Then he would set up some kind of fund for the soup kitchens that provided a meal for the homeless. It was all self-funded, with donations from anyone who wished to contribute. With a regular donation from Tony, they would be able to stay open and continue their work.

Of course, once he’d contacted the local council to ask their permission to refurbish the toilets at his own expense, the story soon got into the newspapers. Although he was still the well-known and feared gangland boss and club owner, he was now also a charitable man with a heart. This made even the most sceptical of decent people have at least one good word to say about him.

Tony and Jake both agreed that this was the kind of good publicity they needed. Again, this was a far cry from the seedy underworld they usually operated in. This was decent businessmen doing charitable acts. Tony always had fond memories of the Salvation Army when he was a child, and of the caravans they used to set up around Christmastime, for the homeless. Their brass brand would play Christmas carols and it would seem like time had stopped and only the moment mattered.

As a result of this fond childhood memory, Tony gave money to the Salvation Army so they could carry on with their good work. Again, this got into the newspapers. As much as it must have stuck in the throats of the journalists who had to report good deeds done by this feared gangland boss, rather than details of his outlandish lifestyle, they had no option but to do so.

It was the accountant that pointed out they could claim some form of tax relief on charitable gifts, and so not only were they attracting the right publicity and encouraging respectable people to enjoy their club, but it was also a major tax benefit.

This was a whole new outlook for Tony and Jake. Although Tony welcomed his public life status, he still wanted the shadier parts of his and Jake’s business out of the limelight. Until Jake made the point that the more Tony wanted to hide things, the more suspicious it looked. Jake’s idea was to follow the lead from Ralph Gold who was a public criminal. He was bare faced and brash and mixed with all the right people; he didn’t shy away from the public. He welcomed it. Tony and Jake realised they were not just two local leg breakers now. This was the big time. Their journey through life had been arduous and painful at times, but look where they were now.

Smiling to himself as he looked around his empire, Tony remembered that feral young boy who’d stolen biscuits and looked in dustbins for leftover pizza. He knew if he had lived out on the streets for much longer than he had he would be dead by now.

But this wasn’t a time to walk down memory lane. This was a time to celebrate. Tony and Jake had been nobodies from nowhere and people had looked down on them. But now they were respected and at the top of their game and he loved it. They were rich men with property and money to burn, darlings of society magazines. The only way was up. Tony and Jake had made their mark on the world. Life couldn’t be better!