Peter Bailey respected his brother’s honesty. He had let Petey talk him round about the Allens. He hoped that the lad was on the right track – if he wasn’t then Daniel Bailey would once more be let off the leash, and this time it would be with his blessing.

‘Let’s just see how things progress with the boys, eh? If push comes to shove, we can easily rectify things if they fuck up. I’ve got Delroy keeping a beady eye out as well, so I think we are well covered.’

Daniel sighed. ‘I suppose it is time we let the lads have a bit more leeway but, as I said, if the Allens fuck up again, then their arses are mine.’

Peter grinned, and Daniel saw how old he was getting; they were both looking a bit grizzled. But that didn’t mean they were any weaker, and people like the Allen brothers would do well to remember that.

‘How about a bit of scran, then? I hear the steaks here are lovely.’

The brothers ate together contentedly, each pleased that they were once more relaxed in the other’s company. Peter had felt such rage towards his brother Daniel over the years but, despite all that, he knew that he could trust him more than anyone else – even his own sons. As mad as Daniel could be – and, on a scale of one to ten, Daniel was a resounding twenty – Daniel genuinely loved Peter, and would never intentionally do anything to harm him.

It was a beautiful day, and the brothers enjoyed their afternoon together more than either of them would ever have admitted.

Chapter Ninety-Eight

Tania was watching her mum, and she smiled at the way she could manage to do three things at once. She adored her mum; all her life she had been there for her, no matter what, and she had always known that her mother’s main concern was her welfare. As she had grown older, it had sometimes made her feel like she was being suffocated, even though she realised her mother was only looking out for her.

Tania Bailey knew more about her family and the Life than she let on. She had felt the difference in the way she was treated compared to the other girls she had grown up with. Her friends’ parents were the worst offenders, but even at school the teachers had treated her differently; everyone in her class had understood and accepted it.

Tania was aware of the value of the name Bailey, but the knowledge was not something she could share with her mother; her mum liked to think she had shielded her from the worst of it. But the stories about her dad and her uncle were local folklore, and her brothers and cousins were following in their footsteps. Furthermore, Nana Bailey was very loose-lipped with a few drinks in her, which was often these days.