Consequences #2
To a one, the men who had just been spouting off about how their sons didn't do anything wrong, are looking less confident. Sure, some of it's from getting knocked around by me, but the fact their sons are here, in the room, sends a message they can't ignore.
If Mick wants to mete out justice right-fucking-now, whatever he promised them, Kenneth won't have time to ask Brogan to intervene. None of these men thought their sons would face any real punishment for what they did to Sadie, much less be called before the underboss without Brogan's presence.
The men might look worried, but more tellingly than anything said in this room so far, is the fact that the only boy who tries to go to his father is Jasper Casey and the only man who tries to get to his son is Graham Casey.
Mick doesn't allow it and Jasper starts crying. "I d-didn't m-mean to," he stutters out. "I'm s-sorry."
Fuck me. These are just kids. And their waste of space fathers got them into this mess.
Listening to Fitz lay into Jasper is a lot like listening to Mick do the same thing to his men when they've fucked up in a big way. Kenny Jr. tries to say my new daughter asked for it and impotent rage boils inside me. I can't hurt a kid no matter how much of a little shit he is.
Being a kid himself, Jasper Casey doesn’t feel the need to hold back. He punches his friend in the stomach and denies Sadie did anything wrong.
Then he asks Fitz to tell Sadie he's sorry, sounding like he knows he's not going to get the chance to do that on his own. Which is the plan, but this kid seems more aware of the consequences of his actions than his shitty friends.
He regrets doing it and I don't think it's just because he's in trouble.
I've got serious doubts about whether Graham Casey is one of Kenneth's cronies intent on stirring up trouble for Mick in the mob.
He confirms them when he pleads to take his son's place in whatever punishment is coming and tells the underboss that Jasper's a good kid who got mixed up with the wrong set of friends.
Kenneth is hella offended and for that alone, I give Casey some slack in my mind.
After some more unnecessary drama, Mick passes sentence on the men and their sons. "While the penalty for rape, or the interrupted attempt, is death according to our code, the guilty are children."
"I'm surprised you recognize the distinction." Kenneth has to open his big mouth again.
Mick ignores him. "There is hope that the problem lies with the training these boys have received, or not received, in their homes, rather than reflective of character deficiencies they will take into adulthood."
"Now, see here. I've raised Kenny just f—" Kenneth tries to say.
"In that hope," Mick interrupts him. "Each boy will be fostered for at least one year to a family in an allied mob whose parents are considered exemplary."
Duffy shouts about how Mick isn't taking his son away, but again, the boss ignores the interruption.
"After an initial ninety-day assessment, if the fostering parents agree it is what is best for the boys, they will be allowed supervised visits with their families of birth." Mick pauses before saying, "In the cities of their new domiciles."
Fitz speaks up on behalf of Jasper and Casey. Unsurprisingly, to me anyway, Mick listens to his son's take on the situation and seconds Casey to the Northside Dublin Syndicate where his son will be fostered so the father and son won't be separated.
However, Boss Fitzgerald, Mick's father, will be Jasper's guardian for the next ninety days.
Mick looks at O'Grady dispassionately and demotes him from captain to soldier. "But you will remain with your current crew. Your lieutenant will determine who will take your place."
That lieutenant being me after tonight. Oh, joy.
"Duffy, for the time being you will be demoted but continue to work with your current crew."
Which means he's also my problem, but that at least might be temporary as Mick offers the chance for his family to relocate to the mob his son is being moved to, if the first ninety days goes well.
Whether he stays or goes, Duffy will never go further in the mob hierarchy. His dreams of being made a captain for his loyalty to Kenneth are smashed.
Mick looks at Brogan's cousin, emotion reflected in his expression for the first time during the sentencing.
Pure satisfaction glows in his green eyes as he strips Kenneth of his rank and assigns his businesses and crew to me.
"No way in hell! You call my cousin right the fuck now," Kenneth roars.
Mick doesn't hesitate. That should worry the arrogant gobshite, but instead Kenneth looks like things are finally going his way.
What a dipshit.
Before making the call, Mick sends Kara and Fitz out of the room, along with Casey, Jasper and the boy's guard. But then Mick calls his wife back before she makes it to the door.
The goodbye kiss they share is not short.
Imagining doing the same with áine in the morning before I leave for work gives me a semi.
The video call with Brogan goes pretty much as I expect. Brogan is fucking furious and tears several strips off of Kenneth before turning his attention to Duffy and O'Grady. Then he lectures their sons.
When he cuts the video call, Brice and his men take the remaining boys and their guards to a temporary domicile before they leave New York.
I have to take time to give Duffy and O'Grady their new assignments because I'm leaving town tomorrow.
But finally, I get to return to my new family.