43

TEXT CHAT

Conor: How did it go yesterday?

Aidan: The Summit?

Conor: No, Aidan, your visit to the proctologist for a yearly physical. Fml. Of course the Summit.

Aidan: Jeez, you’re in a bad mood.

Conor: Lots going on.

Aidan: Always. Story of our fucking lives.

Conor: What went down?

Aidan: Sicilian Consigliere figured out that we’re behind the murders of those politicians.

Conor: Someone was bound to pick up on it eventually.

Aidan: She had a point—we don’t know who is in whose pocket. She suggested we confer to make sure we don’t lose a source.

Conor: I think we should put that plan on the back burner.

Aidan: What? Why?

Conor: Because I’m playing a bigger game over here, Aidan.

Aidan: What kind of game?

Conor: The Sparrows are fucked. Can’t go into details but I know we’re going to take them down. I want justice for Star and all those other victims first, then those who don’t get what they deserve, we deal with them.

Aidan: What’s going on, Conor? You were a key part of this plan.

Conor: I know, but by the time Star and I are done, there’s a more efficient way to go about this and we don’t have to get our hands unnecessarily dirty. The more dirt we accrue, the harder it is to look clean for Shay later on.

Conor: I need you to trust me, deartháir.

Aidan: I do trust you.

Conor: Enough to not ask questions?

Aidan: Fuck.

Aidan: You want to change our whole goddamn game plan. I’m the leader of the ECD now. I was supposed to take over the Sparrows next!

Conor: I know, but wouldn’t it be better if they didn’t exist at all? If that tower was toppled and you just needed to lead the Five Points and the ECD?

Conor: Brennan said shit’s crazy over there as it is without adding that to your workload.

Aidan: It is. I’m barely spending any time with Savannah and it’s driving me up the wall.

Conor: It makes me happy you have her, Aidan.

Aidan: Me too.

Aidan: How’s shit with Star?

Conor: It’s going well. She’s not locking me out. I figured she might.

Aidan: Don’t think many people could lock you out when you want in.

Conor: She’s different. I won’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. She’s had enough of that in her life.

Aidan: You know I didn’t mean it that way.

Conor: I’m taking this slow.

Aidan: How slow is slow? You’ve already been seeing her for, what? Almost two fucking years?

Conor: Time is irrelevant.

Aidan: If you say so, bro. Your balls are the ones on the line. Not mine.

Conor: My baby makers are fine.

Aidan: Lol.

Conor: Speaking of… How’s Eoghan?

Aidan: His usual grouchy self.

Conor: Grouchier than usual?

Aidan: Maybe? Why? What made you ask?

Conor: He thought Inessa was pregnant.

Aidan: Is she?

Conor: No.

Aidan: Ah, shit. He’d make a great dad. Can you imagine the nursery? It’d give Alcatraz a run for its money.

Conor: LOL.

Aidan: You know I’m right. To be fair, he’s probably not ready for kids.

Conor: His mind isn’t in the best place right now.

Aidan: No. Think I should talk to him?

Conor: You have a lot of work going on, don’t you?

Aidan: Yeah.

Conor: Maybe get him to help? Could be a way of getting his mind off things.

Aidan: Okay. Sure. You don’t think it’ll put pressure on him?

Conor: He’s tougher than he looks and he already looks like he’d fuck up Ronan the Accuser.

Aidan: You and your comic books.

Conor: It’s from a movie too, Aidan. It ain’t my fault that you haven’t watched Marvel movies.

Aidan: Yeah, yeah.

Aidan: I’ll talk with Eoghan.

Conor: Good.

Aidan: When are you coming home?

Conor: Sooner than you think. But maybe longer than you think too.

Aidan: Informative. I didn’t ask for a riddle, Kid.

Conor: Might be dropping by over the next couple of days but then I’m heading back out again.

Aidan: Why?

Conor: Gotta see someone.

Aidan: Who?

Conor: Doesn’t matter.

Aidan: You’re a pain in my ass, do you know that?

Conor: Maybe you DO need a visit to the proctologist?

Aidan: Nah, my problems are all brother-shaped.

Aidan: Stay fucking safe, do you hear me?

Conor: I do. Same goes.

Aidan: Yeah, deartháir, I know.