‘I beg your pardon?’ Her voice sounded small and hurt. Tommy found he couldn’t look at her. ‘You mean, you’ve come here to let me know you’ve slapped Vic the Maltese, and that’s all?’

‘I did a bit more than slap him, love. I shot Mario the wonderboy in his feet and Marcus shot the old man through the heart. I expect the Old Bill is having a field day about now. It’s only round Greek Street, ain’t it?’

Briony nodded, her mouth twisted in a grim line.

‘Oh, I get it now. You had to show a front. You still own part of the clubs so you wanted to protect your investment. I’m sorry, Tommy. I thought maybe the years we spent together might have brought you back round here, but I was wrong. I won’t make that mistake again in a hurry.’

Standing up she snatched his glass from him and slammed it down on the desk. ‘Well, you’ve told me your bit of news. Exciting as it is, I think I have the details now. So why don’t you piss off to wherever it is you’re going? Or more precisely, whoever.’

Tommy stared at his empty hand, then picking up the glass he drained his drink in one gulp. Standing, he picked up his coat from the floor and walked towards the door.

‘You dirty bastard, Tommy! You came here to see how the land lay with me. You’re laughing at me, aren’t you?’

He faced her then.

‘No, actually, I’m not. You’re still a big part of me, Briony. But I’ll tell you something for nothing, love, something I’ve told you many times before - your big mouth and your attitude will always be your downfall. You couldn’t swallow could you? Just for a few minutes. I always had to do what you wanted. Well, if you want me back, I’m sorry. Because at this moment I wouldn’t have you gift wrapped.

‘You’re too demanding, Bri. You have to take the lead. You have to be in charge. Well, you don’t pay my wages, love, and you never have. I do what I want, when I want, and that includes visiting you or any other woman in the smoke as and when it suits me.’

He poked himself hard in the chest as he said the last word and Briony fought back tears of frustration and rage.

‘Well, you don’t visit no other woman while you’re with me, I won’t stand for it!’

Tommy laughed then. ‘But we’ve already established I ain’t with you, am I? We’re partners, Briony.’