‘Harsh? It’s out of the fucking question. She owes us. If it weren’t for us, she wouldn’t have Flynn. She’d still be wiping her arse with dock leaves back in the camp, and the Milo bitch would’ve had him. But is that cow grateful? She is not.’

‘Damned right,’ said Bill.

The back door swung open and Ciaran came out, followed by Rowan.

‘What’s this? Family conference?’ asked Ciaran, looking from Bill to Jeb. He was the eldest son; he had to be included in everything.

Jeb looked at Ciaran with stark dislike. Big-headed bastard, he thought.

‘Jeb’s telling me the Everett girl’s cooled on him,’ said Bill with a black-toothed grin. ‘And you two as well, I guess.’

‘Well fuck it, I say,’ Ciaran said. ‘That one was always going to move on and up. I knew it the first moment I set eyes on her. She got that hungry look. The look that says, OK, this’ll do for now, but soon? You can kiss my arse ’cos I’ll be gone.’

Jeb looked sullen. ‘Best fuck I ever had,’ he said.

‘And me,’ said Rowan.

‘Shit, all of us,’ said Ciaran, and Rowan snickered. Even Bill raised a grin.

‘It ain’t funny,’ said Jeb. ‘All the stuff we done for that bitch. Now she’s on at me to do more stuff, when not five minutes ago she’s shouting in my face, telling me to sod off.’

Rowan held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. His younger brother was literally steaming with rage.

‘You want a little advice from your old dad?’ asked Bill.

‘No. But go the fuck on anyway,’ said Jeb.

‘Who’s making the rules here?’ asked Bill, looking around at his sons in disgust. ‘Her, or you? Listen. OK. Girl owes you. She owes us all, good fuck or no. Now she thinks she’s too good for us?’

‘So what do we do?’ asked Jeb.

‘Teach her a lesson. Bring her smack back down to earth. Let her know who’s in charge here.’

‘Yeah, fine. Suggestions?’ said Ciaran, shoving Rowan as he continued to laugh.

‘Woulda thought that was damned obvious,’ said Bill. ‘Way I see it, he’s the problem. Josh Flynn. She’s taken up with him and he’s earning big and it’s turned her head. Right round.’

‘So?’

‘So get rid of the son of a bitch. Hand him his arse cooked on a dinner plate. And then? Coast is clear. Do what you want with her.’

There was a loud silence as the three Cleaver boys looked at each other. Then Ciaran nodded.