Eddie opened his eyes and stared at Gary and Raymond. One looked near to tears, the other petrifried, and Eddie knew it was his duty to be strong for them. He wasn’t afraid of death, never had been, but he was very afraid of never seeing his wife and kids again. Who would be there to protect them after he had left this planet? No one, that’s who. He turned to Jimmy. Jed had popped outside to try and locate his phone, which he’d lost in the earlier tussle, and Ed guessed he was hoping to have heard from Georgie and Harry.

‘Come on then, shoot me you two-bob cunt. What you waiting for, Christmas?’ Ed jeered.

Furious with Eddie’s brave and obstinate attitude, Jimmy pushed him onto the concrete floor. He balanced the gun on top of the tyres and punched Eddie three times in his smug face. ‘Where are my fucking grandkids?’ he hollered.

Jed reappeared. He had managed to find his phone, but was gutted that there were no messages from the kids. ‘You not killed him yet? What you waiting for?’ he asked.

‘I was waiting for you. I thought you’d wanna see the cunt take his last breath an’ all,’ Jimmy replied, picking up the gun again.

‘I found the phone; no joy. Time for some torture, methinks,’ Jed said.

‘I think we’re best to finish ’em all off now and get the fuck out of here, boy. We need to find out if Billy’s OK.’

Gary and Raymond glanced at one another, then both clenched their eyes firmly shut. They couldn’t watch Eddie die, it was far too horrendous to even contemplate.

Ed closed his own eyes as he felt the steel of the metal barrel push into his temple. This was it now, the end, and with all the past sins he’d committed, he fleetingly wondered if God would accept him in heaven or banish him to hell.

Hearing four gunshots, Eddie said a prayer. He was no Bible-basher, had never really believed in God, but what choice did he have other than to put his faith in Him now?

‘Dad. Are you OK, Dad?’

Ed’s body froze as he heard the familiar voice. Was he already dead? Or was he fucking dreaming? Frightened to open his eyes in case he came face to face with the devil, Eddie kept them closed.

‘It’s me, Dad. Please be alive.’

Hearing Gary and Raymond laughing, but also crying at the same time, Ed opened his eyes and took in the scene around him. Jed and Jimmy were both lying on the floor next to him with blood gushing out of their backs and standing over him, with a stunned expression on his face and a gun in his hand, was none other than Joey.