Frank turned to face him, his expression pure ice. Evan had gone AWOL, and Jo was safe in Australia, so he figured now was as good a time as any to take a stand.

‘You heard,’ he said brusquely. ‘I had to stand there and watch her break an innocent woman’s heart, so that’s another life you two have ruined.’

‘Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?’ Karel thrust his face into Frank’s and stared into his eyes.

Too angry to be intimidated, Frank slammed his palms against the man’s chest and pushed him away, yelling, ‘I’m talking to you! The piece of shit who robs decent, hard-working people, and tortures defenceless women!’

Winded when Karel drove a fist into his stomach, Frank doubled over, but he looked up and let out a little laugh.

‘That all you got, big man?’

The second punch connected with his nose, and his legs buckled when white-hot pain exploded behind his eyes. A vicious kick in the ribs sent him flying against the blood-splattered wall, but still he refused to give in.

‘Go on, then!’ he challenged, staring up at Karel from the floor. ‘What are you waiting for? You’re gonna kill me anyway, so fucking do it!’

It was the first time Irena had ever heard him use that word, and Frank almost laughed out loud when he saw the expression on her face.

‘What’s up, love? Haven’t shocked you, have I? Well, it’s not half as shocked as you’re going to be when you find out what he’s been doing with that girl for the last few nights.’

Infuriated, Karel released the gun’s safety catch and aimed it at Frank’s head.

‘No!’ Irena squawked, leaping forward and tugging on his arm. ‘We need him alive or this will all be over!’

‘He knows that, and that’s why he’s not gonna do it,’ Frank said, praying that the man’s ego wouldn’t compel him to prove otherwise. ‘He knows about us, as well – don’t you, Karel? You know she was sharing my bed right up until the day you and those other thugs turned up here? That we had sex every night, and she told me she loved me.’

‘Is lie!’ Irena spluttered, her face draining of colour. ‘Do not listen, Karel. He is try to cause trouble.’

‘Come off it,’ Frank snorted. ‘You might have fooled me, Irena, but you’re sure as hell not fooling him, ’cos he already knows you’re a whore. Isn’t that right, Karel?’

With a roar of fury, Karel smashed the barrel of the gun down on Frank’s head before turning on Irena.

‘Karel, don’t!’ she cried, throwing her arms up to protect her face when he raised his fist.