JoJo O’Neil was someone Donna knew she wouldn’t like the moment she clapped eyes on him.

He was dressed in a blue silk Armani suit, with a white poloneck and Timberland boots. His hair was greased and slicked back, his teeth were bad and his skin sallow. His eyes looked as if they had seen too much and too soon for the rest of his body. He was loud-voiced with a thick Liverpool accent and he looked at Donna as if she was a piece of meat.

‘So, Alan, you arrived then - and this is Georgio’s old woman, is it?’ He poured himself a drink and stood before the fireplace as if the house was his and not Jack’s.

Donna saw Alan look at the man with loathing, and she felt a prickle of fear.

‘Still nattily dressed, I see, JoJo. Where do you shop these days - the Oxfam shop or the Sally Army?’

JoJo laughed mirthlessly and shook his head.

‘You’ve got a fucking nerve, Cox, coming here and asking the earth. When Jack told me what you wanted I nearly wet meself with laughter. You and Brunos are a pair of fucking scallys and the sooner you realise that the better.’

Alan got up and Donna felt the tension thicken in the room. Jack went to rise from his seat and Alan pushed him back down as if he was nothing, no weight at all.

‘Don’t even think about it, Jack. I always carry insurance and you know that. Anything happens to me and about fifty blokes will be haring up the M1 like raving lunatics. Remember the north-south divide, son, and keep yourself out of this.’

He walked towards JoJo who was about the same height and build, but softer bodied, not hard-looking or trim.

‘I don’t like you, you’re a cunt, O’Neil, but you owe me and you owe Georgio. Now I’ve come to collect for the both of us.’ He looked at Jack. ‘I’m surprised you got into this business with him, mate, you being a family man and all. I’d have thought even you’d have balked at it. Now, as you both know, I killed a man for less than this ponce is doing at this very moment, and I swear an oath I’ll rip you limb from fucking limb if I get any more of your cheek, OK?’

JoJo stood straight, his face a mask. Donna couldn’t even begin to guess what he was thinking. Then, without warning, the man smiled, a wide, cheerful, good-natured smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.