Aftermath (Dividing Line #6) (30 page)

“Back off,” she snarled.

“Are you willing to discuss your parents at all? We’ll leave it for now if you’re not.”

“No, I’m not.”

“And I thought you liked a challenge.”

Jules leaned forwards in her seat, eyes darkening, resting her elbows on her knees. “Alright lady, you want to know about my parents? My biological mother was a drugged up prostitute and my father a violent mental case who sold me to a pair of perverts who treated me like their little princess until I was thirteen. Then they sold my virginity and raped and abused me until I made them stop. Is that what you want to hear?”

“No Jules, I don’t want to hear it. I hear a lot of shitty things in this job and they never give me any pleasure. All I want to do is help you deal with the fallout.”

“I dealt with it years ago.”

“I don’t think you have.” She held up her hand when Jules objected. “Please listen.”

Jules thought of Mikey sat outside in the corridor and knew she had no choice. If she wanted to get him to trust her she had to do this and try not to murder the therapist. “Go on then.”

“Thank you. I can see your hackles rise at the mention of anything slightly unpleasant and you deflect from awkward situations using shock tactics and sexual innuendo. That is not dealing with anything, that’s avoiding it and if you don’t face up to your demons they will destroy you and take down everyone you care about too.”

“There’s no one I care about.”

“I don’t believe that. There must be a special someone?”

Jules thought of the very few people she let near her and shook her head. “No.”

“Let’s come back to that later,” said Cassandra, clearly not believing her. “So, you like bikes?”

“Love them,” replied Jules, feeling on safer territory talking about something she loved, but she still feared a trick.

“Why?”

“There’s no feeling like it. The roar of the engine, the wind whipping past your head, dodging in and out of the traffic. It’s so free.”

“You like that feeling of freedom?”

“Well, yeah. Who doesn’t?”

“True. We all have our little escapisms. Some people read books, watch films, play golf, go to the gym. Biking is just another. It’s good that you have it.”

“Glad I’m doing something right,” she muttered.

“There are no right or wrong answers here Jules. I’m only helping you cope with the future and deal with the baggage you’re carrying.”

“I can handle it.”

“Why should you when you can get rid of it?”

Jules opened her mouth then closed it again. That made sense.

“Do you have a relationship with any of your family?”

“What’s Mikey told you?” she said suspiciously.

“Absolutely nothing. I want everything to come from you.”

“He’s my cousin.”

“I did not know that. He must care about you if he’s paying my bill. I’m not cheap.”

“I can see that,” she replied with a flirtatious smile.

“You’re trying to distract me again Jules. It won’t work.”

Jules sighed and folded in on herself. “He wants to make sure I’m not insane.”

“You’re not insane.”

It actually felt good to hear that. “Everyone says I am because I say what I want. It doesn’t make me popular.”

“Saying exactly what you want is a brave thing, not many people have it in them, but sometimes a little tact is required too.”

“I spent years not saying what I felt because I was frightened of upsetting my so-called parents, afraid I wouldn’t get their love if I wasn’t their perfect little princess,” Jules said bitterly. “Be a nice girl, a polite girl, do what the grown-ups tell you, even if it hurts like fuck, even if they use you to make money and pleasure their sick friends…” She came to an abrupt halt when she realised she was giving away more than she was comfortable with. “You tricked me.”

“I did nothing of the sort. I don’t use mind games or word play to trick things out of people. You talked because you wanted to.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Maybe it’s time you did?”

Cassandra maintained her poker face, the picture of ease while Jules went rigid in her seat, teeth gritted, puffing breaths in and out like a demented bellows.

“I think we’ll leave it at that for today. Would you like to see me again? As a therapist I mean.”

“I don’t want a therapist.”

“No one wants a therapist but, luckily for me, some people need them and you are one of those people.”

“You know I head butted my last therapist?”

“So I believe and that was their fault. They tried to make you run before you could walk. I won’t make the same mistake.”

“I’m starting to like you Cassandra.”

“I’m glad. At least you might not hit me.”

“Possibly not. Okay, same time next week?”

“I’ve already cleared my schedule.”

Jules’s lips pursed as she got to her feet.

“Remember what I said. Try to stop using sex and sexual innuendoes as weapons,” Cassandra called after her.

“I’ll do my best,” she retorted over her shoulder, pulling the door open.

CHAPTER 33

Mikey was waiting for Jules in the corridor. “How did your session go?”

She grinned, a retort leaping to mind, then she recalled what she’d just been advised and swallowed it down. “Fine.”

“Just fine? I thought you’d have loads of comebacks then?”

“It was fine,” she repeated.

“I see Cassandra’s already worked her magic.”

“Now can we start the real work?”

“Take the rest of the day off, you’ve earned it.”

“But…”

“I’ll drive you back to the flat.”

“I don’t want to go back to the flat. I want to work.”

“And you will. Tomorrow. Go home and think about what you’ve learnt today.”

“I…” She trailed off when he turned his back on her and walked towards the door, which was brave of him because she was considering pushing him down the stairs.

Angrily she followed him outside and into the car, slamming the door shut as she climbed into the passenger seat.

“Steady, I just bought this motor,” he said.

“I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me and you still don’t trust me.”

“Do you trust me?” he said, starting the engine.

“You put cameras in my flat.”

“And you knew I would.”

“What did you think of the show I put on?” she said, conveniently forgetting Cassandra’s advice.

He thought of that body, all those soft curves and swells combined with those hard lines and swallowed. “I’ve already had the cameras removed.”

The corner of her mouth lifted into a smile. “I picked Jax last night because I know you’re a boxer and you’re into cage fighting. I thought you’d respect him. Magnificent, isn’t he?”

It then struck Mikey who the man was. Jackson Driscoll, MMA professional middleweight fighter. Knocked out too many of his opponents to count. Jules was right, he did respect him. He recalled the footage he’d watched of them together - the loll of her head, hair ruffled, the wild clawing of her fingers and he mashed the car into gear. “He’s very good. I’ve got tickets to the fight tonight.”

“So have I. We could go together.”

Mikey knew she was issuing him a test of her own, to see if he really was serious about her working for him. If they were seen in public together it would tell everyone she was officially on the Maguire payroll.

“Okay then,” he eventually said.

“What time will you pick me up?”

“Six.”

“Great. I’ll look forward to it,” she said happily.

“Are you and Jax together?”

“No, we’re just fuck buddies.”

“One thing I should make clear Jules, if we’re going to work together you need to start modulating your language. I want you to be professional and business-like. Using terms like fuck buddies isn’t professional.”

“We’re not in a meeting, it’s just us two, cousins together, talking.”

“I still wish you wouldn’t talk to me about your sex life. We barely know each other and it’s not seemly.”

“Seemly?” she said, raising her eyebrows.

“Yes, seemly. You will keep your sex life to yourself.”

“Someone’s repressed.”

“I am no such thing, I just don’t want to hear about who you’re shagging,” he exclaimed. “End of story.”

“Fine, you’re the boss.”

“Yes I am and don’t forget it. It could be dangerous for you.”

“You threatening me little cuz?”

“What have I told you about calling me that?” he said, pounding the steering wheel with his palm.

“I just thought you meant in front of other people. I think it’s cute.”

“It’s not, it’s bloody annoying. Jesus Jules, why do you have to keep getting my back up? When you came out of Cassandra’s office you looked different, more sensible. Now you’re back to your old irritating self.”

“Did you think half an hour with her would turn me into a different person?”

“I’d hoped it would.”

Jules lapsed into silence, unwilling to admit his remark hurt. She’d just been starting to feel quite close to her cousin, which was a lot more than she felt for either of her brothers and he didn’t even like her.

“Well it fucking didn’t,” she yelled, folding her arms across her chest.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound like it did.”

“It’s alright, I’m used to people not liking me.”

“You don’t give people a chance to like you. You throw words out like spears to keep them at a distance.”

“How perceptive,” she said, an indignant ball of anger and scorn. “You should have been a therapist too.”

They were both relieved when he drove into the car park at the base of the flats. He pulled on the handbrake and turned in his seat to face her. “Right, let’s be really honest here. You don’t trust me and I don’t trust you. Why should we? We were on opposing sides. Despite that I’ve taken a really big chance on you and you took a risk coming back to Manchester with me yet here we both are, still alive and kicking. The only reason I took that chance is because you’re blood. If you weren’t you would be dead by now, make no mistake about that.”

“No I wouldn’t because I wouldn’t have let you get so close if we hadn’t been related. I’m not fucking stupid.”

“I apologise, you’re quite right. By the way, until the results from the DNA test I arranged come back you are definitely on a trial period.”

“I already know what those results will say. Did you honestly think I’d take the word of that pair of perverts? I had a test done five years ago.”

“How?”

“From you. I went to the gym where you boxed, broke into your locker and took some strands of hair from your comb. There were a couple of juicy ones with the follicles attached, they’re the best.”

“Do you still have the results?” he said, face set.

“I do. Would you like to come up and see?”

“Yes.”

They got out of the car and headed upstairs to the flat where the rest of her things from her old place had already been dropped off.

“Your men are very efficient,” she said. “Impressive.”

“I don’t employ retards. DNA test. Now.”

She disappeared into the bedroom and returned clutching a piece of paper, which she held out to him. He snatched it off her and studied it.

“Now do you believe me?”

“No. I’ve only your word that it was my hair,” he said, handing it back.

“Good point.”

“I want to trust you Jules. I’ve lost a lot of relatives, there aren’t many blood Maguires left and I know you weren’t responsible for killing any of them.” He frowned when her eyes flicked away and down. “Jules, what did you do?”

“Oh Christ,” she sighed.

He grabbed her wrist in one hand and squeezed. “Tell me.”

“Terry.”

His mouth fell open.

“You’d better let go of my wrist. It’s hurting and it’s really turning me on.”

He released her with a disgusted look.

“I can’t help how I’m wired. I like pain.”

“It’s weird.”

“Lots of people do.”

“Your sexual kicks are not my concern. You fucking killed Terry.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Alex and Jasper had been thick for years. He came to Jasper and told him he needed Terry eliminating quietly in a way that would go undetected during the autopsy. Jasper wasn’t exactly overloaded with brain cells, he didn’t know how. But I did. Chemistry always was one of my strong suits. I made a special little concoction of my own. Untraceable. Alex bribed the copper guarding his hospital room to let me in.”

“You killed your own dad.”

“He wasn’t my dad,” she spat. “He was the evil bastard who sold me to a pair of paedos knowing full well what they were going to do to me. It was a fucking pleasure to stick that needle between his toes and don’t tell me you were fond of him after what he did to you all.”

“I hated the bastard, none of us mourned him and I suppose I can understand your reasons. What you don’t know is that Alex was supposed to do it himself to prove his loyalty to Danny, not farm the job out to someone else. The cheeky devious bastard.”

“Even then he was never really with you. What do you think would have happened if Danny hadn’t died? Do you think he would have been content being number two?”

“He was, he lacked the confidence to take over.”

“Until Danny died.”

“No, even then he wanted Rachel running things.”

“He leapt at the chance when she turned it down, as he knew she probably would after what happened to Danny. Alex Maguire was always about himself, never the family.”

“Did he know you’re Terry’s daughter?”

“No, I’ve never told anyone else.”

Mikey took a breath, processing what he’d just learnt. “Any more bombshells you want to drop on me?”

“Well, seeing how we’re clearing the air…”

“Get on with it.”

“The failed abduction of Rachel when she was pregnant...”

Jules was knocked off her feet and found herself flat on her back on the couch, Mikey’s hands around her throat, his furious face looming over her. “What the fuck?” he spat.

“I followed her that day, it was my job to track her movements. I let the Jordans know where she was, on Jasper’s orders.”

“Jasper was working for Alex, even then?”

She nodded and his hands tightened around her neck.

“Did you know she was pregnant?”

“No. I wouldn’t have been a part of it if I had, especially after what Jasper did to Zoe and the baby. I’m a lot of things but I don’t hurt kids, not after what happened…what the Parkers did.”

Her grey eyes, so like Ryan’s, briefly filled with pain and he knew she was telling the truth. That wound was deep, she wouldn’t inflict it on anyone else. But he didn’t release his hold, he needed to know more.

“Alex set Rachel up?” he said.

“Jasper was the go-between. Jan Jordan thought he was working exclusively for her when all along he was acting on Alex’s orders. Alex played the Jordans, they never knew he was a part of her abduction.”

“Fucking bastard. All because he thought her and Ryan had been carrying on behind Danny’s back.”

“Had they?”

“No.” He glared down at her. “All these years you’ve stuck your nose in our business, you’ve been there watching us, gathering information, and then I invite you in. I let the fucking serpent in.”

“I’m not here to hurt you, I want to belong somewhere…” The last word faded away to nothing as he squeezed harder.

“I should fucking finish you while I have the chance, before you hurt any of us again. Rachel lost her son thanks to you.”

“I didn’t…I…” Her speech was entirely cut off as his fingers pressed down harder into the soft flesh, compressing the delicate structures beneath.

Her eyes slid closed and a moan rattled in the back of her throat. Mikey’s grip slackened slightly as he stared down at her, unsure what to do. Her body moved once then twice, surging up against his and he suddenly became very aware he was lying between her splayed legs. His own body reacted in response and when she felt it her eyes slowly rolled open and fixated on his.

“Not so little, little cuz,” she whispered.

Her body rippled beneath him again and he could picture the body of the snake undulating in time with hers. Jules’s legs closed around his waist, keeping him pressed against her.

“You are so fucking dangerous,” he said, voice hoarse and growly.

“Yet here you remain.”

Their eyes locked, his own heart hammering while he could feel her strong steady pulse beneath his fingers. He could easily crush it out of existence, eradicate her before she could do him or his family any more harm.

“To kill or not to kill, that is the question?” she said, her foot sliding down his leg as she tilted her hips up to his, almost demanding.

“Stop that, we’re cousins.”

Her lips curled into her trademark mocking smile. “Then why are you still on top of me?”

The bulge between his legs pressed between her thighs, causing her to moan louder.

“Oh Jesus,” he breathed, unable to tear his eyes off her, breasts pressing against his chest as she arched her spine. His grip on her neck slackened entirely and he allowed his fingers to trail down the soft skin, moving lower towards those proud breasts as her body continued to roll against his in a slow sensuous rhythm.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he said.

“Actually, I think it will be the other way round,” she groaned as his hips involuntarily moved again, pressing him against her for the second time.

His wedding ring glinted in the light and he threw himself to his feet, turning his back on Jules while he gathered himself, willing his treacherous erection to die.

“How the hell do you get into people’s heads like that?” he said, disgusted with himself. He’d been a heartbeat away from cheating on his wife, his beautiful, sweet wife who he was incredibly lucky to have and for what? A quick shag with his demented, murdering first cousin. What the fuck was wrong with him? “No wonder poor Dane Black acted like such a sap and you had a man like Jackson Driscoll down on his knees before you.”