“And they’re going to be pissed when they do,” he pointed out.
“If you didn’t like the tactic back when I came up with it, then you shouldn’t complain now.”
“Not complaining, just saying.”
Heaving a sigh, I continued, “It could take them fifteen years to recoup what they lost. Never mind the ties. And by then? Fuck knows what could happen. Fifteen years is a long ass time. Yes, we’re borrowing trouble, but when aren’t we? When don’t we have shit from rivals?”
“These rivals are going to be more than pissed at us.”
I snorted. “Rivals always are. Look, weareborrowing trouble, but we’re also trying to protect ourselves from that. Eoghan and Brennan are working on recruiting and training.
“By that point, we’ll also have more funds because projects like the Heights will be up and running. We’re going to make a couple of hundred million on that alone, Aidan. Whatever happens, the money will protect us.”
“Until it doesn’t. What if they hack us like we hacked them?”
“We’re protected.”
“They thought they were.”
I sighed. “If you want to talk about firewalls, again, you’re talking to the wrong son.”
“At least you’re talking to me.”
That had me narrowing my eyes. “Huh?”
He shrugged. “If you’ll only talk to me about business, then talk about business we will.”
For a second, I could do nothing less than gape at him. “You’re being serious, aren’t you?”
His grin was dry, and fuck, how was it the first time I noticed the similarities in our grins? “When aren’t I serious, Finn?”
I studied him, hard. Looking for similarities between us, looking for the shared connection our genetics gave us. Then, I blew out a breath. “I love you, Aidan.”
“Dad.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I murmured, “Dad?”
He shrugged. “Waited a long time to hear it. We’re alone. The boys aren’t here,” he pointed out.
“That mean you’re going to tell them?”
“At some point in the future. I’d prefer to keep them focused on the active threats.”
“Things never calm down,” I retorted, unsure why I was pushing the issue when I didn’t particularly want my brothers, by bloodandchoice, to know about my heritage.
Mostly I was concerned about it changing shit between us. That was the last thing I wanted.
“No. They don’t,” Aidan replied calmly. “I’ll choose my moment.”
“Would you have ever told me?” I didn’t realize that had been gnawing at me until right that second.
“Yes.”
“On your deathbed?”
Aidan grunted. “Maybe.”
“Fuck,” I bit off, and couldn’t help myself when I got to my feet and started striding from one side of his office to the other.