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“We’ve been protecting you ever since. Who do you think told Da to fine you instead of beat you whenever you fucked up?” He pointed at Finn. “That was Finn’s idea. Who do you think encouraged Da to let you move into your own apartment? Me, via Ma. Because he’d have kept you at home for the rest of your fucking life, Conor.
“We all know what Da was. A bully. A psycho. But with you, he was different. You were his wunderkind. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t have treated you like the rest of us. If anything, I think it meant he was harder on you in some—”
Star pressed a hand to Aidan’s shoulder. “I have no desire to hurt him.”
“You already have. You left him,” Finn said flatly.
“You think you’re the only one who wants to protect him?” Star argued.
“Jesus Christ,” I spat, drawing their attention my way. “What the fuck about me made you think I need protection? Me, more than any of the rest of us? Because I’m a nerd? What is it that makes you think I can’t handle my-goddamn-self?
“Okay, I can’t kill someone from a thousand yards away and I have no desire to beat someone to death with my fists or string them up until they’re swinging in the breeze, but it doesn’t make me weak that I don’t choose to do those things.
“I don’t need you to grill my woman to ascertain whether ‘she’s right for me.’ I’m the one who makes that decision, and I made it—years ago. The first moment I recognized her skills, her intelligence, and learned what her purpose was, she had me hooked.
“This has nothing to do with any of you.Nothing. Sure, we watch each other’s backs because that’s what we do. We always have and we always will. I appreciate that we’ll always be that way, but I also have the fucking sense to recognize we alone know who’s right for us and Star is that for me.”
I knew they were surprised by my outburst, but Star broke the silence by saying, “I did do my homework on them, Conor. I don’t feel grilled. Just…” Her smile was for me alone, but it had me frowning. “…respected.”
“What?”
She shrugged at my splutter. “It’s nice to walk into a room and for people to understand you’re a loose cannon.”
“That’snice?”
Eoghan raised his tumbler to her. “I know where she’s coming from.”
“That’s because you look like you play golf for a living, Eoghan,” Declan drawled.
“Impostor syndrome,” Finn teased.
“Being underestimated is overrated,” was all he said, sinking a sip of his whiskey back and sighing as it hit his bloodstream.
“Go on then. Tell us what you think you know about us,” Brennan prompted.
“You collect rare coins. Not just rare, in fact. So unique that most of your collection consists of coins that are either one of a kind or have circulations of ten or under.” To Declan, she said, “There was a rumor that you were involved with the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist.”
He chuckled. “I wasn’t involved with the heist. I was too young for it. Just enjoyed the spoils, but that’s interesting you know that. Who did you get to? One of my dealers?”
“I pick up information like the garbage men collect trash.
“I know the CO Eoghan shot before he left the army will never walk again thanks to a particularly well-placed bullet in his lower spine. I also know that wasn’t why he was dishonorably discharged, and I know that Finn’s father-in-law is the President of the United States.” Hellfire lit up her eyes. “But as I told Conor earlier, I’m keeping him—”
“And I’m keeping her,” I inserted with a grumble.
“—so you’re under no threat from me.”
Finn scratched his jaw but the look he shot me was accusing. “How did you know about Alan Davidson?”
“As I said, I have my methods. I already knew that first time I tangled with your family.” She peered at me. “I have no idea why Conor feels the way he does for me. I don’t understand it, but I’m not going to argue about it. Even without Conor stating facts, I knew that you wouldn’t have given your other sisters-in-law the third degree, but I accept that I’m different.”
“You’re not,” I argued.
“I am. I come with baggage, Conor,” she reasoned quietly. “And that’s fine. I respect them for loving you and for wanting the best for you. That’s what you deserve.”
As my brothers watched her watch me, it was Aidan who broke into the conversation with a soft, “Conor indicated there is a new plan underway to resolve this situation with the Sparrows.”
Acceptance—she shouldn’t have had to earn it, but she’d received it nonetheless. That he invited her to join the conversation and didn’t request for her to leave the man cave made that clear.
