‘I’m fucking warning you, Georgio. I know you’re a heavyweight, I respect that. But at the end of the day, we’re all hard nuts in here, one way or another, even the nancies. A few years A-Grade soon sorts out the men from the boys, and let’s face it, you ain’t ever done any bird before. So you keep me informed of what’s going on. If you go down the pan, boy, you ain’t taking me with you. Got that?’

Georgio turned over on his side. Tucking his hands under his head he said casually, ‘Loud and clear. Goodnight, Timmy.’

Timmy sat for a few seconds longer before returning to his bunk. Georgio heard the springs groan as the man’s huge bulk lay down above him.

Closing his eyes, he shuddered inwardly. He hadn’t slept properly in a month. The thought of Lewis scared him shitless. But tomorrow, if he played his cards right, everything could be hunky-dory.

For the first time in years, Georgio actually prayed.

Donna awoke to weak sunshine and a lifting of her spirits. If someone had told her a few months ago that she would enjoy doing Georgio’s job she would have laughed in their face. Yet, as she was his wife, and as everyone expected her to ‘see to’ things for him, she had felt pressured into taking everything on. Now she was glad she had. Even the paperwork for the building business was beginning to make sense to her. She needed guidance, she knew, but the day-to-day running was not as difficult as she had feared. In fact, once she had managed to sort through the offices, and had thrown out the rubbish, it was surprisingly straightforward.

When Georgio came home he would be so proud of her. She hugged this thought to herself.

Big Paddy had seen to it that she was given more than ‘her due’. Now on the sites she was treated with respect, even with awe. But that could be due to Paddy’s watchful presence, she admitted to herself.