“I can do what I like now I’m footloose and fancy free.” Although this statement was accompanied by a smile, they could all see the strain in her eyes.
“Yes, that is something we need to discuss,” said Ryan, leading them all into the kitchen.
“So what brings you both here?” said Rachel as she bustled about the kitchen making them all a brew and Jules and Jez something to eat.
“And why is it a long story?” said Ryan, sitting opposite his sister at the table and raising his eyebrow.
“Don’t try and intimidate me with your eyebrow and your steely glare,” said Jules. “It might work on the soft sacks but not me. You’re looking at the new bare knuckle boxing champion of Manchester.”
“I’m not trying to intimidate you. I just get the feeling something big has happened that I’m unaware of.” He turned his gaze on his brother, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Am I wrong?”
Jez cleared his throat. “Actually you’re bang on the money.”
Ryan turned back to his sister, his smile predatory. “As I thought. Now please, do tell.”
Jules rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
As she launched into an explanation of recent events, Ryan’s raised eyebrow got higher and higher and Rachel was so caught up in the mesmerising story that she almost burnt the rice she was cooking.
“Well, what do you think Ryan?” said Jez when Jules had finished.
“What do I think?” he said quietly, which made his brother even more nervous. “I think so many things I’m not quite sure which one to settle on. First of all, I’d like to say how incredibly stupid and reckless you were Jules.”
“It’s how I roll,” she said with a smile that made his fists clench.
“Secondly, I think it’s a miracle you’re still in one piece after that debacle.”
“It wasn’t a debacle actually. Debacle insinuates chaos and failure whereas this was strategically planned and executed to perfection.”
“Three, setting up Katia like that has more than likely stirred up a hornet’s nest.”
“Actually, she stirred it up first,” said Jez. “But I’ll tell you about that later,” he added when Ryan glared at him for the interruption.
“And fourth, you were going to run off abroad without so much as a goodbye.” He pounded his fist off the tabletop. “How fucking dare you?”
They all stared at him in astonishment when he actually yelled, which was very rare indeed.
“We all spent time around your bedside,” he continued. “Praying for you to wake up and when you did we were there again, helping you, supporting you and you were going to run out on us without a by your leave, you ungrateful cow.”
Jules trembled with outrage. “Don’t you ever speak to me like that again big brother or I will knock you the fuck out.”
“Oy, I won’t have talk like that in my house from either of you,” said Rachel, moving to put herself between them when they both shot to their feet and squared up to each other. “Sit back down before I make you.”
Jules glared at her older brother before turning to Rachel and forcing a smile. “Far be it from me to challenge that black-eyed gaze Rach.” She looked back at Ryan. “I’ll sit down again and play nice if he will.”
“He will, won’t you Ryan?”
He was quick to spot the warning in his wife’s eyes and nodded. “Yes, alright.”
“There’s no need for name calling,” Jules told him.
He held up his hands. “I apologise but I’m so angry at you for trying to walk away from us like we’re nothing.”
Jules’s gaze softened. “That wasn’t it at all. For Christ’s sake, you’re my family and I love you and that was the hardest decision I’d ever had to make. But I thought I was doing my best for you all. Everything I touch turns to shit,” she sighed, slumping into her seat, looking down at her hands and picking at her nails.
“That is not true,” said Ryan, also retaking his seat.
“Yes it is. I had it all - a loving husband, beautiful daughter, lovely home and as usual, when something good comes along I screw it up. You’ve already been put through so much because of me. I didn’t want to hurt you anymore.”
“Jared was the one who put you in that coma,” said Ryan. “You didn’t do it to yourself.”
“If I hadn’t shagged him he wouldn’t have come near and he wouldn’t have got hold of Cara.”
“And if you hadn’t shagged him you wouldn’t have had Cara in the first place,” said Rachel, placing a mug of tea before her. “And Jackson might not have proposed.”
Jules frowned. “I never thought of it like that.”
“None of this is your fault,” said Ryan. “And I want you to stop thinking it is or you’ll never be able to move on.”
“As you can see, I didn’t go.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“Mikey did,” Jez answered for her when she hesitated.
“Mikey?” said Rachel. “Was he in Berkshire too?”
“No, he stayed behind in Manchester, he had stuff to sort out,” said Jez. “But I know that he’s the only one Jules really listens to so I made her talk to him on the phone and, as you can see, it worked.”
“Really?” said Rachel with a curious look at Jules.
“What?” she replied.
“Nothing,” said Rachel, a smile playing on her lips. “I’m just wondering why you’re blushing.”
“I’m not,” she snapped. “I never blush.”
“If you say so,” she said, her smile growing.
“What we need now is some damage control,” said Ryan. “Katia and her crew will retaliate for this and unfortunately they’re strong and organised.”
“Actually, they tried to fuck with us first,” said Jez.
“How?” said Ryan.
“I’m not sure I should tell you this, it’s not my place.”
“I don’t care what justification you think you have, you tell us right now,” said Ryan. “This stuff has a habit of landing on our doorstep.”
“Alright,” he said. “Katia sent one of her men to Manchester to blackmail Declan.”
“Declan?” said Rachel. “What did he do? I mean, he’s harmless.”
“That’s what we all thought. But it turns out he’s been shagging Amber.”
“Seriously?” said Jules. She thought back to the time she’d broken into Declan’s flat and overheard him making his furtive phone call. She hadn’t trusted her instincts and look what had happened. However she would keep that to herself. What ifs helped no one.
“You didn’t know?” Ryan asked her.
“No idea.”
“It kicked off just as you did one to Berkshire,” Jez told her. “Someone nicked some coke from a delivery we were making. A McVay delivery,” he said meaningfully
“Oh hell,” said Rachel.
“That’s what we thought. Fortunately Mikey managed to square things with Toni. So we planted a tracker in the second delivery but nothing went missing that time. Mikey turned up at Declan’s flat unexpectedly and caught them in the act. Amber tried to make out Declan had forced her. Course Mikey didn’t swallow that load of crap. Amber even had the nerve to tell Declan that Mikey was abusing her.”
It was Rachel’s turn to slam her fist down on the table. “I’ll fucking kill her.”
“Take it easy Rach,” said Jez. “Mikey’s sorted it. He kicked her out and he’s getting a divorce. Anyway, Katia sent one of her men to bribe Declan about his affair with Amber. Apparently he’d taken photos of them together and he threatened to send them to Mikey if he didn’t screw up our deal with the McVays.”
“And the idiot went ahead and tried?” said Rachel. “If he’d succeeded he could have got us all killed, our entire family.”
“Fortunately he was too fucking thick and he buggered it up. To be fair, I don’t think his heart was really in it.”
“But he still went ahead and nicked McVay drugs,” she continued.
“God knows what could have happened. He should have just told Mikey about the affair. At least that would have shown he had a fucking spine.”
“True,” said Jez. “And he didn’t stop there. He also planted a gun in Mikey’s car and grassed him up to DI Dwyer. Fortunately Mikey found the gun and got rid of it before Dwyer arrived but he still nicked him. He was out pretty quickly though, thanks to our vicious bastard of a lawyer.”
“I’m going to tear Declan’s head off,” snarled Rachel, eyes jet black. “Amber’s too.”
Ryan ran his hand up and down her back to calm her down. “So what happened to Declan?” he said.
“Mikey beat the living shit out of him and put him in intensive care. When he’s better he’s to go back to Ireland and never return.”
“Is that it?” said an unimpressed Ryan.
“I understand why he let him live,” said Rachel. “After Alex, Mikey’s sick of fighting his own family and Declan was Frank’s nephew.”
“Fair enough I suppose.” Ryan’s gaze was turned on his sister. “But you shouldn’t have set up Katia. She will come back at you for it and you shouldn’t underestimate her.”
“She’s not going to do anything,” said Jules. “Despite how much stronger she’s got, she’s still not as strong as us. Plus she’s desperate to impress Toni and take over the deal we have with her, just like Jared was. Toni will take an outright attack on us as an attack on her and Katia’s not stupid enough to do that, sadly. That’s why she came up with that plan to hurt us through Declan.”
“It was a smart idea,” said Rachel. “Declan was always the weak link.”
“And now he’s gone we’re airtight,” said Jez.
“Don’t get overconfident,” said Ryan. “That’s when you let your guard down and bad things happen.”
“Jesus you’re depressing,” said Jez. “All’s good. Katia’s been put in her place, Slattery’s finally dead and, best of all, Jules is still here,” he grinned at his sister.
“You’re sure Slattery’s dead?” said Ryan. “You didn’t actually see him die.”
“It’s all over the news,” said Jez. “I thought you would have heard by now?”
“Well, things haven’t exactly been peaceful here either,” said Rachel.
“I take it that’s why that Scottish prick is here?” said Jez.
She nodded.
“Jesus, why did you have to call him in? What about Battler and Bruiser? Even fucking Elvis would have been an improvement on that arsehole and he’s dead.”
“Battler and Bruiser are swamped with work,” said Rachel. “They did their best for us but this is a full time job.”
“So Rachel called Brodie in,” said Ryan. “If I had my way he’d still be in Glasgow, annoying everyone up there.”
“He’s a fucking dick,” said Jez. “You don’t need him. Me and Jules are here now, we’ll sort this out.”
“Does Cathy not mind you sodding off down here, after you spent a couple of nights trailing around after me?” said Jules.
“She understands.”
“You mean she doesn’t want me doing a runner?”
“Exactly.”
“She probably wants you out from under her feet for a while too.”
“Probably.” Jez frowned. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
“What has Cathy been saying? Have I been getting on her nerves?”
“She’s not said anything, I’m only joking. Jeez, talk about being paranoid. We’re getting off topic here.” Jules turned to Ryan. “You never did tell us what it was that brought that smoking hot pair down from Glasgow?”
“That’ll be because of Leah,” said Rachel, placing their food before them and taking the seat beside Ryan.
“Is she okay?” said Jules, eyes heavy with concern.
“She’s fine, if feeling a little sheepish,” replied Rachel.
She explained recent events to an increasingly incredulous Jules and Jez, at the end of which Jules chuckled.
“It’s not funny,” said Ryan.
“I don’t know what you expected with that girl’s pedigree. It was inevitable she was going to get up to something.”
“That’s what we’d hoped to avoid by moving down here,” said Rachel. “But it didn’t work.”
“Course it wasn’t going to work with you two up to your vigilante business.”
“Vigilante?” said Jez. “Please don’t tell me you’re still involved with that crap?”
“We’re not vigilantes,” said Rachel. “We just help out the locals when they need it.”
“Help them how?” he countered. “Charitable donations? Assisting old ladies across the street? No. You beat the shit out of people who step out of line.”
“And you’re surprised when Leah does the same thing?” said Jules. “Really?”
“We had no idea she even knew about it,” said Ryan.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about kids,” said Jez. “It’s that they always know more than we think they do. About everything.”
“Thank you oh wise one,” said Ryan.
“You’re only annoyed because I’m right and you’ve been a silly bastard.”
“Excuse me?”
“You moved here to get away from trouble and you start doing this. Why?”
“They won’t admit it,” said Jules. “But they’d get bored if they weren’t up to shenanigans.”
“That is not true,” said Ryan. “We love our life here.”
“Yes it is,” said Jules.
Ryan and Jules narrowed identical grey eyes at each other.
“The most pressing matter is finding Reid,” said Rachel, neatly steering the conversation away from that sensitive topic. “Then we can finally put this to bed.”
“You think someone like Reid is going to stop just because you tell him to?” said Jules. “Course he won’t, he’s got a taste for it, it’s an addiction. You two can probably relate to that. He’ll pop out when you least expect it because, as much as I hate to say it, he sounds smart. Ish.”
“You got a plan to flush him out?” said Jez.
“Brodie and I think we’ve tracked him down to his hideout,” said Ryan. “Battler and Bruiser have sent one of their men to keep a lookout for him.”
“Why wait?” said Jules. “Just go in there and kick his head in.”
“Because the flat he’s staying in is right over a very busy pub. That would be a stupid move.”
“But a smart place to hide,” said Jules.
“Maybe you should be on his side if he’s so wonderful,” said Ryan.
“Maybe I will,” she retorted. “I bet he’s not as grumpy as you.”
Rachel hid a smile. Sometimes when Ryan and Jules squabbled they sounded like little children, despite their huge IQ’s. “What is it?” she said when sadness suddenly filled Jules’s eyes.
“There’s something I need to tell you all. I found out Estelle did one to Calais three months ago.”
Rachel looked to Ryan and Jez, whose eyes were stormy, their jaws gritted.
“That’s another reason why you were going there?” said Jez.
“Yeah,” said Jules.
“And if you’d found her?”
“I intended to kill her,” she replied, glancing at Ryan.
“I wish you had found her,” said her older brother.
“She could be anywhere by now,” said Jules.
“No need to track her,” said Jez. “One day she’ll come back to England. She won’t be able to keep away. And when she does…”
“We do what?” said Jules.
“We end her,” said Ryan, voice weary. “She’s left us no choice.”
Rachel looked on as the three siblings nodded at each other. Finally they’d made a decision about what to do with their malevolent mother.
CHAPTER 43
Ellen looked around before taking out her keys. Hastily she unlocked the metal gate covering the fr
ont door of her cafe, then the door and rushed inside, locking up behind her.
“Stupid little bastards making me afraid to go to work,” she muttered.
She gazed around the café, which she’d done her best to make look as pretty as possible, to bring a haven of peace to the city. But she’d failed miserably. No one could get any peace here with the chavs hanging around, making everyone’s lives a misery. She sighed when she looked down at the pile of letters that had been shoved through the letterbox. At first her café had done very well, her food was good and Ellen herself was a popular hostess. However, when she’d started to be harassed by the chavs her nice, respectable customers had gradually dropped off, leaving her with the dregs who came in to get out of the cold for a bit, who could nurse a single cup of tea for hours. Consequently the debts were piling up and she had no way to pay them. Even though the café was an albatross around her neck, it would break her heart if the bank took it off her.
She tossed the bills aside, unable to find the energy to look through them, they were too depressing. There was only one item of interest, a white envelope with her name neatly printed on the front. There was no stamp, indicating it had been hand delivered.
She tore it open and pulled out a note.
This is to say thanks for the pizza and chips and the shoulder to cry on. Jules.
She delved into the envelope again and pulled out a cheque that had more zeros than she’d ever seen in her life.
“Oh my God,” she breathed, slumping against the counter as her legs went weak, staring at the cheque in mute shock.
A laugh built up in the back of her throat, one she hadn’t had the will to make in a long time. It was full of delight and hope after years of drudgery and depression.
Ellen leapt to her feet, feeling younger than she had in years. “Up yours Bracknell,” she yelled. “Hello Hurley.” She pressed the cheque to her heart, tears on her cheeks. “Thank you honey.”
Robbie lay in his hospital bed, his knee quietly throbbing away. The drugs had worn off earlier and he’d been in agony. Fortunately they’d topped him up quickly and the pain had immediately died down. His kneecap was pretty much ruined and he’d been told he would probably walk with a limp from now on. He’d had surgery to repair it but that was only the first of many operations he was going to need over the coming years, if he lived that long.
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