Michael was in total shock. He was in the process of making a deal with one of the most dangerous men on the planet, and nothing – nothing – could go wrong. If Salvatore Ferreira thought that there was even a minuscule chance of aggro he would back off faster than a transvestite at a tractor pull. Salvatore had travelled to England because he had been assured that nothing could happen to him while he was here. If he was dragged into a police investigation because the Cornel brothers decided they wanted to chance their arm, it would cause murders – literally.

‘Get out there, Declan. I want everyone we have on our payroll looking for them. There’s a twenty grand bonus on each of the Cornels’ heads. Find them, and find them soon. I’m going home. I assume you already have people watching my drum? The last thing we need is my wife and daughter put in the frame.’

Declan nodded. ‘’Course. Give me some credit, for Christ’s sake.’

Michael stormed out of the club and, as soon as he was gone, Declan turned to the doorman. They were terrified for their lives, knowing they had made a major fuck-up.

‘Patsy, get on the blower and get four of your guys over to Michael’s drum sooner rather than later. I will organise geting everyone out on the pavements. We need to find the Cornels and, when we do, I will fucking skin the bastards alive myself.’

Chapter Seventy-Nine

Chapter Seventy-Nine

Jessie Flynn woke up suddenly and, turning on her bedside lamp, she listened intently. Whatever had woken her from her sleep was still going on. She could hear her mother’s voice shouting at someone. Her mother never shouted at anyone. She was one of the most inoffensive people on the planet. This was not something she had ever experienced before in her life. But she could hear panic and fright in her mum’s voice.

Jumping out of bed, she ran from her bedroom, and across the large landing to her mother’s room. ‘What’s happening, Mum? What’s going on?’

Josephine was at her balcony doors and, at the sound of her daughter’s voice, she turned quickly towards her, saying quietly, ‘Go back to your room, darling, and lock your door. Don’t argue with me, just do what I say.’

Josephine didn’t want the men on her drive to know her daughter was in the house with her. They were after trouble. They wanted Michael, and she knew they were not leaving without a fight.

‘Have you phoned the police, Mum?’

Josephine shook her head angrily. ‘’Course not, and don’t you either! Just do what I said, will you!’ She was almost shouting at her daughter now, and Jessie was getting more frightened by the second.

She could hear a man’s voice shouting angrily, ‘I’m warning you, lady, open the fucking door or I’m blasting my way in.’