Page 48 of Honorable Sins

"Kids talk shit, it doesn't mean anything," Kenneth slots in so fast, it's clear he's thought about the answer beforehand.

"Jasper said it too," Billy O'Grady speaks up for the first time.

"No, he didn't. That's why he's not limping like you, or wearing a shiner like PJ," Fitz points at each boy in turn. "Or have a broken arm like Kenny Jr."

"Your son went after ours as a personal vendetta. It had nothing to do with the Gallagher girl," Duffy says, like he's made some kind of major discovery.

I give Fitz a chance to answer the charge. Not because he needs to, but because this is good training for his future.

"They were always going to get a beatdown," Fitz says without remorse. "But it would have happened off school property if they hadn't attacked my friend."

"Friend," PJ sneers. "I bet you're fucking her."

"I'm not fucking anyone until I'm old enough to take responsibility if the birth control fails," Fitz says without an ounce of embarrassment.

Because he is also my son.

"That's right, you're not," Kara says firmly. "And you're lucky I'm not your mother, PJ Duffy, or I'd be dragging you by your ear into that bathroom." She points to a door on the wall behind the boys. "And washing your mouth out with soap."

"He'd be lucky to have you as a mom," Fitz says loyally. "He'd be a better person if he did."

"How dare you insult my wife, you little punk?" Duffy's face suffuses with angry color as he adds another day of torture to his eventual punishment for calling my son a punk.

"Considering the things she said earlier today, I've got to agree with Fitz," Wraith says. "And you are welcome to take offense and challenge me over it."

"This isn't the 1900s. I'm not challenging you to a duel at dawn." Duffy adjusts the cuffs on his shirt and then his jacket.

"Good, because if you did, I'd laugh as your shots go wide and then I'd kneecap you."

I laugh darkly. "Considering how infrequently you show up at the gun range, Wraith could give you extra shots and you still wouldn't manage to hit him center mass."

Kenneth stands. "If you're finished with your juvenile barbs, I'll take my son home and I'll be calling Brogan."

"Your son is no longer in your custody," I bark. "As underboss, I speak for Brogan when he's not here."

"We'll see about that." Kenneth has the air of a man whose plans are bearing fruit.

What a bleedin' muppet. He's got no clue and no one around him smart enough to help him find one.

"I'm not finished outlining the consequences from the attack on Sadie. After I am, if you insist on speaking to Brogan, we'll pull him in on a video call."

We arranged this earlier and my father-in-law is waiting for my call if I need to make it.

Kenneth, Duffy and O'Grady all tense at the offer.

Casey is just staring at his son, like he's willing him to stay strong. My son is right. Keeping those two apart for too long will do more harm than good.

I make a split-second decision, adjusting the plans I made earlier.

"Casey, you will accompany your son to Dublin and will be seconded to the Northside Dublin Mob until Jasper completes his secondary education. You may choose a home of your own, or live at my father's estate with your son. My father will act as Jasper's guardian for the first year."

It's a change from what I planned with Adam this morning, but it's a better solution. Kenny Jr. is less trainable than I thought and will bear close watching. Being placed in a family so high up in the mob hierarchy won't be as good for him or our mob.

Kara beams at this pronouncement and Fitz looks quietly pleased. And that still strange-to-me feeling of happiness sparks in my chest. I like pleasing my wife and son.

"O'Grady, you are being demoted to the rank of soldier from captain," I tell him. "But you will remain with your current crew. Your lieutenant will determine who will take your place."

O'Grady glares at me in helpless fury and then at Kenneth, when his crony doesn't speak up for him.