Riot Page 46

  “She loved me,” he snarled.

  “She used you, that was it. You did all this for nothing and with you gone Mikey and Jez will be released from prison.”

  “They really did give that order,” said Declan, eyes aflame with the need for some sort of revenge. He wanted to drive a wedge right into the heart of this family and tear it apart. If he couldn’t do it with weapons he would do it with words. “Dwyer told me they paid McGinnis forty grand to kill Amber which, as we know, is the standard payment for a hit and the cash was moved through a series of offshore accounts. The calls he made and received also came from Manchester. Tell me Jules, who else in this city is capable of all that?”

  She shrugged. “Plenty of people.”

  “No they’re not, only members of this family. They did it.”

  “Mikey would not do that to the mother of his children. I know him inside out.”

  “But what about Jez?”

  Jules considered how much her brother had changed recently and the thoughts she’d been trying to keep at bay began to whisper darkly in her mind.

  “If Mikey didn’t do it then Jez definitely did,” pressed Declan.

  Jules glanced sideways at her brother. The lack of surprise in his eyes made her feel sick. Rebellion rose inside her. Jez would not do that.

  She tore her knife out of Declan’s leg, grabbed a handful of his hair, yanked back his head and pressed the knife to his throat. “I’m not going to cut too deep,” she whispered in his ear. “Just enough to make those arteries spurt but I won’t cut down to the windpipe. We don’t want air shooting into your heart, stopping it instantly. That would be too good for you. I want to watch you bleed.”

  Declan’s body shook as she dragged the blade across his neck with precision, blood spurting from the wound, just as she’d promised. He slumped onto his side, skin turning white, spasming and choking while Jules looked down on him pitilessly.

  Only when he was dead did she look to Ryan.

  Bruiser tactfully exited the cabin, leaving them alone together, not wanting to be a part of that conversation.

  “Did Jez give that order?” she asked her brother.

  “Yes.”

  “Shit,” she said, raking her fingers through her hair. “The stupid bastard. How long have you known?”

  “I guessed when I first saw him in prison.”

  “You guessed? How the fuck did you manage that?”

  “I have the advantage of knowing Jez his entire life. Despite what he thinks he’s an open book to me. When I confronted him about it he admitted it.”

  “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t think it would help.”

  “You didn’t think it would help?” she exclaimed. “Don’t you think that would have been something I needed to know while I ran all over the city defending him?”

  “You had enough on your plate.”

  “Would you ever have told me?”

  “I honestly don’t know.”

  “I’ve been so grateful for your support bruv but you’ve let me down big style.”

  “What would you have done if I had told you? You couldn’t have had it out with him in the middle of a prison and it would have driven you demented, distracting you when it was vital you were focused.”

  “And once everything was done and dusted, would you have told me then?”

  “Like I said, I don’t know. I did intend to speak to Jez again about it.”

  “Any more secrets you’re keeping from me?”

  “No and I don’t regret my decision. It was the right call to make.” He gestured to Declan’s body. “Are you going to let him win and allow his words to poison this family?”

  “You’re also asking if I’m going to let Jez off the hook?”

  “Yes. Why shouldn’t you?”

  “Because all this mess is his fault. If he hadn’t given that dumb fucking order Declan and his little band of twats wouldn’t have come here and tried to kill us.”

  “Jez would still have been arrested for Estelle’s death.”

  “But Mikey wouldn’t have been taken from me and slung into prison. The boys wouldn’t have had to stay with Jackson and Paula and Cathy wouldn’t have been attacked, no one would have dared with Mikey still on the outside.”

  “I quite agree and now I know what I would have done. I wouldn’t have told you at all.”

  “Why the fuck not?” she yelled.

  “Because of the boys. You love them so much that knowing your own brother was responsible for the death of their biological mother would have hurt you.”

  Jules sighed and hung her head, pain striking her heart. “You’re right bruv, as always.”

  “I only wanted to protect you. Nothing more.”

  She nodded, thinking of how he’d held her in his arms as they’d rolled down the embankment in that van, putting himself at risk to protect her. “I know. It’s all you’ve ever done for me.”

  “So, we’re okay?”

  She grasped his hand. “Course we are you lemon. We always will be.”

  He hugged her and kissed the top of her head, Jules clinging onto him.

  “My biggest fear is Mikey finding out,” she said, gazing up at him. “It could tear our family apart.” She sighed again as realisation struck. “And that’s another reason why you kept quiet.”

  “Yes. I can’t fight family again and I couldn’t fight you because I know you’d take Mikey’s side and I wouldn’t blame you.”

  “There’s Rachel too. She would side with Mikey.”

  “The prospect of our family at war with itself overwhelmed me. Silence seemed the better prospect.”

  “You’ve been dealing with this burden alone.”

  “I didn’t want you to have to deal with it too. We can’t tell anyone else about this.”

  “I swore I’d never keep a secret from Mikey.”

  “And I swore the same to Rachel but what choice is there?”

  “Mikey and Jez have been locked up together in prison. Mikey might already know. If we figured it out he will too. What if he can’t deal with it?”

  “He will deal with it, for you. He won’t want to put you in that position.”

  “God I hope so.”

  Brother and sister gazed at each other, painfully aware that Mikey’s decision could mean that the next war they fought might be against each other.

  CHAPTER 49

  “Why have we been dragged to this unpleasant place again?” said Bridges, sinking down onto the hard chair Dwyer had provided. He hadn’t passed on Jules and Ryan’s warning to the rest of The Coalition as he refused to be intimidated. He hadn’t even mentioned the encounter to them. “And if you insist on these meetings at least find us a more comfortable setting.”

  “We’ve more important things to discuss than that,” spat Dwyer. “Ray McGinnis is dead, he was shot to death.”

  They were all stunned. Only Colin failed to react to this shocking news as he already knew.

  “Oh that’s just great,” said Bruce. “I thought you had him in a safe house no one could find?”

  “I did but someone did find him and killed him.”

  “How did they find him?”

  “I don’t know,” he roared. “On top of that, Declan Maguire’s gone AWOL. He was supposed to meet me this afternoon and he never turned up. I’ve repeatedly tried calling him and nothing.”

  “You think he’s dead too?”

  “I do. The stupid bastard kept banging on about revenge. He probably tried going after Venom and she murdered him.”

  Shocked silence filled the air.

  “So we have nothing?” said Peter. “Without those witnesses the case against Mikey and Jez for Amber’s murder collapses.”

  “We still have Joyce Sweeney.”

  “Without McGinnis or Declan her evidence means nothing. We have nothing against either of them. Even with all of us working together we will never get the case committed to the crown court.” />
  “Don’t you think I fucking know that?” yelled Dwyer.

  “Do not speak to me like that,” retorted Peter. “It’s not our fault you got our witnesses killed.”

  “I did not get them killed.”

  “Yes you did,” said Bruce. “The second you got them to give evidence against that family. What the fuck were we all thinking?” he continued, getting to his feet. “Everyone who goes after that lot dies. I’m amazed you’re still alive Dwyer.”

  “Will everyone stop giving them supernatural powers? They’re just flesh and blood. Where are you going?” he said when Bruce scurried to the door.

  “Leaving. I should never have let you talk me into this. We’re next on that family’s list,” he wailed. “Just you wait and see.”

  “Let him go,” said Bridges, popping an aspirin into his mouth as the pain in his chest flared. “The man’s a fool anyway. Now, Mikey Maguire may walk free but we still have Jez Law for Estelle’s murder. If we can nail him we might still get that family yet.”

  “His solicitor’s lodged a complaint about the DNA evidence,” he hissed. “The daft bint claims the levels of DNA found were too low for accurate testing and that there’s evidence of tampering.”

  “Oh God,” breathed Colin. “Please say you didn’t Dwyer.”

  “I wanted to make sure he didn’t walk away from this,” he exclaimed.

  “What the hell have you done?” said Peter. “We’ll be the ones who end up going to prison.”

  “I did my job to ensure a violent criminal was finally taken off the streets.”

  Colin got to his feet and shook his head, looking older and greyer. “The only criminal I see Dwyer is you. You’ve gone too far.”

  “Sir, please…,” he called as Colin left but he ignored him.

  Peter rose too. “This is over. If anyone finds out what we did…” For a moment he thought he was going to be sick before he swallowed it back down and scuttled out.

  “Cowards,” Dwyer yelled after them. He looked to Bridges. “Are you going to bottle it too?”

  “The rumours were right, you are obsessed and that obsession will be your downfall.” Slowly he rose to his feet with the aid of his walking stick, knees creaking.

  “If you walk out,” said Dwyer. “I’ll drag you all down with me.”

  “Then so be it,” he replied before leaving with his head held high.

  Dwyer spent some time yelling and swearing in the empty warehouse before jumping into his car and speeding off, needing the sanctuary of home. He couldn’t face the office and that smug bitch DS Miller with her covert operation. If she managed to do the impossible and bring in Rachel Law he might just do to her what his brother had tried to do to the black-eyed bitch.

  On the way home he listened to his voicemail messages and was infuriated to hear one from the ACC telling him he wished to speak to him about some alarming evidence that had come to light about his conduct.

  Realisation struck him so hard he had to pull over, gripping onto the steering wheel. The driver of the car he’d cut up to reach the kerb got out and tapped on his window.

  “What do you think you’re…”

  “Fuck off,” Dwyer bellowed at him, looking so frenzied the man scuttled back to his car and drove off.

  DS Miller’s covert operation had been nothing to do with Rachel Law, she’d just played on his obsession to wind him up. She’d been investigating him. He’d seen her peeking through his office window, keeping one eye on him when she should have been concentrating on her work, attempting to sneak looks at his computer screen. He’d also finally figured out which executive officer the Maguires and Laws had in their pocket. It was the ACC and he’d set Miller to spy on him on their orders.

  Once he’d eventually calmed down enough to drive he completed the journey home. The moment he stepped inside his haven he felt more relaxed, his logical brain taking over as he planned how he was going to get them all back for what they’d done to him, especially The Coalition for their cowardice. He was also determined to keep Jez Law in prison. Mikey Maguire might get released but with his business partner still banged up he’d be back inside soon enough. This thought soothed him more than anything. He wasn’t out yet.

  Before he could sink onto his comfortable couch, there was a click behind him.

  “Don’t move,” said a voice.

  Disregarding the order, he turned and broke into a smile. “Rachel Law,” he said, staring down the barrel of a gun. “Does this mean you’ve come to turn yourself in?”

  “I thought the gun might have told you the answer to that.”

  “So you’re here to kill me, are you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Not surprising really, your family has a history of killing police officers - first Jarvis then my brother and, even though I was unable to prove it, I know you killed Taylor too. But the difference is Rachel, you never pulled the trigger on any of those hits. My brother was killed on your orders and Jarvis, well, you just let him die. That’s very different to shooting someone right in the face because if you’re going to pull that trigger you’ll look into my eyes while you do it.”

  “Your choice.”

  “What are you waiting for?” he said when she failed to act. He smiled. “Don’t tell me you don’t have it in you, the infamous Rachel Law who commanded a drug empire and ordered countless hits. Don’t tell me you don’t have the guts to do it personally.” His smile morphed into laughter. “You’ve never actually killed anyone before, have you? Someone’s always been there to do it for you but not this time. Well go on then Rachel, pull the trigger. If it finally puts you in prison I’ve no problem with it.”

  She took a deep breath, finger tightening on the trigger but she found herself unable to do it.

  Dwyer’s deep chuckle filled her head, mocking her. “It seems all this time I’ve overestimated you. I thought you were capable of all sorts of evil but you’re just a coward.”

  “Not wanting to take a life is not cowardly.”

  “Ordering others to do it on your behalf is.”

  “I didn’t order the death of your brother.”

  “If you didn’t then you know who did.” He took a step towards her. “Who was it?”

  “Back off,” she said, keeping the gun raised.

  “You know you won’t do it. So tell me, who was it? Alex? Mikey?”

  Rachel didn’t respond, her face emotionless.

  “Ryan.” He glowered when her eyes widened ever so slightly, unable to control her response to the mention of her husband. Dwyer raked a shaky hand through his hair. “Finally, I know.”

  “You know nothing.”

  “I always suspected. I mean, it had to be him or Alex but Ryan got there first because obviously he was in love with you even then. Jesus, so that’s why Alex went to war with you. You cheated on his brother with Ryan, didn’t you?”

  “No.”

  “Hmm, you actually look to be telling the truth. That must be a novel experience for you. Thank you Rachel. Right, I’m off. I have a lot to do.”

  “You’re going nowhere,” said Rachel, raising the gun higher. It was getting heavy in her hand, so she supported her right hand with her left.

  “You’re not going to do anything. Now, are you going to give me the gun and come with me to the police station? You’re going to admit to everything you’ve done, as well as Ryan’s part in my brother’s murder.”

  “Why the hell would I do that?”

  “Because you just broke into a police officer’s home and threatened him with a gun. For that alone you’ll get sent down for years, as will Ryan.”

  “You’ve no proof against him.”

  “Everyone thought I’d never get any proof against Mikey and Jez but these things can be manufactured. Your husband will soon be in prison along with them. You know, that would be a more pleasing revenge than putting you in prison - separating you from everyone you love, especially your precious husband. Now get that gun out of my f
ace little girl.”

  “You don’t get it,” she hissed. “I’m here to kill you.”

  “No you’re not. Who’d have thought Rachel Law doesn’t have the stomach for murder?”

  “Yes I do,” she said, more to herself than him.

  “Go on then,” he said, throwing his arms wide. “I’m not stopping you.”

  Rachel took a deep breath, tightening her grip, willing her finger to squeeze the trigger. But she simply didn’t have it in her. Tears filled her eyes and she let her arm drop.

  “You know what Rachel,” he said. “You’re just disappointing. I can’t believe I wasted my time chasing you all these years. My brother did get one thing wrong - he overestimated your role in the family. Now I’m going after the ringleaders. Why don’t you toddle off back to Devon and spend some time with your kids? They’re going to need their mother when their uncles, aunt and their dad get sent down for life. How will you cope without Ryan by your side? You’ll fall apart. I’ll ensure he gets sent to prison up here so you’ll see him twice a month at the most. You’ll never be with him again, never hold him. The pain that will cause you will make me very happy.”

  Dwyer’s patronising smile fell when Rachel’s eyes turned jet black.

  She raised the gun and pointed it at his head.

  “Thank you. You touched the right nerve,” she said before pulling the trigger.

  Dwyer seemed to fall in slow motion, arms flailing by his side, pitching back to the floor, crashing through the coffee table on his way down.

  When the noise had ceased, Rachel could only stare in horror at what she had done. Slowly she sank onto the couch, unable to take her eyes off him, the gun falling from her hand. Breathing suddenly became harder and she started to gasp, tears sliding down her face, hands shaking. This emotion reassured her. Had she felt nothing she knew she would have been well and truly lost.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured, tears slipping down her face. It was only then she noticed the blood spatter on the wall, bits of brain and bone slowly sliding down it and her stomach heaved. She’d seen dozens of people shot and it had never bothered her before but this was making her sick to her stomach.