Reckoning Read online

  “Push bike?” said Amber innocently.

  “Motorbike. A Harley,” she added, frowning when Mikey sniggered.

  “Ooh, I like them,” said Amber. “I asked Mikey to get a motorbike once, he can ride them but he won’t, he likes cars.”

  Jules turned her gaze on Mikey, who stared back at her unflinchingly. “Mikey, that’s cruel. You can have a lot of fun on a motorbike. Well, if he won’t take you out on one Amber, I will.”

  “Really?” she said, her excitement almost child-like. “That would be so much fun, but is it working properly now?”

  “I’ll take you out on one of the others. I have three.”

  “Three?” she exclaimed. “Wow, I’d like to see them.”

  “Then we’ll have to arrange that.”

  “Will you have time Jules?” said Mikey, tone heavy with warning. “We’re busy at work and you’ve got your shop to run too.”

  “I’ll make time,” she said, waving a dismissive hand in his direction. “This is family.”

  As Amber beamed, Cathy entered the room to announce very formally that it was time for dinner.

  “What, no gong?” grinned Jules, her smile dropping at Jez’s scowl.

  The bookies was just closing for business when three masked men armed with shotguns burst in.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing you silly little sods?” exclaimed the old man who’d worked there since Frank Maguire had opened the shop twenty five years ago, refusing to be intimidated by the weapons that were thrust into his face. “Have you any idea who owns this place?”

  “Yeah, that’s kinda the point,” retorted one of the men through the balaclava before whacking him in the face with the butt of the gun.

  The scream of sirens cut through the night air, a crowd already gathered, kept back from the danger zone by uniformed police officers. All they could do was watch as the firemen leapt out of the truck and began the serious business of tackling the inferno that had engulfed the garage.

  “Anyone inside?” the Crew Manager asked one of the PC’s on guard duty.

  “Just this guy,” he replied, indicating the soot-covered man coughing on the ground. “He’s the night watchman. We found him trussed up just inside the door. No one else is in there.”

  “Lucky for them,” replied the firefighter, “because we’re not going to be able to save this building.”

  “Can’t say I’m surprised,” said the PC. He grinned wickedly. “Do you know who this garage belongs to?”

  “No, who?”

  “Someone who deserves to have their business burnt down.”

  They all filed into the dining room, Amber and Jules chatting easily, and took their places around the table.

  “So what’s this shop of yours?” said Amber as Cathy dished up a beautifully cooked ham, accompanied by vegetables and roast potatoes.

  “A tattoo parlour,” replied Jules, tucking into the food.

  “Do you do the tattoos yourself?”

  Jules nodded. “I’ve got a friend of mine working there too who’s amazingly talented and I can’t always be there.”

  “Is it busy?”

  “Yeah. I’ve always worked freelance before but now I’ve got my own place my customers have followed me. I’ve taken some business from other studios but they’re sensible enough not to complain about it.”

  Amber was about to ask what she’d do if they did but the look on Mikey’s face told her the response wouldn’t be good. “Are you married?” she said instead.

  Jules chuckled. “I don’t think there’s a man mad enough to take me on for life.”

  “Boyfriend?”

  “Nah, not really.”

  “Girlfriend?” said Cathy playfully, surprising the others.

  Jules was amused. “Not one that’s lasted longer than a night.”

  “You live quite an adventurous life,” said Amber tactfully.

  “Yes, I can certainly say it’s not dull.”

  “I hope Mikey and Jez are treating you nicely at work,” said Cathy. Both she and Amber were fully aware what sort of business their husbands were in but that was always how they referred to it. Work. Neither of them wanted any details.

  “They’re tough but fair,” she smiled, entertained by the conversation. “They’ve put up with a lot from me and it’s the first time I’ve ever had a boss at work, never mind two, so it’s been a learning curve for us all.”

  Mikey and Jez both nodded graciously.

  The dinner passed smoothly enough, apart from a call for Jez, who had to leave the table to take it. Jules and Mikey could see he was troubled when he returned but he didn’t say anything. If it was to do with business he’d let them know at the appropriate time.

  That time came half an hour later. The moment dinner was over Jez turned to Cathy. “I hope you don’t mind Babe but I’d like to speak to Mikey and Jules in private. A bit of business has come up.”

  “We don’t mind, do we Amber?” she said.

  “No, we’ll enjoy a drink in the lounge while you talk.” Both women were used to these impromptu meetings and to being excluded from these conversations and that was how they liked it, so they collected their drinks and left.

  “I take it this is about that phone call?” said Mikey.

  “Yep,” replied Jez, eyes bright with fury. “Two of our businesses got hit tonight - your bookies Mikey and my fucking garage.”

  “Christ,” he exclaimed. “Anyone hurt?”

  “Bill in the bookies got a shotgun butt in the face and the night watchman at the garage got tied up and left to burn but they’re both okay.”

  “Thank fuck for that. Any idea who did it?”

  “Charlie, the night watchman, recognised one of their voices. It was Lyle Nilsen, Bobby Nilsen’s little brother.”

  “That bastard?” snarled Mikey.

  “Never heard of him,” said Jules.

  “I’m not surprised, Bobby goes out of his way to keep under the radar,” said Jez. “This isn’t his style at all, he likes a quiet life.”

  “Looks like Joel and Ollie Starklaw have back-up,” said Mikey. “The sneaky little bastards. Bobby went to school with Ollie.”

  “Bobby and Ollie? Sounds like a double act,” grinned Jules.

  “They are, fucking Laurel and Hardy,” seethed Mikey. “How dare they think they’re capable of taking us on?”

  “Joel’s being released from hospital tomorrow,” said Jez. “Ollie’s already been released.” He broke into a satisfied smile at the memory of smashing his fist into the irritating little sod’s jaw.

  “Fuck,” hissed Mikey. “Nilsen’s strong and well connected.”

  “He knows Jared Slattery’s backing the Starklaws,” said Jez. “He thinks with the support of that southern ponce they can take us on. He’s been after what we’ve got for a long time.” Secretly he was worried that one day they’d encounter someone actually strong enough to take it. With Jared Slattery behind them the Starklaws and Bobby Nilsen might just be.

  “So, what do we do?” said Mikey.

  “Kill them,” spat Jules.

  “I think we should look at all the options first,” said Jez. “Murder’s only a last resort.”

  “If we don’t we’re going to look weak,” she retorted. “Then every scumbag within a fifty mile radius will start trying their luck.”

  “And we’re still being watched by the police after Alex’s…disappearance,” said Jez tactfully. “We have to be careful.”

  “Then let’s do it subtlety,” she pressed. “Wait until both Starklaws have been released from hospital then me and Mark Cameron can take them out nice and quietly. You’ve got the top two assassins in the city on your payroll. Use us.”

  When Mikey appeared tempted Jez said, “we’ve got to play this carefully.”

  “And how do we do that?” said Jules belligerently.

  “We find Nilsen as soon as possible,” said Jez.

  “Is that it?” retorted Jules.
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  “It’s enough for now. If we need to get rid of him in a big messy way to send a message then we will but I don’t want the police’s attention on us any more than it already is. Are we agreed?” he said, looking sideways at Mikey, who nodded.

  “You’re going to regret playing it so safe,” said Jules.

  “We’ve made our decision and that’s the end of it,” said Mikey sternly.

  “Fine. In that case can I get back to my drink and your lovely wife?” she said to Jez, whose jaw tensed.

  A course of action decided upon, the three of them returned to the lounge where Amber and Cathy were patiently waiting.

  “Sorted?” said Cathy.

  “Yeah, nothing to worry about Babe,” replied Jez, sitting beside her and taking her hand. He wanted nothing stressing her out right now. “We have an announcement,” he said to the room.

  “You’re pregnant,” smiled Jules. “I wondered why you weren’t drinking wine at the dinner table. Sorry,” she added when Jez tutted and glared at her. “I’m just excited for you.”

  “Is it true?” said Amber, looking to Cathy. “You’re having another baby?”

  “I am.”

  Amber leapt up to embrace her friend while Mikey shook Jez’s hand. Jules stood before her brother, looking contrite. “Sorry, all this family stuff’s so new to me.”

  “That’s okay,” said Cathy, hugging her. “We’re just glad you’re here to share in this moment, aren’t we Jez?”

  “Ecstatic,” he replied, deadpan, doing an excellent impression of Ryan.

  “How far along are you?” asked Amber excitedly.

  “Three months.”

  “This is your third kid?” said Jules.

  “That’s right,” replied Cathy.

  “You’ve kept your figure amazingly well after two I’m sure a third won’t make any difference,” she said, running her eyes up and down Cathy appreciatively.

  “That’s so sweet. Why don’t you say nice things like that?” said Cathy, slapping Jez on the arm.

  “Because I’m not a pervert,” he replied, frowning at his sister.

  “Don’t be so rude,” chided Cathy. She turned back to Jules. “Just ignore him, he can be such a grump.”

  Jules sniggered, finding the word grump an amusing way to describe one of the most dangerous men in Manchester. She wondered if Cathy was aware of what her husband was capable of. Probably, she seemed like a really smart woman, unlike Amber. Jules didn’t think she was stupid but there was an innocent naivety about her and Jules couldn’t decide whether it was endearing or annoying. She was starting to understand Mikey’s attraction to herself because she was the complete opposite of his wife. She glanced at Mikey, who was covertly watching her from behind Amber’s back. Interesting.

  CHAPTER 3

  Katia scraped her fingernails down the wall, splitting and tearing them, drawing blood, smearing it down the white paint. The hole that had been created inside her ever since her twin babies had been stolen by Mikey Maguire threatened to consume her. The door opened but she didn’t bother to turn around. Unless they’d brought her children back she didn’t give a fuck who they were or what they wanted.

  “Katia, I brought you something to eat,” said Irina, her second-in-command who helped her run the new high class brothel in Essex similar to the one she’d managed for Alex. Her new patron was Jared Slattery. Since Mikey had stolen her children and tried to have her killed in the process, Irina had been running the brothel single-handed. Katia had physically recovered from the attack on her but mentally she was in turmoil.

  “I don’t want it,” she replied in Slovakian, the native language of both women.

  “You must keep up your strength. If you give up who will rescue Alex and Daniel?”

  Katia glanced at Irina over her shoulder, blue eyes narrow and feral. Irina had never seen her friend this way before. Katia was unwashed, her blond hair a tangled mess and she’d worn the same rumpled jeans and t-shirt for two days straight. Most unusually, she wore absolutely no make-up, but she still looked beautiful.

  “Jared called, he’s coming to see you. He should be here any minute.” Irina was trying to be respectful of her friend’s feelings but she was bubbling over with excitement at the prospect of seeing her lover again. She wasn’t a fool, she was aware Jared only saw her as a prostitute who fulfilled his odd proclivities but she was falling for him hard, a fact she was finding increasingly difficult to hide.

  “Has he found my babies?”

  Irina’s gaze was sad as she shook her head. Katia released a sigh then returned to scraping her nails down the wall.

  Irina winced at the sound and put the tray down on Katia’s bed. “You’re hurting yourself, look at all the blood.”

  “What do I care? Nothing can hurt me more than this. I want my babies,” she screamed, snatching up the tray and hurling it against the wall where it smashed, sending chicken and vegetables everywhere.

  “Jared is looking, he will find them.”

  “Jared,” sneered Katia. “He doesn’t know where they are. Only Mikey Maguire knows, so I am going to Manchester.”

  “Manchester, when?”

  “Now,” replied Katia, dragging a suitcase out from under the bed. She’d been staying at the brothel as a precaution against further attack, one of Jared’s men working security in case Mikey sent someone to finish the job when he inevitably found out she was still alive. She didn’t want to be at home anyway, it wouldn’t be the same without her sons. She stopped to glare at Irina. “Don’t just stand there, help me.”

  “Katia, please think, what can you do?”

  “I can hold a knife to that bastard Mikey’s throat until he tells me where Alex and Daniel are.”

  “That’s not going to happen. Let Jared deal with it. If Mikey finds out you’re in Manchester he’ll kill you.”

  “I want him to find me,” she said, throwing her things into the suitcase. “I want him to come to me so I can slit his throat. Now help me pack,” she screeched.

  The door slowly swung open to reveal a large, muscular figure with a shock of blond hair.

  “Jared,” said Irina, desperately fighting the urge to smile. If he discovered her true feelings he’d never sleep with her again.

  “Irina,” he replied curtly, eyes passing over her to settle on the frantic figure of Katia. “Going somewhere?”

  “Manchester, to find my children,” she said, switching back to English as she threw a heap of expensive silk underwear into the case.

  In two strides he was before her, slamming the lid of the suitcase shut, Katia just managing to snatch her fingers out of the way.

  “You’re going nowhere,” he growled.

  “Someone has to do something because you’re not,” she screamed in his face.

  “Calm down you daft mare, there’s customers downstairs.”

  Katia wasn’t too far gone to catch the warning in his tone and she went quiet, blue eyes fixed on him. “What is a mare?”

  “Never mind. Look, I know you’re upset about your kids, who wouldn’t be, but I’ve promised to get them back and I will. You charging up north like a mad fucking harpy is going to get you nowhere. All Mikey will do is shift them somewhere else and you’ll never see them again.” Jared couldn’t give a shit about her babies but it was a point of pride that he got them back. Word had spread about how the Maguires had fucked over someone under his protection on his patch and if he didn’t do something sharpish he’d look weak. In his line of work that was dangerous. Getting those kids back was vital to his survival. “I’ve got people working in Manchester on my behalf,” he continued, “people who know the area and who know the Maguires. As soon as they find anything they’ll let me know.”

  “Who are these people?”

  “People who are sick of the Maguires and Laws ruling the roost. They’ve been top too long and it’s time they fell.”

  The prospect made Katia’s eyes gleam. “And what then, when they’ve fa
llen?”

  “Then I’ll have my puppets in charge in Manchester, I’ll get Toni McVay onside and then I’ll rule the whole fucking country.”

  “I want to help. Please, let me do something before I go mad.”

  Jared considered her proposal. Katia was losing it, giving her something to do would keep her grounded. He didn’t want to get rid of her, she was too valuable with her inside knowledge of the Maguire empire, plus she was a natural born businesswoman and she was making him a ton of money. She’d been Alex’s lover and he’d even allowed her inside the legendary Maguire compound, which was more secure than the Queen’s drawers. She could give him an in. “Actually, there is something you can do.”

  “Will it hurt Mikey Maguire?”

  “It’s going to fucking cripple him, at the very least.”

  Katia’s lips drew back over her teeth in a frenzied, bug-eyed smile.

  Mikey stared down at baby Alex and the child stared back at him impassively. It unnerved Mikey how quiet and still he was, it wasn’t natural. Babies were always moving or gurgling or doing something, they shouldn’t be freakishly still like this. But he supposed any child of Alex Senior and Katia’s unholy union was going to be strange. Mikey prayed Alex Junior wouldn’t grow up to be a full-blown psychopath like his dead daddy. Daniel, named after Alex’s dead brother and Rachel’s first husband, was much more normal, doing all the usual baby things. Unlike Alex, Daniel actually let Mikey hold him without screaming the house down.

  He scooped Daniel up and cradled him in his arms, the child perfectly content. Alex, in his cot, turned his head to watch. God, had he blinked yet? Mikey couldn’t be sure. Turning his back on Alex, Mikey carried Daniel to the window and looked out at the Cheshire countryside, nothing but green fields and sheep for a full two miles. Jared Slattery would never find the boys here. Technically the children were his second cousins but he wanted to raise them as his own sons, to bring them in on the family business when they were old enough, he felt it was what Frank and Martina - the boys’ dead paternal grandparents - would have wanted. Even Rachel agreed they were much better off here being raised by family than stuck in Essex with the mad Slovakian slapper. If anyone was a negative influence on a child it was her. She’d raise them with hate in their hearts, drill into them how their daddy had been betrayed by his own blood when in fact it had been the other way around. If Mikey didn’t imprint on these children as soon as possible that he wasn’t the enemy then they’d grow up into big strong men intent on revenge.