Cillian’s right about everything, but I still feel a twist of anger when I think about the f*****g politics of being don.
I’ll have to exercise qualities that I’m not even sure I possess. Diplomacy was never one of my strengths.
“Budimir is an old man now,” I point out.
“Exactly, which means he has decades on you,” Cillian retorts. “Decades building contacts and strengthening alliances. You need your uncle and he’s been working for you this entire time. Don’t insult him by turning to me before you turn to him.”
I nod, unable to deny the wisdom of his words.
“In any case, the Bratva will never accept an Irish outcast into the fray.”
I frown. “They’ve done that for years,” I point out.
“Sure, when I was merely your well-meaning sidekick,” Cillian says, with his trademark smile, though
