Page 81 of Irish Vice

“Madden and Fiona made collections?” I can’t afford to make any more mistakes.

“This morning,” she says.

“What time?”

“Seven o’clock, maybe? Eight? Early enough that I was still asleep when they came pounding on the door.”

I mutter under my breath in Irish.

Mimi whines: “Madden said you had him on the milk run today. And since you came around with that girl before… How was I supposed to know?”

Their plan is genius. First, they steal my money. Then, they steal my time, because I’ll have to finish the whole run now, tell every eejit who owes me an envelope that he puts it in my hand from this day forward. I don’t trust anyone else.

Maybe Madden did it to impress Fiona. Maybe she put him up to it, pushing him to fight for her honor. In the end, I can’t worry about why and wherefore. I just need to get things back on track.

I start with Mimi. “From here on out, envelopes only go to me.”

She nods. And when she realizes I’m not going to make her pay for Madden’s lying, cheating soul, she offers me a tilt of the head and a sly suggestion. “Sure you don’t want one of the girls? On the house. Take the edge off. Make it worth your while, coming down here in the first place.”

I don’t want a roll with one of Mimi’s whores. I never have. My own right hand is faster and doesn’t come with complications from a girl who dreams about life with the Fishtown Boys.

But even if I did lean toward taking a taste, I don’t have time today. I have to check out the rest of the milk run.

Within an hour, it’s obvious that Madden’s cleared me out. The bars, the after-hours clubs, the day-to-day protection… He and Fiona stopped by every one.

I take out my phone after I leave Mikey’s gambling joint.Madden doesn’t answer, but I’m not surprised. I figured the feckin’ coward wouldn’t have the bollocks. “I assume you and Ingram’s girl are doing me a favor,deartháir,” I tell him. “Making the milk run so I can concentrate on what’s important for the Boys. If those envelopes aren’t on my desk by midnight, there’ll be hell to pay.”

I almost hope he’ll miss my deadline, so I can give him all that’s due.

33

BRAIDEN

Sitting in my home office, I sip my third Jameson of the night and stare at the document I never should have needed. Just dropped off by courier, it has a fancy border, heavy black letters, and three separate signatures. A heavy red stamp covers it all.

Annulled.

My marriage to Birte is over.

When the envelope arrived, my first thought was to show it to Samantha. I wanted her to know I’ve finally done something right. I’ve settled the old debt. Too little, perhaps. Too late. But Birte is finally free.

Of course, Samantha isn’t here. She’ll never be here again.

I could call Ingram. Wake the old bastard. Thank him for getting me to do one good thing. But then I’ll have to duck his kill order, yet again.

I pinch my lip. At least Seamus should be happy. The booksare, indeed, closed on “that matter.” I won’t spend another penny buying off half the Catholic church in Ireland.

This paper has cost me millions. It’s worth it. But I’m desperate for a change in cash flow.

I drink my whiskey. Midnight comes. Midnight goes. There’s not a word from Madden.

I’ve tried to give my brother the benefit of the doubt. He’s sulking because I broke his jaw. He’s cunt-drunk on Fiona Ingram. He wants to impress Kieran Ingram, wants to make a name for himself with the General.

But now I can’t deny the truth: Madden stole the milk run. After years of chafing under my authority, my brother has finally lashed out in a way I can’t ignore.

Part of me wants to strike back, hard and fast. Call Patrick and tell him to bring Madden in—walking, if the gobshite has any sense of self-preservation. Carried in, if the eejit puts up a fight. I don’t care what it takes—a bullet to his kneecap, a baseball bat to the head. Knock him out, tie him up, take a finger or two. Just let the fucker know I won’t put up with his shite.

I sit back in my chair and pour another whiskey. The annulment stares at me—a stark reminder thatsomemistakes can be undone. But not this. Not with Madden. There’s no going back if I send Patrick to fetch him.