‘Don’t you call me “Dad”, you fucking slag! After this night is over I never want to see your face again. All this time you were fucking him did you think of your sister?’ He looked pointedly at Jonny then. ‘That’s my daughter Celeste, your fucking wife, in case you forgot her name. Did either of you think about that poor girl, eh? Between you you’ve sent her off her chump, but then you sent your little James off his head and all, didn’t you, Cynthia? Quite a track record you’ve got now. Well, you better find your husband. Who knows what he’s capable of in his state of mind! He might be sitting with Lily Law bringing you down. Funny what a man’s capable of when he’s been fucked over by his mate and his wife.’

Jonny Parker was looking around him as if he was drunk; he felt as if he was in a stupor. ‘Does Celeste . . .’

‘Oh, she knows, Jonny. You’ll have a job talking her round after this little debacle.’

Jonny Parker felt physically sick at what he had caused. Looking at Cynthia now, her eye black, dried blood on her face from her husband’s fists and boots, the ferocity of the attack was what had shocked him more than anything. Jimmy was a big man, and he had shown that he wasn’t as docile as his wife had believed. He had even given Jonny a few good thumps before he had left the house, his car roaring off like something from the Grand Prix.

But it was young Gabby who really made him see what damage they had caused. Her eyes were on him and, if hate had been a tangible thing, he would have been knocked to the floor by now. And Celeste! His Celeste! She knew!

‘Celeste . . . Is she still at yours, Jack?’

‘If you mean does she know everything, yes, she does. Now maybe she’ll get away from you and start living her life. As for you, Cynthia, you keep away from her. She thought the world of you, always did.’ He looked at his elder daughter then, before saying, ‘I hope you never know another happy day, Cynth. I hope you stew in your own hate and your own greed. You wanted what she had. Couldn’t stand it, could you, that she got him, and you got poor Jimmy. Well, you’re welcome to each other now, because I’m finished with you, lady. Finished with the pair of you.’ With that he walked out of the house.

Cynthia was quiet as she watched her father walk away from her. Then, turning to Jonny, she said defiantly, ‘I’m glad it’s come out, now we can be together . . .’