Mike nodded. ‘Yeah, there is, Son, but it don’t need to concern you.’

‘But—’

Mike raised his hand. ‘No, Ricky. Leave it to me, Son. You just nurse that hangover. I’ll be back later.’

***

By the time Mike had arrived outside Zara’s house, he had conjured up a serious assumption. It was one that wouldn’t bode well for her.

In his mind, the Lanigans had taken over her business and were selling this highly addictive drug to any kid and toff who wanted to get high. Of course, they would pay Zara just to keep her nose out of it. Neil Lanigan getting stabbed may have happened because one of the druggies had become high and aggressive, resulting in the Irish fella coming off worse. Immersed in his own thoughts, he didn’t plan on how he would confront Zara over it. Instead, he banged hard at her door.

Zara was in the process of having the house redesigned and was flicking through some swatches. She heard the loud knock at the door and then turned to her newly installed security monitor that showed the whole perimeter of the house, just as her father had once had it set up. She stared for a moment at Mike, who was running his hands through his hair in an agitated state. Her heart beat fast as she watched him. In her mind, she assumed that by keeping herself to herself, she would rid him of her thoughts and eventually turn her feelings off. But there he was on the screen, like a thousand trombones ringing in her ears. No one could send her emotions through the roof as much as Mike.

She took a deep breath and opened the door.

Mike seemed almost surprised to see her standing there, as if he half expected her either not to answer the door or to be out of the house.

He looked her up and down. ‘Are you okay?’ His reason for talking business went out of the window, the minute he clapped eyes on her. ‘You look good, babe.’

She stepped aside and nodded for him to come in.

‘Are you looking after yourself all right?’

Zara so wanted to laugh. This wasn’t her tough-talking Mike. He was acting more like a naughty schoolkid sucking up to get out of detention.

‘I’m fine, Mike, as you can see. So, what did you want?’ Really, she wanted to fall into his arms and kiss his face, but he was the one sucking up, and so she would milk it for all its worth.

Her coldness annoyed him; he wanted his kind, soft-spoken Zara back. ‘Well, it’s about business. Are you on your own?’ His tone soured.

Zara felt a little choked up; she was hoping he would get on his hands and knees and beg for forgiveness. She remained silent and waited.

‘The Pomodorra, do you still own it?’