The Baileys were now not just the premier crime family, but also responsible for the most lucrative business in the game. They now had a stake in almost every activity that occurred in the British Isles. They had a workforce that could rival any major car manufacturing company, and they prided themselves on paying far better wages. The Baileys had never been so popular, and they intended to make sure they stayed that way.

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Two

‘You sure about this, Tania?’

She nodded. ‘’Course.’

She heard her father sigh and she smiled. ‘You know what, Dad? You make me laugh. You asked for my opinion on this, and I researched it and got you all the figures you requested. I know as well as you do that this is everything you thought it was – and more. It’s also completely legit, but if we use our heads, we can organise it in such a way that we will have another avenue to launder the dirty money. It’s perfect really.’

Daniel Bailey was very proud of this girl of his; she was in possession of a natural talent to exploit every situation to the family’s benefit. He was amazed at just how quickly she had adapted to the Life. He had given her a job to keep her happy, get her out of the house, and so he could watch over her. She had wanted to earn her own crust and he respected that. But he had never believed she would be as shrewd as she had turned out to be. She was only twenty, and she was already turning over a good profit. Furthermore, she was crafty, ruthless and hard as nails if the situation warranted it. She was a true Bailey, all right.

‘I’m going to go and make us a cup of tea. You look over the figures again, Dad – I know you will bite my hand off for this.’

He watched her as she left the room; she was a very different girl to the one who had buried her mother. Having her son had changed her too – she had seemed to grow up overnight, but children could do that to a woman. Daniel had never let on that he knew the truth of his grandson’s parentage – she had never offered a name, and he had never demanded one. He had also made sure that none of the boys revealed it either.