Feeling nauseous herself, Gloria placed the cup of coffee down and tried to nibble on a biscuit. ‘Because, Mikey, you were probably out for the count. Blimey, you weren’t half knocking ’em back, dancing and singing. Still, did you have a good time?’

‘Mum! Listen! Zara’s not answering her phone, and now she’s switched the bleedin’ thing off.’

‘Stop worrying. Zara ain’t bloody buggered off for good. You’re getting paranoid. Now, drink your coffee and clear your mind.’

Mikey knew his mother was talking sense, and yet he regretted last night. So much so, he felt an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach. He should have left the party early and spent the first night at home in bed with Zara, making up for lost time. And there was so much they hadn’t talked about: planning their wedding, for example, or even going over the past and preparing for the future.

He could kick himself right now: all this time he’d waited for his girl, and now he’d royally fucked up – on the first bloody night as well. His anger then turned to Zara. How stupid was she? She should’ve known he wouldn’t be interested in anyone else. Acting like a kid running off, she should’ve fronted him out, like any grown woman would have.

Just as he was about to retrieve his phone and call his brother, Eric appeared – as if from nowhere – looking like he’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Fresh, tidy, and smart. Mr Cool. Mike had to blink. For a moment, he didn’t even recognize him. ‘Eric, where’s Zara?’

Mike clocked the cocky smirk but wondered if he was seeing things. ‘Eric?’

As if he was about to make an important announcement, Eric took a deep breath, fiddled with his cufflinks, and sighed. He’d been waiting for this moment for so long, it had nearly killed him. Big, powerful Mike. The man himself. Self-assured and always having his own way whenever he wanted it. Well, sod you, big brother.

‘Well, now you’re sober, I need to tell you that last night Neil got stabbed and I do believe Zara has gone to have a meeting with the Lanigans this morning.’ Eric was a little frustrated himself, finding Zara had already left when he’d woken early this morning to get himself ready to escort her.

‘What the fuck! Why didn’t you tell me before?’

Again, Eric smirked; it was a new feature that Mike hadn’t seen before. ‘Like I said, Mikey. You were drunk, and so I thought it best to talk to you this morning.’

For a moment, Mike felt entirely out of control. Eric should have woken him.

‘Is Neil dead, then?’

Eric shook his head. ‘No, I called the hospital this morning. He’s out of the woods but it was touch and go.’