Eddie forced Dominic to lie flat on his face next to the stereo. Ed liked to whistle while he worked and Capital Gold played all the oldies that he liked. Putting his boot on the back of Dominic’s neck to stop him from moving, Eddie found what he was looking for.

‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ by Procol Harum was playing and as Eddie turned Dominic over, he thought how appropriate the song was. The colour of Pretty Boy’s face was whiter than fucking snow.

‘Please d-don’t kill me. I p-p-promise I will never see Joey again, if that’s what you w-w-want,’ Dominic begged, terrified.

Eddie smiled. ‘Got any beers?’ he asked.

‘In the f-f-fridge.’

‘If you move, I’ll kill you,’ Eddie told him.

Bringing in a pack of four, Eddie handed one to his son’s lover. ‘Drink it,’ he said, as he sat on the sofa.

As Dominic got up to sit on the armchair opposite, Eddie threw an unopened can at his head. ‘Get down on the floor, you cunt. I never said you could get up, did I now?’

‘Sorry. I’m so sorry,’ Dominic pleaded, as he lay on his front.

Eddie sipped his lager. Trust Pretty Boy to only have Carlsberg. Weak person, weak lager.

‘Turn over on your back,’ Eddie ordered him.

Shivering, Dominic clutched his dressing down around himself and did as he was told. He was so petrified that his voice had temporarily gone on holiday.

Finishing the lager, Eddie crushed the can in his right hand and smiled as Dominic flinched. ‘Do you know what this song’s about?’ Eddie asked him.

Capital Gold was now playing the Bee Gees’ classic, ‘Gotta Get a Message to You’.

‘No. I don’t k-k-know m-many oldies,’Dominic managed to whisper.

‘It’s about someone who’s gonna die and wants to send a message to their loved ones,’ Eddie informed him.

‘Please d-d-don’t kill me. I bbeg you,’Dominic pleaded. ‘I p-p-promise, I’ll do whatever you ask.’

Knowing that Dominic was telling the truth, Eddie decided to give him just one last little scare. He had no intention of killing him. After the unfortunate Terry Palmer incident, he had to let his bullets lie low for a while. Eddie didn’t fancy a stretch inside. Not only that, Jess leaving him would break his heart, and she was worth more to him than Pretty Boy was.

Taking the carving knife out of the inside pocket of his leather jacket, Eddie bent down. ‘Open your dressing gown,’ he demanded.

Dominic’s hand shook like a leaf as he tried to undo the belt, but couldn’t. Not one to see a man struggling, Eddie did the honours for him.

‘Please, no!’ Dominic screamed, holding his hands over his penis and shaking his head from side to side in fright.