As usual she was the best-dressed bird in the whole place. She had a knack for finding the clothes that really suited her figure. She always looked well groomed, from her hair to her make-up to her nails. Even if she was only popping to the shops for a pint of milk she made sure she had her make-up on and her hair done. It was all part of her charm. He loved her femininity. She was fragile, vulnerable and she needed him so much. He wanted her to need him, to depend on him. That was how it should be.

The music was blaring out, and he was pleased to see that the place was already filling with people. It was still early, and Friday night was ladies’ night. The girls got in the club for free before ten thirty and, by the time the pubs turned out, the place was thronging with women and girls of every shape and size.

Catching her eye, he motioned to Josephine to join him and, as she walked towards him, he saw the bouncers giving her the once over. It was gratifying, but she was his – and everyone knew that.

‘It’s really taking off, Michael, don’t you think? You must be well pleased.’

He grinned. ‘It’s all right, Josephine, we’re getting there. Listen, darling. I have to go and sort a few bits out. You be all right with your mates for a while?’

‘’Course! You go and do whatever you need to.’

He kissed her gently on the lips. ‘I won’t be long, darling, promise.’

Josephine looked into his eyes; he was so good to her, always had her best interests at heart. ‘You know where I am!’

He watched her as she went back to her little clique of mates, before making his way to his offices. He walked through the foyer of the club, pleased to see that there was already a big queue of people waiting to get in. He saw the doormen searching the ladies’ handbags, not just for weapons – a girlfriend was the obvious choice to smuggle in a knife or firearm – but for alcohol as well.

As he slipped through the heavy brocade curtains that led into the offices, he was whistling under his breath. Life was definitely good.

Closing the heavy door behind him, he savoured the relative quiet. The music was now no more than a muted drone. He loved this office, it was his sanctuary. It had pale cream walls and expensive oak furniture. There weren’t any windows, but that was a plus really – it added to the security that was necessary when large amounts of money were involved. The big, heavy safe was bolted to the floor behind his desk, dominating the room. It was not just used for the storage of the money that the club accumulated, but also for certain other items of value.