Theresa nodded sadly. ‘That’s exactly what I want for her as well. For all the lads’ hard work, and as far as they have come, I don’t think they are any happier. They thought it was the Holy Grail, that getting to the top would miraculously make them happy. If only life was that easy.’

Chapter Twenty-Two

‘Daniel, talk to me. Are you sure you’re all right?’

Daniel Bailey sighed heavily. His blue eyes were tired-looking, and his mouth was set in a grim line. He had just arrived at their new offices in East London. He poured himself a coffee and sipped it carefully; last time he’d nearly welded his lips together it had been so hot.

When he was finally settled he turned to the question in hand. In his most aggrieved voice he said plaintively, ‘For fuck’s sake, Pete, what do you want from me? What can I do to make you feel better, eh? I’m tired, I admit that. But I have been out on the earn. You know – taking care of business?’

Peter Bailey could feel the anger boiling up inside him. ‘Is that what you call it, Dan? Beaten up any more old men recently?’ Peter was still fuming at Daniel’s vicious attack on Lenny Jones, a man who he had been friends with for years, who had never given either of them anything other than his loyalty and respect. A man who was now half crippled, and unable to button up his own shirt. A man who, thanks to his brother, had nearly been the cause of a fucking war, whose friends had seen to it that he, Peter, had been held responsible for making sure this brother of his not only apologised, but saw to it that Lenny was given the best treatment available. Peter had done this without a second’s thought; he would have insisted on that anyway. The upside was that Daniel had understood – finally – that his actions had consequences.

It had been a learning curve for Daniel. He could see now just how fucking precarious his position actually was – especially when you offended just about everyone within a fifty-mile radius. It had taken all that before Daniel had understood just how much damage he had done to their reputations with his arrogance and his temper. He had taken out Lenny Jones on a whim, and look what had happened.

No matter how hard you were, no matter how high you might have risen, without the goodwill of the people on your manor, you had nothing of any worth. Oh, the Baileys were still up there, still on top but, thanks to Daniel, they now had to claw back not only the trust, but also the respect, of the people they dealt with on a daily basis – the people who should have been their allies from the off.