He had never wanted a family, even his sister Pat got on his tits, but Jimmy had somehow touched a chord inside him. He knew that Jimmy had never once tried to collar a penny over and above his wedge, because for years he had made sure the books were looked over in private. He had known in his heart that Jimmy would not touch a bean that wasn't his, but you never could be a hundred per cent sure about anyone. He was now, though it had taken many years before he had finally admitted that the boy was completely straight.

This knowledge pleased him. When he finally shook off this mortal coil, Jimmy Jackson was going to be a very rich man indeed, and he deserved every penny he had coming to him.

Ozzy felt he was paying him serious compensation, because by raising him in their world, he had inadvertently given Jimmy a powerful enemy, and this enemy was twice as dangerous because he was related to him by blood. Family, he knew, could be far more treacherous and far more vengeful than any other adversary you might have acquired along your merry way. Their strength lay in the fact that they knew you so well, and knowledge, as they say, is power. And you had no reason not to trust them, until it was too late of course and they had tucked you up big time.

Ozzy sat in his cell, and he congratulated himself for having the sense to leave the outside world alone. Inside he didn't have to deal with anything too pressing unless the fancy took him. He turned on his little portable TV Richard and Judy were on and he loved the way they interacted with each other. He enjoyed this little bit of contact with the outside world through the glass screen of his antiquated black-and-white TV

He had only one thing left to do and he had arranged that a few weeks earlier. He was going to give the nod for that to go down tonight, when a tame screw brought him in his mobile as usual so he could make any necessary calls in relative peace and quiet. He also brought him in a bottle of Glenfiddich every few days as well. It was a lovely treat last thing at night with a drop of hot water and plenty of sugar.

He wouldn't tell Jimmy what his last act for him was going to be, he would be far better off never knowing anything about it. But it would be worth more than all the money in the world because it would help Jimmy Jackson to sleep better at night. And it would make Ozzy feel that he had done everything in his power to compensate young Jimmy Jackson, the new Face of London.

Glenford Prentiss was smoking a joint as was usual, and smiling at a young coffee-coloured lap dancer with high breasts and a very expensive smile.

His phone rang and he answered it with a frown. 'Hello, Ozzy.'

The girl could hear the respect in his voice and the sound alerted her to the fact that everyone had someone they answered to, no matter who they were.

'Of course it's all arranged. The boy checks out tonight.'

Libby, as she was known, watched as Glenford turned the phone off, then put it down on the table with a sigh. He then drank his Bacardi and Coke in record time before saying, 'Now, where were we?'

But she was sensible enough to know that he had a lot on his mind. 'You OK, Glenford?'

He shrugged. ''Course I am, girl.'

She smiled then, and he smiled back, happier than he had been for a long time.

Maggie was actually laughing, really laughing, and the sound made Lena and Joe smile at one another. 'He is a lovely fella, old Jimmy, eh?'

'A blinder. Fuck me, Lena, pour that tea out before the Christmas rush starts, eh.'

Lena grinned. They spent a lot of time at Maggie's now, as did the girls. Jimmy didn't mind, but she guessed that sometimes he would have liked his wife to himself. He would get his wish sooner than he thought.

The girls were gradually starting to accept what had happened, and she knew they were stronger than they thought. Jackie's suicide note had not helped them, she knew. She had just written plainly, to no one in particular:

Sorry. But I can't live without him. Be happy one and all.

It had been so short, so poignant and so lonely she had wanted to die herself. Her poor daughter, who even in death remained in the grip of the man who had deliberately and systematically chipped away at her until she had forgotten how to be happy, forgotten how to live her life.

Lena prayed every day that her poor Jackie had found some kind of peace at last.

'Here they come, Lena. Go and refresh that tea, girl, it's older than I am.'

Joe loved Maggie, and he loved Jimmy, but as they walked into the large conservatory and placed the baby in his arms, his face lit up like a Belisha beacon.

This was the miracle child as far as they were concerned, and the family had been brought closer together with his birth and his cousin's birth.

Rox had also been blessed with a boy child a few months earlier, and they looked like two peas in a pod. Both were strong and dark haired, and sometimes a shadow crossed over Lena's face because they looked like Freddie and Jimmy all over again.

But these two were not going to be like that. Jimmy would ensure that they were brought up properly, and little Dicky was gutted that Rox had given theirs her maiden name so they were both Jacksons. Rox had decided that marriage was out of the question now, she wanted to wait until her life was back on an even keel. The papers had had a field day, and they had all had to suffer the humiliation of their private lives being played out on a daily basis, and being branded criminals and anything else that guaranteed sales for the gutter press.

Lena looked at the two little Josephs and she knew that the names of these boys had given her old man more pleasure than anything in his life before.

'The girls coming over tonight?'

Maggie shook her head. 'No, they are all going out, and about time too. What do you think of their house, Mum?'

Lena smiled again at her daughter and she said earnestly, 'It's beautiful, and they love it there. You are very good you know, you two.'

Jimmy shrugged. 'What can you do, they are family.'

Joseph nodded his head in agreement. 'What's left of it anyway, eh?' He held his grandson tightly as he said it and he prayed that this boy, and his great grandson, had inherited nothing from Freddie Jackson.

Family was a blessing and it was also a fucking curse. He knew that better than anyone else in the world.

Joseph had taken a call that morning from the secure unit that housed his other grandson and it seemed Little Freddie had hung himself in the night. He had felt a wave of joy wash over him at the news. He still loathed the boy and the news he was dead had cheered him up no end. That was another mad bastard out of the way.

He would tell them all eventually, when the time was right. Until then he would let them enjoy the lovely summer days.

Maggie lay on the chaise longue at the end of her bed and breast-fed her little son. It was her favourite time of the day. She counted her blessings now. God had seen fit to give her this child and she was not going to let anything mar her happiness.

She would never forget her little Jimmy, but Joseph was like a life belt and she had held on to him for dear life, until now, at long last, the fear was gone. Freddie and his poison was in the past. He had ruled too many lives and it was time for them to stop allowing him to dictate their feelings and their thoughts.

She was still young looking, she knew. Her body was not as good as before but she didn't care and neither did Jimmy. He still took her with the same passion he had taken her with when they had first come together.

Jackie was often in her mind. She missed her, but she knew the girls were always going to be there for her in the same way she had always been there for them.