Brennan had been a lot more of a rebel than he’d ever let on.
He toed the line to a certain extent, that was why news of him getting engaged soon came as a surprise. He tended to do what Da wanted. Not in a way that made me think he was a brown-noser, because if he was that, I wouldn’t like him so fucking much.
Brennan had changed for real after Ma had been targeted by our enemies, and ever since, he’d toned things down. Turned a lot more serious.
Couldn’t blame him.
“That’s no reason to stick with it,” I grumbled.
“No. It isn’t. But we love the family. We just don’t like the life. Even if the life is all we know…” He broke off, his gaze focused on the rearview mirror before he mused, “Anyway, what else would you do with your days?”
“If I wasn’t running drugs, stolen cars, and guns, you mean?” I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah,” he replied, his tone serious. “What would you do?”
My scowl returned.
I didn’t fucking know.
“You’re only questioning things because of Seamus, and I get it. I am too. I’m hoping you’re going to break the mold with him. Not gonna let Da do his usual shit. He takes over because we let him have too much sway. It’s about time we started getting in his face about the stunts he pulls.
“He’s only gotten away with it for so long because he’s unhinged and we’re all half-terrified he’s going to kill us. But he’s getting older.”
“Older doesn’t mean weaker,” I retorted. “You and I both know he’d shoot us in the head if we didn’t, as you said, toe the line.”
He shook his head. “No. Haven’t you noticed? He’s changing.”
“He is?” My brow puckered. “Since when?”
“Few years back. They never talk about it, but he’s calmed down a lot. Wouldn’t be surprised if Ma got him on meds or something. He doesn’t have those blackouts like he used to have.”
I blew out a breath because he wasn’t fucking wrong.
“Jesus,” I whispered, “how the fuck did I forget about that?”
“Not like we have time to smell the daisies, bro, is it?” His gaze flickered to the rearview mirror again.
“We got a tail?”
“Yeah.” He grunted. “Least it’s only the Feds.”
“Fucking Dunbar,” I groused.
“What did Da have to say about her?”
“He wants Eoghan to take her out.”
“She’s a nuisance, but she isn’tthatmuch of a nuisance. Not worth us raising hell with the Feds.”
“Why do you think we were arguing?” I countered with a short laugh, watching as he maneuvered onto the highway that would take us to my side of the city without getting stuck in traffic.
Of course, traffic was a way of fucking life for us, but we avoided it where we could.
“Surprised he consulted you,” Bren commented, his brows high.
“Yeah, I was too. Think he only did it because he wanted to talk about Shay again.”
Brennan cleared his throat. “Don’t like to talk about the kid this way, because he’s cool, but you know how much leverage he gives you with them, don’t you?”