Briony flew across the room and grabbed his shirtfront. Shaking him hard, her tiny body possessed of the strength of great anger, she screamed: ‘I don’t need anyone to protect me, especially not a slag like Tommy Lane! Me and you could have sorted that out. Me and you! That’s why you’re my number two. How’s it going to look now, eh? Tommy Lane still fighting my battles. Well, I can fight me own battles, and if you still want to work for me, you’d better get that into your thick head!’

Marcus grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands from his clothes.

‘I’d thank you never to drag at me like that again. I know you pay my wages but I was doing my job. Believe me when I say tonight was well thought out and well planned, Miss Cavanagh. I am known to be your number two, and me and Tommy showing up like that only made you look stronger. More in control. Now calm yourself down. You’re not acting rationally. I’ve never seen you like this before.’

His deep gentle voice was her undoing. Leaning against him, she began to cry, a high sobbing that wrenched at his heart. Putting his arms around her, he held her close, letting her cry herself out. He could feel her body shuddering with each breath she took, and for the first time ever he felt a twinge of sympathy for her. She seemed more human now than at any time before. Gone was the work machine. The hard-nosed businesswoman. In her place was a Briony Cavanagh who could be hurt, who was human and cried because she was hurting inside. All that he saw was pain, and an intense loneliness that made him ashamed of all his previous feelings about this little woman.

In the space of five minutes, he knew her better than he would ever have believed possible.

He held her until she had cried herself out. Then he lit her a cigarette and poured her a drink. Leaving her sitting at her desk, he went back to Bernadette, knowing in his heart of hearts that neither he nor Briony would ever mention this night again but that it would always be there between them. It would anchor him to her. Because it was proof that Briony Cavanagh could feel. Something he would have found very hard to believe had he not seen it with his own eyes.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Twenty-nine

Kerry sat beside Eileen, her hands resting on her belly. Her pregnancy was not yet evident to outsiders but her spreading waistline was now obvious to friends and associates. Kerry poured out the weak tea and, mustering up her best voice, said gaily: ‘How do you fancy a nice cup of tea, Ei?’

Eileen smiled dreamily. Her deep blue eyes drooped as if she had just woken from a long sleep.