Page 4 of Honorable Sins

A lot more than sometimes, but if I'm right about the kind of kissing he's referring to, we save it mostly for our time alone. Not because I think our chislers shouldn't be exposed to passion between their parents, but because with them around that kissing can't lead anywhere.

And as good as it feels, it's an exercise in frustration.

"You sure it wasn't your aunt?" I ask.

Fitz shakes his head. "She was still at the table when I got back."

"Not all people believe that their vows of fidelity are binding." I don't say men, because there are plenty of women who are the same.

The woman my brother had been kissing being one of them.

"You do though, right?" Fitz asks. "You'd never kiss another lady like that."

"Nah. I wouldn't. I keep my promises. You know that." I've taught Fitz to do the same.

He knows that breaking a promise isn't just letting someone down, but it's breaking faith with me too. Kara is more understanding about it, but I'm training my son to take over the Shaughnessy Mob one day and to be my underboss before that.

I expect more of our boyo and he delivers.

"But you love mom, right?"

Where is this coming from? "I do. You've heard me say it." Many times. "You know I don't lie to her. Ever."

Fitz's shoulders relax and he smiles. "I knew that, but the kids at school say stuff."

"Like what?" And who thinks they can talk shite about my feelings for Kara?

Those kids aren't getting their ideas outta their asses. They're hearing stuff at home and repeating it to my son.

"That you only married mom so you could be the boss someday." He looks at me like he wants me to deny it.

This conversation isn’t about what my son saw in Dublin. Although I’ll be having words with my brother about allowing my son to see something he shouldn’t.

Other parents would be more worried about violence, but that is part of our life. Compromising our honor isn’t.

"When I married your mam, your great uncle was still alive. He was supposed to take over from your grandfather." At that time, Fergal Shaughnessy was still the boss and hoping his oldest son would remarry and provide him with an heir.

The deal with me to give him a grandson was a backup plan in case that didn't happen. I got Kara and a captaincy out of it.

Fitz slouches, his shoulders hunching. "But my last name is Shaughnessy."

"Aye."

The addendum to the contract for me to become boss came later, after Derry and Fergal died so close together (one murdered by a cult leader and the other killed by me). I allowed my son to carry the Shaughnessy surname and in exchange Fitz was named Brogan's official heir, with the caveat that I will take over as boss when my father-in-law retires.

"Your name is also Fitzgerald," I remind him.

"But my brother and sisters all have Fitzgerald as their last name."

"And they have Shaughnessy as their middle names. You are mo mhac whether you are a Shaughnessy, or a Fitzgerald and you are both."

"I know that da, but the other kids say that you had to let me be named Shaughnessy so you could become boss after grandda."

That feckin' contract is still causing trouble and that addendum isn't the secret that Kara having to use IVF to guarantee a boy child the first time around is. "It's important to your grandda that the Shaughnessy name lives into the next generation."

"There are plenty of Shaughnessys. One of them is an eighth grader at my school." Fitz crosses his arms, pulling in on himself further.

"He'll not be a direct descendant of your grandda's."