The problem with him was, Colm believed the Irish Mob was getting stale. He believed we needed to adapt to a more modern world, and he scorned many of our traditions. The Right People may have been thieves and murderers and scoundrels, but we had a code of honor that kept us from killing everyone around us. Mainly because of that, the police turned a blind eye to some of our smaller crimes, and the peace was maintained that way. Michael had been a bit more liberal than other bosses in terms of change, but Colm was practically a radical. He wanted to be rid of the honor code completely, and he wanted to remake the Mob into his own image of what a modern gang should look like.
I hated him. But I also helped him become boss.
“How are things, Colm?”
“Oh, well as can be expected. How’s the little brother?”
“He’s pretty good, thanks.”
“And your place?”
“Still turning a profit, actually.”
“That’s always nice to hear.”
“So what can I do for you, Colm?”
“Well, let’s not get into business over the phone. I’m on my way to see you.”
I blinked. Colm hadn’t visited my territory since he had become boss. Really, he had no reason to. Everything ran smoothly, and I kept my head down. If he was coming out to my place personally, that meant something big was going down.
Times were changing. I knew it was going to be a shit day.
“Looking forward to it,” I said.
“See you in twenty.”
He hung up, and I held the phone out to Colin.
“What’s happening?” he asked me, and I heard the fear in this voice.
“Boss is coming here. Go have Luis make some food.”
He nodded and walked fast into the kitchen.
I turned back to my meal, sipping my coffee and eating my eggs. I should have expected something, and I felt like an ass for not seeing it coming. In all my time with the Mob, I had never been asked to put a hit out, and I had never been tested. But suddenly, I’m taking care of some tweaker scumbag, with zero explanation.
Something big was coming. I could feel it.
––––––––
“They’re here,” Colin said, peeking out the front window.
I gave him a look. “Sit down, you ass.”
He shrugged and returned to his seat. “It’s Colm with some muscle I’ve never seen.”
I nodded and turned back to my drink. “Go do your runs, Colin.”
“Why? I should be here for this.”
I gave him a look and didn’t answer.
“Fine. Call if you need me.”
He stood and walked into the kitchen, probably heading out the back. I watched him go, frowning. I knew he’d be a problem, but he was already starting to second-guess my orders. I’d have to take care of that sooner than I expected.
As I looked back, the front door pushed open and Max walked in, followed closely by Dean. He nodded to me and I nodded back as they moved into the space. Dean was a bit shorter than Max, though by no means a small man. He had a long scar down his cheek, and the rumor was that he got it knife fighting his first kill back when he was a teenager.
Colm Brennan came in last. He was about my height, though a bit thinner, with dark hair slicked back along his skull, piercing blue eyes, crooked teeth, and a wicked grin. He flashed it at me as he entered, spreading his arms out.
“Liam, how’s my favorite boss doing?”
I stood and greeted him, returning his hug.
“I’m fine Colm, though your visit has me worried.”
He stood back, still grinning. “Nothing to be worried about.”
I gestured at a nearby table, and we took our seats across from each other.
“Can I get you anything? Food, drink, whatever?” I asked him.
“I’m fine, thanks.” He looked back at Max and Dean. “Boys, go check out the kitchen. Get something to eat if you want.”
They nodded and walked into the back room, pushing open the kitchen door. I was suddenly alone with the most powerful and dangerous man in the entire city, and I had to admit that I was feeling nervous.
“So, what can I do for you, Colm?” I asked.
“Getting down to business already?” he said softly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.
“Won’t pretend like you visiting in person isn’t strange.”
He nodded. “We have a problem, Liam.”
There was a short pause as he stared at me, and I returned his gaze. With a man like Colm, no matter how on edge he seemed, you couldn’t show too much weakness. Deference and respect were necessary, but weakness was something else entirely. You needed to be able to show you followed his lead, but you could handle whatever he asked of you, no matter what.