Divided Loyalties Read Free Page B

sympathy for your turd of a son you’ll find none from anyone round here.”  He knelt down to hiss in Richard’s ear.  “And if you ever threaten my wife again I will kill you.”
    Richard struggled to his feet.  “What goes around comes around Danny.  If I was you I’d be very worried.”
    Danny took Rachel’s hand as they watched Richard stalk off down the street, their expressions cold.
    “Do you think we should worry about him?” said Rachel quietly.  “He is well connected.”
    “We’ll see,” replied Danny, his blue eyes narrowing.
     

CHAPTER 3
     
    The morning of Beth and Alex’s wedding arrived and Rachel sat in her full regalia sipping champagne, watching Beth take one last anxious look in the mirror.  Her nerves were on edge because today the jury would give their verdict on Ryan’s case so by the time the wedding was over he would either be a free man or spend the rest of his natural life behind bars.  His words in Martina’s Bar on that hot and heavy night when she and Danny had briefly split up haunted her.  He’d told her that the prospect of going back to prison frightened him more than death and if he went down she would never forgive herself.  No one else was worrying, they were all certain he’d be found not guilty because there was hardly any evidence but after her encounter with The Coalition she was all too aware of how shadowy forces could work to bring things to an unexpected conclusion.
    “Relax, you look gorgeous,” Rachel told Beth.
    “Thanks.  God I’m nervous.”  She took a sip of champagne, released a small burp and giggled.  “I hope I don’t do that during the ceremony.”
    “I’m sure you won’t.”
    “Were you this nervous marrying Danny?”
    “I was terrified.”
    “I’ll be fine once we’re at the reception and I can drink as much as I like.”
    “Don’t have too much, you don’t want to spoil your wedding night.”
    Beth’s eyes went hazy with happiness.  “No I don’t.  Alex can do this amazing thing with his little finger…”
    She was prevented from elaborating by Beth’s mother, Carol, entering the room, who wasn’t too happy about her only child marrying a Maguire.  Rachel had known Beth’s mum since she was a little girl and used to be close to her.  Now Carol could barely bring herself to speak to her, much to Rachel’s chagrin.
    “The car’s here,” said Carol quietly, as though her daughter was about to be led to the gallows rather than her wedding.  Beth’s family were Montford born and bred and despite the fact that the Law family were working alongside the Maguires, some still saw this wedding as a betrayal.
    Fortunately Beth was too agitated to notice.  She had one last check in the mirror, snatched up her flowers then took a few deep breaths to stop herself from hyperventilating.
    “Here, have one last swig,” said Rachel, handing her a glass of champagne.
    Beth downed the lot, tossed the empty glass onto the bed and took another deep breath.
    “Right, let’s do this.”
     
    Danny could hardly keep his eyes on the bride and groom because Rachel stood just behind Beth looking delectable in a deep red floor length gown.  Her dark hair had been piled high on top of her head but he didn’t like it that way, he preferred it loose so he could run his fingers through it.  He intended to do that later tonight when they were alone in their suite.  She glanced back at him with a mischievous grin and he was sure she knew exactly what he was thinking.  He forced his mind back to the ceremony, smiling as the bride and groom shared their first kiss.  He was pleased for his brother, he’d got a good woman in Beth, who obviously adored him.  When Alex claimed his bride’s mouth for a second kiss Danny had to tap him on the shoulder and remind him that they should be progressing down the aisle. 
    Rachel took Danny’s arm as they followed them out of the church and posed for photos on the steps, Beth’s parents