11. Plans Change & a New Enemy #2
With the exception of Kenny Jr., we will assess each boy's progress after the first year and determine if he can return to his family of birth. Assuming their father's aren't part of Kenneth Shaughnessy's traitorous plans.
"Wraith and his crew are taking on the investigation into how deeply the rot has set in our mob," I say. "I'm sure I don't have to tell the rest of you to keep your ears open and mouths shut about our suspicions."
"It's not enough to identify the traitors though, is it?" Brice asks, showing the intelligence that made him my top lieutenant and will make him a fecking good underboss. "We need to find out how he knew the feds approached áine."
"Chances are he's the one that tipped them off," Rory muses.
Wraith nods his agreement. "McLaren's on it."
The hacker on his crew is one of our best, maybe even the best one we have on payroll.
"Grand," I say, giving him my approval.
He's got good instincts and unwavering loyalty to our cause. He'll make a savage lieutenant.
"What about áine and the girls?" Conor, my only lieutenant married with a kid, asks. "You going to send them away from New York?"
Before I can answer, Wraith says, " I’m marrying her."
Rory’s mouth falls open. "You what now?"
Brice lets out a low whistle. "Jayzus, lad. You're doing this because of what happened to your ma, aren't you?"
Wraith doesn’t deny it. "I promised to protect her and our girls."
Everyone at the table knows what that vow means.
Conor leans back, rubbing a hand over his face. "Hell of a reason to marry, but you've got my best wishes on a marriage as fine and fiery as me own."
Conor married his teenage sweetheart after reconnecting with her on one of our trips back to Ireland after the Dierdre fiasco. Her da is a captain in the Northies. It was a good match, further cementing ties between the Shaughnessy Mob and the Northside Dublin Syndicate.
My lieutenant would have married her even if she'd had no mob ties though and so he told me before he asked her to marry him. They've got a two-year-old who gets along with Sorcha and Mavie like another sibling. Probably because they've been playing together since they learned to crawl.
Rory gives a short, grim nod. "She and those girls deserve to be safe. Can’t argue with that."
"You barely know her," Brice cautions Wraith.
"It doesn't take everyone more than half a decade to decide they're ready to make a lifetime commitment," Fiona says with bite.
Kara offers her sister a commiserating look and I figure Fiona is talking about Zoey, her girlfriend of six years. They were cool toward each other at dinner last night.
"She’s mine to protect now," Wraith says implacably.
"They'll have a lifetime to learn each other," Kara says to Brice. "But they've got sizzling chemistry already."
"Not a bad place to start, I suppose." Brice looks less than convinced though.
Considering he has no plans to marry. Ever. Or so he says, his attitude is no surprise.
"I'm not sure how our mob's leadership will look after we weed out the traitors working with Kenneth, but one thing is certain. As of tonight, Wraith will be taking Kenneth's place as lieutenant."
"Tonight?" Brice asks, surprised.
"Brogan has decided that a lieutenant who not only had two traitors in his crew, but also raised a son who has dishonored his family name the way Kenny Jr. did, does not deserve his rank." My father-in-law is pissed as hell about his cousin's attempts to undermine my position with the mob.
He knows, like I do, that if Kenneth becomes boss someday, the job isn't passing on to Fitz. It's going to his own son Kenny Jr.
Over my dead body and I've got no plans to die anytime soon.
Conor whistles low. "Big step up, lad."
"You'll make a grand lieutenant," Brice says with conviction. "Congratulations."
"Deadly," Rory says enthusiastically. He's more apt to use Irish slang than American now.
Shows he's been keeping good company.
More American than Irish in their ways though, Kara and Fiona clap their hands yelling, "Here, here!"
Wraith just sits there, for once his expression as easy to read as a child's primer. He's gobsmacked. My wife loves that word, and it fits Wraith's slack-jawed expression of shock.
"I don't…" He clears his throat. "This is unexpected."
Brice slaps Wraith's back with his big paw. "Not to me, it isn't. You're fair play at leading."
My top lieutenant came to me a month ago and told me he thought Wraith was ready for a bigger leadership role. We discussed whether to increase his crew size and responsibilities in his current captaincy or to create an additional lieutenancy on my crew.
But this is better.
If Kenneth is as big of a muppet in his business as he is in his delusions of grandeur, everything under his purview is going to be in a right heap. Wraith and his team are capable of putting it all under the close scrutiny required and rebuilding from the ground up if necessary.
"And we'll need more good leaders in the months to come," Kara says with conviction.
Wraith's shoulders, never really relaxed, straighten even more. "I'll do my best to protect and expand the interests of the mob."
It's a vow and I take it as such and nod, pushing back from the table to stand. "That’s the plan, then. Brogan retires next month. The transition starts now."
Rory rubs his hands in satisfaction. "Kenneth and his cronies got no idea what's coming."
Truer words. I look at each of my council in turn. "Destroying Kenneth's manky plans is just the beginning. We’re not only weeding out the traitorous gobshites; we're tightening all the ranks and shifting leadership to those with ability and drive."
"Not just the right connections," my wife adds in a disgusted undertone.
Never let it be said that when she disagrees with the way her father does business, Kara stays silent on the matter. Not anymore. And we both know that Kenneth Shaughnessy would never have been made a lieutenant if he wasn't Brogan's second cousin.
She stands and moves to face the rest of the council beside me, taking my hand. "We’re not getting rid of what makes the Shaughnessy Mob what it is. We're building on it to make something better."
"And stronger," Fiona surprises me by adding.
Kara smiles at her sister. "Exactly. A strong and organized leadership means a strong mob."
I nod my agreement. One day, Fitz will inherit a syndicate second to none in power, strength and influence.