When Neil ended the call, Jane finally gave in to her tears, letting them silently roll down her face. Jennifer embraced her and Jane clung onto her.
‘Jesus, I’m sorry,’ said Peanut, who looked stricken on behalf of his friends.
‘Mystery solved as to why Neil’s suddenly turned into a greedy bastard.’ Harry glowered. ‘Did you notice Jessica Alexander in the background? I bet the bitch encouraged him to take the deal and top his own brother in the process. She’s probably shagging him.’
‘You’re right,’ said Jane, releasing Jennifer and wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. ‘She’s manipulated him like she has her sons. We have to do something before they hurt Carly again and it looked like Dean really needs a hospital.’
They all turned to look at Rod, who held up his hands. ‘You can’t give in to my brother’s demands. You know he’ll kill you all if you kill me. He won’t let Carly and Dean go either. He’ll slit their throats and dump them in the Clyde.’
Alec groaned in anguish.
‘He’s right,’ said David. ‘Rod’s the only one who can protect you and them.’
‘So far he hasn’t done a very good job,’ replied Harry with a dark look.
‘Just wait until my people arrive,’ said Rod reasonably. ‘It will be worth it, I promise.’
‘You’re just making it up to save your own hide. No one’s coming, are they, Rod?’ demanded Harry, advancing on him. The look in his eyes said that if killing this man would save his brother and cousin then he was more than willing to do it.
Rod produced a small, snub-nosed revolver that was strapped to his ankle and aimed it at him. ‘Stay where you are. All of you, keep back.’
‘Rod, this isn’t the way,’ said David. ‘Threatening them won’t help you.’
‘I’m only protecting myself. That’s better,’ he said when Harry went still. ‘Now, we’re going to play this my way—’
His words were cut off when Alec kicked a chair into his right leg. Rod’s knee crumpled and he dropped the gun. Alec managed to catch it in one shaky hand and aimed it at him.
‘Jeezo, pal, I’d nae idea you had it in you,’ said Eddie proudly.
‘Careful with that, Da’,’ said Jane, rushing to his side. ‘You might hurt yourself.’
‘Killing you will save my baby,’ Alec told Rod. His voice was a quiet murmur but his eyes burned with a ferocious fire.
‘This isn’t the way,’ said Rod, slowly raising his hands. ‘Now put that down; you don’t even know how to use it.’ His face fell when Alec managed to cock the weapon, even though his fingers were shaking and palsied. ‘Oh, I see you do.’
‘Da’,’ said Jane slowly. ‘Carly once said that she didn’t want to take our family down a dark path and this will put us on the darkest path possible.’
‘Not you,’ he replied, gaze locked on Rod. ‘Just me.’
‘It won’t solve anything. Let’s see what his men are bringing.’
If Alec heard his daughter, he didn’t show it. He glared at Rod, finger wrapped around the trigger. When the shaking became more pronounced, he supported the weight with both hands.
‘Come on, Alec,’ said Peanut in a lighter tone. ‘With the way you’re holding it you’re just as likely to hit one of us. Put it down and let’s talk.’
Once again, it appeared as though Alec hadn’t even heard him. He just continued to glower at the man whose very existence put his daughter’s life at risk.
‘I did some research on you,’ Rod told Alec. ‘I heard you were a ruthless bastard. Your only weakness was your wife and weans.’
‘Too right,’ said Eddie. ‘So you might want to stop talking, it’s no’ helping.’
‘A car’s pulled up outside,’ said Peanut, who was keeping watch at the window.
‘That should be my men,’ replied Rod, while staring straight back at Alec.
‘We need him to confirm that it really is them, pal,’ Eddie told his brother.
Alec nodded and Rod rushed over to the window, giving Alec the chance to lower the gun. Keeping it aimed at Rod had taken the last of his strength, so he allowed the weapon to fall into his lap.
‘Why don’t I take that?’ said Eddie, reaching for it.
Alec’s head snapped up to regard him, eyes bloodshot with rage and full of accusation.
‘I’m so sorry,’ said Eddie, hanging his head. ‘I just wanted to make life easier for you and your girls.’
Alec’s look told him they would discuss it later.
‘Here is my surprise,’ announced Rod with a pleased smile. ‘And just in time too.’
Eddie looked back at his brother. ‘We don’t know if his surprise is to wipe us all out so he can escape.’ He gestured to the gun. ‘Please.’
Alec nodded once and Eddie scooped up the gun and handed it to Harry, who held it down by his side, ready to use if necessary. Eddie produced the pistol he’d taken from Rod back at the flat. Peanut looked to him and when Eddie nodded, he unlocked the door and pulled it open. Three men entered, the two elder ones frog-marching in the third, who appeared to be in his early twenties.
‘Who’s this?’ said Harry, nodding at the young man, who was obviously a prisoner.
‘This is Gavin. Neil’s son,’ announced Rod with a pleased smile. ‘His bastard son to be precise. His mother used to be a stripper. Neil’s gone out of his way to keep his real parentage a secret. The snobby bastard likes to be associated with higher class women than Gavin’s haggard maw.’
Gavin glowered at him but didn’t speak.
‘You’re using him as a hostage,’ said Jane. ‘If he hurts Carly and Dean, then we hurt Gavin.’
‘Yes and Neil loves his son. He won’t risk hurting a hair on his head.’
‘Or you’ll panic him into doing even worse to them,’ said Harry.
‘That won’t happen. No one knows my brother better than me. This will work.’
Jane looked to her uncle. ‘What do you think?’
‘It’s the only advantage we’ve got,’ replied Eddie. ‘We have to use it.’
Eddie didn’t need to ask his brother if he was on board with this plan, he knew he’d be willing to sacrifice anyone to help one of his daughters. Rod had been right when he’d said Alec had a ruthless streak. If his body hadn’t let him down, he would have already tracked down Neil and his little band and torn them apart for what they’d done. Eddie felt ashamed that he hadn’t managed to do the same.
* * *
Leonie and Donna both had their own cars, so the women hopped in the vehicles and drove off, heading to the street in Rutherglen where Jessica Alexander was, or at least where her phone was. Donna had tried to persuade Rose to stay behind but the girl had a will as fierce as either of her sisters, but she had sent a disappointed Tamara home. Jane had told Donna that Cole carried a gun and the thought of Rose being exposed to that was frightening. The Bitches were all very fond of the three Savage sisters but the girl simply wouldn’t listen to reason. Short of tying her up and tossing her into the boot, there was very little they could do, so Donna had allowed her to come along on the proviso that she do as she was told at all times. Rose’s eyes were bright with excitement as she sat beside Donna in the passenger seat, telling her the youngest sister had just as much mayhem in her blood as the rest of her family.
The app on Brian’s phone brought them to a large storage unit on a quiet street, the walls clad in profiled metal sheeting. It was ringed with a fence but the gate was ajar.
The two cars drove past the unit and parked further down the street.
‘What do we do now?’ Rose asked Donna eagerly as she switched off the engine.
‘Now we check it out but just me and Leonie will go. You wait here with the rest of the girls. I mean it, Rose,’ she said, voice heavy with warning when the girl rolled her eyes. ‘Jane will probably kill me for bringing you with us.’
Rose looked contrite. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t want to get you into trouble but I’m just so worried.’
‘I understand, but if we all go, then we’ll be noticed and that could put your family in danger. Rein it in for them as much as yourself.’
Rose nodded seriously. ‘I will. Promise.’
Donna smiled fondly. ‘Good. Back soon.’
Rose and the other two Bitches in the back of the car watched Leonie and Donna climb out of their respective cars and hurry down the street together. Five minutes later, they were back.
‘Well?’ Rose demanded as Donna jumped back into the car.
‘We saw through a side window. The Alexanders are in there.’
‘And my family? Donna, please,’ she pressed when the older woman sighed.
‘They’ve got Carly and Dean. No,’ she said forcefully, hitting the central locking when Rose attempted to open the door.
‘We have to get them out of there,’ she cried. ‘The Alexanders hate them.’
‘From what we saw, they’re fine,’ lied Donna. Dean had been out cold on the floor and Carly was tied to a bench but Rose didn’t need to know that. ‘I’m calling Jane. She will decide.’
Donna spoke so firmly, Rose nodded. ‘Aye, you’re right.’
* * *
‘Ah,’ said Rod with a satisfied smile when his phone rang. ‘That’ll be my loving brother,’ he added sarcastically.
Sure enough, Neil’s face popped up on the screen.
‘Rod,’ said Neil jovially. ‘I can see the Savages wussed out. Too bad for Carly.’
‘Just hold your horses,’ Rod replied. ‘Before you do anything drastic, you should know that I’ve got something of yours.’
Rod smiled with satisfaction at the panic that filled his brother’s eyes.
‘What?’ demanded Neil.
Rod turned the camera so it was facing Gavin. ‘Say hi to your da’.’
Gavin just stared at the phone with a hangdog expression.
Neil turned his customary purple before bellowing, ‘Let him go, you fucker.’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Rod, turning the phone back on himself. ‘Now, here’s what you’re going to do. First of all, you’ll release Carly and Dean unharmed.’
‘Fuck off.’
Rod continued as though he hadn’t spoken. ‘Secondly, you and I are going to sit down and discuss this ridiculous situation you’ve got us both into.’
‘Piss off. I’m discussing nothing with you. You’ll only try to kill me.’
‘Oh dear, does that hurt your feelings?’ said Rod sarcastically. ‘It’s either that or your precious boy gets his throat cut.’
‘Ross,’ Neil bellowed furiously. ‘Shock the bitch again.’
Rod produced a knife so quickly it shocked them all and he pressed it to Gavin’s throat. Gavin went white and inhaled sharply but he didn’t speak.
‘I wouldn’t recommend it,’ said Rod. ‘You know how fond I am of Carly and I don’t want her harmed. The same goes for Dean. Any injury inflicted on them will be done tenfold on your son. You know what I’m capable of. I’m far more imaginative than you and your wee band of incompetents.’
‘Ross, back off,’ Neil roared at him before turning back to face the camera. ‘I was going to give you a quick death seeing how we’re blood but that’s gone out the window now—’ He went abruptly silent when Rod nicked the side of Gavin’s neck with the knife and blood trickled from the wound. Gavin winced but once again remained silent.
Jane felt sorry for the boy who’d been dragged into this nightmare only because he was the son of the wrong person. It wasn’t his fault but she knew she wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice him if it saved her sister. She was just realising that she’d inherited her ruthless streak from her father. Glancing at him, she saw Alec was watching proceedings grimly. All he cared about was getting Carly and Dean back.
‘Fine,’ growled Neil through a gritted jaw. ‘We’ll meet at the warehouse on Anderson Street. You know the one.’
‘I do.’
‘See you there in an hour,’ said Neil before ending the call.
‘Well played, Rod,’ said David.
‘Thank you,’ he replied in a way that indicated he’d known all along that his plan would work.
‘Can we trust him not to take his anger out on Carly and Dean?’ demanded Jane.
‘Absolutely. He won’t risk the son and heir,’ said Rod, clapping Gavin on the shoulder. ‘Clean up his neck,’ he told one of his men.
The man nodded, produced a tissue from his pocket and held it out to Gavin, who snatched it from him with a glower and pressed it to the shallow cut.
Jennifer’s phone rang and she answered it. ‘All right, Donna? Aye, she’s here.’ She held the phone out to Jane. ‘It’s Donna. She’s said been trying to call you, but you’ve not been picking up.’
‘My battery’s died,’ she replied.
‘She’s got something urgent to tell you.’
With a frown, Jane took the phone from her. ‘Hi Donna,’ she said into the handset. She went rigid. ‘How the bloody hell do you know that? You know what, it doesn’t matter. We’re on our way.’ She looked to the rest of the room with triumph. ‘The Bitches have found Carly and Dean.’
‘How?’ exclaimed Eddie.
‘No time to explain. We need to get over there,’ she said, already rushing for the door.
‘This is excellent,’ Rod told his men. ‘We can surprise my brother.’
‘No, pal. You’re staying here,’ Eddie told Alec when he moved to rise. ‘You’ll only be a liability and you know it.’
Alec nodded and remained where he was, just the effort of trying to move exhausting him.
‘Peanut, wait with him, will you?’ said Eddie, nodding at his brother.
‘No,’ grunted Alec. ‘I’ll be fine.’ He looked to Peanut. ‘Go and help my baby.’
‘If you’re sure?’ replied Peanut.
Alec nodded, his hands shaking even more than usual.
‘The next thing you know you’ll have all your girls back home safe,’ Peanut told him.
His words did nothing to erase the immense pain from Alec’s eyes.