Page 87 of Sins of Innocence

That's about making our lives better, not just safe.

Kieran might be part of a criminal organization. He might break the law and even kill people. He definitely threatened to kill Kenneth, so his Wraith days aren't in the past, but for all that…he's a good man.

A man I could fall for. Which might just be scarier than being stuck in the underboss's crosshairs.

Chapter seventeen

That's Lieutenant Mobster to You

WRAITH

Igive instructions to Dagda to contact the parents involved while I'm in a meeting with Mick and his lieutenants.

That meeting blows my mind. Not only will the Boss of the Shaughnessy mob, Brogan, be stepping down in the fall, but he's removing the rank of lieutenant from his cousin now.

Mick suggested me for the promotion and the mob boss agreed to my taking over Kenneth's position.

Me.

I'm fucking flummoxed and honored, by Mick's faith in me and Brogan's willingness to promote me.

My crew and I will be taking over his businesses and mob activities, while purging the ranks of the bad actors on what used to be Kenneth's crew.

My gut tells me there's going to be more than any of us are going to be happy about. Kenneth Shaughnessy is a cancer that's been spreading through the body of the mob for years and none of us knew it.

Fucking traitorous asshole.

He's all about the power and the money, not the brotherhood he has the privilege of being a part of. The Shaughnessy Mob doesn't operate like other syndicates. At least not the ones I've been exposed to. They expect their people to have integrity, even if they are routinely breaking the law.

They don't see the rank and file as cannon fodder, but as family. Not always close, but always important.

How the fuck he wants to screw that up is beyond me. I've worked for people that would have cheerfully left me rotting in a pit in enemy territory despite all their rhetoric about loyalty and honor.

Mick doesn't preach it. He lives it.

I've met plenty sociopaths in my life. There are a hell of a lot more of them living in society and passing off as normal than anyone wants to admit. He's the only one who never uses his lack of emotions or regret as an excuse to betray the people who rely on him.

His wife and kids come before the mob for him, but that just means he wants the mob to be stronger so Kara and the children can be protected.

I understand that now.

This promotion puts a bigger wall between Áine, the girls and her mom and danger. Mick says you protect best from a position of strength.

And I'm a lot more like my boss than Áine ever wants to know. The stronger my position, the safer she and our family are.

After the congratulations are done and Mick and Kara have stood side-by-side promising a better and stronger mob for all our futures, everyone starts filing out.

When only Mick, Kara and Fiona are left, he says, "Brogan told Kenneth about his retirement and admitted his cousin's been talking shite about me taking over as boss one day since we made the agreement over Fitz."

That explains a lot. "Did he tell you who else Kenneth had been spouting his garbage to?"

"He didn't know. Thought his lieutenant was just letting off steam when he'd had one too many."

"Sometimes, da refuses to see what's right in front of his face," Fiona says with a sigh.

Mick inclines his head in agreement.

Kara frowns and nods. "Like that you needed therapy after seeing your uncle shot and killed in front of you and being shot yourself."