Jack nodded his thanks and turned to Cato. ‘If that bloody Ivanski gets any nearer to my Bella, I’ll knock his block off and send it back to Russia in a box!’ He slumped forward on the polished wooden bar of The Vipers next to Cato. ‘Bella is mine and no one seems to have told him. Go on, ask anyone, ask ’em! I’m her true love and everyone knows it!’ He downed his ale. ‘I’ve loved her ever since I was younger than you and with no home of my own. Before Mother took me in! Before I knew how to love, I loved her!’ Jack’s grey eyes clouded over. ‘Bella kissed me, told me I was the one for her – we were barely fourteen but I knew she was my . . . my destiny.’ Cato couldn’t help laughing. ‘That is ale talking, Jack!’ he said. ‘She is Arabella Hopkins! And I know she is soft on you, but how many times has she been married off to others?’ ‘That was just work!’ Jack protested. ‘She’ll be wed to me as soon as I can scrape enough cash together.’ ‘Then don’t look at her now, Jack!’ ‘I can’t help it.
