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“We’ll definitely be maintaining a presence there for the full year at least. You have names?”
James slid a list out of the stack and across the table to Declan, who nodded as he read. “Yeah. These make sense. They’re all eager to make names for themselves. Gallagher surprises me, but then again, his brother just got married. I’m good with these. Include them in your plan, and we’ll discuss it again.”
Declan’s phone signaled, and he pushed out of his chair, fingers flying over the screen, responding to whatever message he’d received. “I’ve got to run. Good work, as always. Aidan. Tonight at—”
“Seven. Yeah.”
With that, Declan left in a hurry, and James shuffled his papers back into a stack, making a few notes on the list of names for relocation. When he looked up, he caught Aidan staring at him.
“Can I…help you with something?”
Aidan cocked his head. “I was just curious how things are going with you. We haven’t had a chance to hang out in a while.”
“Having a wife and kid will do that to you.”
“You been out on any more dates recently?” Aidan pushed to his feet, and James followed suit.
“With Aisling Donahue, you mean?” James replied, deciding to play dumb.
Aidan shrugged. “Just in general.”
“Cut the cloak and dagger bullshit, Aidan.” James grabbed his coat off the back of his chair. “If you have something to say, say it.”
“Did you enjoy axe throwing the other night?”
Shit. James forced himself not to react. “Axe throwing?”
“I assume that’s what you were doing when I saw you walk out of that bar. With your arm wrapped around a woman who looked an awful lot like your only non-syndicate employee.”
James allowed himself a momentary sigh of relief. At least it hadn’t been some other member of the syndicate who saw them. If it had, gossip would already be flying, and that would be even worse than the interrogation he was getting from his cousin right now.
“Oh, right. It was fun. Thanks for asking.”
He wasn’t going to offer up any more than that. If Aidan wanted to know, he could ask. His cousin didn’t disappoint.
“That’s all you have to say for yourself?”
“Despite what you may believe, I don’t have to ask permission from you or anyone about what I do in my personal life.” James stepped into the main part of the basement and started for the stairs.
“So you’re fucking her.”
“Among other things. Lucky for both of us, none of it is any of your damn business.”
“It’s the syndicate’s business, James. And you know that, or you wouldn’t be so defensive about it.”
“Delaney doesn’t know anything about the syndicate or my role in it. The family is fine. The secret is safe. The syndicate lives to rule another day.”
Aidan was silent as they navigated around the cleaning crew mopping the floors and crossed the parking lot to their waiting vehicles. James was praying he would drop the whole damn thing.
“What the fuck are you doing, James?”
“I’m enjoying her while I can.”
Aidan crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re getting too close. I know you. I saw how you were with Maura. It’s too similar. You’re falling for her.” Aidan cursed at the look that crossed James’s face. “You already have. Declan will never go for this. It’s too big a risk.”
“I’m not asking Declan to go for anything,” James gritted out. “I’m handling it.”
“And if she finds out?”
