Page 5 of Honorable Sins

"But we're related." And if I'm reading my son right, he's not thrilled about that.

"Is he the one saying stuff about why I married your mam?" Little bastard.

Fitz looks up again, eyes the same green as mine burning with anger. "Yes."

"Contract marriages are common among the children of syndicate leaders." Both inside and outside the mob.

My son knows this. One day, Fitz will probably have an alliance marriage too.

"I know." Fitz gives me an earnest look. "But you love mom, right?"

"Aye. More than me own life. She is the heart beating in my chest, mo mhac. The only people as important to me are you, your brother and your sisters."

"I remember when I was little…" He pauses and grimaces. "I used to think mom wasn't as important to you as me."

"You know differently now though."

He nods but his green gaze so like my own is still troubled. "Kenny Jr. says that it's not fair for you to become boss. He thinks his da should take over from grandda because he has Shaughnessy blood."

So that's who has been speaking out of turn at home. The boy's father, Kenneth Shaughnessy Sr., is Brogan's second cousin and a lieutenant on his crew.

Brogan promoted him because he's family and he trusts him, but the two men who turned out to be rats several years ago were on Kenneth's team. He took the punishment for that like a leader should though.

But to question my right to lead is to question my son's right to be boss one day. And I will not let that stand.

"What do you think?" I ask Fitz.

"No one could be as strong of a boss as you, da," my son replies fiercely.

"Aye. And do you know why?"

"Because you're disciplined and not afraid to do what needs doing?" Fitz asks, like my question is part of his training.

But I shake my head. "Na. It's because I would burn down New York to keep your mam and you chislers safe."

And I'll kill anyone who tries to get in the way of my doing that.

"We're more important to you than the rest of the mob." Fitz stands straighter. "We're the family that counts."

"Aye. Before I met your mam, I protected my family and mob out of duty. But love is a fierce emotion boyo, and it'll drive a man harder than duty ever could." Something I only learned after Kara threatened to divorce me.

Not that my chislers will ever know about that either.

"I don't like Kenny Jr. even though he's family," Fitz admits.

"Nothing says you have to like family."

"That's not what grandda says."

"You know your grandda and I don't agree on everything."

Fitz nods. "I love grandda, but I'm glad you're not like him. Uncle Brice says you're more ruthless. Is that because you don't feel emotions like other people?"

"Aye." Brogan can be plenty ruthless, but my father-in-law is hindered by feelings I don't have for anyone but my wife and children.

I won't feel a moment of guilt or regret if I have to kill Kenneth Sr. that's for feckin' sure.

"Kenny Jr. says you don't feel emotions at all, but that's not true." Fitz watches me, waiting for my response.