Duality (28 page)

“I know but I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Just for a moment Jared considered pulling the gun and shooting him but instinct told him not to. “What surprise?”

“I’ll show you.”

Jared hung back as Hayden returned to his car and opened the boot but, not wanting to look like a girl in front of his men, he shrugged his shoulders and followed, feeling buoyed by the gun at his back as well as all his men. Hayden was good but not even he could take all of them down on his own.

Robbie was very concerned when Jared peered into the boot and burst out laughing. “Is that fucking mess Isaac Jones?”

“Yep and his brother,” said Hayden. “Delivered as promised.”

Jared threw back his head and laughed. “Mum, come out here. You’ve got to see this.”

Tanya strode out of the house, a frown on her face. “What is it? Why are you all standing out here like a bunch of lemons?”

“Look at this, it’s fucking beautiful.”

Tanya peered into the boot and a smile lit up her face. “How perfectly wonderful. How did you manage it Hayden?”

He decided to go for honesty. Tanya especially had a finely-honed shit detector. “I made him think I wanted to change sides. Silly bastard fell for it, he seriously thought he could go up against you.”

Just as he knew it would this spoke to both their egos, which were huge.

“It’s over,” said Tanya. “We can come out of hiding.”

“There’s still the Maguires and Laws,” said Jared.

“And they’re miles away,” said Tanya. “Isaac was their only contact down here. Everyone else is with us, well they certainly will be once they learn how we took down Isaac.” She looked to Hayden, as though questioning whether he was going to try and claim the glory for himself.

Hayden wasn’t stupid. “Yep,” he said. “You’re free and clear now. It’s business as usual, finally.”

Jared clapped him on the back and steered him towards the house. “Let’s go and have a drink and talk about your future as our new head of security with a fucking huge pay packet.”

“Sounds great,” smiled Hayden. He noticed Robbie standing at the back of the group, trying to become invisible. “What are you doing here?”

“Just checking up on things,” he said, glancing at Jared, who ignored him.

As Hayden passed Robbie on his way into the house his eyes darkened. He knew exactly what the little weasel was up to.

Nerves shot through Robbie at the glower Hayden threw him. He’d been rumbled and Hayden would get rid of him. It wouldn’t happen immediately, after all Katia was very fond of him but it would happen. He just had to make sure he struck first.

CHAPTER 27

TWO MONTHS LATER

“Bloody hell Rach, will you help me with my dress?” said Jules. “It won’t fasten because I’m so fat.”

“You’re not fat,” said Rachel, assisting Cathy to lace up the back of her wedding dress. “You have a small bump, that’s it.”

“Then why do I feel like a whale?” she sighed, planting her hands on her hips.

“You look gorgeous,” said Cathy.

“Hitting on me on my wedding day?” grinned Jules, giving her a wink.

“Stop being a minx,” said Cathy. “There we go,” she said as between them she and Rachel managed to fasten up the back of her dress.

“Great, now all I have to do is not breathe for the rest of the day.” Jules closed her eyes and grimaced. “I feel sick.”

“It’s just nerves. You’ll be fine,” said Rachel.

She released a small burp and pressed the back of her hand to her mouth. “I’m going to throw up in front of the vicar, I just know it.”

“Urgh, don’t do that Aunty Jules,” said Leah in her bridesmaid dress, who was absolutely thrilled to be here.

Jules’s grin returned. “Don’t you worry honey, tough as old boots me. Who would have thought I’d have a church wedding? What if I burst into flames at the altar?”

Amber watched from the back of the hotel room, sipping orange juice as they all laughed, Leah clearly not getting the joke but laughing anyway. It was a relief this day had finally come, she’d been afraid it would be called off at the last minute but Jules seemed very happy that she was marrying Jackson. Once she was safely married Amber might feel secure in her own marriage, she was painfully aware of her husband’s feelings for his own cousin. It was sick. Just looking at Jules made her feel queasy. But she’d kept up the pretence of ignorance for long enough and now all she had to do was get through today and everything would be okay. Besides, she had a bit of news for Mikey that she would reveal at the right time to steal some of Jules’s thunder.

It also irked her how much Rachel and Cathy liked Jules, in fact they seemed to prefer her to herself, why she hadn’t been able to work out yet. She was crude and common but they seemed to find her fun. Still, she’d been surprised to be asked to be a bridesmaid and Jules had looked a little uncomfortable asking her but Amber supposed she was forced to after Rachel and Cathy had been asked. Amber had graciously accepted but inside she was being burnt up with hatred, unable to stand the sight of Jules. It was because of her she’d been forced to lie next to her husband while he tossed and turned in his sleep, murmuring her name before waking up with a jolt, drenched in sweat. At first he’d explained it away as trauma after the explosion at the compound with Jules inside. Then she’d realised he was waking up with an erection and that his cries were morphing into distinctly sexual moans. She’d never told him about that and she never would, afraid if she brought it out in the open he’d end their marriage. She was sure that if she could just get through today everything would be alright and her marriage would miraculously get back on track.

“I could really use a drink and a fag,” said Jules, taking in a deep breath.

“I thought nothing could scare you,” said Rachel. “And look at you, trembling over a wedding.”

“That’s because I can’t believe this is happening to me. Who’d have thought I’d ever settle down?”

“You’ll be fine,” said Rachel. She glanced at her watch. “We need to be leaving soon or you’ll be late.”

“And we don’t want to give poor Jackson a fright,” said Cathy.

“He’s going to get one when he sees this dress,” she said, gesturing down at herself. The top half of the dress was composed of silk and tapered tightly to her curves but she’d gone over the top with the bottom half, which was huge and covered in taffeta supported underneath by a giant hoop, purposefully chosen to hide her baby bump. “Anyway, I can’t go anywhere without my escorts. Where are they?”

In response to her words the door opened and Ryan and Jez walked in, looking very smart in matching dark blue suits with light blue cravats.

“Really?” was all Ryan said, gesturing to the cravat smartly tied at his throat.

“Blame Jax for that one,” said Jules.

“Look on the bright side, no one will notice the cravats when they see your dress,” said Jez.

“Like it?” she said, giving them a little curtsey. “I wanted to go for the fairytale look.”

“The Evil Queen?” said Jez, earning himself a slap around the back of the head from Ryan. “Ow.”

Ryan stood before Jules and - to everyone’s surprise - kissed her on the cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“I feel like an idiot.”

“Don’t. Any man would be proud to have you as his wife.”

Jules was genuinely touched. “Thanks,” she smiled up at him.

He held his arm out to her. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

She smiled at Jez, who offered her his arm and she walked out between her brothers, Cathy, Rachel and Leah gathering up their bouquets and following.

When they’d gone Amber picked up her own bouquet - white lilies and black roses, to her disgust - and reluctantly followed.

When Jules saw Jackson waiting for her at the altar, looking knee-knockingly gorgeous in his suit and cravat, her nerves miraculously fell away. As the music started up - Marilyn Manson’s version of Sweet Dreams, her choice - she kept her eyes riveted on him, knowing she’d made the right decision. Mikey was sitting to her left with Declan, Mark, Shane and Grant but she didn’t look his way. He was the past and Jackson was her future.

“You look amazing,” whispered Jackson when she reached the altar.

“Thank Christ for that,” she grinned, her smile dropping when she saw the vicar’s disapproving look. “Sorry.”

Amber wanted to keep a close eye on Mikey during the ceremony, needing to see his expression, wondering if he’d look sad but she couldn’t see him directly from where she was stood at the front of the church, not without turning her head and drawing attention to herself. She hoped the cheating bastard was miserable.

When the vicar asked if anyone had any lawful impediment to this marriage Amber held her breath, certain someone was going to barge their way through the door and ruin things when she was so close to finding some peace. She was so tense her hands crushed the stems of her bouquet. But nothing happened. Then it was announced that Jules and Jackson were husband and wife and they kissed. Instantly she cheered. It was over.

As everyone watched the new bride and groom parade down the aisle, arm in arm, Amber chanced a glance Mikey’s way, her heart sinking when she saw his was the only stony face in the church.

The reception was held in a huge marquee set up in the stunning grounds of a stately home. It had the fairytale aspect Jules had desired with a lake with swans, sunken flowerbeds, pergolas, fountains and lots of large wooden gates leading into colourful walled gardens.

Mikey sat at a table at the back of the marquee, watching Jules and Jackson gently swaying together on the dance floor, gazing into each other’s eyes. Amber had gone to the bathroom so he felt it was safe to watch. Jules hadn’t been lying, she clearly loved Jackson. He’d spent weeks preparing himself for this day and when he’d woken up that morning he’d been sure he’d be able to cope but inside he was hurting. Somehow he just knew that should have been him up there with her, this should have been his day.

“Do you think he’s got any idea what he’s let himself in for?” smiled Mark, nodding in Jules’s direction. It was only said jokingly, like the rest of his colleagues he was very fond of Jules.

“Must be a masochist,” commented Grant through a mouthful of wedding cake.

“How many slices of that have you had?” said Mark. “You’re a greedy bastard.”

“Not as many as Shane, he’s on his fourth.”

“I’m a growing lad,” mumbled Shane through a mouthful of sponge and icing. “Growing upwards, unlike you lot who are growing outwards.”

“Listen to the cheeky little sod,” said Grant, laughing.

Mikey tuned out their banter. Normally he would have joined in but today it was getting on his nerves and he had to stop himself from telling them to shut up.

“Who’s keeping an eye out?” he said instead.

“Bill and John on the lookout,” replied Declan. “Plus Battler and Bruiser have got some of their men on it too. No one’s getting in if we don’t want them to.”

“Good,” he sighed, so preoccupied he failed to notice how cold his cousin’s eyes grew when talking to him. Mikey wished it was time to go home but before that he wanted a word with Jules. They’d avoided each other as much as they could after that time in his office and he wanted her to know that it was all okay, that she could come back to work after she’d had the baby. It had been worrying him lately that she’d want to find another job. He might not get to be with her but he still wanted to see her every day.

When Jackson relinquished his new bride to dance with his young cousin - the bloody goody two shoes - Mikey spotted his chance. He leapt up and wandered over to her, unaware of Declan watching, his expression grim.

“Would Mrs Driscoll like to dance?”

“Yes I would Mr Maguire,” she smiled.

He took her in his arms, careful not to hold her too closely.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” she said as they slowly moved about the dance floor.

“How could I miss it? You’re happy?”

She nodded. “Very.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

“I want the same for you.”

“I’m happy with Amber.” He forced a smile. “Honestly.”

“Good because me and Jax have been talking and I’ll be back to work when the baby’s six months old. We’ve had another scan by the way, I’m having a girl.”

“But you already knew that,” he said with a gentle smile. “Sounds like you’ve got it all sorted.”

“I have.”

He took a moment just to enjoy the feel of her in his arms before saying, “you’re a beautiful bride. Jackson is a lucky man.”

“Damn right he is and I’m a lucky woman.”

He planted a soft kiss on her cheek, inhaling her scent. “Congratulations.”

A loud screech from the entrance of the marquee had everyone turning to see what the source of the noise was.

Estelle staggered in, gaudily dressed in a tight white blouse and electric pink skirt that was almost obscenely short. It was clear she was drunk, tottering about on high heels, clutching a cheap leather handbag.

“You didn’t invite her, did you?” said Mikey, shocked.

“Course I bloody didn’t,” said Jules, disentangling herself from him.

Ryan and Jez hastily moved to intercept Estelle but Jules reached her first.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded.

“I’ve come to see my little girl get married,” Estelle slurred, swaying on her feet, reaching out to touch her face.

Jules knocked her hand away. “I am not your little girl.”

“Why did you have to come here today Estelle?” said Jez, coming up behind Jules and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“I already said. I want to see my daughter get married.”

“I don’t know how you got in here but I want you out. Now,” said Jules.

Jackson emerged from the direction of the toilets and rushed over to his new bride, upset by how distraught she looked.

“What’s going on?” he said, sliding his arm around her waist.

Estelle’s eyes lit up when she saw Jackson. “And here’s the groom.” Her gaze roamed up and down him lasciviously. “You’ve picked a lovely hunk of a man there Jules. Does he know you swing both ways?”

For the first time in her life Jules actually cared what someone thought of her because Jackson’s parents were present and they were good people who had done their best to welcome her into their family and pretend they weren’t horrified their only son was marrying a Maguire. Working to make a good impression was a first for Jules but she was determined to make a success of her marriage and getting the approval of her husband’s family was a big part of that. Now this drunken nightmare was standing before her threatening to destroy her life all over again. She was glad she was pregnant because at least it meant she wouldn’t be tempted to beat the shit out of her.

“Just get out. You’re not welcome,” said Jules.

“But my family’s here - you, my sons, my gorgeous new son-in-law and all my grandchildren.”

Leah, who was stood off to one side watching, put her hand to her mouth, wide eyed. Was this mess her grandmother?

Ryan - who was astonished Estelle was here after he put her on a boat to Brindisi - placed himself between Estelle and Jules, not wanting his sister agitated in her condition. “For the first time in your life do the right thing for your children and leave,” he said quietly. “Don’t spoil her big day.”

“I’m her mum, she needs me here,” she said, attempting to push him aside and failing.

“She needs you to leave. Now.”

Estelle’s eyes filled with malice and she snatched a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. “To the bride and groom,” she called, raising her glass. “May her criminal, murdering lifestyle not destroy the marriage before it’s begun.”