Page 80 of Starting Over

What shocked me most of all, I had missed him.

Despite everything I knew about who he had become, he was still my big brother. He was still the man I had worshipped as a child. He was still the man who had taught me how to tie my shoes, how to ride a bike, and how to swim. If we’d stayed in Boston, I’m sure he would have taught me everything I needed to know about girls.

That brought Maureen to mind. And the fact that he asked her to marry him. All at once, it was easy to shove those feelings deep down inside, where they had been hiding. Where they belonged.

“Why the fuck are you here?”

Removing his gloves from his hands, he asked, “Is that any way to greet your big brother?”

I stole a glance at Martha, sitting at her desk. She wasn’t focused on us, but the barely perceptible stiffening of her back told me she was listening. And she knew who was standing in her station.

And make no mistake, it was her station. Martha was a force inside these walls. She was the heart of this station, and the one who kept it running. She knew every resident of Diamond Creek, and no one got through the lobby without her say so.

Which was the only reason I didn’t knock King out the other day. Despite what Jackie accused, I knew he had stopped by Martha’s desk first and she let him in.

“I don’t have time for this shit. Why are you here?”

“It’s time I met my baby brother.”

“No.”

Sal turned his head and looked at Tyran. “You hear this shit? He actually told me no.”

“I heard him.”

I narrowed my eyes at Tyran Fitzpatrick. I knew what he did. I should be thankful. After all, he was the reason we had King.

“Hey, Lannie.”

I turned my gaze on Duncan Murphy. Duane’s older brother.

“Hey, Dunc. How’s Duane?”

The barely perceptible tilt of his head told me he knew that Duane and I were still in contact. But he kept it to himself when he answered, “Duane was killed last year.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

He simply nodded as he watched me.

“This was a curtesy, Lannie, I could have gone directly to the clubhouse,” Sal said, unbuttoning his coat. “I wanted to talk to you first.”

I looked at the five men standing in front of me. I would know Tyran anywhere. He was always a big motherfucker. Being Sal’s right-hand man, he wouldn’t go anywhere without him. I also knew Duncan. He and Duane looked just alike.

I wasn’t sure who the other two were.

“Who are they?” I asked, lifting my chin toward the two silent men that stood behind my brother.

“You remember Cian?”

My eyes widened with recognition at Cian McCarthy. He was three years older than Duane and me, and I thought for sure he was going somewhere other than the Mob. He was smart, likeEinstein smart. I couldn’t imagine his talents were being used in the Mob.

Cian smiled. “Hey, Dec, long time.”

“The other one is Cormac Delaney.”

“Delaney? Old Man Delaney’s boy?”

Cormac, or Mac as he was always called, was two years younger than me. He was in Maureen’s grade at school, and he was always quiet. It surprised me to see him with my brother as well. But Old Man Delaney was as shady as they came, so it made sense his son would follow in his footsteps.

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