Aftermath (Dividing Line #6) by Heather Atkinson Page B

took him to say that. Riley wasn’t a man who opened up easily and the last thing she wanted to do was put him off talking about his feelings but she couldn’t lead him on, it wasn’t fair. “There’s no point. I can’t be with you.” She swallowed hard when he looked crestfallen.
    Riley released her hands and took a step back. “Why not?”
    “Alex and Nick died violently and your job is so dangerous.”
    “I’m not a gangster.”
    “But you’re a soldier. I couldn’t take the pressure of worrying if you were going to come home or not. I’ve lived that life and I’m not doing it again. Not only that, the last time me and Rachel were with brothers it didn’t end well.”
    “I am not Alex,” he said vehemently.
    “I know that, believe me I do, but it just wouldn’t work. There’s no point waiting for me.”
    Riley nodded, turning his gaze from her, jaw set.
    “I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. I didn’t want to.”
    “No, it’s fine,” he muttered to the floor.
    “If we’d met under different circumstances maybe things would have been different.”
    “Maybe. Please don’t,” he said when she tried to take his hand.
    “I really am sorry.”
    “Don’t be. It was good seeing you again,” he said before striding away, making for the door.
    Beth watched him go, resisting the urge to chase after him.
     
    Katia lay in bed, exhausted and sore, gazing at her newborn babies asleep in their cots. She’d been right. Two big beautiful boys. A tear rolled down her cheek. Alex would have loved them. It was as though he’d died yesterday, the pain wasn’t letting up. Now her babies had arrived she hoped they would distract her from her grief. In them she had two parts of Alex to love. She’d named the eldest boy Alex in honour of his father and his brother Daniel for the brother he’d loved so much. Not Danny, that sounded common. He would always be Daniel. Both of them were Maguires. That was the name they would have had if their father was still alive and it was the one they were going to get. Alex and Daniel Maguire were back.
    Mikey had stolen Alex’s place and by all accounts he was a strong and ruthless leader and she was frightened for her babies. She was protected but she didn’t know if he’d see two healthy boys as a future threat. It was why she’d booked into this private hospital under an assumed name.
    Robbie Jordan had held her hand throughout the agonising labour. The staff had assumed he was the father and she’d let them. She released a contemptuous snort. As if he could compare to Alex. But she had to admit Robbie was sweet and, if she was honest with herself, she needed him. He was setting up their new business while she was incapacitated with the help of the two Sugar brothers who had survived the war with the Laws. The first shipment of girls was arriving in four days and she was going to be there to greet them. It was important they knew who was the boss from the off. They were starting up in Essex initially, well away from Maguire territory, with the assistance of Vic Slattery, a business associate of Alex’s and the Jordans’ old enemies. Robbie had buried the hatchet with them and they’d agreed to let them set up, even offered them protection in exchange for a cut. But Katia had grand plans and they didn’t involve Vic Slattery lording it over them for the rest of their lives. When they were strong enough they’d take what he had then return to Manchester and remove Mikey from the position he’d stolen from Alex.
    In the meantime she wanted to deal with Ryan and Rachel Law, especially Ryan who had cut Alex’s throat so savagely he’d nearly taken his head off. The fire of wrath ignited inside Katia and her hands twisted the sheets, her teeth gnashing. How dare he return to his nice tranquil life after he’d destroyed hers?
    Alex started to stir in his little cot, as though in response to her turbulent thoughts. Katia swung her legs over the side of the bed,