Jack Johnson was watching his daughter pouring him his nightly Scotch. She looked out for him, even though he had been an absent father at best. He was getting on, but he still had Reggie onside and he would always be his trump card, because what Ray had never allowed for was Reggie’s determination.

He smiled at his daughter. She was a good girl, if not the prettiest woman he had ever seen – unfortunately she looked too much like him. That was a shame, as her mother had been beautiful in her day. Jack regretted how he had treated her mother. In his own way, he had loved her very much, but the Life had taken him over as it had so many men. Hindsight was a wonderful fucking thing.

He waited with bated breath for Reggie to arrive; he knew that he did not have long for this world, but before he went, he would fuck up that cunt Ray Donovan. He was determined to do it. He had swallowed his knob over and over again because he’d had no choice in the matter, but he was on his last legs now and that meant he had fuck-all to lose. How good that felt. He had the knowledge that could ruin that cunt’s whole life and he was now willing to use it, no matter who it hurt. He had sussed Ray out from the first and he had kept his own counsel. Now he was dying, he felt it was his duty to put the cat among the pigeons. That was all he could do really. After all, he had always been a man who left his mark. Why should he change the habit of a lifetime?

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Five

Elton Mills looked at the dead girl in front of him and sighed heavily. ‘You must learn to control your temper, Ray. This isn’t good for business.’

Ray smiled that easy smile of his and said seriously, ‘As soon as they threaten to talk to the wife, I lose my temper. Be fair, Elton – I never proposed marriage.’

Elton could see his point, but he also knew that Ray Donovan was getting out of control. This was not good sense; whatever Chrissie was, she was well liked, especially by the men who had fucked her, and they were legion. Elton shook his head, his anger at his friend more than apparent.

‘This is the last time, Ray. You fuck up again, you can fucking sort it – and I mean that.’

He felt the animosity coming from Ray Donovan in waves but he didn’t care any more. This had gone too far. Ray was a loose cannon.

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Six

‘You OK, Sharon?’

Ray was watching his wife closely. He could see she was pissed but he overlooked it. After the night he’d had, he could hardly say a word.

‘I’m fine, Ray. You all right?’