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knew his place.
    ‘There was eighty-five grand taken from Jason Prior’s residence. You did good, son. I will make sure you and Reggie get a decent bonus. It will be all over the Smoke now, and that can only be good for business. People will be on the blower, selling off difficult debts, which is just what we want. That’s where the big earn is. I think you and that lad can sort them.’
    Lenny nodded his agreement. It was exactly what he had been hoping for.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

    The pub was packed with men celebrating Lenny Scott’s birthday. The atmosphere was all friendly camaraderie and jokes. Big Lenny looked around and felt pride in this lad of his. He had really made his mark on the world. He watched as the men were respectful to his boy, and saw how respectful Lenny was in return. He always gave people their due. He had a great nature – though, as everyone knew, he wasn’t a man to cross. Now he had taken out Jason Prior and that just added to his mystique.
    He was a son to be proud of, in every way – he was a good provider, a wonderful father and he was also a fucking nice man. Big Lenny Scott was thrilled with his boy, and he didn’t care who knew it either.
    The drink was flowing and the men were starting to get raucous now. Lenny was still known to not really be a drinker except for a few beers and so he was not offered serious alcohol – everyone remembered the Keith incident too well. But he was happy for everyone else to indulge and he liked a laugh and a joke.
    One lag, Freddie Forester, was regaling them with stories of his sexual exploits when he had been a youngster. Freddie had been, by his own admission, a seriously good-looking fucker, and there were still traces left in his old face. He had a magnificent head of hair and, though he was heavy these days, he looked fit for his age.
    ‘This bird had tits like fucking rugby balls. The face on it wasn’t anything to write home about, but the body . . .’ Freddie rolled his eyes and everyone laughed at him. ‘So, there I am, going at it like fucking no one’s business, and her fucking dad walks into the room. Straight up! I nearly fucking passed out. And she goes – all bored, like – “Your tea’s in the oven.” I nearly missed me fucking stroke! I finished up and was straight out of there, I can tell you!’
    The men were roaring with laughter and Lenny joined in although he caught Reggie’s eye and smiled, shaking his head at the way Freddie carried on. Reggie Dornan was laughing hard with everyone else but Lenny could see that, like him, he found the story irritating really. These kinds of tales were outdated now. Nevertheless, Freddie could make a cat laugh and that was his secret: he was a genuinely funny man.
    Lenny walked outside to get some air. It was like a sauna in the bar, and he felt the need for a bit of quiet. He had drunk more beer than he usually did and he felt light-headed. Reggie followed him, and they stood round the side of the pub, smoking together.
    ‘I just wanted to say thanks, Lenny. For giving me the chance, like. I needed a fucking job, you know? I was boracic.’
    Lenny shrugged. ‘Plenty more where that came from, mate. You did good. Jason Prior wasn’t an easy first. But it did the job in more ways than one, see? Jack is inundated with difficult debts now. That will be me and you sorting the harder ones. You are up for this, I take it?’
    Reggie looked into Lenny’s eyes and smiled slowly. ‘What do you fucking think?’
    Lenny grinned.
    ‘My mum’s over the moon, so I had to put the hard word on her. I don’t think I will ever make her exactly respectable, but I told her to sort herself and the fucking kids out. She had them – she has no choice but to take care of them. I was fuming that Gerry – my sister Geraldine – was nearly put on the bash by that cunt Prior. I really gave Mum hell to pay over that. But she is what she is.’ He shook his head.
    Lenny knew Reggie was ashamed of his