Fatal

Nico’s voice was full of interest. ‘Sto ascoltando. I’m listening.’

‘Franny Doyle. Patrick’s daughter.’

Looking surprised, Nico thought back. He remembered her name, mainly from her father and how much he’d talked about her. He was as proud of her as any man would’ve been about a son. She’d been his driving force. Everything he did, he’d done for her. And Cabhan had been the same, idolising Franny as if she were his own kid. Though the couple of times he had met Franny, the only thing that stuck in his mind was that she’d been a ball-breaker with too much of a smart mouth.

‘You’re making no sense, Sal.’

‘Franny wants to compensate us for the money. Although she says that Cabhan acted with our best interests in mind, she still wants to show her respect by paying for what was lost … She’s insisting on seeing you in person.’

Nico Russo contemplated this thought and, intrigued by meeting this woman again, he answered simply, ‘Okay. When?’

‘She’s here now, Nico, with Cabhan. I’m sorry, but she gave me no choice.’

Picking a crumb of food out of his teeth, Nico looked at his brother scornfully. ‘How can a woman give you no choice?’

Humiliated, Salvatore flushed. ‘I’m sorry. What shall I tell her?’

‘Show her in. What sort of host would I be if I turned my guests away?’

10 (#ulink_30ae233c-f1aa-52b9-ada7-a3d2651be0f1)

Ten minutes later, with the prison officers having been left to stand outside on Nico’s orders, Franny and Cabhan sat opposite him. Franny spoke calmly and firmly, showing great respect towards Nico, despite feeling none. She knew that this might be their best opportunity to get Cabhan back home to England.

‘Both Cab and I are extremely saddened about Ally.’

Cabhan nodded, his expression of remorse genuine. ‘I keep going over it in my head, Nico. The car, it just—’

Nico put up his hand to stop him from saying any more. ‘No more talk of it, please. Salvatore tells me there isn’t anyone to blame, it was just an accident. Tragic things happen … Which reminds me, how is your daughter …?’ Nico paused to feign ignorance as Cabhan shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. ‘I’m sorry, her name escapes me.’

Cabhan’s voice was strained. ‘Alice. Alice Rose.’

‘Ah, that’s right … Is she well?’

‘She’s very well, thank you.’

Nico smiled, his eyes darkening. ‘Bene. Good. We need to look after our families. Hold them close. You never know when something may happen. Life’s too short, wouldn’t you agree, Cab?’

‘I would.’

There was a tense silence before Nico clapped his hands. ‘Enough of this talk. Why don’t we just get on with business?’

Giving a quick side glance to Cabhan, Franny, knowing he wanted to get this over and done with as much as she did, took Nico’s cue, her voice cold and hard. ‘Okay. So how much are we talking about, Nico? How much did you lose?’

Nico watched Franny evenly. He’d forgotten how much like an Italian goddess she looked, but that didn’t stop him having an aversion to her. Mouthy broads who thought they were men, in his experience, always came to a very bad end.

‘About two and a half million dollars.’

Franny nodded calmly, rivalling the outwardly composed Nico. ‘Which is about one point eight million pounds, but as a goodwill gesture, to show there’s no hard feelings between us, I’m willing to give you two million in British sterling, that’s as long as we can draw a line under it all.’

Nico Russo chewed down hard on the inside of his cheek, tasting blood, his expression once again not giving away any kind of emotion as he turned to Cabhan. ‘You let women do men’s business now?’

‘It’s not for me to let her, Franny does what she wants. She is her own woman and her own boss.’

‘Then it’s a shame it wasn’t Franny who came to work for us instead of you. It seems like she’s the one with the balls. Tell me something, Franny, where did you get the money from?’

Franny gave a smile, pushing Alfie out from the back of her mind, focusing only on the matter at hand. ‘Nico, I get my money from the same place you do.’

Nico smiled back, genuine amusement in his eye. He put his hand out for Franny to shake.

‘Okay, Franny, it seems we have a deal.’

Franny held Nico’s hand as well as his stare just as hard, the Doyle strength pushing through. ‘And you’ll speak to the rest of the family about Cabhan coming home?’

‘Yes.’

‘So that’s it, we’re even?’

Nico nodded and smiled.

When Franny and Cabhan had left the visitors’ room, Salvatore turned to Nico.

‘I’ll arrange for her to transfer the money today to one of our accounts in India, and then it’s done.’

Nico’s eyes turned dark and cold. ‘No, Salvatore, it’s only just beginning. Never forget that in life there’s always somebody to blame and there’s always a way to get revenge … An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth … a daughter for a daughter. Let’s go and wish Cabhan a happy birthday with the sweet Alice Rose.’

11 (#ulink_e43a8a62-4fe9-5276-bcdb-e081ccc45fe8)

Alice walked along with Sister Margaret, hardly able to contain herself. She’d spoken to Nico again and everything seemed to be under way. He’d been amazing, kind and caring, so in return what she’d done was make certain she’d said a prayer of thanks each morning in chapel for him. After all, she didn’t want to take for granted any of the angels sent her way.

The party was all set for Saturday and she had a feeling it was going to be just perfect. She couldn’t wait to see her dad’s face. She loved him so much at times she thought she was going to burst.

‘You seem distracted, Alice.’

‘No, I’m just thinking, Sister Margaret.’

‘Well, I hope your thoughts are full of godliness, Alice, rather than temptation. You know, every temptation is an opportunity to prove the Devil wrong, Alice Rose.’

Alice smiled warmly. ‘Of course, Sister Margaret.’

‘You know, if there is anything you want to tell me, you can. I don’t …’

Wanting to say more but hearing the front gate bell ring, Sister Margaret turned to walk down the tree-lined driveway. She raised her hand to the waiting car.

‘I’m coming … I’ll be back in a minute Al—’

As she spoke, Alice suddenly saw Sister Margaret’s cream robe turn crimson. Terror gripped her as she watched, not quite comprehending what was happening as the nun’s head began to loll back, her body sinking to the ground, blood oozing as her eyes held Alice’s stare.

Alice began to shake, her whole body trembling as her screams mixed with the warm winds. Hysterically, she ran towards Sister Margaret and threw herself on the ground. Desperately afraid and racked with terrified sobs, Alice cradled the nun’s head in her arms. ‘Don’t die! Don’t die! Sister Margaret … Please … please … please!’