American Dynasty

S I X

Mathias Lauridsen as Aiden ^^^

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"I can't help but feel like you made a deal with the devil," Aiden said quietly as they left the party.

It was only halfway through, but Flynn had gotten what he had come for. He had even gotten something a little extra. Flynn spared a glance over his shoulder and spotted Stella once again in the presence of Dante Costanzo who was telling a story in a lively manner, but Stella's attention was focused on the handsome mobster. He winked at her before turning back and striding confidently out the doors with his associates.

"That's because I did," Flynn replied simply, pursing his lips. "It'll pay off though. I know it will."

Aiden looked uncertain but kept quiet, knowing better than to question Flynn. The two may have been best friends, but Flynn was still the boss and was the one who called the shots, and Aiden's loyalty and trust in his friend's judgement was one of Flynn's favourite things about him.

Brady and Callaghan followed closely behind, both at a loss for words at what they had just witnessed. "I can't believe he actually went for it," Callaghan said in disbelief once they had all piled into Flynn's car.

Flynn glanced at him grimly in the rear view mirror. "We don't know for sure if he went for it. For all we know it was just an act and he's waiting for the right to time to gut us like fish."

"Great, lovely," Brady said sarcastically, staring out the window at the Costanzo house. All high-ranking Mafia members kept the most splendid houses and Giovanni Costanzo was no exception. Flynn slowly drove away from the house, his mind still stuck on the beautiful Stella Biancardi.

She was something else, alright. Her chocolate brown eyes were full of defiance and fire but the slight crinkles at the corners told you that she smiled a lot. She was dainty and petite and Flynn couldn't help but notice when they were dancing how perfectly his arm wrapped around her small waist.

"Flynn." He inhaled sharply when he heard Brady calling his name. "Sorry, what?"

Brady raised an eyebrow quizzically. "What's eating you?" He asked, his bright green eyes filled with concern for his friend.

"It's nothing, I was just lost in thought," Flynn lied through his teeth. It was something that Flynn had become increasingly good at through the years: lying and putting up an act. As a young, orphaned teenager alone in the middle of New York, pretending that he was strong and confident was the only thing keeping him alive. After a while lying to people's faces became a natural and frequent habit of his.

The rest of the car ride was silent, with the occasional clearing of the throat or quiet sighs. None of the men could believe what they had accomplished tonight nor what the future held for them; but all they could do hope that Giuseppe was really on their side. Aiden sat next to Flynn in the front seat, his long, thin face set in an expression of brooding as he stared intently out the window. Flynn glanced at him from time to time, but Aiden didn't move so much as an eyelash for the whole ride.

"You alright, lad?" Flynn asked him quietly.

Aiden titled his head up and slowly turned to look at his friend. "No," he said warily, "I'm worried for you, I'm worried for the gang, and I'm worried for everyone. Do you realize what kind of risk you're taking here, Flynn?"

Flynn sucked in his cheeks and stayed quiet for a minute. "I realize the risk," he said slowly as he pulled up into the driveway of his manor. "But like I always say, great rewards demand greater risks. And the reward I'm looking for is priceless."

Aiden sighed and stared forward out the windshield. "I just hope you know what you're doing and don't get us all killed. I still have to find a nice Irish girl to marry and I can't very well do that from a coffin."

Flynn smiled sincerely at his old friend. "I won't let anything happen to you," he said, meaning every word. "You're like a brother to me Aiden, I don't know what I'd do without you around to keep me grounded."

A smile tugged at the corner of Aiden's mouth. "You probably would have been dead years ago without me, to be completely honest."

Flynn chuckled as he parked the car in his garage. "Indeed, mate. Indeed."

Callaghan and Brady got out of the car but before Flynn could open his door Aiden grabbed his arm to stop him. "I trust you, Flynn, don't misunderstand me. I trust you with my life."

"As do I trust mine with you," Flynn said, not a hint of doubt in his voice.

"But please understand me when I hold doubts about your decisions. You were always the risk-taker, Flynn, and that will be your downfall," Aiden said grimly, his tongue darting out to wet his thin lips.

It took a moment for Flynn to process that his second in command was knocking him down a peg. "You know that I value your advice above all others, but this I something that I need you to completely trust me with. This is going to work, Aiden, and I want us to still be on good terms when it does. So you might do best to support me and offer up your opinion when asked." Flynn's voice was calm but firm.

Aiden pursed his lips and exhaled steadily through his nose. "I understand, Flynn." He stepped out of the car and disappeared into the house, leaving Flynn alone with his thoughts.