Daniel Bailey’s arrogance came racing to the fore, his sorrow at his actions long gone. This was personal now, this was a piss-take. Who the fuck did Peter think he was? Laughing, he said mockingly, in an upper-class accent, ‘Well, I’m shocked and appalled, old chap!’ Pushing his finger into Delroy’s face, he said viciously, ‘I took that cunt out because he needed to be fucking taught a lesson. I showed everyone that we were serious, that we would not be made fucking cunts of. If you lot can’t see that then you’re fools. You’re fucking weak. You don’t get where we got by being fucking nice to people. All we’ve done over the years, and you’re vilifying me over a fucking shooting?’

Delroy was bored now. Daniel Bailey was a lunatic, a fucking nutcase. Any dialogue with him was utterly pointless.

‘It wasn’t the shooting, Daniel, it was who you fucking shot. You murdered a kid. Now every Old Bill in the Smoke is gunning for you. Even those on the take won’t fucking lift a finger. You stepped over a line and you single-handedly fucked it up for everyone.’

Daniel didn’t say anything for long moments, then, shrugging, he said gaily, as if he didn’t have a care in the world, ‘Well, do you know what? Fuck him, and fuck you. I don’t need Peter. I don’t need anyone, mate. And you can tell him that from me.’

Delroy laughed sarcastically. ‘Oh, don’t worry, Daniel, I will. And before I go, word of advice from someone who once thought a lot of you as a man and as family. Get off the fucking coke, Daniel, you ain’t got the temperament for it. You’re enough of a fucking headcase without it. Everyone knows you’re a cokehead, and that little child’s death happened because you think snorting gives you the edge. Coke is a mug’s game; you use it to sober up on a night out, no more and no less. So think on that.’

Chapter Thirty-Two

‘I wonder why Peter’s coming out and not Daniel. Did he say why, Ria?’

Ria was heart-sorry for her friend; Lena had no idea just how serious the situation had become, and she was not going to be the one to tell her. She knew that Lena had guessed that something grim and serious had occurred between her husband and his brother but, being Lena, she wouldn’t dig for an answer. Ria wondered what she saw in Daniel Bailey to inspire such unstinting loyalty; he must have something going for him, because Lena was still as besotted with him now as she was when they first met. But then Daniel was the same – he worshipped her.

‘I expect Daniel’s working as usual.’ Lena smiled tightly.

Ria shrugged lightly. ‘I don’t know, Peter never said much to be honest.’