack as his kneecap shatters then he passes out.
Ron Devlin misses Mikey by three minutes. He enters his little brother's flat to find him unconscious in a pool of blood and urine. As he waits for the ambulance to arrive he ponders who could have done this. Admittedly Billy has a big mouth and has pissed off quite a few people lately but the sheer violence of the attack indicates a Maguire as the culprit. He decides to speak to Terry about it. Ron wants retribution.
Mikey returns to the pub to find the festivities still in full swing. He glances at his watch and is pleased to note that he has been gone barely half an hour. He sneaks in through the back way and when he snakes his arm around Kim's trim waist and kisses her she smiles up at him happily. No one even seems to have realised he's been gone. If anything comes back on him then they will all swear he’d never left.
CHAPTER 29
Rachel takes a swig of brandy, closes her eyes and sinks into her office chair at Martina's Bar. She’s just managed to persuade the girls at the club to stay after many assurances that the Devlin Brothers will not be back, that Battler and Bruiser will always be close at hand and the buddy system she'd devised for break times will be enforced immediately. She takes another gulp of brandy and worries at how much she’s been drinking lately but it soothes her nerves, which are so taut she could tightrope across them.
Her nerves aren't helped when Terry bursts into her office, throwing the door open so hard it bounces off the filing cabinet behind it, rebounds and nearly hits him in the face.
“What the fuck did you do that for? I told you to leave it,” he thunders.
“Oh do come in,” she says coolly.
He slams the door shut behind him and kicks it a couple of times for good measure.
“Now you've made sure the door is closed would you care to tell me what you’re talking about?” she says with an arched eyebrow.
“Like you don't fucking know.”
She stares at him blankly. “I don't, really. Please enlighten me.”
She reclines in her chair cradling her glass, waiting for Terry to get his temper under sufficient control to talk.
“Billy Devlin had the living shit beaten out of him last night. He's in hospital, unconscious so I can't ask him who did it but whoever it was paid a lot of attention to his wedding tackle. His bollocks are the size of watermelons.”
Rachel sniggers.
“Which tells me that whoever did it was paying him back for attacking Kelly.”
Terry's annoyance increases when he sees Rachel is surprised by the news. She obviously knows nothing about it.
“I don't know why you're so upset. He deserved it.”
“His kneecap was smashed to bits, he'll be out of commission for months. I want to know who did it Rachel.”
“So would I so I can give them a large amount of cash.”
“Where's Mikey?”
“You think it was him?”
“Yes I fucking do. He was after blood last night and I think he went and got it.”
“Oh come on Terry, loads of people knew what Billy had done to Kelly. Everyone around here hates men like him and I've heard he's been winding up a lot of people lately. It could have been anyone so you can't go blaming Mikey with no proof.”
“What do you think I am, the plod? I don't need proof. If I think I'm right then I go after the bastard, simple as.”
But his rage is starting to leave him. He knows she’s right. Billy is a bit of a prat and has been mouthing off. Only his instincts are telling him Mikey is the culprit.
“Alright, I'll let it go, for now. But if I find out that Mikey had anything to do with it I’ll fucking kill him.”
Rachel shrugs her shoulders but says nothing. She knows Terry wouldn't stand a chance against Mikey. Had he bothered to turn up at the boxing match last night he would realise that himself.
The staff of Martina's Bar go about their duties more sedately than usual. Dolores is subdued, not bothering to chat to the customers as she usually would and the girls keep looking over their shoulders anxiously. Only the two boys who saved Kelly have any life about them. They are the heroes of the hour and are making the most of their moment of glory. Rachel has put a generous bonus in their pay packets this week as a thank you. Battler and Bruiser are patrolling the club, ensuring their presence is strongly felt. Even the customers seem to be behaving themselves more than usual.
Rachel is sat in the security office with Gary, watching the monitors with a frown. It is day four of Danny's ultimatum and she doesn't know what the hell the outcome is going to be. The weight of it all bears down on her and she suddenly feels very melancholy. She still misses her husband and longs to feel his arms around her, his lips on hers, his touch. She flushes at the thought. For a moment she allows herself to daydream about the times she and Danny spent together making love in their huge bed, the shower, the kitchen, the car, anywhere and everywhere they could without being seen and she smiles to herself. Then Ryan Law joins in her fantasy, sending a pulse of pleasure straight into the very centre of her. She pictures herself
alone and naked with the pair of them, wow, what an experience that would be; Ryan’s clever fingers and Danny’s probing tongue.
I’m evil, she thinks with a wicked smile.
She is snapped out of her reverie by Gary telling her that Mikey has appeared on one of the monitors. She hurries down to the main bar where she finds him being served a beer by Dolores.
“I want a word with you,” she frowns.
Without giving him the chance to reply, she grabs his arm and leads him into the cellar where it’s cool and quiet, the dull thud of the music barely audible.
“Hold out your hands,” she orders.
“What?”
“Just do it,” she snaps impatiently.
He does as he is bid and she scowls. His hands are swollen and bruised, a sure indication he’s had a fight.
“Where's this come from?” she demands indicating his injuries.
“You were there Rach, the boxing match, remember?”
She shakes her head. “Don't give me that shit Mikey, that wasn't there after the fight and you were wearing gloves. You didn't come out of the ring with that sort of damage. You beat up Billy Devlin, didn't you?”
He grins. “Guilty.”
“Don't fucking smile at me. I had Terry kicking my office door down earlier. He'd sussed out it was you, although I managed to put him off the scent.”
“So? I was only doing what he should have done,” he replies indignantly. “Billy deserved it, after what he did to Kelly.”
“Yes I know he did and I'm not objecting to what you've done. I just wished you'd told me, so I had some warning.”
He knows he's made an error and hangs his head. “Sorry Rach. I didn't want you worrying.”
He looks remorseful so her temper is appeased. “It's alright. I know you were just doing what you thought was right but we have to tread carefully, we're in a very precarious position. Try using a bit more subtlety next time.”
“Okay. Am I forgiven?”
He asks so sweetly she finds it impossible to refuse. “Course you are. Christ, the last thing we need is for us to fall out with each other.”
He hugs her back and she clings onto him for dear life. Only now does he realise how scared she is. She looks up at him with her large dark eyes.
“You know I've only got three days before I have to face Danny again?” she says.
He nods. “I can't imagine how hard this must be on you.”
“I can't think straight with everything going on around here. So I wanted to ask you a favour.”
“Anything Rach.”
“I need a couple of days away to get my head round it all and think what I’m going to do about Danny, so I wondered if you'd keep an eye on things for me?”
“No worries.”
“You sure? I hope you don't think I'm bailing out on you?”
“Course not Rach. I understand.”
“Dolores can keep the place ticking over, I just need you to make sure she's okay and Battler and Bruiser will help.”
He takes both her hands in his. “Don't worry. You go, I'll keep an eye out.”
“Thanks Mikey. I really appreciate this.”
“Where are you thinking of going?”
“The Lakes. Somewhere nice and peaceful where I can think clearly.”
“It’s a good idea, I think you could do with some R and R.”
“By the way,” she says as they walk back upstairs together. “You'll be pleased to know Billy's got testicles the size of watermelons.”
Mikey roars with laughter.
Rachel knows she’s being followed before she even leaves the city limits. As she joins the motorway she checks her rear-view mirror anxiously and there it is; a black BMW. She tries weaving in and out of the traffic in an attempt to lose it but it sticks to her like glue, careful to leave three cars between them. Part of her thinks she's being paranoid but she’s taking no chances. The large roundabout leading into the Lake District looms ahead. Taking a deep breath she joins the queue of traffic waiting to join it. The BMW does the same. She indicates left, as though heading towards the Lakes and she is satisfied to see the BMW do the same. When there is a gap in the traffic she puts her foot down and speeds off into the stream of cars, leaving the other car standing. At the last moment she indicates right and drives away from the Lake District Exit, heading north. After this she continually checks her mirror but the BMW is gone.
Three hours later Rachel pulls up outside The Willow Hotel on the outskirts of Glasgow. It’s large and elegant but the best thing about it is that it’s busy with lots of people coming and going so she can blend into the crowd. She walks into the marble reception, an enormous chandelier hanging over a fountain, and she finally relaxes.
As she checks in she’s irritated by the slowness of the receptionist, so anxious is she to reach the sanctuary of her room.
She takes the lift to the top floor to one of the executive suites, walks to the door at the end of the corridor and swipes the key card through the lock. She pushes the door open with a weary sigh, feeling as though she’s come to the end of a long journey.
The room is large and luxurious but she barely notices as she dumps her bags and coat on the floor.
There’s a knock at the door. Frowning, she opens it slowly.
“Danny,” she breathes.
She steps back as he pushes his way inside then slams the door shut and locks it. They stare at each other for a moment.
“Did they swallow it?” he says.
She nods, breaking into a grin.
He grins back and opens his arms to her and she runs to him. He embraces her tightly, burying his face in her hair.
“God I've missed you Rach,” he sighs.
“I've missed you too.”
He kisses her and she allows him to linger for a moment before pulling away. He tries to hide his disappointment but fails.
“Did you do as I said?”
“Yeah,” she replies. “They had me followed like you said so I took the second exit on the motorway. I lost them at the roundabout. Right now they think I'm in the Lakes. I'll be back before they find out any different.”
“I don't want you to go back. This game we're playing is so dangerous. What if it backfires?”
“We've come too far. We can't stop now.”
He nods and looks down at the floor.
“This was your dad's idea. It will work.”
He smiles. “Yeah I know.”
When Frank worked out that Terry was poisoning Danny with the cocaine he was giving him he realised Terry thought he wanted Danny to take over running things, not him. So Frank had arranged Danny’s ‘escape’ so he could get away to recover. His body had been damaged with what Terry had given him and he needed time in a safe place to get well again so he could come back and help his dad fight his uncle. Danny had spent those lost weeks in a secure rehab unit down south, run by an old friend of Frank’s. It was vital Rachel and Danny play the charade of becoming enemies to protect her. Frank hadn’t realised he’d inadvertently put her and Mikey in danger by giving them the clubs until it was too late. He’d heard on the grapevine that Terry wanted them for stashing weapons and peddling his drugs so Frank reasoned if Terry thought Rachel was against Danny it might encourage him to take her under his wing and use her as an ally rather than treat her as an enemy. But Frank hadn’t banked on dying so soon and she and Mikey had been left vulnerable. Rachel was the one who’d phoned Danny and broken the news to him that his dad was dead and he’d cut his rehab short and come home earlier than he’d intended, forced to accelerate his plans. They had no proof Terry had actually killed Frank, it was just gut instinct telling them so. Now they’re having to maintain the charade because if Terry learns she’s been in on it with Danny all this time he will kill her.
“And what about your Mum? She hasn't a clue what's going on. We can't abandon her,” says Rachel.
“I know but it's you I'm worried about.”
“Rel
ax, they don't suspect a thing. We've played our parts too well.”
Danny nods. He knows they have no choice, they have to see it through. “I don't want to talk about them now. I've come here to be with you.”
He tries to take her face in his hands but she backs away from him. They’d talked long and hard about their future when she’d visited him while he was locked up at his dad’s. He hadn’t attacked her then, that had all been part of the charade too, to convince Terry that their marriage really was finished. Danny had begged her for another chance but she’d refused to commit herself either way. She’d already given him one chance and he’d blown it big style. So she said she’d use the time while he was away sorting himself out to consider it. When he’d broken into her office at the club and they’d put on that argument for the benefit of the listening devices Terry had planted she’d almost decided she would give their marriage another try. Then Ryan Law and his incredible fingers had come along and made her realise there are other men out there that she could be happy with. She still reflects on that encounter a lot, still dreams of him and wonders if she should be with Danny when she thinks about another man so much.
“Rach,” he beg.
Something in his pleading tone makes her snap and she rounds on him. “You think you can just kiss me and erase everything you did? Well it can’t Danny. You hurt me, something I thought you’d never do.”
“But you know it was the drugs. If it wasn’t for them I never would have done it.”
“You’re missing the point. You did do it. After what happened to me with Steve and now you…”
Her voice breaks and she turns away to hide her tears. Gently he rests his hands on her shoulders, heartened when she doesn’t push him away.
“You let them get away with it once they’ll do it again. That’s what they say about men who hurt women,” she whispers.
“I’m not one of those blokes. I’m not a wife beater. I was fucked up on all sorts of shit, I didn’t know what I was doing. I would never knowingly hurt you Rach. Never.”
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