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Eric rose fro the Italians’ feet to their chairs

I got up too, once I’d secured their hands behind their backs

“I gotta go check in with Colm and Mikey,” Eric said and stalked out of the office

That reminded me I removed my earpiece I’d put it on mute anyway

“Hey” Finn took a step closer to ? Did so happen?”

I chuckled humorlessly and pulled out my smokes “Yeah, you can say that” I didn’t say another word until I’d lit one up and taken a long drag I caught the two greaseballs watching h to know they weren’t getting out of here Like the guys Colm had spotted, these teren’t new in the field either They looked like typical maderings Midthirties, I guessed

“We gotta retire Old Phil,” I stated

Finn straightened a bit “I’”

I took another drag “He’s supposed to run Snyder and everything south of Whitman, and that includes the docks and the shipyard—except for your properties But hoell is that working if we’re flushing out five ht? And you know it ain’t the first tiodda if Lucas had co nothing He’s greener than Max”

And now Lucas had killed a man

“I hear you” Finn nodded slowly and lit up his own smoke “It’s not like we haven’t discussed it in the past”

Exactly We only had two old-timers left Well, three if we counted Shan… But the other tere actually old Old Phil was over seventy, and he had nine or ten kids Plenty of options for a successor if he didn’t want someone I chose The other crew bosses had taken the opportunity to retire when Finn rose to take the top seat, andbetter under the leadership of the old-timers’ sons

“Last I heard, he lost Snyder,” Finn said “Strip ht?”

I nodded once “To that son”

Finn sucked his teeth “Whoever we choose as Phil’s successor better put those annoying motherfuckers in their place”

“That’s what I’ot their own turf”

We whipped our heads toward the door e heard so from the main warehouse, so we headed out there to see what the commotion was about Perhaps Colm had returned with—