Mario, her elder brother, shook his head. ‘Georgio was a fool; he mixed with the wrong people. I told him so. A few weeks before it all happened, I saw him with Jack Black. I mean, who in their right mind would cultivate him, eh? Jack Black, the biggest villain in Silvertown! But no, our Georgio wouldn’t listen. He knew best.’ Mario’s voice was high, almost girlish, and full of anger towards his brother.

‘What do you know, Mario?’ Patrick Brunos spoke up. ‘In his lines of business he had to mix with all sorts, surely you can see that? Jack Black has the ear on the building everywhere. He also has a haulage business. It was sound economics for our Georgio to deal with him.’

Nuala pushed back her short black hair. ‘That’s true. He’s right, Mario. You’re too hard on Georgio. You’ve always been hard on him, just because he’s done better than you. He’s done better than everyone.’

Nuala was upset and Donna closed her eyes. This family fought like other families loved. Yet they were closer than most families could ever hope to be.

‘What do you know, Nuala? Running around with that no-hoper Dicky Barlow. If you’re not careful, you’ll be visiting him and your brother together . . .’

Pa Brunos banged his fist on the table in front of him, knocking over a glass of red wine in the process.

‘Be quiet! You all hear me? No more of this! We have enough trouble as it is without you all arguing among yourselves. Where is my Mary? Why isn’t she here?’

Nuala’s voice was low now. ‘She had to get back. Geoff has to open his own restaurant tonight.’

Pa Brunos nodded, his eyes closed. ‘Of course. The businesses must be seen to. You will need to look into Georgio’s businesses now, Donna. We don’t know when he will be home. Will you be keeping on that Mark Hancock or will you get someone else?’

‘I don’t know Pa. I haven’t really thought about it. All the time I believed Georgio would be coming home.’

Maeve pulled her into her arms. ‘And he will, darlin’, I promise you. I could cheerfully smack his face for him, big as he is. Getting involved with all this . . .’ Her voice trailed off.

Pa Brunos poked himself in the chest. ‘If you need me, just call, Donna. I will personally see to anything you want me to. It is the least I can do for you.’

‘Thank you.’

Nuala poured out more Ouzo and said, ‘Why don’t you run the business, Donna? If nothing else it would keep you occupied. Then, when you visit Georgio, it will give you something to talk about. He’ll feel much better knowing you’re looking after things.’