"Sounds like a gem,” I say.
"He recruited most of the informant network that's feeding the current federal case against us. He knows names. Details.”
I whistle low. "And let me guess—he wants to make a deal."
"He's willing to give us everything he knows." Ronan shifts in his chair. "It would give us ammo to effectively gut their case."
"That's..." I pause. "That's huge."
"It is," Cillian agrees.
"He wants something in return.” Declan’s voice is monotone, but I catch the edge underneath.
“How much?”
Cillian glances at Declan, then Ronan. Some silent communication passes between them—the kind that comes from years of running things together, making the decisions that matter.
“We’re not talking dollars.” Cillian's nose wrinkles slightly, like the words he’s about to say smell bad. "He has a daughter. He wants her to marry an O’Rourke. That's his price. His daughter's hand, and we get to cover our asses.”
Marry an O’Rourke. My jaw drops now, because my brothers, the only other O’Rourkes, are already married.
“Don’t suppose any of you three will be getting a divorce any time soon?” I joke.
No one laughs.
The room goes very still as Cillian’s eyes lock with mine. "This isn't an order, Lorcan. It's a choice."
We all know it's not. Not really.
I think about Ma's parade of "suitable matches" over the years. A Senator's daughter, a real estate heiress, daughter of a North Shore investment banker—all with the right last names and the right pedigrees.
I’ve always wanted a family—the kind my brothers are building with their wives. Someday.
I just didn't think it would start like this.
"What's her name?" I ask.
"Maeve." Ronan sits up straighter. "Maeve Shaughnessy. She’s nineteen."
Nineteen. Christ.
Cillian's expression doesn't change. "We don't know much about her except she's clean—no record.”
The silence settles again. Heavier this time.
They're waiting for my answer.
According to Cillain, I could say no.
I won’t.
“Yeah.” I shrug. “I’ll do it.”
Declan unfolds his arms. "You sure?"
I know what he's really asking:do you understand what you're getting into?
No. Not really. But I know what I am to this family—the youngest brother who’s never taken seriously. While the three of them operate an entire criminal organization, I’m tasked with running the family pub. It’s about time for me to contribute to the business in a way that matters. It’s about time I’masked.
