It would not be the first time. Kathy had been in high dudgeon when he had turned up there before. In fact she had been livid. And she’d had every right to be; after all, Sharon trusted her, so why couldn’t her father and her brothers? If she didn’t look out for her daughter, the girl would be on lock-down.

‘Are you going out or not, Len?’

She dismissed him, unable to bear the antagonism between them. It broke her heart, because she loved her sons, whatever they might think of her. They were more Ray’s boys now than they had ever been hers.

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Three

Kathy was at her friend’s house and she was laughing her head off when Maria’s mum knocked on the bedroom door and said that her brother was downstairs wanting to talk to her.

Maria rolled her eyes in exasperation as her friend left the room to put her brother’s mind at rest. She knew that Kathy expected nothing different from her family, but she felt that if her brothers were so fucking insistent on knowing her whereabouts it would drive her insane. Her own brothers were normal – i.e. they had no real interest in her. That was how it should be, surely?

Kathy went out into the front garden so they would not be overheard and, looking at her older brother, she said in exasperation, ‘Why do you do this, Len?’

Lenny felt bad but he knew that he had to look out for this girl; she was completely naive where men were concerned. Ray thought she was a fucking brainbox but Lenny knew the truth. She’d only ever been an average student at best. She needed looking after, whether she agreed or not. She was his sister and he would protect her with his life if need be.

‘I’m just looking out for you, Kathy, that’s all.’

He could see the sadness in her eyes and he wished he could tell her something different. But then he would be a liar.

He tried to justify himself as he said, ‘Be fair, Kathy. Mum drinks a lot and she can’t always be trusted to say what is actually going on, can she?’

Kathy didn’t even bother to answer; she just turned away and walked back into the house, closing the front door firmly behind her. She had been there and done that, and it was getting boring as far as she was concerned. Her brothers were a pain in the arse. As she went back up the stairs to where her friend was waiting, she wondered when she would ever be free of them. It was like being in prison.

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Four