Vaughn Sadler stepped out of the shadows into the light, staring at Franny, his green eyes twinkling with suspicion. ‘I wasn’t. Not my style, darling. Sneaking about has never been my thing.’

He held her stare and, annoyed, she waved him off. ‘Whatever, Vaughn. You carry on telling yourself that.’

Vaughn tilted his head, finishing off his large cigar. ‘You seem jumpy.’

Wiping away the tiny beads of perspiration on her brow, Franny snapped, ‘Well yeah! Because you’ve jumped out on me.’

Vaughn leant in, a smirk spreading across his handsome face. ‘You carry on telling yourself that … So go on then, who was on the phone? Who shouldn’t call you again?’

Franny bristled with anger, desperate to get away. ‘Sorry to tell you this, Vaughn, but you’re not my keeper. Now if you don’t mind getting out of my way, I’m here to see Alfie.’

She turned to head for the entrance but felt the firm grip of Vaughn’s hand on her arm.

‘Not until you tell me.’

Franny shook her head, pushing her long chestnut hair out of the way. ‘Not a chance, and not because I’m hiding anything, but because it’s none of your business. Now I’d appreciate it if you’d take your hands off me.’

Vaughn dropped his hold. The coldness in his tone turned to ice. ‘I don’t like you, Franny, and I certainly don’t trust you. If it wasn’t for Alfie, after that stunt of yours you pulled last year, you’d be six foot under.’

‘Is that a threat?’

‘No, it’s a regret. We should’ve got rid of you a long time ago because I know as well as you do that behind that pretty face of yours and those big innocent eyes, you’re a scheming bitch and come to think of it, you still owe me a lot of money. I don’t forget, and I certainly don’t forgive people who rip me off.’

Trying to keep her temper under control, Franny chewed the inside of her bottom lip. ‘You know it wasn’t like that.’

‘Like I say, you’re a scheming bitch. You might have Alfie fooled, darlin’, but sweetheart, I know your game. You are so like your father it’s unreal. Gangster through and through aren’t you?’