‘I don’t know. Seemed like the right thing to do.’ Alan shot a glance to Alex, who was squatted down, talking to her brother. ‘You went through hell to get Alex her life back. I figured I could give you the gift of death. Give you a fresh start.’

Sam shook his head in disbelief. From the hostility when they first met to the final handshake, Sam had grown to see Alan as more than just an ally. He was a good man who, despite his obsession with revenge, still put Alex’s safety first.

Joe Alan was a good man.

Sam was proud to call him his friend.

‘Thank you,’ Sam finally stammered. ‘Tell Alex to check the bag in the car.’

‘You’re not going to say goodbye?’

‘It’s easier this way,’ Sam said firmly, his voice cracking slightly. With that, he patted Alan on the shoulder and turned, marching with purpose towards the exit. A few steps from the door, he heard the growing rumble of footsteps racing behind him and he turned just in time to catch Alex, who had raced after him. She collided with him, squeezing as hard as she could and ignoring any groan of pain he might offer.

Sam didn’t.

He just closed his eyes, savouring the moment and the love that existed between the two of them. After a few moments, Alex took a step back, wiping the tears from her cheeks and offering Sam a big smile.

‘Thank you, Sam. You saved my life.’

Sam reached out, wiping the final tear from her eye.

‘Now we’re even.’

He gently stroked her cheek and then watched as Alan walked across with Nattie and Joel, the two of them looking at Sam with understandable apprehension.

‘Take care, guys,’ Sam offered, reaching for the door.

‘One last question, Sam,’ Joe said. ‘How much money did Wyatt really walk away with?’

Sam pressed his back against the door and smiled.

‘About seven hundred and fifty grand.’

Alan shook his head.

‘I thought you didn’t do this for the money?’

Sam winked at Alex before pressing his weight back against the door, opening it to reveal a warm blast of sunshine.

‘I didn’t.’

With that, Sam stepped out of the building and merged with the tremendous footfall that accompanied most streets in Brooklyn. After a few further hugs, Alex and Alan led Nattie and Joel to his car, where Alan would drop them back to their apartment block. On the ride over, Alan and Alex arranged a date for the following week. He had an awful lot of paperwork to get through, but his heart was pulling him closer to New York and further from the DEA.

There was something about Alex.

Something that felt right.