Page 38 of Honorable Sins

"According to the paperwork we filed, she moved into her own place twelve years ago. That’s when she took out a lease on an apartment in Dublin."

"When did you find out about it?"

"The same time I learned that she was cheating. Two years ago."

To be deceived like that for so long has to stick in my brother’s craw. "Feckin’ sleazer."

"You’ll hear no argument from me, but try not to say shite like that in front of Eoghan. She’s still his mam."

And my brother loves his boys. Which might explain why he opted for divorce over death for his faithless wife. It sure as bleedin’ hell would have been easier on him to kill her and make it look like an accident.

"Course not." Kara would be upset.

I don’t upset my wife.

We discuss details that don’t matter to me but I know Kara will ask about.

"You’re going to encourage my son to keep drawing, aren’t you?" Adam asks.

I can’t tell if the idea annoys him, or not.

"Aye."

"When Eoghan told me he wished I was more like you, he said you weren’t afraid of looking weak because you know you aren’t."

I don’t say anything. I wouldn’t like hearing that from my son. Or one of the girls.

Because the implication is that Adam is weak.

"He knows about Margot’s affairs."

"How?"

"Caught her out. He asked me if all mob marriage were like that. I told him no. That cheating is breaking a vow and we don’t break our vows."

But once she’d broken hers, my brother no longer considered himself bound by his own. We have that in common.

"He didn’t understand me staying married to his mam after that."

"You didn’t tell him da refused your petition for divorce."

"Nah. Me listening to him was on me, but I think there’s more than one reason my son thinks my sociopath of a brother is a stronger man than his own da."

"Fix it."

"I’m working on it."

"Kara says a leader in our world has to hold on to part of his humanity or he’s a danger to the mob and its allies. Making mistakes is human."

"Not according to da. To him, making mistakes is weak."

"He thinks Eoghan’s art makes him weak too. He’s wrong."

"Aye." My brother sighs. "I guess I was wrong about that too. Eoghan has what it takes to be the boss one day."

"He does." Eoghan has a ruthless streak his father can’t see for the drawing.

"Thanks, Mick."