Aftermath (Dividing Line #6) (15 page)

Jules strode through town, a smile on her lips. Finally her time had come.

CHAPTER 17

Lexie sighed, bored as Rachel and Ryan cooed over their brats playing on the park. The smallest one, Aidan, or Adam or whatever his name was went down the slide and they clapped like idiots. Like that was a big deal. She didn’t like standing out here exposed but neither had she wanted to be left alone in the house. Being around Ryan made her feel so much safer, she didn’t think anyone could get the better of him, not even the lunatic who’d pursued her halfway around the world.

Her hackles rose when she saw a man approaching, tramping across the grass towards the play park and she readied herself to run, then relaxed, careful to keep her sigh of relief quiet when she saw a little girl by his side who yelled out Leah’s name and raced up to her. Obviously the girl’s father. She couldn’t tell Ryan and Rachel what was wrong, she felt sure Ryan would order her to go if he knew what was chasing her. The vain hope that she could seduce him into defending her was slowly being eroded away, he obviously worshipped his wife. Jealousy niggled at the glances that constantly passed between the two of them, how when they were near each other they reached out for each other’s hands and leaned into one another. Not even Lexie could deny it was the real thing between Ryan and Rachel. Still, she had faith in her own charms and was in no doubt that she could weave her old magic around him again and bring him to his knees. She just needed to get Rachel out of the way for a while. Yes he was her half-brother but she was willing to overlook that fact if it meant she stayed alive. If she was really honest with herself the prospect excited her too. There was something to be said for taboo.

Her opportunity came when they returned to the house a couple of hours later and Rachel announced she was going to take a shower before starting dinner and the kids were doing whatever kids did in the lounge.

“Can I get a drink?” she asked Ryan sweetly.

“Help yourself,” he replied without looking up from his work.

Lexie crinkled up her nose as she watched him. Ryan Law was actually washing vegetables, preparing them for dinner. It was strange to see him so domesticated. What the hell had Rachel done to him?

“Kids, come and get your drinks,” he bellowed through to the lounge.

Lexie had to press herself back against the counter when the three children raced into the room. There was a flurry of arms and small hands as they snatched at the drinks he’d placed on the worktop then they rushed out again.

“Do you like all this domesticity?” she asked him as she poured herself a glass of white wine.

“Love it,” he replied, rinsing off some carrots.

“Doesn’t it get boring being tied down to one person and being lumbered babysitting all the time?”

“Not at all. You wouldn’t understand. It’s grown-up stuff.”

“When you think back to what we used to get up to…”

“I don’t.”

“When you think back,” she continued, “don’t you wish you still had the same freedom to do what you wanted when you wanted? To jet off on holiday or disappear for a couple of days on the spur of the moment?”

“No,” he said, putting the carrots aside and picking up the potatoes.

She took a step closer, so her breasts were almost touching his arm. “Remember what we used to do in the back of your car?”

“Not really,” he replied disinterestedly.

“You used to love my body, just touching me got you so hot. Don’t you want a body that hasn’t been ruined by childbirth…oh you bastard,” she exclaimed when he stepped to one side and turned the cold tap on full, soaking the front of her t-shirt. She stared down at her sodden clothes, furious. “What the hell did you do that for?”

“You needed some cooling down. Listen you, let’s just get something straight. We’re brother and sister. Even if we weren’t I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot barge pole. Do you think that childish crap we got up to was anything compared to the incredible relationship I have with Rachel? I don’t know what game you’re playing Lexie but I don’t like it. You get one free pass out of respect for our father but you try to come onto me again and I’ll fling you out of this house head first. No one, I repeat no one comes between me and my wife.”

“Glad to hear it,” said a voice.

Lexie cringed when Rachel entered the room, her eyes black as pitch as they glared at her.

“Ryan, what did she do?”

“She tried to come onto me for some weird, twisted reason. And another thing Lexie, you swear again when our kids are in the house and you’re out.”

“I think Ryan has made himself perfectly clear,” Rachel told her icily before being swept into her husband’s arms for a passionate kiss.

Lexie was forced to retreat upstairs when Rachel moaned into his mouth and he pressed her up against the units, both supposedly having forgotten her presence.

“If she tries it on with you again I will kill her,” said Rachel after she’d gone.

“And I won’t stop you,” he smiled, touching her face.

“I heard what you said about me. It was sweet.”

“I meant it. No one comes between us,” he said determinedly. “Not skirted highlanders or mad half-sisters. No one.”

“We won’t let them,” she smiled before they kissed again.

Lexie sulked into her dinner, picking over the vegetables Ryan had so carefully prepared while Rachel, Ryan and the kids talked and laughed, her dour presence doing nothing to ruin their fun. Lexie scowled when Ryan guffawed at something Rachel said then kissed her hand. They were going out of their way to rub her nose in it. Leah sat beside her - sensing Lexie had done something to annoy her mum and dad - kept ‘accidentally’ nudging her in the ribs every time she cut into her food.

“Ow,” she exclaimed when Leah’s pointy elbow dug into her ribs for the fifth time.

“What’s wrong?” sighed Ryan.

“She keeps hitting me with her elbow,” complained Lexie, rubbing her sore ribs.

“I do not. She’s sitting too close to me,” retorted Leah.

“You’re doing it on purpose.”

“Am not.”

“Children please,” smiled Rachel. “We’re trying to enjoy a nice family dinner. No falling out or no one will get dessert.”

Lexie huffed into her food, resenting being spoken to like a child while Leah threw her a smirk.

Brat,
she mouthed at the girl.

“Mum, Lexie called me a brat,” Leah said loudly.

“That’s enough from both of you,” said Ryan, his tone putting an end to any further trouble.

After dinner Lexie flounced up to her room complaining of jet lag, taking a bottle of white wine with her. Rachel spotted her sneaking it out of the fridge but didn’t complain, she just wanted her out of the way for a bit.

“Thank God for that,” she said, plonking herself down on the couch beside Ryan. “She’s really starting to get on my nerves and she’s twisted, hitting on her own brother.”

“She always was wild. What she doesn’t realise is she’s too old to play the rebellious teenager, she needs to grow up.”

“Lexie’s annoying,” added Leah, making Ryan chuckle.

Lexie sat at the top of the stairs listening to their scathing voices drifting up to her, tears running down her face. These people were her only chance of saving herself and she’d fucked it up royally.

Jules could see the lights on in the Law household and their cars on the drive and the temptation to sneak up to the house was strong, but she reined it in. They weren’t going anywhere tonight. A cosy night in for the family. Her brow creased into a frown. They’d taken all her family, the men she’d thought of as brothers for years yet there they were, snug in their nest.

Jules huffed out a breath before turning on her heel and walking away. Dane was right, the Laws were different, she had to play it right, there would only be one chance and if she blew it the consequences were too dire to contemplate. She’d booked into a nearby B&B under an alias, she’d return here at first light to resume her vigil.

As she walked away Jules noticed a car coming down the street, a dark blue or black BMW, it was hard to tell which colour in the fading light. It slowed down slightly as it passed the Law household before speeding up again. She tried to see who was inside but the streetlights reflecting off the glass made it difficult to make out any details. It turned a corner at the end of the street and disappeared.

It would seem she’d have to move quick before someone else got to the Laws first.

“Don’t you dare Ryan, don’t you bloody dare,” chided Rachel, waving her finger in his face.

“I’m sorry babe but this meeting has been set up for weeks, I can’t miss it, not if we want to buy the land,” he replied, holding up his hands.

“You are not leaving me alone with Lexie. She’s
your
sister.”

“I can’t miss this meeting.”

He was right, he couldn’t and she knew it but she still wasn’t pleased. Leah was in school and the boys were at nursery, so it would be just the two of them for hours. “What do I do with her?”

“You’ll think of something.” When he heard Lexie’s footsteps on the stairs he rushed for the door. “Bye,” he called. “And look out for my other mad sister.”

“Ryan…”

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving her to huff in annoyance.

“What did he mean by other mad sister?” said Lexie. She wasn’t thinking about the possibility of another sibling, more what his statement said about
her.

“Nothing. He has to go to a meeting, so it’s just the two of us.”

“Oh,” said Lexie, shuffling awkwardly.

Silence.

“We could hit the shops if you want?” suggested Rachel.

“Are there any round here?”

“Yes. Some good ones actually,” she said indignantly.

“I saw a sign for a racecourse.”

“You like a flutter?”

“I do.”

“I don’t think there’s any races on today because the track’s hosting an antiques fair.”

“Oh,” she pouted.

“We’ll go into town, it’s lovely and the farmer’s market’s on. I want to get some fruit and veg.”

“Exciting,” Lexie replied flatly.

“You don’t have to come,” she retorted.

The thought of being alone scared Lexie. “No, I’ll come.” She forced a smile. “I’m sure it’ll be lovely.”

“It’s got a shopping centre too. I don’t want to be nosy but are you okay for cash?”

“I’ve got plenty,” she said, throwing back her head.

“Sorry, I wasn’t implying anything,” Rachel snapped back. She took a deep breath and compelled her lips to form some sort of smile. “It’ll give us a chance to get to know each other. You never know, we might find that we get along.” She couldn’t help but agree with the doubtful face Lexie pulled.

Jules watched Rachel walk out of the house with some blond woman and the excitement that had been building up inside her deflated. She’d watch the children being taken to school by who she took to be the nanny and Ryan leave in his car. That meant Rachel was all alone. Not expecting such an opportunity she’d decided to go against her original plan and make her approach when she was in her home, but she hadn’t realised she had a houseguest so that was out.

She rushed back to her bike parked further down the street, pulled on her helmet and started the engine to follow. Before she could pull out the same car she’d seen cruising by last night set off, leaving a diplomatic gap between it and Rachel’s Mercedes. Now it was daylight she could see it was actually a dark blue BMW. Inside she glimpsed a big man with a black moustache hunched over the wheel and a skinny man beside him in the passenger seat. Jules let one of the neighbour’s cars go by before pulling out. It would be difficult to lose Rachel in such a small place so she could keep her distance.

When Rachel’s car pulled into a spot just vacated by another car on the main road in the centre of town, Jules drove by and parked round the corner with some other bikes. After pulling on the wig and sunglasses she headed back towards the shops, Rachel and the blond woman walking into the pedestrianised area towards the farmer’s market. Jules hung back, browsing the shop windows near Rachel’s car. She saw the blue BMW parked in a disabled bay, the cheeky bastard, the big man and the skinny man scowling out of the window, eyes riveted on Rachel and her companion, intent on their quarry. Were they from Manchester? If they were part of the northern underworld she felt sure she would have recognised them, unless they were mercenaries someone had hired. It appeared Rachel was oblivious to both her own presence as well as theirs as she perused a fruit stall, her blond companion looking bored. Jules couldn’t really blame her. Who would have thought the famous Rachel Law spent her free time studying guava or whatever the hell that weird fruit was in her hand.

Sensing her companion was getting fed up, Rachel quickly finished up her shopping at the farmer’s market and returned to her car. Jules turned her head, pretending to study the window of a shoe shop, watching in the glass as Rachel dumped her purchases in the car, locked it up again and wandered down the street, the blond trailing behind her. It looked like they didn’t get on, they’d barely exchanged two words.