4. Cormac
Chapter Four
CORMAC
Brennan groans as he slides into the passenger seat of my car. "I think I'm still drunk. I'm never drinking again."
It's barely eight a.m. on Monday morning. The wedding was two days ago, yet somehow my brother is still in his tux and reeking of alcohol.
But after I called to let him know I picked up a lead on Lorcan, he insisted on joining me.
"You only have yourself to blame. Now buckle up, we're already running late."
Brennan continues to grumble as I head out of Ronan's estate, flashing my lights to thank the guards before speeding through the gates.
He groans. "Fuck, slow down. My stomach feels like a washing machine."
"You better not throw up in my car."
"I'm not making any promises." Brennan winds down the window and sticks his head out like a dog.
I keep my eyes focused on the road, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white.
This is the first lead I've had in weeks, and I don't want to let it slip through my fingers because I have to pull over to stop Brennan from emptying the contents of his stomach all over my leather interior.
Brennan finally sits back in his seat and winds up the window when we reach the highway.
He pulls down the visor and checks his hair in the mirror. "I thought today was your first day at Sullivan Investments?"
"It is."
"So, shouldn't you be headed to the office rather than wherever the hell we're going?"
"We're heading to a clubhouse near the city. I can head straight to the office once we're done." I push my foot down on the accelerator to overtake a cab.
"What about me?"
"What about you?"
"You're just going to abandon me?"
"What you do in your free time is none of my concern."
"You've been spending too much time with Kieran. His bad mood is rubbing off on you. So, what's this lead that's so important you have to wake me up so goddamn early?"
"You chose to come with me."
"Yeah, but that was before I remembered you were a psychopath who only operates under the cover of darkness."
"Lorcan was sighted leaving a clubhouse of a biker gang, so I want to go and talk to the leader and see if he has any information on where Lorcan might have gone."
Brennan laughs. "Somehow, I can't picture Lorcan hanging out with a bunch of men dressed in leather. It's kind of kinky."
"Can you be serious for one second? This is the first lead we've had in weeks."
"What gang is it?"
"Hudson Reapers."
Brennan whistles through his teeth, and I force myself to take a breath rather than reach over and throttle him.
His nonchalant attitude used to be refreshing when he was a kid, but we're men now, with a responsibility not just to each other but to everyone associated with the Sullivan name.
There's no telling who Lorcan will target next, and any blood that is shed is on our hands.
"I suggest you keep your mouth shut and let me do the talking."
"What if I need to vomit?"
"Vomit in your mouth."
"Ew, gross."
"Serves you right."
The clubhouse of the Hudson Reapers sits on the edge of the city among a handful of abandoned lots and rusted train tracks.
A flickering neon sign buzzes overhead, spelling out the gang's name in jagged letters, and half a dozen gleaming motorbikes are lined up out front, letting me know we're in the right place.
I kill the engine. "Remember, let me do the talking."
Gravel crunches under our boots as we head across the lot toward the clubhouse. The air smells like engine oil and cigarettes, and Brennan gags as we reach the entrance.
"Wait in the car if you can't handle this," I hiss under my breath.
"I'm good."
I knew I should have kept this lead to myself rather than involving my brothers, but it's too late to change it now. Lorcan could be halfway across the country by now, and I can't afford to waste any more time.
Inside, the place is dimly lit by a couple of bare bulbs swinging from the ceiling, highlighting the thick film of smoke that fills the air. The interior is just as run-down as the exterior, with a few cracked leather chairs and a scarred pool table making up most of the décor.
As expected, I find Sal Romano, the leader, occupying one of the chairs.
His skin looks like dried leather, and his long gray hair is pulled back in a low ponytail that drapes over his tattooed shoulder. He doesn't bother to stand when we enter, but I catch him giving us both the once-over with his steel-colored eyes.
"Was wondering when one of you would show up."
"Heard my uncle was here," I say by way of greeting.
"He was." Sal picks at the dirt beneath his fingernails with a penknife.
Even with all of the tattoos covering his skin, I can see how heavily scarred his hands are.
"Did he leave in a body bag or..."
Sal grunts as he sets down his penknife on his knee.
"I was tempted, considering he tried to strong-arm us into helping him. I don't take kindly to threats."
That piques my interest.
Why would Lorcan need someone like Sal and a bunch of bikers to help him?
I step closer, keeping my tone calm but firm. "Lorcan is no longer associated with us."
Sal studies me for a long moment, like he's weighing whether I'm bluffing or not.
Brennan stiffens behind me, likely bracing for the fallout, but I hold my ground.
Until now, we've kept Lorcan's betrayal quiet. We thought silence would protect us.
But now I'm wondering if maybe it's better if people know the truth and let Lorcan's actions speak for themselves.
"And I'm just meant to take your word for it?"
"Yes."
Sal huffs a laugh that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "You think very highly of yourself."
"I'm a man of integrity."
"I'll believe it when I see it."
"Did Lorcan give any indication of where he was going?"
Sal's eyes narrow as he regards me.
I shrug. "I'm happy to compensate you for your time."
"I have no interest in money."
"You should," Brennan mutters, looking around the clubhouse.
I shoot him a look before his big mouth ends up getting us both killed.
Then my eyes go back to Sal. "Name your price."
"I'm not interested in anything from you, Sullivan."
I ball my hands into fists.
Maybe it was naive of me to think that I could just throw around some money in the hopes of getting what I need, but then again, I've been out of the game for a while, and it looks like the rules might have changed.
"I don't know where your uncle is. So, don't bother sniffing around here again." Sal picks up his knife.
Once again, I'm hit with a dead end.
I dip my chin before grabbing Brennan and heading out of the clubhouse before Sal decides to use us to send Lorcan a message.
Brennan groans as we climb back in the car. "Well, that was a fucking waste of time."
"What I can't work out is why Lorcan went to Sal for help in the first place."
"Dad used to do deals with Sal back in the day. Maybe Lorcan's hoping that he can get some of Dad's old allies to join sides with him over us."
"Maybe..."
"Might be worth finding out who else owes our dad a favor and calling it in."
It's not a terrible idea. Any favors that were owed to our father are automatically handed down to Ronan now that he is the acting head of the family. But perhaps Lorcan is hoping to get in there first to try and steal our allies out from under us.
It could serve as a trail, and if we follow it carefully, we can use it to our advantage.
"I agree. Let's look into it and gather a list, ASAP."
"Can it wait until after breakfast? I'm starving."
"You can't be serious. You were on the verge of throwing up less than twenty minutes ago."
"Nah, the nausea's passed. Now I need fuel."
I have a little time to kill before my first meeting, and while I prefer to spend my free time in solitude, I am trying to restore my relationships with my brothers now that I'm back as an active member of the family. "Fine. But you're paying."
I pull up outside a small, independent café located near Sullivan Investments that looks like it might serve halfway decent coffee. "Go ahead and get us a table. I need to make a call."
Brennan gives me a mock salute before climbing out of the car.
I wait until he's disappeared inside the café before pulling out my phone and calling Scout.
"Daddy," my son yells down the phone the second it connects.
The sound of his voice makes my heart instantly swell and crack at the same time.
Being away from him is killing me, but I have to remind myself that I'm keeping him in LA for a reason, and I can't risk his safety just because I can't get a handle on myself.
"How's my favorite guy?"
"Ray's making me pancakes for breakfast."
"Oh, yeah? I hope he's giving you extra whipped cream."
"And chocolate sauce!"
I swallow a laugh. "Make sure you're eating your vegetables too, okay?"
Scout huffs. "Okay. I asked Ray to put chocolate sauce on them because they taste gross, but he said no."
"You can't have chocolate sauce on everything, bud."
"Why not?"
"Because your teeth will fall out."
"But then the tooth fairy will come and visit and give me fifty bucks!"
I choke on a breath. "Did you say fifty bucks?"
I make a mental note to call Ray and remind him that I don't want my son to turn into a sugar-obsessed hustler.
"Yep! When are you coming to see me?"
"Soon, buddy."
"But I miss you."
It's amazing how those three words have the ability to reach into my chest and rip out my heart.
"I miss you too. So much. But I have some more work to do before I can come and see you."
"Is it important?"
"It's very important. I wouldn't leave you if it wasn't. Look, I have to go, but be good for Ray, okay? I love you very much."
"I love you too, Daddy."
The line goes dead, and I exhale, leaning back in my seat.
Saying goodbye to Scout never gets easier. If anything, the older he gets, the harder it's been because he will remember every time I had to say goodbye.
Pocketing my phone, I climb out of the car and head inside the café. I find Brennan sitting at a small table in the corner, chatting with one of the waitresses.
As I approach, she glances at me and offers me a wide smile, but at the look on my face, she quickly scurries away.
"You fill Kieran in?"
I frown.
"That's who you were calling, right?"
"Yeah," I grunt, taking the seat across from him.
"And?"
"And what?"
"What does he think of our plan?"
"He agrees," I lie, picking up my menu.
I'm not in the least bit hungry, but I need something to do with my hands.
"It seems all of those years in LA haven't turned you into a morning person."
I say nothing as I pretend to read the dozens of breakfast options.
There's an entire page just dedicated to different types of pancakes, which makes me think of Scout.
I should be the one making him breakfast and fighting with him over how many chocolate chips to add to the batter. Instead, I'm on the other side of the country, chasing endless dead ends just to try and keep him safe.
"Something wrong?"
"Huh?" I glance up to find Brennan frowning at me.
"You seem distracted."
"Do I?"
"Don't worry about Lorcan. We'll catch up to him."
"I know."
"Then what is it?"
Thankfully, a perky-looking waitress appears, which instantly distracts Brennan from his line of questioning.
"What can I get you?" She offers him a toothy smile.
Brennan leans back in his chair and lets his eyes rake over her. "Can you tell me what's good?"
I fight the urge to kick him under the table, but from the way the girl's cheeks turn crimson, it seems she's enjoying the attention.
"The waffles with bacon are my personal favorite."
"Is it, now? Then in that case, I'll have the waffles with extrabacon."
Her eyes turn to me. "And for you?"
"Just an Americano."
Brennan laughs. "My brother, the cheap date."
Once the waitress leaves, Brennan closes his menu and leans forward, resting his elbows on the checked tablecloth.
"So, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"
I could easily lie, but for some reason, I don't want to. I'm exhausted, not just physically but emotionally. Every spare moment I have is spent ruminating over Scout and whether I've made the right choices. And it always comes back to me feeling like the worst parent in the world.
I would never admit it to Ronan or Kieran, for that matter, but having them know the truth has lifted some of the weight off my shoulders. Not enough for me to feel like I can take a full breath, but knowing that I can come to them if I need to has helped.
I look up and meet Brennan's eyes.
It was never my plan to tell him about Scout, but I guess he's going to find out eventually, now that both Kieran and Ronan know, and it feels wrong to keep him in the dark. So, I might as well come clean before I get caught up in too many lies.
"I have a son."
Brennan stares at me for a moment, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
I wait for him to say something, anything, but he doesn't.
"Did you hear what I said?"
"You have a son."
"Yes."
"As, like, a human child?"
"Yes."
Brennan stares at me as if I've just sprouted another head, until he throws his head back and lets out a laugh so loud that every head in the café turns in our direction.
"Keep your voice down," I hiss.
"You're joking." He laughs, but when I fail to crack a smile, his grin instantly drops. "You're being serious."
"Deadly."
Brennan lets out a breath and leans back in his chair.
For a moment, I think I may have actually made my brother speechless, which I'm pretty sure hasn't happened since he found out Santa Claus wasn't real.
"Jeez, this is...weird. I mean, I didn't realize my brothers were on such a mission to procreate. Is this why you've been disappearing for weeks on end?"
"Yeah. Sorry about that."
Brennan shrugs. "It's no big deal. At least you had a good reason for acting like a fuckwit all these years."
I let the insult slide because I can admit I've been a pretty shit brother, not just to Brennan but to Kieran and Ronan too. Maybe letting them know about Scout will help bridge the distance that's grown between us over the last few years.
"Is there anything I can do? Because I've got the cool uncle thing down. Kids just seem to love me."
"Everyone seems to love you. You got that from Mom."
"Well, I definitely didn't get it from Dad."
I huff a laugh. "No, you didn't. He could be a miserable bastard sometimes."
"Just like Ronan."
"True."
"Well, like I said, I'm here if you need anything."
The fact that I know he's being sincere means a lot.
"I appreciate that."
"So, want to bet on if I can get that waitress to go out with me tonight?"
And just like that, the conversation moves on, and I sit, listening to Brennan drone on about God knows what because I'm only half-listening as my thoughts drift from Scout to Lorcan and back again.
At some point, Lorcan is going to run out of places to hide. And when he does, I have to make sure I'm there, ready and waiting to take him down.