‘I don’t want to go to war with him. As you know, my old woman’s just given birth and I realise that I might be better off disabling my opponent. Which is what brought me to your door.’

Jack was nodding his head once more. His grizzled old features looked concerned but, in reality, he was wondering how much Micky would be willing to pay to disable a Face like George Thomas. He took a large sip of his Chivas Regal before saying quietly, ‘As I said, it ain’t going to be cheap, Micky.’

Micky Biggs grinned widely. ‘I had a feeling it wouldn’t be. I will pay whatever you want. And up front too, to show my goodwill. I want him fucking maimed – unable to carry out his business for at least a year or eighteen months. I also want his eye out. Not both, I ain’t a vindictive man, as you know. But I want one eye popped, that is a certainty.’

Jack looked at Micky and then said, ‘Old saying, Micky. “In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”’

Micky laughed delightedly. ‘Fuck that, Jack. In my kingdom I am the fucking ruler and I rule that that ponce needs to be taught a severe lesson. Of course, I had nothing to do with it. Which is why I am coming to you humble and with an open fucking chequebook.’

Jack smiled. ‘Leave it with me and I will see what I can do. I need to discuss it with the person concerned.’

Micky Biggs was happy enough with that and he said as much. ‘You’re a diamond geezer, Jack. I will leave it all in your more-than-capable hands.’

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-One

Sharon was lying in bed with Ray, listening to him snoring softly. She wondered if she would ever be able to sleep alone. Knowing he was beside her made her feel safe and very happy. He made her feel secure and the love she had for him was so colossal in its intensity that, at times, it frightened her. She had been let down by Lenny; it was hard to accept that your husband had another woman, but another man put a completely different complexion on things. You could fight against another woman, but another man? It was the ultimate insult; it had made a mockery of everything she had held dear. That was something she thought of on nights like this, when she was awake and sleepless.

The baby was moving around inside her and she smiled. Definitely nightclub hours with this one. She caressed her belly and felt a rush of love for this new child.

She could not wait to meet it. That was why she didn’t want to know the sex – she wanted a surprise.