Page 6 of Sins of Arrogance (Syndicate Sins #1)

MICK

"Why didn't you tell me you were bringing another security risk into the household?" I don't bother with pleasantries.

My father-in-law and I are the only ones in his office and I'm not feeling pleasant.

"How many times do I have to tell you, boyo? Hope Dobbs and her children are not a security risk. Her husband died like all of the other AOG bastards when we razed the compound."

"And if she decides to cozy up to another Aryan cult?"

A feral glint flashes in Brogan's blue eyes. "That's not going to happen. She's staying right here."

"You're pretty feckin' possessive over a houseguest." I don't bother to point out that the woman is twelve years younger than him.

I'm not a hypocrite. A psychopath? Yes. A hypocrite? No.

"She risked her own safety to protect my niece. Hope deserves my protection in return."

I don't bother to argue. If Brogan wants to watch out for Hope, that's his lookout.

As long as she doesn't put the only people that matter to me at risk. Kara and Fitz.

Brogan waves his hand at one of the chairs in front of his desk. "Sit down. You know I don't like it when you loom over me."

My boss doesn't like feeling at a physical disadvantage. It's smart. I don't either.

I sit down, but don't relax. "When were you going to tell me about two soldiers from another mob staying in the barracks?"

"Do I need to remind you that that other mob is not only our ally, but your own family?" Brogan drawls sarcastically.

"Kara and Fitz are the only family that matters to me." I'll burn down my old mob to keep them safe without a second's hesitation.

I won't kill family for ambition, but I will kill anyone for the sake of my wife and son's safety.

Brogan's mouth shifts into a sardonic smirk. "I notice you didn't include me in that list."

I shrug. I won't grieve if he dies. I'm not wired for that kind of emotion, but I'm loyal. And that's all Brogan has to worry about.

"Did you know the Odessa Mafia tried to kidnap Dierdre when you agreed to let her come here?" I don't do a damn thing to hide my disapproval.

"I know that's what her father told me."

That makes me pause. "Ye don't believe him?"

"Did you believe her?" Brogan asks me, instead of answering.

"She doesn't have any tells when she lies."

"Which is not the same as saying you believe her."

"No. It's not."

"The timing is suspect. We're developing new technology for silent guns and suddenly one of our Dublin friends needs to stay in my house?"

"Ye think we have another mole?" I ask.

Brogan scowls and shakes his head. "No fucking way. I looked every one of our men in the eye when they renewed their pledge of loyalty."

I had too. If one of them is spying for my family's mob, they're a better liar than Dierdre. Because the very absence of any tells makes me distrust everything she says.

Which is only one of the reasons I think she has ulterior motives for being here.

Brogan's scowl darkens. "We didn't use a shell company when we sourced the Neo magnets through your contact in Myanmar."

Ko Naing has a strict face-to-face, one-on-one policy. Insisting on dealing with me personally, he won't even take a call from Brogan. I respect that level of caution.

Besides we need access to Neodymium without going through government channels. Most sources in China and the United States – the biggest producers – are connected to government entities.

Unfortunately, my father also does business with Ko Naing.

The Burmese man is discreet, but my da could have a spy in his operation. I do.

Trusting a business partner to be completely transparent is a fool's game and I'm nobody's fool.

Expecting other people to take the same precautions, I'm hyper vigilant about watching for indicators of spies in our ranks. Which is why Troy and his fellow spy for the AOG pissed me off so much.

Unfortunately, both men were inducted into the mob before I came to America. Both had the personal approval of Brogan's father and both were too damn good at covering their tracks.

Just like the mole working for the Columbian cartel we identified last year.

Both situations still fill me with rage.

I've personally vetted every single one of our soldiers now, but I should have done it when Brogan made me second-in-command.

Which is why all soldier's phones are now equipped with listening devices and spyware.

Even if they use a burner to make a call, or text, if it's done within the vicinity of their primary phone, the content of the call or text is fed into the AI program developed by our new Cosa Nostra allies. The AI monitors communications for suspicious speech patterns and behavior.

Like using a burner cell to make texts and calls.

No one but Brogan and I know it's on the soldier's phones.

We weren't surprised when our blackgloves discovered a back door in the program that would have allowed the Italians to spy on us too. I would have tried the same thing.

When the hacker closed the backdoor at my request, he put an alarm on its lock. When the Italian's tried to use it to access our coms information, it triggered a warning to us and a virus to the server hosting their AI that did just enough damage to warn the Cosa Nostra not to fuck with us.

It was my idea for every monitor in their network to flash: Nice try, gléas .

I personally texted the message to Miceli. He texted back a frowning devil, horse and hole emojis. His own version of fuck off, asshole. We're all good.

"Most likely scenario is that Dierdre is here on a fishing expedition." The Northies aren't going to know we're working on whisper guns from the magnets alone.

Much less how close we are to a working prototype.

But we're not the only ones working on the technology. Civilians, governments and other syndicates all want a piece of that pie.

It wouldn't be a far reach for my father to guess where our business is headed. It's conceivable he sent Dierdre here to gain information.

It makes sense, even if I don't like it.

"You'll need to keep an eye on Dierdre. She'll reveal herself to you in ways she won't to the rest of us. It's clear as day that woman wants you back in her bed."

Brogan is right. On all counts.

But that doesn't make it a good idea. "Kara won't like it."

Brogan grimaces. "She's better now. You don't have to worry about my sensible daughter throwing a jealous fit."

No, she'll just pull further away.

Or not.

What if jealousy triggers Kara's desire to stake her claim on me? Maybe she'll start visiting my office again if she thinks she needs to check up on me.

A tiny voice in the back of my head questions the wisdom and ethics of using Dierdre to spark my wife's battened down emotions. I think it's what exists of my conscience.

I ignore it like I've been doing for most of my life.