Everyone who had ever worked for Kevin had already pledged allegiance to the Baileys and were glad to do so. Who needed the aggravation? And, more to the point, all the old Faces were long gone, either banged up or living in Spain. It wasn’t a difficult decision; the Baileys were formidable and no one was willing to iron them out. Why would they? They weren’t people you made an enemy of.

The Bailey brothers hugged and, as their mother watched them through the French doors, she smiled to herself. She had always told them that the only thing that mattered was each other; she had brought them up to be closer than most brothers could ever hope to be, and she was glad to see that, all these years on, they were as close now as they had been as children. She was proud of her sons, and she knew they would look out for each other. She also knew they were dangerous fuckers, and that was all right too as far as she was concerned. She was well aware that these two sons of hers were never going to be nine-to-fivers.

Chapter Seven

‘You’re really pregnant?’ Ria Bailey was thrilled for her friend and sister-in-law. ‘That’s wonderful news, Lena. I hope it’s a girl!’

Lena was grinning from ear to ear. She was shocked at the news of her pregnancy, but now that it was confirmed she hoped against hope that it would be a girl. She already had four sons – Danny, the eldest, was sixteen, and his brother Davey, at fifteen, was like his elder brother’s shadow – the two were always together. Noel and Jamsie, at twelve and eleven, had been her babies until now. ‘So do I, it would be nice to have another female in the house. Well, you’d know that better than me, you’ve got a daughter.’

Ria laughed delightedly. ‘Too fucking true, but I warn you now, Lena, girls are lovely as little kids, but once they hit their teens, you could lay them out on a daily basis, believe me. But, all that aside, they’re still worth every hormonal fucking minute!’

‘Oh, knowing my luck it will be another boy. I’ll believe it when I see it.’