Michael was genuinely furious now. Patrick wanted him to show his real feelings, knowing that he needed to vent his anger. This was personal. Rob Barber had come looking for him. He had invaded his personal space. Michael was the new kid on the block, and people like Rob saw that as an invitation, a chance to enhance their own reputation at the expense of someone else. Rob Barber would never have fought him one-to-one; Michael knew that his reputation as a fighter would have put paid to that. No, Rob Barber would need a knife or a gun, a posse of people around him. He was a coward.

‘I want him all right, Patrick, of course I fucking do! But I know enough to keep my private opinions to myself, and I have enough self-control to make sure that I don’t cause trouble for anyone else. If I had gone after him, you both know that I would have nigh on fucking killed him.’

Patrick Costello started laughing, and Declan, swallowing his drink in one gulp, joined in.

Michael Flynn stood there as the Costello brothers roared with laughter and, despite himself, he started to laugh as well.

Patrick wiped his eyes on his coat sleeve. ‘You are so like me, Michael. Always thinking of the big picture. You try and work out what might happen if you were to let your natural instincts run riot. I know exactly what it’s like.’ He was tapping a finger into his temple now, his face screwed up with seriousness. ‘I knew as a kid that I had too much anger inside me, that I had to learn how to contain it. As young as I was, I had the ability to kill someone when the anger took over. You are the only person I have ever met who has the same affliction, Michael. And, like me, you have learnt to control it.’

Michael recognised the truth of the man’s words. He could see Declan watching them both, fascinated as he listened to his brother explain himself as if it was the first time he had ever really understood him. The discomfort that Patrick’s words had created was evident.

Patrick sighed heavily, as though he was tired out from all the talking. ‘You can have Rob, Michael. Declan, you can finally finish off that ponce Dicky. And, as for Jonny Barber, I have wanted to take that ponce out for years. Now we have no other option. Rob has seen to that, the useless fucker.’

Michael smiled. His smile was so endearing. No one looking at it could ever have believed that it could hide so much hate and so much anger.

Patrick poured them each another drink and raised his glass in a toast. ‘We need to plan this well. Do it quickly and quietly.’

Michael nodded. ‘I agree. We need to let things calm down. Take them unawares.’