Aftermath (Dividing Line #6)

by Heather Atkinson

  “No you’re not. Do yourselves a favour and get back in your car and leave.”

  “You’ve got guts girl, I’ll give you that,” said the moustached man, amused.

  “I’m not a girl, I’m a woman and I’ll split your fucking skull if you touch me.”

  “She means it Stevie,” Lexie told the moustached man. “You’ve no idea who she is.”

  “I couldn’t give a shit. I’ve got my orders and I’m carrying them out. Cole isn’t someone you want to piss off.”

  “Neither am I,” retorted Rachel, wishing she had her taser. The only weapons she had were her fists. She weighed up her chances. Three men against her because Lexie was going to be no use. From the way they moved they were professionals. Battler and Bruiser were on their way but it would take them almost half an hour to get here from Torquay. The odds weren’t good. She was going to get taken again. “No,” she growled to herself. This wasn’t happening.

  A rustling to their left drew all their attention and Rachel was astonished when a figure dressed in black with long blond hair jumped out of the bushes and leapt on top of the man with the goatee. Sitting on his back she drew something from her sleeves, there was a flash of steel and blood spurted from his back. He screamed, flapping on the grass like a landed fish when the blades she wielded were plunged into the outer sides of both knees.

  “Jules?” Rachel murmured to herself when the figure agilely leapt up off the injured man, raced to her side and pulled off the blond wig.

  “I’m on your side. Explain later. Here,” she said, handing her one of the knives before turning to face the remaining two men.

  While Lexie stumbled away from the scene as fast as her high heels would carry her, Rachel and Jules prepared to meet the remaining two men. The skinny man went for Rachel while Stevie charged at Jules, grunting in pain when her knife sliced through the palm of his outstretched hand. He ducked when she went for him again and pulled his own blade. Jules only just managed to jump back, avoiding a stab to the gut, whipping back round and driving her elbow into his chest then a fist to his jaw. He stumbled backwards, surprise written all over his face, especially when his friend was knocked onto his backside by a blow from Rachel.

  As the men recovered Rachel and Jules circled them warily, the knives still clutched in their hands. The goatee man was attempting to push himself to his feet, crying out in pain when he put weight on his injured knees.

  “You fucking bitch,” he wailed at Jules before toppling over.

  Stevie was enraged to see his own blood on the blade clutched in the biker chick’s hand. Who the fuck was she? She’d come out of nowhere. He also realised these were no ordinary women and cursed himself for rushing into this fight.

  The skinny man made his move first, managing to grab Rachel’s hand that held the knife and he twisted, causing her to drop it.

  Reassured his colleague had her under control, Stevie went for the biker chick again, ignoring the sting of the knife slicing through his left upper arm, kicking her legs out from under her. She went down but rolled before he could bring his foot down on her face, just managing to avoid the skinny man as he wrestled with Rachel. Stevie realised his friend was far from having the situation under control.

  Jules sprang back to her feet, eyes bright with pleasure, thoroughly enjoying the fight. The tang of spilt blood was in the air, the adrenaline sending her pulse rate skyrocketing. This was when she was happiest. Being smaller and lighter than her opponent meant she could move quicker and she raced around him, slicing at his lower back with the knife, ducking when his arm arced round in a wide circle, the steel whistling past her head. Keeping low she managed to avoid his knife, slicing at his hip, his upper thigh. Just small cuts, not enough to incapacitate, she couldn’t get close enough. She spun around in a circle with the blade out to slash him. Stevie attempted to catch her but she was too fast. Cottoning onto her game he spun the opposite way and his fist met with her stomach, doubling her up, pounding the breath from her body. The knife entering her left shoulder was both painful and exquisite, Jules torn between crying out in agony and pleasure. She knew it was bad from the warmth trickling down her arm but she managed to fight her way through the fuzziness wanting to engulf her and punched him in the face twice rapidly before kicking him in the stomach, knocking him backwards, ensuring his blade remained at safe distance. Stevie was bleeding himself from the several cuts she’d opened up and both were reluctant to attack again after being so weakened.

  From the corner of his eye Stevie saw Rachel deliver a kick to the underside of his colleague’s chin that snapped his head back, his eyes rolling back in his head. Deciding to retreat and return to fight another day, he grabbed him with one hand and dragged him round the side of the house towards the car parked on the drive, both pausing to pick up the squirming goatee man, who left a patch of blood on the grass behind him.

  Rachel snatched up Jules’s knives lying on the grass and stuffed them into her handbag then grabbed a stunned Lexie and hauled her towards the house. She paused to look back and saw Jules take a few steps before staggering and falling, blood seeping from the shoulder wound. Rachel hesitated. How could she leave her behind to bleed to death? She wouldn’t have got away from those men without her.

  “Shit,” she sighed. “Lexie, help me get her up.”

  “Leave her, she’s a nutcase.”

  Rachel grabbed her by the wrist and squeezed. “You’ll fucking help me or I’ll leave you here for Cole to find.”

  “Alright, I’ll help. You’re hurting me,” winced Lexie.

  Rachel released her with a derisive sneer. “You’re on fucking thin ice. I suggest you do exactly as you’re told and we might not throw you to the wolves.”

  Dejectedly Lexie took hold of Jules’s good arm, trying not to look at all the blood while Rachel put her arm around her waist and the three of them staggered through the house to the car.

  “Jesus, for a slim person she weighs a bloody ton,” said Lexie.

  “I’m not deaf,” muttered Jules as they dumped her in the back of the car.

  Rachel and Lexie jumped into the front and they were off, wheels spinning.

  “Why couldn’t we stay at the house?” said Lexie.

  “Its been compromised. Your little friends might be back with reinforcements. Shit, they must know everything about us, they set up that viewing. You led them to our door Lexie. Now they know about our businesses, what properties we own, everything.”

  “Where are we going?” said Lexie when it became apparent they weren’t returning to the Law home.

  “Do you think I’m taking her back to my home and leading your friends back there?”

  “I suppose not. Who is she anyway?”

  “My other sister-in-law.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll explain later.”

  “Jesus Rachel,” said Lexie, clinging onto the door as the car screeched round a bend. “We don’t need to get pulled for speeding with someone bleeding on the back seat.”

  The black-eyed glare Rachel threw her silenced her.

  CHAPTER 19

  Rachel steered the car up the drive of a brand new detached house on a quiet close.

  “Where are we?” said Lexie.

  Rachel ignored her, got out of the car and opened up the garage. They drove inside and Rachel turned off the engine and pulled down the garage door before helping Jules out of the back.

  “Where are we?” groaned Jules, hobbling out of the car, resting her weight on Rachel.

  “A friend of mine bought this house to rent out but no one’s in it yet,” she replied, assisting her into a large, light kitchen. “Fortunately he asked me to show round any prospective tenants so I hold the keys. It’s a safe place.” Rachel steered Jules into a chair at the expensive dining table. “Let me take a look,” she said, tugging at Jules’s hooded top.

  “Get the fuck off me,” mumbled Jules, thick-lipped and fuzzy-headed with blood loss.

  “I
know what I’m doing, I used to be a nurse.”

  “No.”

  “Fine. Sit there and bleed to death. I’ll put the kettle on while we wait, shall I?” retorted Rachel.

  “Alright,” said Jules grudgingly.

  Rachel helped her off with her jumper, revealing the black vest underneath and a large ragged hole in Jules’s shoulder.

  “Lexie, I think there’s a tea towel in one of those drawers. Pass it to me please,” said Rachel, studying the wound. “It looks deep and it’s bleeding a lot. You’d be better off at hospital,” she told Jules.

  “No. I can’t have those nosy bastards asking awkward questions. You do it.”

  “You need stitches.”

  “You do it,” she hissed through gritted teeth. “It wouldn’t be good for any of us to get other people involved.”

  “I don’t have the supplies here. Lexie. Tea towel. Now,” she snapped.

  “Got it,” she replied, holding it out to her while trying not to look at the blood or the gaping wound.

  “What’s wrong with you?” said Rachel, snatching the tea towel from her and clamping it down on Jules’s shoulder, making her grunt. “I need to make a call. Hold this on her shoulder.”

  Lexie turned even whiter and backed away. “I can’t, I’m sorry.”

  “Are you squeamish?”

  Rachel had her answer when Lexie appeared to be on the verge of fainting.

  “Oh for God’s sake. Pass me my phone out of my handbag then. I need Battler.”

  Glad to have something to do, Lexie concentrated on finding the phone, trying not to think about the blood and the stab wound.

  Hearing Battler’s name, Jules tried to get to her feet.

  “What are you doing?” said Rachel, pushing her back into the chair.

  “You’re going to kill me,” she mumbled, lacking the strength to fight back.

  “If I’d wanted to do that I would have by now.”

  Lexie was appalled by the conversation.

  “Call. Battler. Now,” Rachel snarled at her.

  Lexie went through the contact list until she came to his name and dialled. “It’s ringing. What do I say?”

  “Put it to my ear. Lexie,” Rachel yelled when she appeared reluctant to get any closer to Jules and her injury.

  Taking a deep breath she pressed the phone to Rachel’s ear, closed her eyes and tilted her face away.

  “Battler, it’s me,” said Rachel when his gruff voice came on the line. “We got out of the house but we were attacked…yes I’m fine. Come to the house you bought to rent instead, we’re there.”

  After rhyming off what she needed him to bring, Battler assured her he wouldn’t be long before hanging up. Ten minutes later he and Bruiser entered through the garage door, Battler carrying a black doctor’s bag, his specialist first aid kit. Jules, who had been fighting to stay awake, suddenly became alert with the surge of adrenaline their appearance kicked around her body.

  “Oh Christ, what the hell are you doing here?” Battler glowered at Jules. “Come back for a second attempt and got your arse kicked?”

  “Second attempt?” said Lexie. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

  They all ignored her.

  “Actually she helped me,” Rachel told Battler. “We were almost abducted by men who wanted Lexie. If it hadn’t been for Jules I would have been taken. Bruiser, hold this will you? I’ve managed to slow the bleeding but it’s not stopped completely. Press down hard.”

  Bruiser took the tea towel from her and clamped his big hand down on it, Jules’s eyes sliding shut, releasing a groan as she dealt with the pain.

  Rachel opened up the first aid kit and efficiently began cleaning the wound.

  “Do you need me only I need some fresh air?” said Lexie, swaying slightly.

  “Go and sit in the front room and stay away from the windows,” said Rachel. “Whatever you do don’t go outside. Those men might be looking for you.”

  Lexie nodded gratefully and raced into the next room.

  Battler knelt before Jules. “What are you doing here? Are you here to hurt Rachel?”

  Jules stared back at him with hazy eyes, face frighteningly pale.

  “She’s in no fit state to answer any questions, she’s lost a lot of blood. She should really go to hospital but she won’t,” said Rachel disapprovingly.

  Jules gave a slow shake of the head to confirm this statement.

  As she worked on patching up the wound Rachel explained to the brothers what had happened.

  “I knew that girl was trouble,” said Battler. “But that doesn’t explain what this one is doing here,” he said, indicating Jules.

  “We’ll ask her about that later when she’s up to it. Right now I need to stitch up the wound.”

  When Rachel produced a syringe Jules tried to get to her feet and almost fell off the chair. Battler dragged her back into it.

  “It’s just a painkiller. This is going to hurt,” explained Rachel. She was non-plussed when Jules’s eyes flared.

  “Good.”

  “Are you saying you don’t want the painkiller?”

  Jules nodded.

  “Your decision,” said Rachel, replacing the syringe in the bag.

  Battler and Bruiser watched, appalled as Rachel stitched and Jules released noises that were distinctly sexual.

  “This is so wrong,” said Battler, a stunned Bruiser nodding in mute disbelief.

  Rachel hurried the last couple of stitches. They weren’t as neat as she would have liked but she didn’t care, she just wanted the disturbing noises to stop.

  “You’re a freak,” Battler told Jules.

  She gave him a bizarre, lust-filled grin, leaning back in her seat, panting. “Pain is good.”

  Battler just gave her a disgusted look in response.

  Hastily Rachel put Jules’s left arm in a sling, not wanting to touch her. “Please take her upstairs,” she said quietly, feeling dirty.

  “Oh yes boys, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had brothers,” said Jules weakly, following it up with a maniacal laugh.

  “She’s having you on,” said Rachel when they appeared reluctant to touch her.

  “No I’m not,” retorted Jules.

  Gritting his teeth, Bruiser pulled Jules to her feet by her good arm, the pain the movement caused making her gasp with pleasure. Bruiser looked panicked and almost dropped her, but he swiftly recovered his composure and steered her towards the stairs.

  Rachel followed the brothers upstairs. “Take her to the room at the end of the corridor,” she told them.

  They steered Jules through the door and dumped her on the bed. She was so weak she was content to lie there, until Rachel produced another syringe.

  “Hold her,” she said coldly.

  Battler and Bruiser pinned Jules down so Rachel could inject her.

  “It’s just a sedative. I want you nice and quiet while we decide what to do with you,” said Rachel.

  Jules fought against it but was helpless to stop the powerful drug and within seconds she was asleep.

  Bruiser checked the bedroom window was closed and locked. The room looked over the substantial back garden, shielded from view of the neighbour’s houses by high hedges and trees and he nodded approvingly before shutting the curtains.

  “Rachel,” began Battler, “I know she helped you but this woman tried to kill you. She and her crew sided with Alex against us. The only reason she saved you was so she could kill you herself. She’s here for revenge and she needs sorting. Why don’t you leave her with us? We’ll take care of her, you’ll never see her again.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible,” she replied.

  “Why not? Don’t feel obliged to her because she helped you.”

  “She’s Ryan’s sister.”

  They both gaped at her.

  “At least she is according to Estelle, but we can’t trust her word. We won’t be sure until we’ve had a DNA test done.” She lo
oked down at the sleeping Jules. “She’ll be out of it for a while. Come downstairs and I’ll explain everything.”

  After locking the bedroom door they headed back into the kitchen.

  “Sorted?” said Lexie, popping her head round the door. The sight of the bloodstained towel and bandages and drops of blood on the floor made her blanch and she hastily retreated.

  After calling Ryan and asking him to come to the house, Rachel tidied up then made herself and the brothers a cup of tea and sat them down to explain while Battler tended to her cut hands.

  “Terry Maguire’s daughter. Jesus,” said Battler. “I can’t believe it. Feels like he’s making his presence felt from beyond the grave.”

  Bruiser nodded in agreement.

  Rachel took Jules’s bloodied knives out of her handbag, wiped them clean and handed them to Bruiser. “These are her knives. I want you to take custody of them.”

  He nodded solemnly and carefully slipped them into his jacket pocket.

  “Jules has the Maguire crazy blood,” said Battler. “Terry and Jake had it and it turned out Alex did too. Now she has. There’s only one cure for the Maguire madness Rach and you know what it is.”

  “I’m not so sure Jules is like them. I saw something in her that told me she might be redeemed yet.”

  “All I saw was a headcase who gets turned on by having stitches. It’s fucking sick.”

  Another emphatic nod from Bruiser.

  “Only one person can make that decision.” Rachel hesitated at the sound of a car pulling into the garage. “And here he is.”

  Rachel was so glad to see her husband that she leapt up the moment he came through the door and threw herself at him. Up until then she’d been perfectly calm about the attack, but now it hit home and she started to shake.

  “What happened?” his voice murmured in her ear. Concern was the overriding emotion but there was apprehension there too, dreading what fresh nightmare was about to overtake them.

  “Your half-sister,” glowered Battler. “I knew Lexie was trouble, what did I say?”