He didn’t want to be bailed here. He didn’t want to be trapped in a house full of his brother’s things, the family portraits, the grieving son. He didn’t want to be around Shelby, who was such an expert in throwing him off balance, and who made him feel guilty. Because she was right: he had just sat by while her husband ran his dangerous second life, putting her family at risk and now leaving a gaping hole where the Davey she thought she knew used to live.

He liked living with Big Mane. He liked having some semblance of control over his life.

And he didn’t need to get mixed up in everything.

But did he have a choice? Shelby had no one else. She might do something stupid. And Kane didn’t have anyone else either.

‘Say yes, Mackerel. I need you to say yes. Promise me you’ll say yes.’

‘Pour out that wine and I’ll think about it.’

Without taking her eyes off him, Shelby threw the bottle into the sink, where it, too, smashed. It was probably worth what Mackerel earned for a full day’s work.

‘Promise me you’ll say yes,’ she repeated.

He looked at the clock on the wall – it was already well into the afternoon. ‘It’s too late to vary my conditions today. We’ll have to put the change of address before the judge tomorrow.’

‘That’s not a promise, Mackerel. Promise me.’

‘Okay, okay, Shelby. I promise.’

Shelby nodded, tension leaving her shoulders like a balloon deflating. She began to wobble and Mackerel raced over to catch her, half carrying her over to the lounge and onto a couch. She leaned back, holding a cushion as though to stop the world from spinning.

‘And Ivy really knows everything?’ asked Shelby. ‘It all makes sense now. The way you boys always do exactly what you’re told.’

‘She and Dad taught us everything we know. It was expected we’d help Jesse.’

‘And that’s why Ivy is always harping on about keeping everything private. Family business stays family business,’ said Shelby. ‘I married into a criminal dynasty.’

‘I wouldn’t call us that,’ said Mackerel uneasily.

‘Do we tell her about Davey being alive?’ said Shelby. Her words had become slurred, and she curled up on her side, closing her eyes.

‘If Davey hasn’t told her himself, we need to trust his judgement,’ said Mackerel slowly. ‘So no . . . we shouldn’t tell her.’

‘She’ll kill us if she finds out we kept this from her,’ said Shelby.

Mackerel shrugged.

He didn’t tell Shelby that Ivy had already asked him to run the Business.

Which, of course, was out of the question if he moved in here.