‘Can you phone your Auntie Ria and your nana? Then can you please track your father down? My waters just broke.’

Davey Bailey went whiter than a sheet. ‘Are you sure?’ he stuttered.

Lena laughed. ‘I’m sure, son.’

Chapter Thirteen

‘It’s a girl, Pete!’ Daniel had just called home to check on Lena and been given the news.

Peter Bailey was genuinely pleased for his brother; he knew that he’d wanted a girl this time, for Lena as much as for himself. Ria had a daughter, and he was glad about that. In their world, sons were their father’s ammunition – and they were always on their side. If they were big, handsome lumps all the better. Seven boys between him and Daniel made the Baileys a formidable family. Peter and Daniel were just biding their time until they could bring their sons into the business, introduce them properly to the Life.

Daniel was back in the car now, and they were speeding along the M1 towards London. They had been up to Liverpool, brokering a deal which would cement their standing in London, and make sure that there would be no chance of anyone allying themselves with the North without them knowing about it first. ‘Good job I phoned! She was early. Tania, Lena’s calling her. And you will never guess what, Pete – Davey was there when she was born! He helped bring her into the world. Fucking rather him than me!’

Peter grinned. ‘Poor Davey. Be enough to put him off women for life! Well, let’s get back and meet this new daughter of yours.’

Daniel shook his head. ‘I want to finish what we started, Pete, let’s stick to the original plan. We go and see Alfie Clarke and sort him out once and for all. If he is giving our friends in the North grief then we have to show willing, don’t we? Otherwise this was a fruitless exercise.’

Peter sighed, but he nodded in agreement. Daniel was hyped up, determined to make his mark, create another legendary bust-up to be talked about in the years to come, and all to placate the Northerners. He understood that on one level, but he wondered how he could put such a minor job before the birth of his only daughter. But since they had taken over, Daniel had really grown into his own reputation. They were like good cop, bad cop now; Peter was the level-headed one, the voice of reason, whereas Daniel was the hothead, the one people were really wary of. It worked for them, just as it always had, but Peter felt that now all eyes were on them Daniel should tone the violence down a notch – at least stop the public displays if nothing else.