‘I tell him address in email,’ Irena said, her smile faltering. ‘What is wrong? I think you will be happy for me.’

Something about the way the brother was looking at him made Frank feel uneasy. Irena had never mentioned his age, but from the way she’d spoken about him, Frank had assumed him to be a child. This man, however, appeared to be around the same age as her, if not older.

‘Could I speak to you for a minute?’ he asked Irena, backing out into the hall.

About to do as he’d asked, Irena hesitated when the man grasped her wrist and pulled her down to whisper into her ear. Frank’s mind was spinning. He’d had no idea she was planning to invite her brother over, and it upset him that she hadn’t thought to ask if he minded before going ahead. And where had she found the money to send for him, because Frank certainly hadn’t given it to her?

Irena was the first to speak when she came out.

‘Why are you behave like this?’ she hissed, pulling the door shut behind her. ‘I have tell them you are good man and will make them feel welcome, but you are treat them like stranger.’

‘That’s because they are strangers to me,’ Frank replied quietly, guiding her into the living room, conscious that the men might be able to hear them. ‘You should have told me he was coming and given me time to prepare, but I didn’t even know he’d replied to your email.’

‘You tell me to help myself to computer, so this is what I do. I think you would be happy for me.’

‘I’d have been happier if you’d discussed it with me first. And who’s the other one?’

‘He is friend.’ Irena folded her arms. ‘He help bring Karel into country.’

‘And are you expecting me to let them both stay?’

‘Is this not my home, too, Frankie?’ Irena frowned. ‘Did you not ask me to stay and share your bed – like wife without ring?’

‘Yes, but this isn’t about you,’ Frank argued. ‘I know he’s your brother, and you’ve been worried about him, but—’

The door opened before he could go on, and Karel strolled in.

‘There is problem?’ he asked, his accent even thicker than Irena’s.

‘No, there is no problem,’ Irena said, her gaze fixed on Frank as if pleading with him to back her up.

For her sake, he smiled and extended his hand.

‘It’s nice to meet you, Karel.’

The man grasped his hand and gave it a vice-like squeeze. Sensing that it was deliberate, Frank willed himself not to react – and he resisted the urge to rub his crushed fingers when Karel released him.