‘Dear, I can protect him far better than you,’ said Ivy. She had recovered her composure in an instant. ‘You left the Business, remember?’

‘You think you can protect him? Without Davey?’

Ivy’s eyes flashed. ‘Yes. I can.’

He punched the letterbox, leaving a dent. ‘Come on, old woman, can you leave your grudge behind for a bloody second! I just told you he’s inside the Business!’

‘I’m working on that.’ She backed up a step. ‘It’s been a while since I saw you lose control like this.’

‘Chips is dead! This is serious!’

‘Davey is dead. I am well aware of how serious this is.’

‘Just give me a chance to speak some sense into the boy.’

‘What do you possibly think you can get out of him?’

‘Blackbeard wants Forest alive! Don’t you get it?’ He took a deep, shuddering breath. Ivy was right – the last time he’d lost control like this had been at his mother’s funeral. ‘I think it means Forest knows something that Blackbeard needs. Can we please work together? For Forest’s sake.’

‘You think I can’t do it alone, don’t you,’ she said.

‘Please, Ivy.’

She examined him. ‘Beg.’

‘What?’

‘You heard me. Get down on your knees and . . . beg.’

‘Ivy . . .’

‘Do it, man. Wait, I want a witness.’ She beckoned to Linda, who climbed out of the car and came wandering over.

‘Don’t do this, Ivy,’ said Ahab.

‘Get down and beg,’ she hissed maliciously.

Slowly, hating her with everything in his being, he fell down to his knees. After all these years, she finally had Ahab where she wanted him.

His cheeks hot with humiliation, Ahab put his hands flat on the ground.

‘Please, Ivy. Please help me.’

‘Say it. Say you beg me.’

‘Ahab, are you okay?’ Linda came running – she probably couldn’t compute why he was kneeling on the ground. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Ivy . . . I’m begging you.’

She laughed, loud and mocking. ‘The great Ahab Stark, grovelling. My answer is no. I don’t forgive you. I’ll never forgive you.’ She spoke loudly enough to make sure Linda could hear. ‘Now go away.’

She turned and walked back inside.

‘Ahab, mate . . . what are you doing?’ said Linda.

Ahab pulled himself to his feet, a burning fury inside him warring with the humiliation and his despair at Chips’s murder.

He should’ve known Ivy wouldn’t help him. Every woman he’d ever known had let him down, starting with his mother – may she rest in peace. The only person he’d ever been able to rely on was himself . . .

It made sense that a woman like that had spawned the next Dread Pirate Blackbeard.

‘I’m fine, Linda,’ said Ahab. ‘But keep a close eye on the place – Forest could be in more danger than we thought.’