Michael was silent for a long while as he digested what he had been told. He had half expected something like this, but he had also wondered if, now that Patrick was out of the frame, Declan might want to be more involved in the real money side of everything. Michael knew that Patrick loved his brother, but didn’t exactly consider him as an equal, as someone to respect. Now he saw that Declan was genuinely happy to leave him to it, he was quite happy to do just that. In fact, this suited him down to the ground.

‘If that’s what you want, Declan. I just wanted you to know that the offer was there.’

Declan grinned. ‘I know that, mate, but I am fine as I am. You know something? You’re much more like Patrick than you admit. You have the same drive that he had. I never had that myself. I’m easily contented, happy with what I’ve got.’

Michael knew Declan was speaking the truth. He admired his honesty, but another part of him abhorred the man for his weakness. He had just offered him an in to a world of real money, of real power, and he had refused it point blank. Well, Michael had done what he felt was the right thing, and now he had no option but to carry on by himself.

‘I just felt that I should give you the opportunity, that’s all, Declan. If you’re happy for me to carry on as before, then that’s what I’ll do.’

Declan shrugged nonchalantly. ‘That suits me, Michael.’

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Five

Josephine was listening to her mother with half an ear. She was already regretting inviting her round. Her mum resented her life with Michael, and that bothered her more than she liked to admit.

‘. . . That is what everyone thinks, anyway.’ Lana was watching her daughter warily. She had expected a reaction to her words, but it seemed that her Josephine was either unwilling to say anything, or she hadn’t been listening. ‘Have you bothered to listen to a word I’ve said?’

Josephine snapped back to reality as she heard the anger in her mother’s voice. ‘I’m sorry, Mum, I was miles away. What are you on about this time?’

Lana sighed in annoyance. ‘I was just saying that people are talking about Patrick Costello’s death. No one thinks it was really a mugging.’