The moment the door to my office closes, Lorcan turns to face me with his brows raised.
"Things feel tense around here.”
“It’s been a stressful time. Tension just comes with the territory.”
From the way my uncle's eyes darken, he doesn’t buy my nonchalant attitude.
“I’ve been hearing things, Ronan. Unsettling things.”
My jaw clenches. “From whom?”
Lorcan doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he takes a seat in one of the armchairs and crosses an ankle over a knee as he surveys the room.
“Who is talking, Uncle?”
“A few sources of mine are wondering if you’re in over your head.”
I frown, folding my arms over my chest. “I don’t follow.”
“People are questioning whether you’re up for running such a large crime network and that perhaps taking over the family business was too much, too soon.”
My heartbeat thrums in my ears as Lorcan’s words hang in the air. “Is that what you think?”
“I support you without question. But something is clearly going on around here.”
I sigh, dragging a hand through my tousled hair.
Compared to Lorcan’s immaculate appearance, my bare upper body, crumpled slacks, and bed hair aren’t exactly painting a solid picture of my capabilities.
Lorcan looks me up and down. “Do you want to talk about it?”
For a second, I consider brushing him off, but something in his expression stops me.
He’s here because he wants to help, so I decide it’s time to tell him the truth. If nothing else, his perspective on the situation might prove useful. After all, he’s been in this business a lot longer than I or any of my brothers have.
I sink down into the chair across from him and fill him in on our mystery enemy who is trying to tear our empire apart.
Lorcan is silent as he listens, his thick arms crossed over his chest and his head tilted to the side.
When I finally finish, he lets out a long exhale.
“You need to handle this now before it spirals.”
“I’ve not exactly been sitting on my ass.”
“They think you have, and right now that’s what matters.”
I bristle.
“Look, son. You can’t afford to sit back and react. You need to be proactive. Show them you’re still in control.”
“I’m trying.”
“Then try harder.”
His words feel like a slap in the face, but maybe that’s exactly what I need.
I might think I’ve been working hard, but there will always be someone out there working harder than you. I need to get my head back in the game and make sure I come out on top, which means calling a strategy session with my brothers.
