Daniel had thrown away his chance to shine, had brought about his own demise and he knew it. He hated that he was now seen as less than his brother. He was the man who had crippled Lenny Jones for no real reason. Lenny Jones, who had had more creds than him, had been the cause of his downfall. Lenny Jones, it seemed, had, inadvertently, been Daniel’s nemesis.

Peter Bailey, his own brother, suddenly seemed like a stranger to him. Daniel watched him as he stalked around the office, wishing with all his heart that they did not have this wedge between them. But he had caused this rift, and he hated that the longer it went on, the more he resented this man and everything he stood for.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Davey held his little sister in his arms, laughing at her as she attempted to grab his hair. He never ceased to be amazed how much he loved her. He loved his mum, he loved his nana – they were very important to him – and he loved his brothers and cousins, but Tania seemed to evoke feelings that were even stronger. She smiled up into his eyes, and he felt his heart melt with an overwhelming love. He wondered if it was because he had seen her born, although when he thought about that it made him feel ill. He had never felt right about that; his mother was a diamond, but he had seen a bit too much of her for his own good that night.

Whatever the reason, Davey knew that, out of the boys, he had a special bond with Tania. They all loved her, but it was a haphazard affection, just because she was there. Now she was starting to become a little person, and Davey knew he was already wrapped round her little finger.

Lena watched her big, handsome son holding his sister and she smiled happily. Davey adored the child, he was a good lad and he’d grown up a lot since Tania’s birth. She liked to see them together – the other boys were not as enamoured with their little sister, they just accepted her as part of the family. To them Tania would only ever be someone they felt the need to protect; none of them would ever really know the girl. Except Davey, of course – he already knew her, already understood her, in fact.

‘She loves you, Davey.’

He smiled. ‘Why wouldn’t she, Mum? She knows I’d do anything for her.’

Lena laughed. As she poured out the tea she heard the back door open and, smiling widely, she said loudly, ‘Might have known you’d smell a cuppa, Delroy. I’m sure you can hear a kettle boil from fifty paces!’