Shattered (Dividing Line #5) (23 page)

“It’s more than a mark. Does it disgust you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” To prove it he gently kissed the scar, feeling the raised ridge beneath his lips but it didn’t repulse him in the slightest. It was just a part of Rachel now. He heard her shaky exhale of relief, felt her hands go into his hair. He kissed her on the mouth and gazed into her eyes. “See? Nothing on this earth could make me stop desiring you.”

“I’ve been so frightened it would.”

“There’s no need, really. Now, would you like that wine?”

“Yes please. But first I need to change.”

Rachel looked back in the mirror at the scar. If it didn’t matter to Ryan then it didn’t matter to her. She wouldn’t hide it. On the contrary she would wear it as a badge of honour in the days to come. It would make a good intimidation tactic.
Look how hard I am, I survived having my throat cut.
It would also be a message to Alex that she would not let him beat her.

While he opened the bottle and poured out the wine, she changed into the cute rabbit onesie he’d bought her, complete with ears on the hood, then climbed beneath the covers. He handed her one of the glasses then stretched out on the bed beside her and pulled her close.

“It’s nice to have some privacy,” he said.

She took a long drink of wine, sighed with satisfaction and nodded. “No nurses wandering in or out. Did you tell Mum and Dad I’m out of hospital?”

“Yes and they were relieved. Rick seemed to be hoping you’d be flying out to join them once you got out.”

“Oh God he didn’t. What did you say?”

“The truth. That you’re determined to stay until this is resolved. I think he understood it’s something you have to do. After seeing everything up close he’s become more understanding about how it all works. I don’t know what he’s telling your mum and Leah but I’m sure he’s making it convincing.”

“I hope so. I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to them,” she said, gesturing to her throat.

“We’ll think of something, don’t worry about that yet.”

She put her glass on the bedside cabinet. “You’re right. For now I’m just enjoying being alone with you.”

He only just had time to put down his own glass before she rolled on top of him, her lips finding his. It felt like such a long time since they’d last been intimate and now his body demanded hers.

“Take this off,” she smiled, tugging at his jumper.

Eagerly he sat up, pulled it off and threw it to the floor. They kissed desperately, Ryan unzipping the onesie and pushing it off her shoulders, pulling it down to reveal her bra. He forced aside the anger her scars brought out in him. This was about the two of them, not Alex sodding Maguire.

Holding her to him he rolled her onto her back and she started to unfasten his jeans.

“I want you Ryan,” she said.

He practically tore the onesie off down her legs and Rachel was elated by the passion in his eyes, which was so intense he looked almost frenzied. All her doubts were reassured in that moment. He wanted her more than ever, scars and all and she wasn’t in the least bit afraid.

Music suddenly started up from below, way above polite levels and Rachel sighed.

“I can’t do this with all that racket.”

“I’ll sort it,” said Ryan, pissed off at the interruption. “I don’t know what they’re playing at down there.”

He kissed her before climbing off the bed and striding out the door. The music reached epic proportions as he reached the ground floor, the large room amplifying the noise. He was surprised to find all the men sat around drinking and laughing, all except Battler and Bruiser, who maintained a watch at the windows. Ryan couldn’t really blame the others for wanting to relax, things had been so tense lately and they were just blowing off some steam but they had interrupted his special time with Rachel and that made him furious. They all went quiet when he stormed in and slammed his fist down on the stereo’s off button so hard the plastic cracked.

“There’s a sick woman upstairs trying to rest. What the fuck do you think you’re all doing?”

The sight of an irate Ryan Law, bare-chested with a very obvious erection was enough to subdue them all.

“Doesn’t look like she’s doing much resting,” Frankie said quietly, gesturing to Ryan’s crotch. “What have you got down there, the fucking Trident submarine?”

Paul and Jamesie sniggered. Even Riley had to hide a smile.

“Is that a family trait?” continued Frankie, looking from Jez to Riley.

“Well I don’t want to brag,” grinned Jez.

“Just keep the noise down, alright?” snapped Ryan before turning on his heel and marching back upstairs. They all winced as the bedroom door slammed shut.

“Bugger it,” Ryan muttered when he found Rachel fast asleep on the bed in just her underwear. His eyes roamed over her longingly and he felt himself get even harder.

With a weary sigh he pulled the duvet over her then climbed into bed beside her. Even though it was still early he was knackered after all the sleep he’d missed out on recently and he wanted to be with his wife. He might not get to make love to her tonight but at least he could fall asleep with her in his arms.

CHAPTER 23

The disappointment of the previous evening was tempered the very next morning when Ryan woke to the most delightful sensations originating from below his waist. After those incredible sensations had reached their crescendo Rachel looked up at him along the length of his body and smiled. “That was my way of apologising for falling asleep last night.”

“You are entirely forgiven,” he breathed, running his fingers through her hair while he waited for his heart rate to slow. “Now get on your back. It’s my turn.”

After finally enjoying some private time together they showered and dressed, Rachel donning black trousers and shirt again.

“You hate these clothes, don’t you?” she asked him when she noticed him watching her dress.

“Only because I’m worried there’s another reason why you’re wearing them, other than the practical one you’ve already told me about. Rachel, you can tell me,” he said when the vulnerability returned to her eyes.

“The skirts and stockings remind me of Alex on top of me telling me what he was going to do to me and how much he was going to make it hurt and how helpless I felt.” Tears formed in her eyes but her gaze remained steady and strong. “That’s why I can’t wear them. I might one day, but not yet.”

“I knew there was more to it than you were letting on.”

She wiped away the tears and at the same time erased the vulnerability from her eyes. They were about to go downstairs and she would not allow anyone else to see that part of her. “Well, now you know.”

The thought of Alex pinning down his wife and trying to force himself on her was more than Ryan could bear. He took her face in his hands. “He is going to die for what he did to you, I promise you that.”

“I know you never make promises you can’t keep.”

He kissed her and pressed his forehead to hers. “Come on, let’s go downstairs. I’m starving.”

Everyone else was already up and gathered in the kitchen by the time they descended.

“Smells good Battler,” said Rachel, standing beside him at the cooker to examine the bacon sizzling in the pan. It smelt divine and her stomach rumbled in anticipation. He also had sausage, eggs, beans, tomatoes and fried bread on the go. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

“I’ve managed to keep it a secret for years but it looks like the cat’s out of the bag now.” He put an arm around her. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better thanks.”

As she smiled up at him he caught sight of the scar on her neck and he slammed his fist down on the worktop. “The bastard. Look what he’s done.”

“Take it easy Battler,” she soothed. “It’s okay.”

“No it’s not okay, not by a long way. If Frank were here he’d kill Alex himself. I can’t fucking stand it.”

“Come on, you’re letting it all burn,” she said, trying to take his mind off it. “I’ll help you dish up.”

He paused to kiss her on the forehead then together they began plating up the food.

“Rachel, I’m amazed you’re walking so well,” Frankie told her as she put his plate down in front of him.

“Why’s that?” she asked casually. After a good night’s sleep she felt much more able to face him.

“Well, after spending the night with the beast,” he replied, gesturing to Ryan.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, only half-listening and not really caring what he had to say. Instead she concentrated on making sure the men all had what they needed and they all squeezed round the kitchen table. Although it was a large table it was still a squash with ten of them round it, the majority of them big men. They ate in silence, Rachel delicately putting the fork to her lips while the men shovelled the food into their mouths as fast as they could.

“This is really good Battler,” said Rachel. She was sat between him and Ryan and had never felt so safe in her entire life.

“Thanks love,” he replied. He hesitated, the fork halfway to his lips, forehead creasing with a scowl. “What the fuck are you looking at?” he growled at Jamesie.

“Nothing,” he replied nonchalantly.

“You were staring at Rachel.”

Frankie whacked Jamesie round the back of the head, making him drop his cutlery, splattering bacon and beans all over the table.

“Were you staring at her scar?” he demanded.

“No Frankie, honestly. I was only looking at her tits.”

Frankie’s anger dissolved and he burst out laughing. “You’ve got to admire honesty like that. Allow me to apologise for this fucking numpty Sweetheart.”

“It’s already forgotten,” she replied magnanimously.

Ryan however wasn’t so forgiving. “You fucking stare at her again and I’ll remove your eyes with this fork.”

“Too right,” said Frankie. “Rachel is a lady who could easily kick your saggy arse. Fucking behave yourself. Remember, I’ve still got an empty Tupperware box.”

Ryan noticed that this threat made Jamesie very edgy. It seemed Frankie wasn’t above taking parts of his own men as trophies. For the rest of the meal Jamesie kept his eyes glued to his plate, going out of his way not to look at Rachel.

“So, what are we doing today?” Riley nonchalantly asked, as though they were all on holiday.

“Me and Rachel are going to pay Alex’s lawyer a visit,” replied Ryan. “She deals with his illegal businesses too, she might know something useful.” This wasn’t a lie but there was another reason why they were visiting Sheridan, however they were keeping that between the two of them. “You lot can start tearing apart Alex’s alliances and weakening him.”

“We hit Lucifer’s Shadow?” said Riley, suddenly impatient.

“Not just yet. I’m waiting for Taylor to get back to me on that one.”

Riley looked like he could explode with frustration.

“Soon Riley,” Ryan told him. “There’s more of them than us. Dane’s going to back us up but we need to coordinate the attack first.”

Riley forced himself to relax. As always Ryan’s logic was indisputable.

Sheridan, or Amanda as she’d been christened, was terrified. She knew the Laws were coming for her, it was only a matter of time. If Alex hadn’t expressly forbidden it she would have done a runner abroad until this whole mess went away, but he said he needed her here and she was just as terrified of Alex Maguire as she was of Ryan and Rachel Law. Why did she have to listen to Katia at the brothel? She’d known full well who Rachel was before she even set foot in that room but Katia had assured her it was entirely risk free, that Rachel would never escape to tell anyone what had been done to her. But against all the odds she had and now she and her husband were coming for her. There was no way they were going to let her get away with what she’d done but Sheridan hadn’t been able to help herself. The prospect of having such a strong, powerful woman as Rachel Law at her mercy had been too much of a temptation to turn down. She’d had so many plans for her but they’d all gone completely wrong when that stupid interfering girl had run in and knocked her out. Even now, when she knew how much trouble her depraved desires had got her into, the mere thought of what she’d had in store for Rachel was enough to turn her on.

Beautiful women had always been Sheridan’s weakness, or more specifically, her need to hurt and dominate them. Of course she knew it was wrong but she couldn’t help it. She’d had to pay off more than one woman she’d hurt a bit too much. That was why Alex’s brothel had been such a blessing because she could hurt them as much as she liked without fear of them running to the police or the newspapers. On two occasions she’d come close to killing the women but Alex had always assured her that it was okay, he’d sort it out and she’d always been welcomed back. She only realised too late that he’d only been so understanding so she would be completely at his mercy and he could get her to do anything he wanted, no matter how illegal. Now she was in it up to her neck. On the bright side, her gift for bending the law without getting caught made her an asset to Alex and had encouraged him to post the two big men with guns in her house as protection should the Laws come calling. Somehow she knew they wouldn’t be enough to keep them at bay.

Her hand shook as she poured herself out another neat gin, her third of the day, even though it was only ten in the morning. The sense of impending doom that had gripped her since this whole nightmare began had only got stronger and she felt it was reaching its crescendo.

Sheridan hesitated, the glass halfway to her lips, when she heard a loud bang and then shouts from the direction of the kitchen. There was the sound of something breaking, another muffled yell, then silence. Sheridan held her breath when she heard staccato footsteps approaching, high heels. A woman.

Rachel was here.

Alex had specifically told her not to call the police but now the danger was here she thought, screw that. She made a lunge for the phone just as the door burst open. Sure enough there was Rachel Law bringing the fury of hell with her.

Deciding to abandon the phone Sheridan raced for the connecting door leading back into the hallway but Rachel grabbed her before she could even reach it. A fist was slammed into her face and Sheridan found herself on the floor, looking up at Rachel.

“I’m sorry,” Sheridan managed to whimper, fear constricting her throat. Already she could feel her cheek swelling from the powerful blow.

“You will be fucking sorry you ever set foot in that brothel you twisted bitch. I’m not tied up now.”

Rachel punched her twice more in the face then kicked her hard in the ribs. Rachel straddled her then grabbed her by the front of her blouse. So strong was she in her rage that she lifted Sheridan’s head and shoulders clean off the floor then head butted her. White light filled Sheridan’s head at the force of the blow and she marvelled at the power inside Rachel. What the hell had she been thinking, walking into that room?

“Easy Babe,” said a deep gentle voice.

Sheridan’s eyes slowly opened and she felt sick with fear when she saw Ryan Law standing beside his wife. His grey eyes were cold and filled with loathing as he looked down at her.

“Please don’t hurt me,” Sheridan begged him. “I’ll do anything you want.”

“I’m not going to hurt you, that pleasure is all my wife’s.”

Rachel gave her an evil smile.

“Before she really goes to work on you,” he continued, “we want you to tell us why you visited Alex in hospital.”

“Why should I tell you if you’re going to hurt me anyway?”

“If you cooperate I’ll let you live,” said Rachel. “If you don’t I will kill you right here, right now. But you are going to suffer not just for what you did to me but for every girl in that disgusting brothel. What right have you to call yourself a woman? Because you’re rich and well connected you think that gives you a free pass to do what you like, to abuse the vulnerable and helpless. We’re here to show you that no one has that right and that it always comes back on you. When we’re done with you, you won’t dare look at another woman again.”

Rachel’s eyes turned jet black. Sheridan had heard of this phenomenon but actually seeing it in the flesh was unnerving. She looked like a predator about to devour its prey and the knowledge that she was the prey was enough to turn her bowels to ice.

“He wanted to change his will,” she began.

“In who’s favour?”

“Katia’s. She’s to inherit everything with a provision for their child when it’s born.”

“What about Beth and his children with her?”

“He disinherited them all. They get nothing.”

“The bastard,” yelled Rachel, making Sheridan jump. “Where’s this new will?”

“In my safe. He doesn’t like me keeping his documents at the office, he’s paranoid someone will get at them.”

“Is the old will here too?”

Sheridan nodded.

Rachel got to her feet and glared down at her. “Open the fucking safe.”

“O…okay, it’s just behind the desk, under the floor.”

Ryan and Rachel followed her round the back of the desk and watched in silence as Sheridan scrabbled about on her hands and knees.

“Hurry up,” snapped Ryan.

“I’m trying,” said Sheridan. Her hands were still shaking and it was an effort for her to tap in the combination on the key pad. “I’ve done it,” she cried with relief when there was a click and she pulled the door open. “Here it is,” she said, handing Rachel a single sheet of paper. “That’s his new will.”

“Where’s the old one?”

She handed her that too and Rachel read through them both before tearing the new one up, throwing the pieces onto the fire and pocketing the old one. “Katia gets nothing. Beth is his wife, it will all go to her because believe me when I say that Alex is living on borrowed time.”

Looking at these two, Sheridan didn’t doubt it.

They sat her down on the couch and got her to go through everything she knew about Alex’s businesses and she had plenty to tell. The business she knew most about was his money laundering operation. Her main role was dealing with the integrating stage. She dealt with the money when it had been ‘washed’ and arranged for it to be transferred into a UK business account in the form of a bank transfer from abroad, making it look like an investment in one of Alex’s legitimate companies. The money was then clean and free for him to use. Someone else Sheridan didn’t know and was prevented from meeting did the actual laundering, placing a cash deposit in a bank then layering it - sending it through several financial transactions in different countries, changing the money’s currency and buying high value items to change the form of the money. This made it almost impossible to follow before it was integrated back into a legitimate UK account by Sheridan. Both Ryan and Rachel were very familiar with this process, having used it themselves regularly in their dark pasts. Now everything was legal and above-board and went through the books, nevertheless they both experienced a surge of excitement when they considered how they could use Alex’s own operation to hurt him, which was large and complex with tentacles in the Bahamas, the Caymans, Bahrain and Singapore. Millions of pounds were currently floating around in these offshore accounts going through transfer after bank transfer before being integrated back into his UK accounts.