“Don’t be fucking daft. Tail them but stay a few cars back. I’m curious to know where they’re going”
Col steered the car out into traffic, feeling much calmer now the moment had finally arrived and things were in motion. Alex’s bug-eyed lunacy was actually starting to reassure him. He looked a redoubtable foe.
“Are they following?” Rachel asked Ryan through the intercom in the helmets.
“Yep. They think they’re being subtle. Dane,” he said into the mouthpiece. The Bluetooth communication system he’d bought was top of the range and gave him a good range, allowing him to stay in contact with Angel’s Wrath while riding.
“I’m here,” replied his deep voice.
“They’ve taken the bait. We’re on our way to you.”
“We’re on standby.”
“Is Riley with you?”
“Yes.”
“Is he calm?”
“Seems so.”
“We’ll be going past you in about five minutes. Don’t let Alex see you.”
“We won’t.”
When the call was disconnected Dane turned to address the ten men, including Riley, all astride powerful motorbikes. “Five minutes,” he called.
“Jasper and his crew are just a couple of minutes behind us,” said Alex as they left the city limits. “And Vladimir’s not far behind them. They’re all armed to the teeth. The Laws are outnumbered. There’s no way they can win this.”
Col glanced in the rear-view mirror and was reassured by the presence of the two cars following them, containing Robbie Jordan and a group of vicious hired mercenaries. He allowed himself to indulge in a fantasy about getting revenge on Ryan and Rachel for Gavin’s death.
“Taylor,” Ryan said into the microphone.
“Yep?” the policeman’s voice replied in his ear, sounding all business.
“Are you in position?”
“Damn right we are.”
“Alex is right behind us, Lucifer’s Shadow not far behind him. Vladimir is bringing up the rear. Do not let me down. This is the only shot we’re going to get.”
“I won’t. We need this collar.”
Ryan spoke to Jez next, who informed him they were all in position too.
“It’s all set,” Ryan told Rachel, taking one hand off the bike to grasp her own hand.
She leaned into him, wrapping her arms tighter around his waist, surprised by how calm she felt. They were about to kill her ex brother-in-law and a man who’d been one of the best friends she’d ever had and she didn’t feel one bit of regret.
It would have been impossible to miss Vladimir’s silver Bentley, followed by two flash Audis that couldn’t have drawn more attention to themselves had they been painted bright orange.
“The stupid bastard’s in his own car,” said Taylor, making his detective sergeant chuckle. Both men wore Kevlar but it was the presence of the armed response team that made them feel really secure.
The look of astonishment on Vladimir’s face was comical when two police cars shot out into the road in front of him, forcing him to stop and armed police leapt out of nowhere yelling at him to get out of the car with his hands up. When he continued to stare back at them stupidly the door was yanked open and he found himself staring down the business end of a Heckler and Koch. He was dragged out and forced face down onto the tarmac. The gun in his inner jacket pocket was removed and he was cuffed. Turning his head he saw the rest of his men receiving the same treatment.
“Well Vladimir, I’ve waited a long time for this,” gloated Taylor.
“Go fuck yourself you filthy English pig.”
“Water off a duck’s back mate. My ex-missus calls me worse than that.”
“Sir,” called one of the armed officers who was examining the boot of the Bentley. He held aloft an assault rifle. “It’s full of them.”
“Starting your own personal army Vlad?” grinned Taylor. He hadn’t had so much fun in years.
“It’s not my car.”
“According the DVLA it is, prick. Not exactly the master criminal, are you?”
“We’ve got drugs in here too,” called another officer who was examining the glove box. “Looks like cocaine.”
“Oh dear Vlad. Possession of a shitload of firearms and a class A drug. On top of that we want to talk to you about a human trafficking ring. A couple of your cronies in Customs have already spilled their guts. You and your little friends are looking at some serious time and I recognise some wanted faces in your crew. Harbouring fugitives as well, are we now?”
Vladimir threw himself from side to side, spewing bile in Russian. Taylor ignored him, thinking of the praise he was going to have heaped upon him for this collar.
While the prisoners were loaded into the waiting meat wagon he returned to his car to make a call.
“It’s done,” was all he said before hanging up.
A curious calm had descended upon Riley. Finally he was going to get his hands on Jasper White and rather than the frenzy he’d expected to possess him, his training had kicked in, forcing him to think logically and clearly. He was aware Dane was keeping an eye on him, worried he’d repeat his stupidity at the clubhouse but he was reassured Riley had himself under control.
The distinctive rumble of Harley Davidson engines alerted them to the arrival of Lucifer’s Shadow. Dane peeked out from the trees to see the group of six gleaming bikes approaching, a large truck not far behind. Ryan and Rachel, followed by Alex and his crew, had passed them by just a few minutes ago.
“Get in position,” Dane ordered, pulling on his helmet and straddling the powerful twelve hundred jet black Kawasaki Ninja. When he started the engine flames shot out of the exhaust. He and his crew were used to riding custom bikes like Jasper’s crew but they’d selected the sports bikes today for a very special reason.
The road was very quiet and little used, which was why Ryan had chosen it, however there was still a risk that someone would come along so they had to move fast.
As Jasper got nearer they all started their engines, put the bikes into gear - keeping the brakes on - and pulled back on the throttles. Even with the helmets on the roar of ten powerful engines all screaming at once in a burnout was deafening, the stench of burning rubber strong. Smoke kicked up from the tyres and billowed onto the road in a smoggy cloud, blocking the vision of the oncoming Harleys, a move that would have been difficult on the heavier custom bikes.
The smaller truck driven by two members of Dane’s crew approached in the opposite direction, its side emblazoned with the logo of a removal firm to allay any suspicion. When it suddenly slewed across the road into the path of the oncoming Harleys they were forced to anchor on, only spotting it at the last minute because of all the smoke. Some of them lost control and skidded, the men coming off their bikes and sliding painfully across the tarmac.
Dane and his men shot out of the trees on the bikes and surrounded them, guns aimed at the struggling men.
Dane raised his visor. “Open up the back, quick.”
The two men in the removal truck jumped out of the cab and pulled the back doors open so more of Dane’s men could jump out. The Lucifer’s Shadow patches - most of whom had sustained injuries when they came off their bikes - were dragged to their feet and thrown into the back, Dane’s men jumping in with them, two of them getting on the bikes Dane and Riley had used and riding them away. The doors of the truck were closed and it set off. The tailgate of the larger truck that had followed the Harleys was opened and the bikes were rolled onto it to have the plates changed and to be sold on. They were worth a fortune. When that was done the trucks turned round and headed back to the city, escorted by Dane’s men on their bikes. The entire operation had taken under three minutes.
Only Dane and Riley remained.
“That was much easier than I thought it would be,” Dane told Riley as they both stared down at Jasper struggling on the tarmac, who had skidded across the road with such force the tarmac had ripped through his bike glo
ves, mangling his fingers. He clutched them to his chest, groaning with pain. Riley had ripped off his helmet so he could finally look into the agonised eyes of his nemesis.
“You think that was easy?” panted Jasper. “You fucking stupid bastards. Do you think I’d commit all my men in one group? There’s more of us, in fact they should already be with your brother. They’re going to fucking kill him,” he said before laughing.
Riley kicked him in the stomach, silencing him while Dane called Ryan using the Bluetooth headset still attached to his ear.
“Ryan, we were successful but Jasper sent two separate groups, they took a different route.” He looked down at Jasper. “Who many?”
Jasper grinned at him, revealing bloodied teeth.
Riley took out his knife and plunged it into his thigh, twisting the blade.
“Seven,” he cried. “Please fucking stop.”
“Seven Ryan,” relayed Dane. “We’re on our way to you.”
Between them they dragged Jasper to his feet and back into the woods to a waiting Land Rover. They shoved Jasper into the boot, Riley hastily tying a tourniquet around his thigh so he wouldn’t bleed out before he could have his fun, then he gagged him and bound his hands. The two men jumped into the front, Dane driving, Jasper’s cries audible as they bounced over the rough terrain and back onto the road.
For the final confrontation Ryan and Rachel had selected an abandoned farm that had recently - and very conveniently - been purchased by Stephen Strang, who had assured them they wouldn’t be disturbed. The nearest farm was a mile away and it had plenty of outbuildings. They’d come up here the day before to do a recce and decide exactly where they were going to lead Alex for the final showdown.
As they climbed the single dirt track towards the farm they resisted the urge to look back at the three cars containing Alex and his men.
They’d fully expected Alex to drive past then turn around and come back so he could assess the estate first. So they were shocked when there was the roar of a car engine and all three vehicles shot forwards, the bumper of Alex’s car almost touching the back wheel of the bike.
Ryan pulled hard on the throttle and the bike picked its feet up, narrowly avoiding being crushed beneath the wheels of the powerful Audi.
“What the fuck are they doing?” exclaimed Rachel, fumbling for her gun. She pulled it out of her jacket pocket and turned in her seat, keeping one arm locked around Ryan’s waist, and fired. Unfortunately the road was so bumpy that all four shots she unleashed missed but it encouraged the cars to back off slightly. In the lead car she could see Alex’s grinning face through the glass
The gate was already open when they arrived, as per their instructions, and they drove straight into the compound, the cars close behind. Ryan aimed for the dairy and drove straight into the narrow entryway, the doors only partially open, forcing the cars to stop.
Alex and Col jumped out of the vehicle and tore inside. Robbie and three hired mercenaries jumped out of the second car and followed.
As the two occupants of the third car climbed out they were confronted by two bald-headed giants wielding knives, which had been plunged into their chests before they could even draw their weapons.
“Ryan,” roared Alex as he saw the two of them disappear behind some large machinery, the bike abandoned on the floor. He unleashed a hail of bullets that all missed.
He was so intent on catching his quarry that he failed to notice the figures hiding in the shadows that surrounded his three mercenaries. While Alex, Col and Robbie ran on ahead, the first the hired help knew of any danger was when Frankie lunged at them with his axe, swinging it wildly. There was a loud resounding crack as it met the man’s ribs. Mikey, Paul and Jamesie shot the other two, the silencers muffling the shots. Jez turned and aimed at Robbie, who was straggling behind Alex and Col. He fired and Robbie was knocked onto his front where he fell, unmoving.
“Quick, outside before the MC crew gets here,” said Mikey. “Frankie, you can take your trophies when the job’s done.”
“Aye, alright,” he said, reluctantly lowering the weapon and following the others outside.
CHAPTER 36
“There they are,” said Riley, pointing to the group of motorcycles in the distance. “There’s no way we can catch up with them in this thing.”
Dane had the accelerator to the floor but it still wasn’t enough to gain on the powerful bikes. They watched as the group wound is way up the track leading to the farm, praying they got there in time to help.
“I recognise the lead bike covered in diamantes. It’s Venom,” said Dane.
“Not that mental bitch again.”
“She’s the one to look out for, out of all of them.”
Riley could only watch helplessly as the bikes rolled to a halt at the gates and the seven riders jumped off and scattered themselves through the estate.
Mikey and Jez were crouched together behind a tractor, watching the seven patches run through the outbuildings. Battler and Bruiser had hidden themselves in a barn while Frankie and his men watched from the cowshed to their left.
“It fucking stinks in here,” said Frankie, face screwed up with disgust. He was most particular about his grooming, he despised dirt or grime of any kind, unless it was blood. He didn’t mind getting splattered with that. “I’ll have to burn this suit, I’ll never get rid of the smell. Dirty bastard cows.”
The roar of shotguns from inside the barn opposite disturbed the stillness. They all waited expectantly until Battler and Bruiser emerged from the stables, guns at the ready, sweeping the area, looking for more intruders. Battler held up his hand with two figures raised, indicating that was how many patches they’d just eradicated.
“Battler, behind you,” called out Mikey.
The brothers threw themselves back into the building just as a tall man with a big beard shot at them. Mikey and Jez returned fire, their bullets striking the man in the chest and he fell. Just as they started to climb out from behind their hiding place there was the crack of a bullet, which narrowly missed Jez’s head and they ducked back down.
“Shit, it’s going to turn into a shoot-out,” said Mikey, reloading his gun.
“There’s four more,” replied Jez, turning to see Frankie and his men firing at someone crouching behind a broken down car. From his position he couldn’t fire at the figure without sticking his head out.
“This is all going tits-up,” said Jez, having to shout over the retort of guns.
The dairy was huge, dark and filled with junk and to Alex’s frustration what he had thought would be an easy kill had turned into a game of cat and mouse. He and Col crept through the gloom, listening to the sound of gunshots outside. Too late he’d realised he’d walked into a trap and it had been a sobering shock when he’d glanced over his shoulder to see no one but Col behind him. However he did have more back-up coming. Ryan and Rachel couldn’t escape them all.
They swung their guns left and right. Both sides of the huge building were lined with empty metal cattle pens, each one a possible hiding place. He nodded to Col to take the right side while he took the left.
As Col disappeared behind a heap of rickety furniture, detritus from the main house, Alex paused to listen, certain he heard breathing to his left behind a clapped-out Range Rover. He raced round the vehicle, gun at the ready, to find precisely nothing. He looked around him, puzzled, certain he’d heard something.
As he whipped back round he came face to face with the barrel of a gun. He would have been dead if a yell and an almighty crash behind them hadn’t distracted the shooter. Alex ducked to the side and the shot missed him by inches. The noise in the confined space was deafening and Alex crouched down behind the Range Rover, ears ringing, as Ryan continued to fire at him.
Col knew his boss was being shot at but he didn’t care. All he could think about were his brothers. The Laws had already murdered Gavin and judging by Andy’s absence he was pretty sure they’d forced him to make that phone call the
n killed him too. At least Jason and Harry were safe. Now all he cared about was revenge. Alex was tied up with Ryan, so he would find Rachel and make her pay for his brothers’ deaths.
However someone had got to her first. He could hear the struggle and he found her engaged in a physical fight with Venom. He smiled. Finally it seemed Rachel had met her match because Venom fought with the same power she did. He just stood back and watched in fascination. They both fought like men, delivering hard punches, Rachel driving her fist up into Venom’s gut, who released a gasp and staggered back, kicking Rachel in the chest when she tried to follow up the blow. Venom managed to get one hand around Rachel’s neck and ground her palm against the scar. The pain made Rachel grimace and she released a strangled cry. Venom kicked her legs out from under her and she fell back to the floor, clawing at Venom’s hand but, despite her best efforts, Venom refused to relinquish her grip.
Col moved out of his hiding place to watch Rachel slowly being strangled to death and took aim at her head.
When Rachel saw Col her eyes widened and she reacted quickly. She brought up her leg, knocking Venom sideways and she rolled out of the way just as Col fired, the bullet slamming into the floor where she had lain just a moment before.
Holding a hand to her sore neck, Rachel ran into a pen.
Great, Col thought. She’s trapped.
He found the gun she’d dropped lying on the floor and kicked it away. He nodded at Venom and they both approached the pen, weapons at the ready. As Col laid his hand on the metal door of the pen he was seized by an acute ache and his body started to twitch and jerk out of his control. His stunned brain just managed to register Rachel crouched in the pen, her taser pressed to the metal gate before he toppled over, violently spasming.
Keeping low, Rachel rushed out of the pen and smacked into Venom and the two women fell. Rachel managed to get on top of her and punched her in the face as hard as she could. The woman just grinned, revealing a gap where her two front teeth used to be before driving her fist into the side of Rachel’s head. She was knocked sideways, temporarily dazed and Venom took the opportunity to kick her hard in the ribs. Rachel released a groan as the assault continued, Venom’s foot bouncing off her back. She could hear the frantic report of gunfire somewhere behind her and she feared for Ryan.
Shattered (Dividing Line #5) Page 32
