He hugged her tightly again. ‘I know, darling, I feel just the same. I look around me, see the houses, the cars, the fucking life we lead, and now it all means nothing, does it? It means fuck-all. I’d happily give up everything to have Lena back, but that’s the thing, ain’t it? She can’t come back; that is something we can’t arrange or pay a fee for; we can’t bargain with death. I have spent my life getting what I want by any fucking means. I have a lot on my conscience, Ria, and I could live with it all, but Lena’s death has left me wondering if any of it was really worth it. Daniel is like a ship without a rudder – she was as precious to him as you are to me. He won’t survive this unless I stick by his side. He needs me, and I have to be there for him, no matter how long it takes.’

Ria understood. ‘Well, as long as you promise me that once this is over we can both walk away, I’ll be content.’

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine

Daniel Bailey looked at the young girl standing in front of him, and wondered at a world where a young lass like this – pretty and amiable – could sell herself so short. She was all of twenty, if that. His wife had not long been murdered – was not even buried – and yet she seemed to think he would be up for a liaison of some description. It was disgusting. She could be his daughter. She could be his fucking daughter’s mate; though he had a feeling that his Tania would have a bit more fucking sense than to attach herself to a piece of shit like this – at least he hoped so, anyway.