The night, or rather the early hours of the morning, was coming to an end. The music became slower and people started to leave. Everyone seemed to have had a good night, and many made a point of walking up to Tony and Jake and thanking them both for an enjoyable evening. This indeed was a feather in Tony’s cap. Although he smiled and played the host, mentally he thought to himself that not so long ago these finely dressed people wouldn’t have given him a second glance. Now here they were, shaking his hands as though he was their new best friend.

The detective from earlier walked up to Tony. ‘Nice club, this,’ he said again. ‘The police usually have a yearly ball, with their wives, but it’s always so hard to find a venue. Do you know what I mean?’

Tony knew exactly what he meant; he wanted the club to host this annual ball, and Tony had no choice but to offer Lambrianu’s as this year’s venue. After all, if word got out that it had been Tony who had tipped off the police about the bossman’s diamonds, people would think he was a police informer and his reputation would be in shreds. It was friendly blackmail, but blackmail nonetheless.

‘Why don’t you hold it here? We don’t have a restaurant, but we could do a buffet.’ Tony toned down the invitation; he didn’t want to look overzealous.

‘That would be very nice of you, Mr Lambrianu. I’m sure we could come up with some form of catering. Thank you, I’ll be in touch.’ He shook Tony’s hand and walked away towards Ralph to say his goodbyes.

Ralph made a point of walking over to Tony, afterwards. ‘I take it, by the look on your face, that he’s asked you to host their annual ball?’

Tony gave Ralph a weak smile and nodded.

‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Tony, whoever they are. It’s no skin off your nose.’

Again, Tony nodded. Then he realised he’d heard that saying before from Don Carlos. Now the Godfather of the mafia and organised crime, Don Carlos and Tony had met quite by accident but Don Carlos knew of Tony’s family back in Italy. Their grandparents had been poor together and had helped each other and that bond alone had put Don Carlos on Tony’s side. The only problem was Don Carlos’s best friend and colleague, Ralph Gold, who seemed very aloof and mysterious. Tony seriously wanted to get to the next level in the gangland world and only Ralph Gold could help him. Tony and Jake both knew they had to be invited to a long-awaited meeting first, but Tony was restless and impulsive.

‘Maybe we could talk business, sometime, Mr Gold.’

Instantly, Ralph shook his head. ‘No business to talk about, Tony, and definitely not while I’m having an evening out with my wife. I talk business by appointment only.’

That was final. Ralph hadn’t snubbed him; he had just made his point. Tony was not in his league; don’t run before you can walk.