St Just flinched and O’Grady’s mouth opened in a soundless whistle. Little Proserpina Delano had put all her rage and all her strength into that one blow and the Mafia Don, taken as he was by surprise, reeled back in shock.

He let out a string of coarse oaths that made O’Grady hang his head in shame to hear it.

Then, the Mafia Don grabbed his Woman, gripping her hands behind her back as he held her, to his chest facing him, and roared,

“EVERYONE OUT!!!”

And ...