2. Cormac
Chapter Two
CORMAC
"I guess I have some explaining to do."
"Yeah, no shit." Kieran's eyes are narrow slits.
We might be standing in the middle of a marquee that looks like a snowman threw up on it, surrounded by wedding guests in various states of intoxication, but from the look on my brother's face, I know that won't be enough to get him to drop the subject of my secret love child.
But I only have myself to blame. I was the one stupid enough to leave my phone lying around with a background picture that would spark some curiosity, so it looks like we're going to have this conversation whether I want to or not.
I force myself to take a breath and look my brother in the eye, trying to ignore the panic clawing at my insides as the words sit heavy on my tongue.
"I...have a son."
For a beat, Kieran says nothing. But I can see in his eyes that he's weighing the pros and cons of beating the shit out of me in front of his entire wedding party. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to have this conversation here after all.
"I gathered that." He folds his arms over his chest.
"He's back in LA, which is why I disappear for days at a time. I go and visit him as often as I can."
Kieran glowers at me, but I stay silent.
I knew I was going to have to tell him at some point, but having Scout be public knowledge, even if it is just among my family, puts me on edge.
My main priority is to keep him safe, and the best way I know how to do that is to keep him a secret.
Kieran stalks past me in the opposite direction to the bar. "I'm going to need something stronger than champagne for this. Let's go."
I don't ask any questions. I simply follow behind him in silence as I try to work out how much I can get away with not telling Kieran.
He might be my brother, but when it comes to my son, blood means nothing.
Especially considering the shit that has gone down with our uncle over the past few months.
He was in our inner circle, the closest we have to a father figure now that our own was murdered, and yet that wasn't enough to stop him from screwing us over right under our noses.
So, I won't apologize for being paranoid.
As we pass the packed dance floor, where it seems my youngest brother Brennan is trying his hardest to impress one of Riley's friends with some kind of interpretive dance, Riley steps into our path.
"Where are you going?" Riley places her hands on her hips as she glances between the two of us.
"To find some decent whiskey. We'll be back soon," Kieran answers without hesitation before bending down to press a quick kiss to his wife's cheek.
I look away, feeling like an outsider witnessing even the brief moment of affection.
Thankfully, Ronan's wife, Ciara, chooses that moment to appear, holding Nico, and Riley's attention immediately diverts to our nephew.
"Someone was missing his auntie." Ciara hands over her five-month-old son.
Riley laughs. "Are you sure someone didn't just need an excuse to go and pee by yourself?"
"Don't tempt me with a good time."
With Riley distracted by the squirming baby in her arms, Kieran and I duck out of the party and head inside the house.
Ciara has redecorated it so much over the last couple of years that it barely resembles the house I grew up in, but that's probably not a bad thing.
I know my brothers have fond memories of sitting around the dinner table, listening to our father spout on about the family legacy and the role each of us would play, but I don't see it that way.
Then again, I was never my father's favorite like Ronan or the golden child like Brennan.
I was the black sheep. Always have been and always will be.
Every time I set foot in this house, it feels like someone has tied a noose around my neck.
The walls might be a different color, and vases of fresh flowers have been set on every available surface, but the memories are still there. Being led up these very stairs to my father's old office, where he would rip into me for not being as committed to the family as my brothers.
I keep my eyes down as I try to ignore the flood of memories that are trying to resurface as Kieran leads me into the office that now belongs to Ronan.
"I thought you didn't live here anymore." I close the door behind me as Kieran makes a beeline for the bar cart and starts helping himself to a decanter of whiskey.
"I don't, but after all the shit Ronan made me deal with over the last few months, I've given myself lifetime access to his liquor."
"Fair enough."
The silence hangs heavy in the air as Kieran makes us both a drink.
There's so much I want to say, but I can't seem to form the words.
"Here." He hands me my drink.
I nod my thanks but don't take a sip. I need to keep my head clear. If I have to come clean about Scout to Kieran, then so be it, but there's also a hell of a lot more I need to keep hidden.
I stay silent as Kieran drains his glass and stalks back over to the cart to pour himself another.
"Why keep him a secret?" He doesn't look at me.
I stare down at my glass, swirling the liquor around in it.
"It's...complicated."
"Try me."
I shake my head. "Maybe a discussion for another time."
"I'm not going to let this go, so you might as well start talking." He picks up his drink and moves to take a seat in the chair across from me.
"I don't think so. I will tell you what I need to, but not a word more. And you're lucky I'm even willing to tell you anything, considering the fact that not that long ago you thought I was the one trying to tear this family apart."
Kieran exhales as he leans back, crossing an ankle over a knee. His bowtie hangs loose around his neck, and he tugs at the collar to loosen it.
"I thought we moved past that."
"So did I. But when it comes to Scout, I'm not willing to risk anything, so forgive me if I still have trust issues."
"I take it Ronan knew?"
I don't miss the slightly clipped tone of his voice.
"Yes. But just like with you, it was not by choice."
Kieran lets out a breath before draining his drink in one gulp.
"So, he's met him?"
"Yes."
"Fucking hell, Cormac."
"He hasn't seen Scout since he was born."
Kieran slams down his glass on the table. "Is that supposed to make it better? He's my nephew too."
"You were never exactly much of a family man. Not until Riley."
Kieran's eyes darken. "He's a Sullivan."
"I'm aware."
"Then why isn't he here? He should be with his family. We can keep him safe."
"He's fine where he is."
"Who's looking after him?"
"You don't need to know that." I set down my own glass.
"Is it his mother?"
"Scout is safe."
"All I'm saying is that you can never be too careful. Believe me, I should know." Kieran's jaw ticks as he looks away for a moment, no doubt remembering back to when Sean O'Keefe kidnapped Riley outside on the very patio where the wedding reception is currently in full swing.
I understand Kieran's hesitancy to not have Scout here, but I need him to understand that being separated from my son is not something I take lightly. All I care about is that boy, and his safety is paramount for me.
"I won't make the same mistake."
Kieran shoots me a look, but I don't flinch.
What happened to Riley could have been prevented, and from the look in my brother's eyes, I know he knows it too.
The guilt he feels at putting Riley through hell is just something he will have to learn to live with.
"All I'm going to say is that Scout's existence needs to remain a secret. There are people out there who can't get even a whisper about the possibility of him."
"Like who?"
I shake my head. "With all the uncertainty surrounding who we can trust right now, it's even more important that you keep this news to yourself. Can I trust you to do that?"
"You can trust me with anything."
"I really hope so."
We stare at each other for a beat, and I let the unspoken warning show in my eyes.
Brother or not, if he puts Scout in danger, I will kill him without a second thought.
Kieran grunts, getting to his feet. "Come on, let's go and rejoin the party before my wife realizes I'm gone."
"No offense, but I think she's too preoccupied with the twins to give a shit about you."
"I think you're right."
It's getting late, but the reception is still in full swing.
I don't know half of the people here, and the more drunk they get, the less likely I am to want to try and make polite conversation. I was hoping to duck out early to get back to work on trying to track down our uncle.
It's been months without so much as a whisper, and that doesn't sit well with me.
Lorcan has already shown that the Sullivan name means fuck all to him, considering the fact he ordered me to be beaten half to death.
The thought of what he might do if he found out about Scout makes my blood run cold. So, the sooner I can track him down and make an example out of him, the better.
Kieran slaps me on the shoulder. "Have another drink with me. There's something else I need to discuss with you."
"Could you not have discussed it with me somewhere else?"
The lights and the music are making my head pound, and I have had enough social interaction to last me a lifetime.
"It's my wedding, I have to show my face. And so do you." Kieran holds up two fingers to the bartender.
I bite back a groan. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Leaning against the bar, I look out at the dance floor where dozens of sweaty bodies are grinding against one another.
Kieran hands me a drink. "You know, you should look into hiring an assistant."
"Why?"
"Because you're going to need one."
"Again, why?"
"Because an assistant will make it easier for you to juggle work and any commitments you have with Scout."
"I've been doing fine so far." I set down my untouched glass.
"That was before."
"Before what?"
"Before you became the acting CEO of Sullivan Investments."
My eyebrow arches up because this is news to me.
I figured Ronan would be stepping back into the role now that his twins are almost six months old.
"I am?"
"With the baby coming and Ronan busy, who else would we trust to run things? It sure as hell isn't Brennan."
"Ah, so it's not because you think I'm qualified."
"You are qualified."
"Compared to Brennan."
Kieran smirks as he sets down his drink on the bar top. "If it makes you feel better, we need Brennan elsewhere. He's better out in the field. If I forced him behind a desk doing paperwork, he would go out of his mind."
"I'm not sure I'll be any better."
"Only one way to find out."
"Only one way to find out what?" Brennan appears at my side.
Kieran grins. "Speak of the devil. We were just talking about you."
"Good things, I hope." He smirks.
"What do you think?"
"Come on, man. It's your wedding. I thought today marked the day when you finally removed the stick from up your ass."
I swallow a laugh at the look on Kieran's face.
"Fuck you."
"So, are you going to tell me what you two ladies are gossiping about, or what?"
"I was just telling Cormac how he's becoming the new CEO of Sullivan Investments."
Brennan claps me on the shoulder. "Whoa. Congrats, man! That's great news."
I shrug his hand off. "Interim CEO. Just while Kieran is on paternity leave."
"We'll see." Brennan grins.
Kieran frowns. "What?"
"Unless Cormac does a kick-ass job, in which case you might not be invited back, and your life is officially nothing but dirty diapers and spit-up."
Kieran looks longingly over at where his wife is rocking a sleeping Nico in the middle of the dance floor. "I would happily trade the spreadsheets for diapers."
Brennan scoffs. "You've changed."
Kieran turns to face me. "Anyway... I've already put out an ad for the assistant role."
Brennan's eyes widen. "You're getting an assistant?"
"I don't need one. I can manage."
"Are you dumb? Having an assistant would be amazing. It's, like, a guaranteed fuck."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, come on. It's like the plot to every rom-com."
Kieran's eyebrow shoots up at Brennan. "How would you know?"
"Doesn't matter. My point is, hire someone hot, and then you can have even hotter work sex."
Kieran shakes his head. "The assistant is supposed to be someone who makes his work life easier."
"Tell me I'm wrong."
"Can I tell you to fuck off instead?"
"I love how, despite being married with a kid on the way, we can still enjoy some healthy brotherly banter."
"I could have ten kids, and I would still make the time to kick your ass."
Brennan puts a hand to his heart. "Aw, I feel special. I love you too, brother."
Kieran looks at me. "Anyway... The ad is out, and I can have someone comb through the responses."
"No need. I can do it myself."
"So he can pick the hottest one," Brennan says under his breath, and I shoot him a look.
"If you're insisting on me hiring an assistant, I want to personally vet them."
Kieran rolls his eyes. "Of course, you do. Look, just don't take too long, okay?"
"Why?"
"Because you start on Monday."
"What? You can't be serious."
"Deadly."
"Enjoy the view from the top," Brennan laughs before snatching up my untouched drink and disappearing back into the crowd of drunken guests.
"Believe me, I won't."