Page 94 of Sins of Innocence

Another chair sits vacant at the side of the desk, facing the men, while Mick fills the executive chair behind it.

Him sitting in Brogan's spot sends an unmistakable message. Mick is underboss, and in Brogan's absence, he is in charge. His word is law.

The fact my chair faces them where it does, sends another message. Mick and I are aligned against them, and he considers me to outrank the other men.

The ugly scowl on Kenneth's face says he knows it too.

"Did you really give permission for one of your soldiers to date a traitor's widow?" he sneers his opening salvo.

"Yes." Mick doesn't elaborate.

O'Grady scowls at me and then Mick. "What the fuck, underboss?"

"Are you questioning my decision?" Mick's tone is flat and all the more chilling for it.

When he lets his inner sociopath out to play, it can be damn creepy.

"I am," O'Grady agrees without hesitation. "What kind of message do you think that gives our made men?"

O'Grady is one of Kenneth's captains and will be one of the men I inherit when Kenneth is demoted. Oh, joy.

I've had bad soldiers under my command before. Sometimes, it was the fault of their training. I could fix that. But when it was simply a lack of intelligence, character, or common sense? No amount of training can make up for those two flaws.

Considering the fact that O'Grady used both of his children to further Kenneth's agenda, I'm taking it as read that his problem is a lack of character rather than training.

"The message is that I approve of my captain dating and eventually marrying a woman who is not responsible for the mistakes of her dead husband."

"He can't marry her!" Kenneth shouts. "A traitor's bitch of a widow has no place in our mob."

I'm on the older man before anyone else has a chance to speak. Grabbing him by the back of his neck, I yank him up and over the back of his chair before throwing him from me.

He lands with a loud thump and harsh curse against the drinks credenza. Crystal knocks together, clinking loudly; the whiskey and other spirits in the decanters slosh, but nothing breaks.

Not even Kenneth. Intentional on my part, but still unsatisfying.

"Call my woman a bitch again and I will cut out your tongue and give it as a treat to Fitz's dog." Miles will eat anything.

Even the tongue of a traitorous bastard like Kenneth Shaughnessy.

Face beet red from exertion or anger, probably both, he stumbles to his feet and points a finger at me while facing Mick. "Are you going to let him get away with attacking one of your father-in-law's lieutenants?"

"You work primarily for Brogan, but make no mistake, every soldier in this bleedin' syndicate belongs to me. My father-in-law is the only man that outranks me." He says the last bit on purpose.

McLaren briefed me on what was said at the restaurant and I briefed Mick.

"And I outrank him." Kenneth's indignation does not mask his fury at the reminder he is subject to Mick's authority.

"Things change," Mick replies as I return to my seat.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kenneth demands.

"Family matters are not governed by mob hierarchy," Mick goes on, ignoring Kenneth's question. "Now, sit the fuck down."

Kenneth straightens his suit jacket and sits, glaring at me the whole time.

"If the men need another message about how I handle actual traitors, I can give them one." Mick's disturbingly empty gaze meets that of each of the men sitting across from him.

"There are no traitors to punish," Kenneth says with more belligerence than honesty.