‘I don’t care what happens on Monday. I could be dead by Monday,’ he says flatly.

Before I can answer, there’s the sound of a loud crash. Both of us turn to look. From where we’re standing, I see Justin pointing his finger and arguing loudly with someone whose body language is just as aggressive. Beside him, on the patio floor, is an overturned chair.

‘Shit, the Barberry brothers,’ Dom says, jumping to his feet. ‘Come on,’ he urges and we walk quickly toward the brewing quarrel. The men are arguing bitterly, their aggression quickly filling the air with tension. I can’t properly make out what they are fighting about with all the onlookers shouting at the same time. As we arrive, it transpires that one of the Barberry brothers has insulted one of Justin’s mates.

‘I’ll fucking kill you,’ Justin is shouting to the Barberry brother who’s supposed to have thrown the insult. There are four of them, and they all look as though they’re spoiling for a fight.

Dom looks at me. ‘Stay here,’ he orders, and he strides toward the men.

I can see that the situation is quickly getting out of hand. And sure enough, seconds later someone throws a punch, and then it’s a free-for-all. Everyone’s swinging punches, chairs are being smashed, and more men are joining the melee. I stare at them in disbelief. I’ve never been to a party that’s erupted into a steaming fight before. And it’s a proper brawl, as well.

From the corner of my eye I see Shane wading in, coming to his brother’s rescue. Not that Dom seems to be needing any help. He’s roaring and going for it like a mad man. It’s incredible how this party has disintegrated into this mess in the space of just a few seconds.

To my surprise, the other partygoers aren’t trying to intervene and stop the fight, but are either watching it as though it’s part of the entertainment, or clapping and cheering on Justin and the Eden brothers against the Barberrys. There are four Barberry brothers against three, which seems unfair to me.

I see one of the Barberry brothers try to sneak in behind Dom and punch him from the back. Without thinking, moving purely on instinct, I pick up a wine bottle and, rushing forward, smash it over his head. There’s a loud clunk. The man turns back with a growl and sinks slowly to the ground.

Ooops! In the movies, bottles that come into violent contact with human heads always shatter to smithereens. I look up from his prone body and meet Dom’s eyes. There’s a trickle of blood coming from his eyebrow, and he’s staring at me with his mouth slightly open. I drop the bottle.

‘He was going to hit you from the back. And that would have been unfair,’ I say mechanically.

He grins suddenly, and it’s like the sun has come out from behind a dark cloud.

‘Behind you!’ I scream.

Dom whirls around in time to face another fierce-looking Barberry brother. With my hand over my mouth, I watch Dom lay into him. As the man clutches his side and stumbles away, Shane walks up to Dom. The left side of his face is swollen.

‘You OK?’ he asks, as if it’s the most normal thing in the world to turn up for a party and get into a massive punch-up.

‘Yeah. You?’

He smiles. ‘Always.’

Justin comes up to them and claps them both on the back in an almost congratulatory manner. He’s laughing. This is normal for them! Dom leaves them and comes up to me. His eyes are dark and devouring. He looks at me as if I’m … hmm … well, food.

He grabs my hand and starts pulling me away. I run to keep up with his long strides.

‘Where are we going?’ I ask breathlessly.

‘Somewhere I can ravish you.’

I grin. ‘Dom, do you think he’ll be all right?’

‘Who?’

‘The guy I hit with the bottle.’

‘Are you kidding? It’s gonna take far more than a bottle to down a Barberry boy,’ he says.

And I laugh.

And so does he, as we run to the car.

We climb into it in a rush, and, like children who have been promised a trip to the ice cream parlor, we can hardly sit still with excitement. I smile a secret smile. It’s clear that the rush of adrenalin and testosterone has fueled his sexual appetite and I’m going to reap the benefit. Dom drives us to a quiet country lane. And there, under a half-moon, he lays me across the back seat and buries himself all the way inside me in one hard slam, then works it until we’re both an exhausted, satisfied, beautiful, sweaty mess. He reaches below, finds his trousers, rummages in one of the pockets and produces a gold bracelet.

‘Here,’ he says and capturing my hand fixes it on my wrist.

I bite my lip.

‘What?’ he asks.

‘Did you steal it or something?’ I ask with a grin.

‘Why would you think that?’

‘I don’t know. Bracelets usually come in a box.’

‘I can get you a box if you want.’

I shake my head slightly and gently touch the jewels on the pretty bracelet.

‘Sapphires,’ he says.

It’s not big or flash and there is no great declaration that he bought them because they match my eyes or anything romantic like that, but I almost want to cry with happiness.

‘It’s beautiful. Thank you,’ I choke

‘You’re welcome. Wear it all the time,’ he says casually.

And my heart soars. ‘I will.’

For a long time, we lie naked and as precious as the stars shining brightly in the night sky.

THIRTEEN

‘You wouldn’t have any sisters for me, would you?’ Shane teases Ella, a seductive smile spread across his face.

We’re at my ma’s for Sunday lunch. I don’t know what I expected when I sprang Ella, the tax collector, on my family, but they’ve surprised me with the genuine warmth of their welcome. Never once has she been made to feel that anything might be amiss. Of course, Shane has to make a bigger ass of himself than usual.

‘Afraid not,’ Ella says with a grin. ‘But I do have a brother if you’re interested.’

‘Ah, I’ll let you know if I start batting for the other side,’ Shane says with a laugh.

I know Shane’s banter means nothing, but what the fuck! I feel jealousy pour through me. I place my hand possessively on her curvaceous bottom and throw my younger brother a ‘back the hell off’ glare.

With a brotherly pat on my shoulder and a mischievous glint in his eyes, he moves away.

Ella goes to join the women in the kitchen, and Jake comes over to me.

‘So, that’s Ella Savage,’ he says quietly, a strange look in his eyes.

‘Yeah,’ I reply, my tone neutral but forbidding any further intrusions.

‘She’s beautiful.’

‘I know.’

He raises his glass. ‘Here’s to you.’ And for a moment there’s a tinge of sadness in his face. Then Shane joins us.

‘Hoi,’ he says. ‘What are you guys drinking to?’

‘To Dom,’ Jake says simply.

Shane grins wolfishly. ‘And the very gorgeous Ella.’

I stare at him warningly, even though I know he’s only yanking my chain. We all raise our glasses and drink. And I wonder if it has been a mistake to bring Ella to meet my family. They’re ready for her, but I’m not.

I love Dom’s family. And I don’t say that facetiously. They’re so kind, and I can feel how genuine their welcome is in every word and gesture. I especially warm to Layla. A laughing woman-child, she’s the baby of the family. She throws her arms around me and kisses my cheeks as though we’re long-lost sisters. It’s immediately obvious that everyone loves her to death and is very protective of her.

Her husband, BJ, is another matter, though. He’s the largest man I’ve ever met, with a hugely muscled chest and bulging arms. His eyes are so black it’s impossible to know what he’s thinking. He doesn’t say much—his entire world seems to be made of his wife and their little boy. A highly energetic little thing who crawls around at frightening speed.