Reckoning

by Heather Atkinson

  Still Hughes didn’t speak, his body starting to violently shake.

  “We don’t want your kind around here, spoiling our beautiful county,” said Battler. “There’s lots of people who want you gone and we’re the nicest of them. There was talk of stringing you up from a lamppost by your balls, that’s what should be done to perverts like you when all the law does is give you a slap on the wrist then lets you go. It’s a fucking disgrace, isn’t it?” he said, looking to Rachel, who nodded. “My friend here hates beasts like you. Why don’t you show him how much you hate beasts?”

  Rachel punched Hughes hard in the stomach, who threw up all over the floor. That was bound to happen again and she wanted it out of the way first. As he doubled over, fighting for breath, she punched him in the ribs then kicked him to the floor, sending him sprawling into his own puke. She stood on the side of his head and pressed down with her boot, rubbing his face in it.

  “We’re here to do you a favour Hughes,” continued Battler. “You can leave the area and never come back or we can string you up like everyone wants. I’ve got some rope all ready, just for you.”

  Rachel released Hughes and watched as he pushed himself up to a sitting position, for the first time defiance in his eyes. The indignity of having his face rubbed in his own sick had snapped him out of his trance-like state.

  “You wouldn’t dare do anything like that, have you any fucking idea who my family is?” yelled Hughes. “I’m going to have you both locked up for life, no one treats a Hughes like this.”

  Battler looked to Rachel and laughed through the Electrolarynx. “You hear that? He thinks we’re joking. Let’s show him just how serious we are.”

  Battler grabbed Hughes’s leg and dragged him towards the door. When he started to kick and scream Rachel punched him in the face until he stopped then grimaced at the sticky remnants of various bodily fluids stuck to her gloves.

  Unimpeded, Battler easily dragged him into the barn and produced the length of thick rope he’d hidden there earlier that day. He tossed the end of the rope over a high beam and stood over Hughes, brandishing the noose.

  “You’re not going to use that, you’re only trying to scare me,” said Hughes.

  Battler didn’t reply, knowing silence would be more intimidating.

  “You’re not really doing this, no,” screamed Hughes as Battler looped the noose around his neck and tightened it, cutting off his cry.

  Battler looked to Rachel, who nodded. Battler nodded back and started to haul on the rope, dragging Hughes upright. His hands scrabbled at the noose around his neck, eyes and mouth stretched wide open, emitting a choking sound. Battler kept pulling until Hughes stood on his tiptoes. Urine ran down one trembling leg.

  Battler tied off the rope and stood before Hughes, glaring into his face. “Still think we’re fucking playing?” he said through the Electrolarynx.

  Hughes looked back at him, still clinging onto the hope that this was a hoax, that they wouldn’t go all the way. Divining his thoughts, Battler took the rope in hand again and pulled. Hughes was lifted entirely off the floor, his legs kicking and thrashing. Battler and Rachel looked up at him impassively, listening to him gurgle, watching his eyes protrude from his head.

  It was only when Hughes appeared to be losing consciousness, head starting to loll, that Rachel tapped Battler’s arm and he let him down. Hughes hit the ground with a thump, desperately trying to remove the noose and failing because his body refused to cooperate.

  “We’re not fucking joking, we don’t have a sense of humour,” said Battler through the Electrolarynx. “If you don’t leave the area by tomorrow night we’ll drag you back here, only next time we won’t let you down until you’re dead then we’ll bury your body on this land. No one will know, they won’t even think of coming here. You want that to happen?”

  Frantically Hughes shook his head.

  “I’m glad you’ve finally seen sense.” With that Battler punched him, knocking him out.

  Battler dragged him back outside and dumped Hughes in the boot of his own car. He pulled off the balaclava and scratched his stubble. “I’ll sort this prick out love,” he told Rachel. “You get yourself home.”

  “Thank you,” she said, removing her own balaclava to kiss his cheek.

  “Anytime sweetheart and drive carefully,” he called after her.

  “You too,” she said before getting into her own car and starting the drive home. Glancing at the clock she saw it was just after midnight and she was more than ready for bed.

  It was depressing coming home to an empty house - Ryan was still in Manchester, the boys were sleeping over at her parents’ house and Leah was spending the night at Sarah’s. Still, it meant she didn’t have to explain why she was dressed all in black, clutching a balaclava and smelling of sick.

  She stuffed the clothes into the furnace to burn then took a shower and enjoyed a soothing glass of wine before retiring to bed. Sod it, she’d tackle the pissy car boot tomorrow.

  Lying there cold and alone depressed her, it wasn’t often she was parted from Ryan. Not only that, physical violence got her horny and now she had no outlet.

  Instead she snuggled into Ryan’s pillow, inhaling his scent, which eventually lulled her to sleep.

  CHAPTER 28

  Katia had the best night’s sleep in weeks, safe in the knowledge that her sons were back and that there was a strong, capable man in the flat who would protect them all. Hayden had slept in the spare room and Katia was surprised to find she was disappointed. When Alex had died she’d sworn she would never sleep with another man again, but she found herself thinking about Hayden, wondering what it would feel like if he touched her. Finally she fell sleep imagining herself tucked up safe and warm in his arms. In the cold light of day she assumed it was just the fact that he’d restored her children to her that was making her feel like this. When he wandered into the kitchen, lured by the scent of freshly brewed coffee, hair all over the place, wearing a tight white t-shirt and blue jeans, she realised that was ridiculous. She genuinely wanted him.

  “Here you go,” she said, holding a mug out to him.

  “Ta,” he replied, accepting it and settling himself down at the table. “Are the boys awake?”

  “No, still out for the count. They must be exhausted after yesterday.”

  “They seem like really good kids.”

  “They are,” she said proudly.

  Hayden watched her toss back her mane of golden hair and his heart sped up. How could anyone look that amazing so early in the morning? The only other woman he’d seen who could rival her in beauty was Rachel Law. Katia was a rare woman indeed.

  “So, what are you up to today?” he said, sipping his coffee.

  “Nothing. I want to stay here all day with my boys.”

  “I bet you do,” he said with a smile that made her stomach flip.

  “And you?”

  He shrugged. “Dunno. If I’m staying in the area I suppose I’d better do some exploring.”

  Katia was disappointed, she wanted him to stay here all day, so she’d feel safe.

  “What’s wrong?” he said when her eyes slid to the floor.

  “I just feel so safe with you here. I know it’s selfish but I don’t want you to go out.”

  “I can stay, if that’s what you really want?”

  “It is,” she beamed.

  “But I really need to get some clothes and toiletries. I came from Manchester with nothing.”

  “Is no problem, I ask Robbie to get them for you.”

  “I don’t think he’d want to do that,” said Hayden, recalling the black look Robbie had given him yesterday. He got the feeling his presence wasn’t wanted.

  “He does anything I ask,” she said dismissively. “Just leave it to me.” She was so pleased Hayden would be here with her that she couldn’t care less what Robbie Jordan thought.

  When her mobile phone rang she was dismayed to see Jared’s name flash up on the screen. “Hello
Jared,” she said flatly.

  “I need you to come to the Homestead. Now. I hear you have a guest,” he rumbled in her ear.

  “You hear right,” she replied, silently cursing Robbie. “He saved my sons.”

  “And he betrayed Mikey Maguire in the process. Give him a slap on the back from me.”

  Katia wasn’t sure if this was good or bad. “Okay.”

  “Call Irina. Tell her I need her at the Homestead too.”

  “But that means I will have to go to work. I want to spend the day with my boys.”

  “Leave one of the other girls in charge. I want you to bring Hayden with you, I want to shake his hand personally.”

  Katia looked to Hayden, who was sipping his coffee with a questioning look. “That is all you want to do to him?”

  “Course it is. I wouldn’t hurt any man who stabbed Mikey Maguire in the back. I’ll expect you within the hour,” he said before hanging up.

  “What’s wrong?” said Hayden when she threw the phone down onto the worktop and scowled at it.

  “Jared has summoned us to the Homestead.”

  “The what?”

  “His big house in the country. He says he wants to meet you and shake your hand. He wants me and Irina to go too.”

  “Why?” he said, not liking this at all.

  “I don’t know. Maybe you should run and hide? This might not be good. He might want to question you about Mikey and Jez’s businesses.”

  “I don’t know anything, I didn’t work for them for long and all I really did was bodyguarding. I’ll go,” he said, getting to his feet. “I don’t run and hide.”

  “You are very brave. You laugh in the faces of all these dangerous men. I like that,” she purred.

  They stared at each other from across the kitchen and smiled, the moment ruined when both boys started to cry in unison, indicating they were awake.

  “I have so missed that sound,” she smiled, stepping past him and leaving the room to tend to her children.

  Hayden stared into his coffee, wondering if Katia was right and he should just do a runner. But that wasn’t his style, he had never acted like a coward and he didn’t intend to start now. He smiled when he heard Katia cooing over her children. Besides, he didn’t want to leave.

  When Jared walked into Jules’s cell armed with a gun she thought this was it, he’d finally come to finish the job.

  Instead he said, “you need to shower and change clothes. You stink.”

  “About time too,” she sniffed. “And where’s my breakfast? I ordered scrambled eggs and bacon. The service around here is shocking.”

  “You make me laugh,” said Jared, although he didn’t look in the slightest bit amused.

  “Wish I could say the same. Who was that woman you shot?”

  “No one but she looked right.”

  “She had to die because she looked like me?”

  “It was necessary. Collateral damage.”

  “I don’t understand why I’m still alive.”

  “Killing you would be a waste. You have excellent skills, you could be an asset to us.”

  “You want me to work for you?”

  “Perhaps. First things first, you need to shower and change. Mum says a lady should always look her best.”

  “Lady? You don’t know me at all.” When he held out a pair of handcuffs her eyes lit up. “I take that back.”

  “I’ve seen what you can do and I’m taking no chances. This gun will be trained on you the entire time and if you try anything there won’t be another woman taking your place.”

  “Alright, I get it,” she said, snatching the handcuffs from him and putting them on herself.

  “Tighter,” he said.

  When she didn’t adjust them to his liking he slammed a massive hand down on her wrists and tightened them himself. She released a groan of pleasure that was intended to freak him out but appeared to intrigue him instead. He stared down at her and released a long, shaky breath, eyes flaring.

  “I’m not an idiot,” he said. “You would have had those off in two seconds flat. Now move.”

  Jules tramped out of the room, relieved when he told her to turn right, away from the cellar where that poor, nameless woman had died. They walked upstairs and she took in a deep breath of relief when they emerged in that magnificent hallway with the huge chandelier.

  “Upstairs,” he told her, careful to stay just out of striking distance.

  The carpet was so thick it absorbed any sound their ascension might have made. Everything was brand new and sparkly and she got the impression the décor had been entirely chosen by Tanya Slattery. It screamed good taste and she couldn’t imagine Jared picking out antique vases and pictures of orchids.

  “Where next?” she asked in a bored tone once they’d reached the top of the stairs.

  “Right,” was all he said.

  She followed his directions, deciding it would be smart to play along, for now. She was getting a good idea of the building and once she understood it completely she would be able to plan her escape.

  “In here,” he said, gesturing to a room on the right.

  Jules pushed open the door and she was surprised to find herself in a large bedroom that could be described as sumptuous, even if there were bars on the windows.

  “You can take a shower and change clothes. I got you something to change into,” he said, gesturing to the cream silk blouse and dark pink skirt lying neatly on the bed.

  “Hardly my style,” she frowned.

  “They’re my mum’s and they’ll suit you.”

  “I don’t think they will.”

  “Just put them on,” he barked, his temper slipping. “The shower’s through there,” he said, pointing to a door leading off the main bedroom. “I’ll be waiting right here with the gun, so just bear that in mind when you inevitably think of trying something.”

  She stared at him, stunned. Every time she thought he was finally going to kill her he pulled a stunt that disorientated her. “Okay,” she said slowly before slipping into the bathroom and shutting the door, noting the lock had been removed.

  The shower was one of those fancy ones with dozens of dials and it took her so long to figure out how to use it that Jared banged on the door. “What are you doing in there?”

  “Just trying to work out how to use the shower,” she called back. “Oh, got it,” she added before stepping under the spray. She took her time, enjoying the fruity shampoo and body wash, which revived her and it was a relief to wash off the dust from the explosion and the stink of the cellar.

  “Hurry up,” yelled Jared, banging on the door again.

  “Prick,” she said before turning off the water and wrapping a towel around herself. When she returned to the bedroom Jared gaped at her right shoulder. “What the hell is that?”

  Jules looked down at the head of the snake with red eyes and dripping fangs and smiled. “She’s Venom, my namesake.”

  “But…how far does it go down?”

  She whipped off the towel, her grin broadening. “All the way sweetheart.”

  It took all of Jared’s self-control not to let his jaw drop at the sight of the python extending down her torso, wrapping around her waist, its tail plummeting down her right thigh, terminating just above her right knee. “Turn around,” he ordered.

  She did as bid, completely secure in her own nakedness. Jared didn’t have the demeanour of a man about to commit rape, he seemed more surprised than anything. Besides, if he tried that she’d twist his cock off.

  “Why did you have that put on your body?” he said, sounding genuinely interested.

  “Because I wanted to,” she replied, turning back round to face him. “She represents my dark side. I did most of the work myself.”

  “I heard you’ve got your own tattoo shop.”

  “I do and I’m really good. I’ll tattoo you if you want?”

  “No thanks, I don’t want a tattoo gun in the temple.”

  “Damn, rum
bled,” she said mischievously.

  He stared for a little longer before saying, “get dressed.”

  “Really?” she sighed, indicating the hideous clothes.

  “Yeah. Now.”

  “Fine.” She pulled on the hideous items, including the cream silk panties and bra which, she was disturbed to note, fit perfectly. “I hope the underwear’s not your mum’s.”

  “Course not, I bought you new,” he replied. “Mum says the sign of a lady is matching underwear.”

  “Mine always matches because it’s all black.”

  “Everything?”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder and flashed a smile. “Everything. With lace.”

  There was a deep rumble as he cleared his throat. “I got something else, to complete the outfit.”

  “Okay,” she said slowly, dismayed when he opened a box to reveal a string of pearls. This was getting worse.

  “Turn around,” he said. He moved behind her and raised them over her head. “Try anything and I’ll strangle you with them,” he hissed in her ear.

  “You won’t get any trouble from me.”

  “I’d better not.” He managed to fasten them without incident then gently turned her to face him. “You look beautiful.”

  “You sure?” she said doubtfully.

  He brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “Yeah, absolutely. Just one more touch to be added,” he said eagerly, bending down to retrieve a pair of cream-coloured high heels.

  “There’s no way I can walk in them.”

  His countenance became stormy. “Fucking try.”

  “Fine, I’ll will, but I’m telling you now I’ll only fall over.”

  “Wait, allow me,” he said when she put her hand out for them.

  “Whatever,” she shrugged. She raised her left foot and Jared slipped the shoe on. Then she wobbled on that foot as he slipped on the right.

  “There, how does that feel?” he said, eyes glued to her feet.

  “Okay, as long as I don’t move.”

  “Try walking.”

  “I can’t.”

  He cocked the gun. “Try.”

  “Okay, take it easy, I’ll try but be warned I’m probably going to fall over.”