Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
James read his instinctual grimace as only a brother could. “Hell, Younger, was that it? You resigned because of the old man?”
Solomon’s warning glare didn’t hold James back.
“You know that’s a sign of how badly he twisted us up, don’t you? I tried to bleed mother’s milk from a stone cold bi—” He cut himself off, shaking his head. “And you decided you needed to pay for his sins, since he didn’t have the balls to do it himself. You always paid for all of us.”
Stephen loosened his tie again, clearly uncomfortable. “I’m getting the impression that your reticence has something to do with your father.”
“Very PC, Senator,” James snickered.
“He was your father. What am I supposed to say?”
James shrugged carelessly. “Since he slept with your mother, used women as baby machines and hurt each one of his children in different ways before he died, you can say whatever you want. Personally I think he was a—”
“James.” Solomon interrupted his brother, wishing he hadn’t brought Aunt Ellen into this.
“Sorry, Stephen.”
“It’s fine,” Stephen muttered. “I can’t say any of it’s a lie. I just don’t like thinking about it.” He sent a speaking look towards James. “Ever.”
Solomon shook his head, breathing out on a laugh. “And we’re still talking about Elder, dredging up bad memories we want to forget because he’s connected to all of it. That’s the problem. I’m trying to live my own life. One that has nothing to do with him. And there’s actually a chance I can have that now.”
James pinned him with those green eyes that had always made him a target for their father. Just like your mother. “You love being a cop. And you were better at leading than he ever was. Everyone knows it. The proof is right in front of you. No one wanted him back, Younger. He resigned, the same as you, earlier than he needed to. People took off their hats in respect, and then forgot all about him.”
He set his beer down. “He said it was all about the Finn name, but that wasn’t true. It was about his name. It was always about him. And the big joke is that if he had put anything else on your birth certificate, the name Solomon Finn would be a side note in someone else’s history.”
Solomon had only seen James like this once or twice before. “Did you have anything to drink before you got here, James?”
“No. And don’t interrupt me.” He pushed himself to his feet to look Solomon in the eye. “The entire city is signing on the dotted line to prove it wants you back.”
“All I want is Hugo.” He hadn’t meant it to sound so plaintive.
“Can’t you have both?” Stephen leaned forward earnestly. “You don’t have to choose, Solomon. I didn’t.”
Solomon looked over as James turned away, and knew what he was thinking. That there were different rules for Shawn Finn’s children than there had been for Sol’s. Maybe not anymore, but it was such an ingrained belief for so many years, it was hard to let it go.
“Look, a few people want to meet with you. Say you’ll think about it. At the very least, having your input on potential replacements could go a long way to calming frayed nerves. Everyone is on edge now. Your men most of all.”
That sounded fair. “Give me a day or two, Senator Finn.”
Stephen looked relieved. “Now that that’s out of the way, I think I need to go home before these paint fumes go to my head.”
He stood and grabbed him in a warm embrace, patting his back before walking him to the door. “Thanks for stopping by.”
“Thanks for not kicking me out.” Stephen grinned. “I like the changes, Younger. They all look good on you. And like I said, you don’t have to choose.”
Solomon leaned against the closed door after Stephen left, staring at his brother. “Why did Miller threaten to suspend you, James?”
“I came here to talk about you getting your job back, not my personal problems.” When Solomon continued to stare in silence, James sighed. “I wasn’t where I was supposed to be.”
That sounded familiar. James had been MIA more than once back when he was police chief. “And why does it sound like things have changed with Donna?”
James leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling. “You never liked her.”
“Since we’re talking, let’s try the truth. I tried to get in touch with her more than once. It never ended well. The last time I talked to her, I got the feeling her fight for custody had never been about us at all. Since we already had a hard enough time dealing with one dysfunctional parent, I let it go. Let her go.”
The sound his brother made was wounded. Raw. “You were always smarter than I was.”