Nathan knew he’d impressed Tommy. Well, why wouldn’t he? He was good at what he did. Tommy said he was a cocky little bastard but then he offered him the job on the spot. If Nathan could prove himself, he could move up the ranks quickly, and one day maybe even run things himself. It was the opportunity he’d been waiting for. His whole life had been in preparation for this. The thought that he was destined for greater things was the only thing that got him out of bed every morning. Working for someone like Tommy was what he was born for. Nathan Conlon was well aware that he was only good at one thing – hurting people. After all, he’d learned from the best.

Then there was that bird – Grace. There was something about her. She was gorgeous, but she seemed to have absolutely no idea of that. He closed his eyes and pictured her. Big brown eyes and long dark hair. She’d been wearing a baggy T-shirt and jeans, but he’d still been able to see her big tits and slim waist beneath. She was shy too, and different from the girls he usually fucked about with. He smiled as he remembered how she blushed and almost ran away when he spoke to her. And then of course there was the fact that she owned that pub. The place was a gold mine. Eighteen years old and it was all hers. The things he could do with that kind of capital behind him.

He was looking forward to seeing her again later. If he played his cards right, she’d probably let him spend the night. Sitting up in bed, he took a cigarette from the packet on the bedside table, lit it and took a long drag.

Yes, this was going to be a good year for him.

Chapter Ten

Present Day

Grace could see Ivan waving frantically through the coffee shop window, trying to get her attention. She ordered a latte from the young barista and joined him at his table.

‘Thanks for meeting me here, Grace,’ he said. ‘I didn’t fancy the prospect of your Nathan turning up and giving me another grilling.’

‘Not a problem,’ she said. ‘But he’s not my Nathan.’

She had other plans that required her being out of the way for the day anyway, now that Nathan was calling into the pub almost every day, as he had done for the past two weeks. Always under the pretence he was there to see Jake, of course. Jake, who neither worked or lived there. It was infuriating. Knowing that he could turn up at any moment made her feel like she always had to be on her guard. It was bloody exhausting.