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thought through what he was saying, but the faces of Cain and Johnny reminded him just who he was talking to.
    Cain sipped at his whisky, saying smoothly, ‘Fuck me, gents, we are sitting with a man of the world! Who would have thought it? By the way, Richie, my mum was a brass, and so was Johnny’s, as I am sure you know. It wasn’t exactly a secret, like.’
    Jamie couldn’t resist a little smile at the big man’s predicament. This suited them all because it wrong-footed Richie and that made it easier to push him out of this deal once it was laid out. Jamie had a sneaking respect for Cain Moran; he had taken his opening and used it beautifully. He would enjoy making this bloke’s acquaintance.
    ‘I think after that faux fucking pas the next round’s on you, Richie.’
    Richie Jakobs jumped out of his seat and hurried to the bar. The other men smiled at each other in perfect accord. Then they got down to business.

Chapter Fourteen
    ‘He’s after you, Jen, and you’d be a fool not to take your chance.’
    Eileen was still getting over the shock of the day’s happenings. Not the fight − that was not an unusual part of her week − but Cain Moran turning up like that and obviously knowing her Jenny by name? That was the shocker for her, all right. She hugged herself with the knowledge that her daughter had given them guaranteed kudos by her connection with Cain Moran, however tenuous it might be. He was a handsome fucker and all, the jammy little cow. But, in fairness, her daughter was a beauty. Like her, she had the looks that sent men crazy, and she also had the body to go with it. Eileen didn’t want her to waste that like she had.
    Jenny Riley felt a faint stirring inside her belly at her mother’s words. ‘Don’t be so silly, Mum, he was just being nice.’
    Eileen wasn’t fooled for a second. ‘Look at you doing a cherry! You look like a Belisha beacon. Seriously, Jen, if you’re going to aim, aim as fucking high as you can. Youth don’t last that long, take it from me.’
    Jenny got up from the sofa; she had tidied up after Cain had left and wished she had tidied up before. The place was a dump, but at least now it was a clean dump.
    ‘He’s just a nice man, Mum, you know? Kind.’
    She told the story of her and Bella up in Soho and watched with a certain satisfaction as her mother’s eyes stretched wide in disbelief.
    Eileen laughed at the end, though, saying, ‘Fuck me, Jen, you’ve always been a bit too good and then overnight you nearly end up on the bash in Soho. Thought I was bad enough!’
    They both laughed at the absurdity of it.
    Then Eileen said seriously, ‘Look, Jenny, you are your own woman. I knew that years ago. All finicky and nice − fuck knows where you got that from. But, for all my faults, I do care about you, darling. If he comes sniffing round, you think long and hard about knocking him back. He’s a catch − a married catch − but that don’t mean fuck-all these days, love.’
    Jenny smiled, and didn’t answer her mother. She loved her but she had a mouth bigger than the Blackwall Tunnel. There was no way Jenny would admit she had agreed to meet Cain Moran for dinner. She kept the knowledge to herself. For the first time in her life she was going out with a big handsome man − who had a wife and child. He had explained that to her and, even though she knew it was wrong, she didn’t care. For the first time in her life, she was falling in love.

Chapter Fifteen
    Cain picked Jenny up at Knightsbridge tube station. She looked absolutely gorgeous − and completely out of place. He drove them to a small Greek restaurant in Beauchamp Place; he often took his paramours there, as it was the last place he would come across anyone he knew.
    One part of him was excited, the other half ashamed at his feelings for someone so young and so fragile. But he couldn’t resist. There was something about her and, whatever it was, he knew he would not miss this date for anything in