Paddy finished his drink. ‘There’s five of us here at any given time. Now listen to me, this is the exact reason why we never told you anything about it. You’d worry. Look how you’re reacting now . . .’

Donna interrupted him. ‘Excuse me, Mr Donovon, but I am incensed because I have been covertly watched for God knows how long. I come home and find you tripping around my garden with a firearm no less, and then you say you didn’t tell me anything about it because I would have been upset. That’s the understatement of the year! I am bloody well livid. If my life is in danger, as this would seem to confirm, I think I am the first person who should have been informed, not the last.’

Paddy reached for her hand but she pulled it from his grasp. ‘Your life is not in danger, at least not that we know of anyway. This is just insurance, Donna. Nothing more. You know that Lewis is up to a lot of tricks? Well, we didn’t want him getting to Georgio through you. We didn’t want anything happening to you, that’s all.’

Donna shook her head again, completely sober now. The shock had done that. She wished she was still half-drunk; maybe it would have numbed the blow.

‘So I’m in danger from this Lewis, am I? He’s not content with wrecking my life and my husband’s, getting him put into prison, but now he wants to harm me as well, does he? This is like a bloody nightmare!’

She bit on her lip. ‘Tell me something truthfully, Paddy.’

He looked into her face. ‘Anything.’

‘Has Georgio done something to this man? Why is Lewis so against him? I want the truth.’

‘Fetch me another drink, Donna love, and get one for yourself. I think you might need it.’

As she refilled his glass and poured a drink for herself, Paddy battled with himself as to whether or not to tell her the truth. One half of him wanted to desperately, but he was frightened of the effect it might have on her. As she walked back towards him, he made a decision. She deserved the truth. At least half of it anyway.

Donna sat beside him and sipped at her Rémy Martin. Her face was open, earnest, and Paddy was undone.