It didn’t occur to Declan that Michael had always prepared for any and every scenario. He was a man who never once left anything to chance, who thought everything out from every angle possible – that was the reason Patrick had taken him on in the first place. And he had taught him well. Patrick had seen a kindred spirit in Michael Flynn. He had passed on the knowledge needed to be a part of the world Patrick had so carefully created. It was a world of extreme violence, where everyone was suspect, where money was made in huge quantities by people who needed not only Patrick’s permission but also his know-how. Patrick Costello had never offered an earn until he had worked out every scenario humanly possible. It had been why people saw him as a safe partner. He never took risks, he would lose money before he would ever put himself or anyone he was involved with in any danger. It was what he was good at and why he was so well respected. Now he was gone and, like everyone in the world they inhabited, people would mourn his passing but, other than that, once the shock wore off, he would become just another story people told. It was brutal, but true. Patrick had one flaw: his natural capacity for lunacy. It had been his downfall. It had happened to many men before him. It was also the reason they eventually died violent deaths.

Michael Flynn was always going to get the top spot, it had just been a matter of time. In fairness, Declan knew that Michael would never have sought it unless there had been a good reason. He had thought the world of Patrick, and he had appreciated the man’s interest in him and his trust. Declan knew that Michael had only done what was needed, but it still left a bitter taste.

Michael was more than ready to take control of the Costello business – in all honesty, he couldn’t wait to get started. After a decent period of mourning, of course.

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-One

Michael felt fantastic. Everyone was giving him their condolences, while letting him know, at the same time, that they were willing to carry on as usual. That was the important thing – he needed to be seen as capable of taking over Patrick’s role.

He was aware that his hand in Patrick’s death – albeit without any hard proof – was already being accepted as a fact of life. Patrick’s behaviour before his demise had been seen, noted, and, therefore, his untimely death had been judged a necessary evil.