The shock had Neil on his feet and running to the door. Shamus looked at his phone; the text was ready to send as soon as need be. He pressed the forward icon and heard the sound of the text message from inside the ladies’ toilets. Minty and Jacko, their own men, who were hiding inside the restroom, came tearing into the dining area.

‘Lads, go around to the side door,’ shouted Shamus, as he hurried towards the front door.

Outside, Neil watched in horror as a massive man, wearing a balaclava, held a knife at Tiffany’s throat. Instantly, Neil put his hands up. ‘Leave off. Jesus, she’s only a kid!’

From the BMW, which was idling by the kerb outside the restaurant, two more men jumped out. They were just as large and were also wearing balaclavas. But it was their practised threatening movements that would have put the shit up most bystanders if they’d been there. Wielding crowbars, they demonstrated they were up for a serious fight. Almost in tandem, again as if their movements were rehearsed, they dared Neil to take them on.

This wasn’t supposed to happen, thought Neil. He stared in disbelief as the young girl’s eyes bulged in abject terror. He thought his plan was fucked until he saw Jacko and Minty creeping up behind the three men. Jacko had a metal bat; in one quick movement, he struck the man holding the kid hard around the head. The resounding bang was so loud that unless he was a machine, he would have hit the deck in a jiffy. Neil and Jacko were both stunned that although he let the girl go, he didn’t otherwise move. Quickly, Neil lurched forward and snatched the girl, pulling her behind him. But the man holding the knife lashed out, causing Jacko and Minty to back off.

Whoever was in the vehicle suddenly started the engine; in a second, all three of the men jumped in and tore away.

Zara had been parked in a side street, nervously smoking. Davey and two more of his men were inside the Range Rover with her. The text that came through almost made her jump out of her seat. Discarding the cigarette, she pulled away smartly and was about to turn left but another car was in the way, making a three-point turn. In frustration, she banged the steering wheel. ‘Fuck! Fuck!’ she screeched. As soon as the road was clear, she tore away and pulled up directly outside the restaurant to find Neil shaking his head and staring up the road at the BMW leaving an exhaust trail in the cold air. Jumping out of the car, her first priority was the distraught waitress, who looked as though she would have a panic attack at any moment.

‘What the fuck just happened?’

‘The cunts grabbed Tiffany and held a knife to her throat.’