Free The Life by Martina Cole Page A

to nause up. He’s going too far too soon.’
    Peter sighed. Life was getting more and more difficult by the day; whoever said it was lonely at the top knew exactly what they were talking about. It had been a hard road; they were finally where they wanted to be, but the cracks were already showing.
    Daniel was acting like Al Capone on speed, and Peter didn’t trust him as far as he could throw him at the moment. True, they were at the top, but they were still waiting for any pretenders to the throne to make themselves known. This was when they needed their wits about them twenty-four seven.
    Ria was sad that even though her husband had finally achieved everything he had wanted to, he was not a happy bunny. She knew Daniel was not the easiest of people to be in partnership with, but then Peter had known that from the off. After all, they were brothers, it wasn’t like they didn’t know each other. And they had always said that it was
because
of their differences that they were so successful.
    But in the last year she could feel the tension growing between them – everyone could. Not that anybody mentioned it, of course. As bad as the relationship between the brothers was, they would still cut the throat of anyone who tried to come between them.
    She knew Daniel was drinking a lot these days and Lena was worried about it. Daniel Bailey and drink was never a good combination. When he wasn’t maudlin, he was a violent drunk – not towards his wife or family but with people he didn’t know very well. He saw a slight where none existed. He’d always been the same but until this last year he had never been a bully. Now he was getting a reputation as a troublesome pisshead.
    For the moment, his name and his standing were enough to keep him safe; Peter saw to it that he was watched and he smoothed over things that might otherwise grow out of proportion. But Ria knew that there would always be someone who could not be placated. One day, Daniel would push his luck too far. That concerned Ria insomuch as it affected
her
husband,
her
family.
    She also knew that it worried Lena, though Lena thought the sun shone out of her husband’s arse, and would stand by him no matter what. Ria respected Lena for that, but she also felt that it was time Lena put her foot down, and told her husband the truth about his behaviour, and how it was affecting the whole family. But that would never happen. Lena still feigned ignorance – and Ria did think it
had
to be feigned.
    Even so, she was not as involved with the family business as Ria was. And these days, Lena was far too wrapped up in the new baby to pay much attention to what was going on around her. All Ria could do was support her husband, as she had always done, and thank God she chose the better brother.

Chapter Nineteen
    The DJ was playing Edwin Starr, and the music was so loud it seemed to make the walls move with the reverberation from the bass. All around, the young people were dancing, gyrating, shouting to be heard above the noise. The place was packed to capacity, the smell of cheap perfume and sweat heavy in the air. Half-naked girls were dancing around as if their lives depended on it, determined to pull or be pulled. They wore brightly coloured make-up, and were dressed in the height of fashion. This was Ilford, Essex, bordering East London; these were the girls who set the fashions for the rest of the country. These were the girls who decided what was in, and what wasn’t. They were like exotic birds, so young, so lovely. Ilford had several major nightclubs, all well known, well frequented, and always packed. Now there was a new club, just off Green Lane, called The House. It was open later than the others, and it was always guaranteed to have the best DJs and the best live music on a Friday and a Saturday.
    Peter and Daniel Bailey had opened this club and watched as the money rolled in; for with the clubs came the drugs, both of which were earning them fortunes. Peter was