Sharon emerged from the office an hour later and walked back out into the club. She headed for the ladies’ bathroom to freshen up. As she looked down the corridor, she saw Tony, now well-groomed and dressed in one of the fancy suits Mathers had advised him to buy, talking to the accountant at one of the tables. Jake walked over to join them.

‘Well, Jake, what have you been doing?’ Tony burst out laughing and gave him a cheeky wink. ‘That’s my boy.’ Tony slapped Jake on the back, and watched him blush. ‘Why are you blushing, for goodness’ sake? Sharon is your wife. I presume you have sex every now and again.’ Again, he thought it was funny.

Finally, he saw the broad grin appear on Jake’s face. Trying to change the subject to a much cleaner one, he said, ‘Sharon thinks it might be a good time for us to have a break, take a few days holiday. It’s been a gruelling couple of months. What do you think? We could visit Miriam.’

More serious now, Tony nodded. ‘Maybe, but we have things to do first. I’ll think about it.’

It was the accountant who clinched the deal. ‘If you’re going to go away for a break, now might be the time to do it. You’re going to be busy, with one thing and another, sorting out your business plans for Ralph. Everything is up and running now; when are you going to get the chance again?’

‘Maybe you’re right,’ Tony said. He hated the idea of leaving his empire and possibly being too far away to sort it out, should anything go wrong. He had been away before to see Miriam, and to visit other countries, but there was a lot more at stake now. It wasn’t just the club and the security firm. It was the casino and the men’s club. Angus was in charge of the South London mob, and he was doing a good job, but what if…?

‘You think about it, Tony,’ Jake said, although he feared it was useless. He knew Tony didn’t want to turn his back and leave all of this. It was like taking a blanket from a baby. He liked being in the midst of it, knowing every twist and turn.

Tony’s mind was working. ‘Maybe you’re right,’ he said. ‘I suppose we do both deserve a break. Okay, we’ll sort it, Jake, and we’ll go and see Nonna.’ Tony called her that now; she was his family, and he had grown to love her.

The heat was on; Tony needed to make an impact. He’d realised that Jake’s idea about going away was, indeed, a good one. While he was away, he would get Angus’s men to cause a little trouble in the East End, then everyone would wait with bated breath for Tony to come home and sort out their lives.

He would make sure everyone had everything in hand during his absence, and all the businesses he collected from would be able to appreciate his good work, protecting them and keeping them and their livelihoods safe. The thought of it made Tony smile. Superman to the rescue. It appealed to his vanity.