Page 67 of Deceived Wrath

“To be fair, you’ve been a good way to practice my parenting skills,” Kieran says, and Ronan laughs.

“What are you trying to say?”

“That you’re a toddler disguised in a twenty-eight-year-old’s body.”

“Well, you only have yourselves to blame for that.”

Ronan frowns. “How?”

“I mean, you’re meant to be my role models. If anything, how I behave is a direct reflection of you. So, if you don’t like what you see, that’s too fucking bad.”

Kieran shakes his head. “You are so full of shit, you know that?”

I hover near the bar, not knowing what to say. I’m not much of a conversationalist, but seeing how naturally my brothers go back and forth with one another makes me feel even more like an outsider.

I would be lying if I said the close relationships my brothers have with each other don’t bother me, but it does. I wish I didn’t have to try so hard and could laugh and joke around regardless of what is happening outside of these four walls. But I can’t, and that’s my own fault.

I chose to keep Scout a secret, and that naturally caused a rift between us.

I’m just wondering if it’s something that can ever be repaired.

Brennan turns to me. “How’s Scout doing?”

The room falls silent as all eyes turn to me.

“Fine.”

Thankfully, Kieran slides a drink across the bar to me, and I eagerly snatch it up and take a long sip just to have something to do.

“Come on, Cormac, give me something here. The kid’s my nephew.”

“I’m aware.”

“So, does he like baseball or football?”

“He likes all sports.”

“Maybe I could take him to a Yankees game sometime?”

“Yeah… Maybe…” I lean against the bar.

Kieran walks around the bar with the bottle of whiskey in hand and drops down onto the other couch. “So, how’s the new assistant working out?”

Ronan smirks. “I’m excited to hear about this.”

“There’s nothing to say.”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t quit yet,” Brennan jokes, and Kieran huffs a laugh.

I shoot both of them an irritated look.

“I’m not that difficult to work for.”

Brennan throws his head back and lets out a bark of a laugh, which makes me bristle.

“What?”

“You’re kidding, right?”