The honesty and passion in his eyes is evident and she is torn. She knows that had he been in his right mind he would not have attacked her but she doesn’t know if she is able to forgive him for it.
“You still don’t get it Danny. You destroyed some of the trust I had in you.”
“I swear I will never ever hurt you again. You’re everything to me and without you there’s no point in anything. Please Rach, give me another chance.”
“I already did and look what happened.” She shakes her head. “I don’t think I can do it again.”
Danny’s eyes fill with tears. “Don’t give up us on Babe, for Christ’s sake we’ve not even been married a year.”
“I begged you not to take the drugs and you said you wouldn’t. Did Terry force the coke up your nose? No. You broke your promise to me.”
“I know I messed up badly and I can’t change what happened but I’m a different man now. I’ve grown up since I’ve been away and I know what’s important to me. Give me a chance and you’ll see. It’ll be a fresh start for us only this time there’ll be no secrets and no lies.”
“I can’t,” she says, her voice breaking. “I just can’t.”
He tilts her face up to his, blue eyes bright and gentle. “Then kiss me, just once. If you feel nothing then I’ll give you your divorce and leave you in peace. But if you do then we talk some more. Okay?”
She nods, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. As he kisses her she feels the apprehension melt away and the familiar excitement fill her, her stomach clenching deliciously with desire.
He pulls away and gazes down at her, stroking her face with his fingertips. “Well?” he says softly. He can see the internal conflict within her but he is determined. “Come back to me,” he whispers in her ear. “Please come back.”
Rachel can feel his breath on her neck and her spine tingles. She looks into his soft blue eyes and knows she needs this man. In that instant she decides to give her marriage another try but she does not articulate any of this. Instead she kisses him again, wrapping her arms around his neck and he runs his fingertips down her back. As the kiss deepens he presses her up against the wall and she wraps her legs around his waist.
“Is that a yes?” he says, breathing hard.
She smiles and nods.
“Oh thank you,” he says, his lips finding hers again.
They fall onto the bed together, the agony of separation adding to their urgency. He unbuttons her blouse, revealing her black bra and kisses her from her neck to her breasts. She rips his shirt open, the buttons popping to the floor and runs her hands over his muscular torso. She has always adored his body but now it is even more honed, his chest and abdominal muscles standing out in high definition. She runs her tongue down his chest and he groans with pleasure. His excitement reaching fever pitch, he lays her back on the bed and hitches up her skirt then pauses, looking down at her tenderly.
“Are you okay? After the last time…”
“We won’t know till we try.” But she’s certain Ryan’s cured her of the fear she used to have. The memory of him surges back to her, causing her to arch herself against Danny and wrap her legs around him tightly. What is it about that man?
She feels a little guilty when Danny thinks this reaction is because of his presence and he kisses her hard. Forcing Ryan from her mind, she concentrates on her husband, lapping up his warmth and the comforting familiarity of him. Finally she dispels Ryan’s spectre and loses herself in Danny.
He teases the soft silky skin of her inner thigh with his lips, running his tongue along the tops of her stockings and she closes her eyes, enjoying the sensation. When he reaches her panties he is gratified and very relieved to feel that she is wet so he pulls them down and his mouth finds the centre of her.
“Danny,” she gasps, reaching down to grasp a handful of that silky dark hair.
Encouraged, his tongue explores deep inside her and she arches her back and cries out in pleasure.
His erection strains against his jeans as he watches her, desperate to be inside her, puzzled when she mumbles something that sounds like ‘probing tongue‘.
“Oh Danny, fuck me,” she breathes.
He’s elated, he never thought he’d hear those joyous words from her again. Danny practically tears down his jeans, so aroused he prays that he doesn’t shame himself. Kneeling between her thighs he parts her legs wider and Rachel pushes herself up on her elbows to watch him slowly, almost teasingly, enter her. When he’s filled her up her head lolls back and she groans with pleasure.
“Oh Jesus Rach,” he breathes shakily when he’s encased by her warm wetness.
“Harder,” she moans.
He thrusts into her as hard as he can and they cling to each other tightly, afraid of being separated again. Her hands are everywhere, kneading the muscles of his back and shoulders, reaching down to stroke his stomach, her lips finding his neck.
“Lie down,” she says in a tone that makes him obey instantly.
She climbs on top of him and he reaches up to free her breasts from the bra as she grinds down on him hard. He gasps and, unable to resist the call of those breasts jiggling above him any longer, he tries to push himself upright to kiss them.
“I said lie down,” she snaps, shoving him back down roughly, pinning his hands to the bed with her own.
Danny is astonished and realises his Rachel has changed. Any sadness he may feel about that evaporates when she comes, pulling him down into his own intense orgasm.
She collapses on top of him and he holds her to him gently.
“That's better,” she says, smiling happily against his chest.
“Oh yeah,” he grins, kissing the top of her head.
They lie quietly, enjoying being back together. Danny is the first to break the silence.
“I really wanted the baby Rach. I did.”
Her eyes search his and she sees the honesty there. She blinks back tears, which still threaten every time she thinks of her lost child.
“Maybe when all this is over we can try for another?” he suggests.
Her eyes fill with hope. “You really mean that?”
“I've done a lot of growing up while I've been away. You're my wife, I love you and I want kids with you.”
She smiles. “I think that's a great idea.”
He rolls her onto her back, kissing her breasts, and instantly he goes rock hard again.
“We'd better get some practice in then hadn't we?” she says, pressing herself against him. “Fuck me again.”
“Yes Mrs Maguire,” he smiles.
Danny wakes the next morning and watches Rachel sleep. She is sprawled across him, breathing steadily and he wraps his arms around her and kisses her shoulder, thankful that she is safe in his arms. After everything that’s happened he feels privileged to be here with the woman he loves. Recent events have made him appreciate the simple things in life. The relief he’d felt when his dad had told him he hadn’t slept with Amanda Moore had been overwhelming. After paying her a visit, Amanda had confessed to Frank that Terry had drugged Danny and paid her to be there when he woke, making him think he’d slept with her. She’d given him a love bite while he was unconscious for good effect. This taught Danny that he will never ever cheat on Rachel. There is no other woman in the world to match her and he will not risk losing her again.
He is so proud of his wife. She is the bravest woman he has ever met and he’s so relieved that she’s forgiven him. If it hadn't been for him then she wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. The separation from her has been torture and he is determined to make it up to her. The shame of what he did to her almost killed him during rehab. He’d fought hard to get better, for her. After talking things through with his therapist he’d realised his feelings about the baby were all mixed up with his own self loathing. He’d faced the guilt about winding Rachel up so much she’d miscarried and allowed himself to grieve properly for their lost baby. After that he recovered swiftly
because it wasn’t just his body that had been ruined but his mind too. He’d completely shattered and put himself back together piece by piece and now he’s stronger than ever, the selfish boy he used to be entirely eradicated.
Rachel stirs and her eyes flutter open. For a moment she is confused as to where she is, then she looks at Danny and she breaks into a sleepy smile. She rolls on top of him and kisses him.
“I love waking up with you,” she says, laying her head on his chest.
He runs his fingers through her hair. “Me too.”
Her mobile phone bursts into life and they look at each other nervously.
“I’d better answer that.”
She rolls off him, snatches it up off the bedside cabinet and looks at the screen, her body relaxing.
“It's just Mikey.”
He nods.
“Hi Mikey.”
“Alright Rach. Enjoying your break?”
At that moment Danny runs his lips down her leg and up her inner thigh. She grips the phone tightly.
“Oh yeah,” she whispers.
“Sorry, what was that?”
Rachel struggles to keep her voice light. “Yes I am. The hotel's lovely. I'm going to treat myself to a massage later.”
Danny looks up at her and winks.
“So how are things your end?” she says.
“Terry's doing my head in. He’s interfering as usual.”
Rachel is instantly alert. “Why, what's he doing?”
Danny's head snaps up, a frown on his face.
“He's trying to tell me what DJ's to hire, who to sack and he's had a blazing row with Dolores. She was this close to bottling him but don't worry, I can handle him.”
Rachel relaxes a little. “I'll be back tomorrow.”
“Yeah, don't worry, I've got it covered. You concentrate on enjoying yourself. You deserve it.”
“Thanks Mikey. Bye.”
She hangs up.
Concern is written all over Danny's face. “What's up?”
“Apparently Terry's throwing his weight about but Mikey's having none of it.”
“You think he can handle Terry?”
“Yes I do.”
Danny looks thoughtful. She pulls him down to her to bestow a reassuring kiss.
“Relax. Mikey knows what he's doing. Now, why don't you finish what you started?”
He grins and kisses her hard.
Mikey hangs up the phone after his conversation with Rachel and sighs. He’d made the problems at the club sound lighter than they are. Terry is taking advantage of Rachel's absence to assert himself over her clubs. His main tactic seems to be intimidating the staff, trying to get them to revolt against her. However they all like Rachel and he is having a tougher job than he had anticipated. Mikey has an uneasy feeling about the whole thing and knows there is more going on than meets the eye.
CHAPTER 30
Danny and Rachel are sat on the private balcony of their hotel suite in matching bathrobes, looking out over the gardens. The high walls afford them complete privacy. They daren't leave the confines of their room in case they are seen but they don’t mind because they‘re enjoying being together again.
The sun is already shining and Rachel tilts her head back to bask in the warmth on her face.
“So how did they all take my ultimatum?” says Danny, taking a sip of tea.
“Terry predictably went ballistic but Alex was just quiet.”
Danny watches her intently. He’s never been able to believe that his brother would turn against his family so easily. Even his dad hadn’t been sure which side his eldest son was on.
“That doesn't sound like Alex,” says Danny.
“Beth told me something's wrong. At home he's quiet and distant, like he's in his own world. She's really worried about him. I hate lying to her, she’s my best friend. Alex and Terry are at each other's throats all the time. There's definite animosity there.”
“Perhaps I should have a word with Alex, get him onside?”
“I wouldn't yet Babe, not until we're sure.”
Danny runs a hand through his hair and sighs. She smiles at him sympathetically and takes his hand.
“I know how hard this is on you but we can't risk it, not until we're certain whose side he's on.”
“You're right,” he says with a tight smile.
Rachel sees the sadness in his eyes and her stomach becomes an angry knot of rage. She only hopes Terry realises the damage he’s done to his own flesh and blood.
“So what's the next move?” she says.
“I go and see Frankie McVay.”
Rachel's eyes widen and her hand trembles slightly as she puts her cup down.
“Frankie McVay. Jesus Danny do you have to?”
“I’m afraid so. We really need his help.”
“But he's a fully fledged psycho. He's been declared clinically insane three times and he's only thirty seven.”
Frankie McVay is a vicious Glaswegian gangster of immense reputation. A combination of brutality and the willingness to go one step further than everyone else has brought him to the top spot. What makes him so dangerous is that you never know when you are in his bad books. He will be smiling and asking you how your kids are while hacking off your legs with an axe, one of his favourite pastimes by all accounts. He can turn on you in an instant without warning, taking his victim unawares. He’s also known for his lack of compassion and likes to take his time with his victims, torturing them for hours or even days before finally killing them in the vilest way possible. Even the most hardened and powerful criminals hold him in a fearful awe. He is a wild dog that cannot be tamed and Danny is going to meet with him.
“I've no choice Rach.”
She stares down at her hands, trying to gain mastery over the fear that has suddenly gripped her.
He grasps her hand, raises it to his lips and kisses it. “Don't worry Babe. He had a good relationship with my Dad. He did him a favour that got him out of a lot of trouble so he owes our family.”
“And how much are you going to tell him?”
“Everything. If I don't he'll know I'm holding something back and I'll be dead. He's like you, he can always tell when someone's lying.”
“Do you think he'll help?”
“Yeah, like I say he owes us. Plus he hates Davenport. He's been wanting payback against that bastard for years.”
Frank had Terry followed and discovered he was meeting with Lord Davenport, the local landowner and peer of the realm. Obviously he was the one giving Terry all the inside information on the stately home robberies. Danny’s decided to go after him to cut off Terry’s main source of income. His uncle has been gathering followers on the promise of a massive pay-off from these robberies. If he loses them then he loses his allies.
“Why?” says Rachel.
“Because Davenport ripped him off in some property scam. Apparently Frankie lost two hundred grand.”
“Be careful Babe. Please.”
He plants a kiss on her lips. “Promise.”
Rachel is not reassured.
Danny sees the worry etched on her face and he determines to change the subject.
“I thought when all this is over we could finally take that trip to Italy we were talking about.”
He is pleased when her eyes light up. “That would be great. I think we're going to need a break after all this.”
Billy Devlin has regained consciousness and is wishing he hadn’t because the pain in his crotch is agonising. His genitals are so swollen he can’t close his legs and he feels constantly sick.
“Who did it?” demands Ron.
“I didn’t see,” replies Billy quietly, staring at his hands.
Ron’s eyes narrow. “Are you fucking scared?”
“No,” retorts Billy, none too convincingly.
“Well then?”
Billy looks at Ron and Terry, realising they won’t leave him alone until he tells them. “Mikey Maguire.”
Ron’s fac
e turns scarlet with rage. “I’ll kill him.”
“Not yet,” says Terry.
“I want revenge.”
“And you shall have it, when the time is right.”
“When will that be because I aint waiting.”
“Soon Ron, soon. Mikey, Rachel, Danny, we’ll wipe them all out and I swear you can have Mikey to do as you see fit.”
Ron smiles at the thought.
“Now,” continues Terry, turning back to Billy. “How long are you going to be laid up with that broken kneecap?”
“Fucking months,” sighs Billy.
“Great,” exclaims Terry, throwing his hands in the air. “We’re doing the next robbery in three days. What the fuck are we supposed to do? I’ll murder Mikey for this.”
“I’ve got a cousin who could come in on it. He’s turned over plenty of houses in his time,” offers Ron.
Terry looks thoughtful. He doesn’t like bringing in people he doesn’t know but he’s little choice. “Alright, bring him round the warehouse and we’ll have a chat.”
Ron nods.
Terry looks down at Billy and frowns. Mikey’s assault has left him nervous and unsure of himself. He’s lost his edge and it’s time to cut him loose. Terry only hopes Ron will concur. If not, he’ll get rid of him too.
Danny takes Rachel in his arms and hugs her tightly. She buries her face in his chest, blinking back tears. It is time for them to part again.
“I don't want to leave you,” she sighs. “I'm sick of being apart.”
“I feel the same Babe but it'll be over soon. I’ll be back in Manchester on the fifteenth to finish it. Just hang in there until then.”
“Don't you dare get killed.”
“I'll try not to.”
He cradles her in his arms and kisses the top of his head, making the most of the last of their time together, not wanting to ever let her go again but knowing he has to.
“Just think, when all this is over we'll be sat drinking coffee in a nice little cafe in Rome,” he soothes.
Rachel burns the image into her brain. It’s something for her to hold onto.
“Then when we get back,” he continues, “we can start trying for a baby.”
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