Theresa nodded, smiling at Peter. Her eldest son was so like his father. In fact, she marvelled at how both her sons had so little of her in them. ‘I’m fine, son. I hear you two have been busy?’

‘Oh, leave it out, Mum, you know our Peter is a man of few words!’ Daniel followed his brother into their mother’s kitchen.

He was still stunned at how Peter had gone after O’Neill alone. He admired him for it but, if he was brutally honest, it still rankled. He hated that he hadn’t been there for the moment of triumph. He feared that Peter would always have the edge over him because he was known to even his scores on the QT. It might be good for them as a crew, but Daniel resented that it gave his brother a better rep than him, an advantage, if you like. They were brothers and they were partners.

Pushing Peter outside into the back garden of their mother’s ground-floor flat, Daniel was determined to say his piece but Peter held up his hand.

‘I had to iron him out, Dan, it was a personal score that needed settling.’

Daniel looked into his brother’s deep brown eyes and said honestly, ‘But we were going to do it together, Pete, and, in future, that’s how I expect it to be.’

Peter nodded, contrite. ‘I know, bruv, but there were many times when he overlooked me for you. We both know that, and we both know why. Well, I ain’t putting up with it anymore. I ain’t playing second fiddle to fucking anyone.’

Daniel nodded, understanding his brother as he always had. ‘Fair enough but, in future, we either do it together, or give the other a head’s up before we make a move. We have fought long and hard for this, and the only way we can keep on top is by working together.’

‘I know that, mate, and I apologise. I know you don’t see my skin, but they all do.’

Daniel sighed heavily. ‘Who cares what they see or think? It’s us against them. As it has always been, bruv.’

Peter nodded.

‘I hate that you went there alone, Pete, that you didn’t bring a crew. Kevin O’Neill was a slippery bastard. Anything might have happened. We’re a team, always were, since we were kids.’

Peter had tears in his eyes as he looked at his brother, his blood. ‘We’re there now, we’re where we wanted to be. It’s all ours, Dan. We can take whatever we want.’