Nathan thought of Ben and John, and how they always kept a watchful eye on Grace and Jake, ready to spring into action if either of them were ever put in any real danger. Thankfully, they weren’t. Jake shifted uncomfortably in his seat and Nathan knew he’d made his point.

‘Now, you’re going off to Leeds and I can’t protect you the same way up there, that’s all I’m trying to say. I just want to know that you can handle yourself, that’s all.’

‘Trust me, Dad. I can handle myself. I’m well aware of the reputation that comes with being your son and, believe me, it hasn’t always been an easy one to live up to. I’ve had my fair share of having to defend myself simply because my name is Jake Conlon.’

‘I didn’t know that,’ Nathan said, genuinely surprised.

‘Well, why would you? You were in prison.’ Just as Nathan thought he was about to be reminded again that he was an absent father, Jake added, ‘And I didn’t want to add to your worries. Besides, it was no big deal. I handled it.’

Nathan nodded. Time would tell if Jake could handle himself. ‘Ever seen one of these?’ he asked his son, pulling a Glock from his desk drawer.

‘Shit. No.’ Jake took the gun from him, his expression a mixture of trepidation and awe. ‘Is this yours? Do you use it?’

‘Not that one,’ he told him. Nathan’s gun stayed hidden, in the same place Tommy kept his – not that it had done him any good in the end. Nathan was not in the habit of carrying one about with him on a regular basis. He wasn’t that stupid – at least not anymore. ‘I’m moving this one on for someone.’

At that moment Ste came bursting through the door.

‘We’ve found him, boss. He’s in some flat on the new estate, with the Carter twins.’

‘The Carter twins? What the fuck are they doing with him?’ Nathan shouted as he grabbed his jacket to leave. That must be why the little bastard had become so cocky all of a sudden. Michael Carter’s sons, Connor and Paul, were a pair of fucking idiots, but they were a pair of hard bastards and they traded on their family’s reputation.

‘You want to come?’ he asked Jake, who stared at him open-mouthed. Nathan took that as a yes. ‘Bring that with you then,’ he told him, indicating the Glock. ‘It won’t do any harm to scare the shit out of the three of them.’

Jake tried to stuff the gun in the pocket of his jeans.