Read Shattered (Dividing Line #5) for Free Online Page A

course you’ll be different but don’t be afraid of it. You won’t let it change you for the worst because you’re you.”
    “You’re different too,” she said, touching his face.
    “I am because I almost lost you.”
    As Rachel gazed at him she felt the already intense bond between them strengthen even more, so much so that she didn’t want to take her eyes off him for a single second.
    “I don’t want to leave you but I have to talk to Frankie McVay,” he said.
    “Oh God, is he still here?”
    “Of course. There’s no way he’s leaving Manchester without a piece of Alex Maguire in a Tupperware box.”
    Her expression darkened. “He can have the fucker’s head but he’s not killing him. I am.”
    “No Rachel, you’re not.”
    She tried to sit upright and grimaced with pain.
    “What are you doing woman? Rest for God’s sake.”
    “Alex is mine. It’s my right,” she said through her pain.
    “I won’t let you do it. You’ll have to live with it for the rest of your life and I don’t want you having his death on your conscience.”
    “I can do it.”
    “You can, I see it in your eyes, but you know as well as I do that you’re not physically capable. Alex would always win.”
    “Not even he could beat a bullet in the head.”
    “I’m the only one who can do this and you know it.”
    In her heart Rachel knew this was true, she always had. “Fine, have it your own way. As long as he’s dead I don’t suppose it really matters which one of us does it.”
    “We need to act while he’s still weak. I want to know if he has anymore of those sordid brothels.”
    “What if he does?”
    “I’m going to burn every single one of them to the ground, starting with the one you were taken to,” he barked, voice hoarse as he wrestled with his anger. “But first of all, I’m going to find Sabine.”
    “Thank you.”
    Ryan felt the change in their relationship too and was relieved it was a positive one. Being apart from her was going to be physically painful. “Battler and Bruiser will watch over you while I’m gone and no running off this time.”
    “Promise.”
    “How did Alex get you to leave the airport anyway?”
    “One of his men threatened to stab Ethan in the kidneys with a plastic knife.”
    “He’s only four for fuck’s sake.”
    “That’s just what I said.”
    “Why didn’t Battler and Bruiser spot him?”
    “Battler was in the shop with me and there was no reason for Bruiser to notice him. The airport was heaving, there were people all around us. There was no way he could have known. Please don’t blame them, they did their best.”
    “Who threatened Ethan? I’ll fucking have him and all.”
    “Gus, the one I knocked out in that house at Moss Side. I used his phone to call you but Riley killed him when he came into the warehouse.”
    “One down, the rest of them to go,” he growled.
    Despite how rotten she felt Rachel’s heart thumped with excitement at the danger in her husband’s eyes.
    Ryan kissed her and got to his feet. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    “I’ll miss you but get some rest, you look tired,” she yawned.
    “I will.”
    She yawned again, worn out by the conversation. “You need to get Dad away, I don’t want him near this,” she murmured as she started to sink into sleep.
    “I’ll sort that too.”
    When her eyes closed and she started to softly snore he smiled to himself. He watched her for a couple of minutes before tearing himself away and opening the door. “Alright, you can come back in.”
    Battler and Bruiser entered and looked at him expectantly, awaiting further orders.
    “I’ve got to meet the others. I don’t want you to leave her side and don’t let anyone near her. Even if they say they’re staff you ask for ID first.”
    Battler didn’t even bother to tell him that he knew what he was doing because he still felt so bad about losing Rachel in the first place. “Got it,” he replied.
    “I’m trusting you two,”