Daniel suddenly saw with stunning clarity that this was one outrage too many. He would never admit it, but a tiny thread of shame was there, at the back of his mind. After he had pulled the trigger a part of him had known that he was in the wrong, but it was far too late. Perhaps he was just continually six seconds behind everyone else – it seemed he never saw the big picture till it was too late. Now his brother’s reaction would be the yardstick for every other fucker in his orbit. And if his own brother was going on the trot, where did that leave him?

Delroy could see utter dismay cross Daniel’s face as he realised the enormity of what he had caused. It was as if a light bulb went on.

‘So you’re his fucking errand boy now, are you? He sent you to fucking give me a message, did he? He ain’t got the fucking guts to come himself, see me face to face.’

Daniel’s temper clearly wasn’t abating and Delroy couldn’t help but feel wary, knowing what he was capable of. At least he had good back-up with him – he had made fucking sure of that much.

‘He didn’t come, Daniel, because I don’t think he could trust himself not to fucking take you out once and for all. You being his brother is all that has kept him from fucking removing you permanently. Honestly, Daniel, if you weren’t blood, you would be dead now. And it’s not just Peter – there are plenty who see what you did as a fucking diabolical liberty.’

Daniel smiled coldly, keeping a lid on his emotions. ‘Spain, you say?’

Delroy nodded. ‘Yeah, and he told me to tell you that he won’t say a word to Lena, not because of you, but because he respects her. But she will find out, Daniel, you know that. You might get a swerve because Peter hasn’t taken it on himself to fucking reprimand you over your fucking stupidity, but everyone knows that’s because you’re brothers, and he loves you. But if you fuck up in future, he will not raise a hand to defend you. You can look after yourself from now on, mate. He thinks you’re a fucking liability, a fucking scumbag. You are not to approach him or ring him – you are not to ever share the same space as him. You’re out, Daniel, you’re on your own.’