Tony had actually gone out himself and bought Jake’s present. It was nothing big or expensive, they had everything they needed. Jake still loved his superhero comics that he used to read when he was a boy, growing up at Elle’s. Of course, this was a private piece of information that no one else knew. After all, it wouldn’t set a good example: gangland boss reads comic books!

Tony had bought him a whole bunch of them and wrapped them up. Jake was still his little brother, in Tony’s eyes. Possibly, considering what they had been through together, they were closer than brothers.

Sharon had bought her own present from Tony. He had thought it funny, one year, to buy her a load of cookery books and had even enlisted her on a cookery course. She had taken it all with good grace, but from then on, she vowed to buy her own gifts and charge them to him. It was usually perfume or make-up, Tony never knew.

None of the presents mattered; what did matter was that they all had each other, and no matter what life threw at them, they could get through it as long as they did.

They all spread out in the lounge after dinner. Jake was still finding more space for Elle’s homemade mince pies. Elle was amazed. ‘I’m surprised you don’t weigh twenty stone,’ she said. ‘How come you are so slim, Jake, with all that eating you do?’

Elle liked the old movies and always said that Jake reminded her of the movie star, Tony Curtis, with his black hair and boyish grin.

‘I have a fast metabolism, Elle, it burns up all the fat.’ Jake reached out for another mince pie.

‘Well, don’t ask him how he burns up his fat, randy bugger,’ said Sharon, and pointed at Tony. She had her feet up and had loosened her waistband.

Elle shook her head and laughed. ‘Believe me, Sharon, I won’t. I’ve seen all of the magazines, full of Tony’s lovely ladies and what they say about him.’

Tony was lounging on the sofa with a cocky grin on his face, listening to them all mock him about his reputation. His vanity soared when they mocked him like this and so did his ego. As much as he cringed at times when the newspapers were full of weird and wonderful stories about him, he liked it, too.

All in all, they had a great day. A real family day, which was what it was all about – not expensive presents. This was Christmas. Spending it with people who loved and trusted each other was worth more than gold.

All too soon, it was time to go, and Elle was already filling small Tupperware boxes with mince pies and other Christmas snacks she had baked for Jake. He was always hungry.

On the way home, as always, Tony stopped at Trafalgar Square. The Salvation Army band was there playing their Christmas carols. Tony always stopped by and gave a donation. He would look around at the crowds of people standing watching the band and clapping. It was as if he could see himself, as a child, standing in that crowd. His mind wandered and was full of memories, most of them bad. He got back in the car beside Jake and Sharon and told John to drive on.