Peter, who he loved, was more than capable of overlooking slights about his colour. Peter was, in many respects, the bigger man because of that. Whereas Daniel saw any slights, whether towards him or his brother, as something warranting a personal vendetta. He saw anything – no matter how trivial – as a reason to prove how hard he was and show his personal disgust at the treacherous bastards around him. And he enjoyed it. He liked to make people see that he was not a man to be messed with, he wanted people to fear him. Still, he saw the sense in his brother’s words, knew that Peter was trying to keep them on an even keel until they were properly settled in. He would swallow this time; after all, if Alfie Clarke pushed his luck, then that was his fucking look out. Daniel would then take him down like a rabid dog.

‘OK, Peter, but if he says one fucking detrimental thing to me, or he fucking dares to treat me like a cunt, he’s fucking history.’

Peter couldn’t argue with that – it was more than he had expected. ‘Let’s pick the lads up, and go to the meet then.’

‘As you wish, bruv. But I’m telling you now, we need to establish our-fucking-selves in more ways than one. You and me need to make sure we are seen as capable of anything. And, let’s face it, we are, Pete. Look at some of the fucking stunts we’ve pulled over the years. But I swear to you now, no one is ever going to disrespect me or mine. I ain’t worked my bollocks off to be made a fucking mug of. Not by anyone.’

Peter nodded because he didn’t trust himself to speak. They were established, if only Daniel could see that. They didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. But he kept his own counsel, and hoped against hope that Alfie Clarke had the sense to keep his mouth shut, and his sarcastic comments to himself.

Chapter Fourteen

‘She’s beautiful, Lena. A real little heartbreaker.’ Ria’s voice was choked with emotion. ‘Seven pounds, and a month early. Sure you never got the dates wrong?’

Lena smiled wearily. ‘No, she was early. Just like a woman, afraid she would miss something. Boys are lazy bastards. All mine were late, too settled in the womb, only came out for the football season.’

They laughed together.

‘I bet your Davey nearly had a seizure! Is it true he almost delivered her?’