“As far as I’m concerned, you’re the new boss.”
He nodded. “I am the new boss. I’ve worked it out with the others.”
“The Mob is in good hands.”
“It is, more or less.”
That gave me pause. “What do you mean, more or less?”
“Liam, I need a second. And I want you to be that man.”
I gaped at him. Being the second to the Mob’s boss was a huge deal.
“Don’t you have your own guys?”
He shrugged. “I do, but tonight was a test. I sent you out there to see if you were the kind of man I would trust. There are men of my own, but none of them show your promise or your talents. We need someone like you to help lead things. And hopefully, one day far, far in the future, there won’t be any issues of succession.”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. The fucking asshole. He just had to dangle that in front of me. Becoming second would mean money and power and more. It would also mean more violence and more responsibility. Worse, he was hinting that one day I would become boss. I shook my head, almost angry that he was trying to do that to me.
I could easily imagine myself accepting, and I knew that I would be good at it. I’d make a fantastic fucking second, and an even better boss. I knew the business, knew the rules, knew the people. I was born to run everything. I was practically raised into it. The city was basically mine already.
And if it weren’t for her, I would have grown into my kingdom. I would have become the violent mobster I had always wanted to be.
“I can’t do it.”
He blinked, clearly surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Tonight was my last job.”
His eyes narrowed and he sipped his drink. “So you want out, then.”
I nodded, meeting his gaze.
“This really surprises me, Liam. But I guess I can’t say that I blame you.”
I stared at him and nodded my response, afraid of what he’d say next.
There was a tense moment, and he sighed. “Fine. I can’t exactly keep you around if you don’t want to stay. Normally, one of the Right People can’t walk away so easily, but this is a special case.”
Relief flooded through me. “Thank you, sir.”
He frowned. “This really disappoints me. You would make a great second. Maybe even a great boss, when I’m gone.”
“Thank you,” I said. “But you should raise Colin up to second, sir.”
He nodded. “He’s on the list.”
I stood. “Thanks for the drink.”
“So that’s it, you’re done?”
“That’s it.”
He stood up, eyeing me. He reached out his hand and I took it, shaking. His grip was firm and strong as he met my eyes.
“I wish you good luck, son. You’re a good man. You’ll need it out there in this fucked up shit hole of a world.”
“Thanks, sir.”
I turned to go, but before I got to the door, I remembered something. I turned back and looked at O’Brian.
“Actually, there’s one more thing I want to ask of you, before I go.”
He sighed. “What is it?”
“My friend, Leary. Make him a Right Person.”
“I know that boy. He’s a junkie.”
“He’s getting clean. And he saved my life more than once. I owe him.”
O’Brian sighed. “I’ll think about it. Now get out of here and never come back.”
I nodded. “I can do that.”
I pushed out of his office and walked out into the main bar area. The place was filling up with more men, everyone drinking to excess, singing songs and making jokes. They had just put their lives on the line and maybe even killed for their boss, and they needed to unwind. Some came down with drink, others with laughter, but each man needed a way to work himself away from what had just happened.
I felt like I was a million miles away from it all. I was practically floating, the memory of her body and her taste flooding through me. I could barely wait to get back, to tell her what had happened. I made a direct line for the front door, but someone grabbed my arm.
“Liam,” Colin said.
I looked at him. “Good job tonight.”
He let me go.
“Yeah, you too. Stay and have a drink, man.”
“I can’t.”
He frowned. “Where are you going?”
“You know where I’m going.”
He sighed. There was a short pause as he studied me. When he was my second, he was a good worker, and smart. Though I didn’t trust him, I had to admit that he had the skills and the talent to make a great boss one day. He was perceptive beyond his years. And a damn good liar.
“Is she worth it?” he asked.
I didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, she really is.”