Still very weak, he nodded. He held her gaze, and then, as if he’d just remembered something, he frowned and looked at her wrist. His eyes were suddenly wide and alert. He didn’t have to say anything: the expression of empathy was embedded on his face.

‘Hey, it’s okay, I’m still me. Well, older, and less handy, if you pardon the pun.’ She laughed, to lighten the mood. ‘I’m gonna get the bastards, Neil. I’m gonna rip their fucking hearts out.’

Neil looked at his father, who nodded in agreement.

Slowly, but surely, Neil came around enough to sit up and speak; they’d so much to catch up on that the time flew by.

***

Having waited patiently for an hour, Eric was getting frustrated. But he couldn’t show his annoyance, not after putting his foot in it. Climbing out of the car, he straightened his suit and made his way to the reception area, where he was directed to the Lambeth Wing. Zara wouldn’t mind if he made an appearance, surely? After all, he surmised, the Regans weren’t enemies of the Lanigans. Confident that he would be welcomed, he walked towards the private room along from the ward.

As soon as he stood in the doorway, he saw Zara sitting on Neil’s bed and kissing the man’s cheek. The sight of her embracing Neil turned his stomach and fixed him to the spot. He continued to watch as she stood up and hugged who he could only assume was Davey. As much as Mike and himself had done business with the Lanigan family many moons ago, only Mike had met the man while serving time.

As Zara spotted him there, she instantly uncurled her arms from Davey and stared in Eric’s direction. Davey turned to see the tall and smartly dressed man hovering.

Entering the room, Eric stuck out his hand to shake Davey’s. ‘Hi, I’m Eric Regan, Mike’s brother.’ It rankled, him saying ‘Mike’s brother’. He always felt second best. And it really made his blood boil that not only was he always seen as inferior to him, but everyone would sit up and take notice if he mentioned Mike’s name.

Davey smiled and responded to the gesture. ‘Good to meet you, and it gives me the chance to thank you personally for saving our Zara.’

Eric forced a smile. The words ‘our Zara’ had so many connotations. Did he mean her as a business partner or family? Either way, it established their bond, and it pissed Eric off.

He looked over at Zara, who didn’t appear best pleased with his presence. ‘Er, I thought it would be rude of me not to pop my head in and say hello.’

Davey patted Eric’s arm. ‘Well, it’s nice to meet you. Zara was just saying goodbye, so your timing was perfect.’