‘I thought you were happy for all that to come out now? You were the one who brought it up the other week.’ He smiled and leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head.

Grace wanted to punch him in the mouth – anything to put a stop to his constant, smug grinning.

‘You’re not the only one who can make threats, Grace. I can too. But I follow up on mine. He’s a hard bastard that Pat Carter, though. Cut two of his fingers off and he didn’t even flinch. I smashed his kneecaps with a hammer and he still wouldn’t tell me what I wanted to know. He didn’t make a sound. But when I told him about what we did to Tommy, well I saw his little heart break. I think that hurt him more than anything I did.’ He shook his head in mock disbelief.

‘You bastard,’ she spat.

‘Be careful, Grace,’ he warned. ‘There’s only so much leeway I’ll give you. I know you’re upset so I’ll let this little episode slide. But stay away from the Carter family from now on.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I told you to,’ he snapped. ‘It’s for your own good.’

‘The Carter’s will have nothing to do with me anymore anyway after your little stunt. So, thanks to you, my business has gone to shit,’ she lied.

Nathan shrugged, unable to hide his happiness about that fact. ‘What can I say, Grace. This is a tough game.’

‘Is that why you hurt Pat? Because of me?’

He nodded. ‘In part, yeah.’ She knew he’d let her believe she was responsible if it meant making her feel bad.

‘I knew it,’ she said. ‘Well, that’s why I’ve come here anyway.’ She sat in the chair opposite him. ‘You win, Nathan. I’ll do whatever you want. I won’t fight you anymore. I don’t want anyone else hurt.’

Pushing his chair back from his desk, he stood up and walked over to her, his eyes dark with lust. He stood in front of her. Taking hold of her chin, he tilted her head to look up at him.

‘Prove it,’ he growled.

Grace closed her eyes and tried to think about anything but where she was and what she was about to do. Despite her skin crawling as though it had been swarmed by a million scurrying ants, she forced herself to smile, and thought about how one day soon, she would bring Nathan Conlon to his knees – and he would beg her for mercy.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Fourteen Years Earlier

‘You wanted to see me, Tommy?’ Nathan asked as he walked into the office in The Blue Rooms. It was early morning and there was nobody else around. Tommy looked up from his books. His face was drawn. His eyes red. His usually clean-shaven face had a distinct shadow.