Troublesome younger brother of Quinlan, always a bit of a hell raiser growing up / currentlyÂ
Followed in his bros footsteps as best he could but the shoe never fit and gave into the more cantankerous side of himself, reveling in the trouble he made
Defiant of rules and authority he bounced around a bunch of schools growing up and only managed college because of the family name getting him in
Heâs been involved in the family business for years and is quite good when he wants to be at making deals
But when his temper or impulses get the best of him itâs quite a mess, that his family (Quinlan) usually cleans up
Recently he got into a mess and his brother gave him an ultimatum of keeping a low profile in NY or living in Lockwood
He decided on Lockwood and has been here 3 months.Â
HEADCANONS.
Kieran isnât super smart, but heâs not dumb either. Somehow, despite the chaos he brings with him, heâs decent at making deals and charming the right people. Heâs also excellent at pissing the wrong people off.
Heâs used to the finer things in life, the trust fund he now has access to funding his lavish lifestyle, even in a small city like Bradford Springs.
Connecting with his Irish roots, Kieran speaks Gaelic conversationally though he canât really read it well.
He has a Greyhound named Penny who he sincerely loves and dotes on. Sheâs a bit of a princess but he treats her right.
Heâs got a bunch of tattoos but Iâm too lazy to determine which ones or whereÂ
Heâs a decent sales associate when he wants to be, but when he isn't heâs kind of impetuous like why are you buying old shit. It varies on the day and his mood.Â
CONNECTIONS.
NYC connections
Exes
Hookups since heâs been in town
Drinking buddies
People who avoid him (oh no not him letâs go before he sees weâre here)
âI thought the same until Iâm certain he figured out my go to move in rock paper scissors so he can win every time, which means we always have to go with his ideas.â Cian laughed because he wouldnât underestimate Quinlan. Family or not, the man was raised to be cold blooded and manipulative. âIâm not watching or reporting back, Kieran. If I was going to babysit, Iâd not be sitting in a strip club doing fucking green monster shots with you.â Cian laughed louder and then clapped his cousin on the shoulder. âI actually have fun with you, is that allowed?â he then said before beginning the same old story he had said plenty of times. âWeâre more like brothers than cousins, Kier. Everything youâve done, I basically paved the damn way. Iâm lucky to still be sat here with all my fingers.â he waved his other hand and wiggled the digits. âThe city is fucking awful but you know whatâs fun? Making the city ours. Which means, in a weird turn of events, you and Quinlan actually want the same thing. The more the city is ours, the more fun you can have. Huh?â
âą
âHeâs got an annoying fucking habit of doing that.â Of discerning peopleâs strategies. Reading them like books on a shelf. Quinlan is always observing, always watching and Kieran is always acting, jumping in head first, come what may. It might not be the best way to live, considering it got him stuck in Lockwood but heâs unlikely to change his ways. A leopard and its spots and all that. âMmm, fine,â he says, holding up his hands before gesturing to a waiter for more drink, âIâll believe you this time,â Kieran snickers, ânot because youâre trustworthy,â are any of them? âBut because Iâd rather not waste our time trying to pretend to be on my best behavior.â  He downs his drink and sets the glass on the table in time for it to be exchanged for another by a server. âDo you want a thank you?â Kieran replies dryly, ever a pain in the ass but he canât deny the truth in his cousinâs words, The more they controlled, the longer his leash. âI know what youâre trying to do ââ youâre not wrong. But I see you, Cian.â A part of him hated that his cousin was right, but another part knew there was no sense fighting. Progress was progress and heâd benefit from the upside. âYou hear he wants me to trail her,â he makes a too-wide smile on his face, imitating Juliette, âthat part of making the city ours? Or just his perverted sense of humor coming out?â
âDisgusting.â Quinlan remarks frankly, leaning his face away from the waving finger and turning up his nose to it while trying to wave it away all at once. The older Kelly, once resuming his straight posture, does the double take to Kieran in an identical movement. He tries to not laugh but it escapes subtly. âIf you paid attention to anything I told you, youâd know thereâs ways to lie to people without lying.â he shrugs indifferently but if he can help it, no. Their mother hasnât been lied toâŠdirectly but she has experienced the famous loopholes Quinlan can weave with his words. âIâm already a king, idiot.â he laughs and itâs not usually a choice insult that Quinlan uses but sometimes itâs the only word that makes sense to use when referring to Kieran.
He has to say the impression of Juliette is rather accurate but Quinlan does need to maintain some professionalism. Belittling her to a collector she has to manage isnât the smartest move. âI think she hates all of us which is precisely why Iâm offering you this chance.â Quinlan says slowly, hoping to not spell it out for his dear brother. âThis isnât the type of payment you can split, Kieran and you know I need results before I can promote.â
âą
âYeah, well, whenâs the last time you got laid?â Kieran raises a brow, shameless as he waves his finger in his brotherâs face once more. âWhatâs it been, four...five years to the day?â He taunts easily with a boyish grin on his lips because his brother doesnât usually succumb to teasing or jibes. Itâs usually easier to get a rise out of Cian than Quinlan. âAnd if you stopped being a smart ass, youâd know thatâs still called lying. So, really, what Iâm getting from all this,â Kieran gestures at his older brother with a smug look, âis that you have lied to mom. Itâll break her heart to find out her precious Quiny has fibbied.â But despite his mocking tone and the levity in his words, he knows better than to try something insane like pinch his brotherâs cheek. He grins at being called an idiot and shrugs, âtakes one to know one.â About as low-brow a rebuttal as he can get but itâs rare for his brother to even indulge his antics even a bit.
But his smile fades and he resists the urge to shudder at the thought of having to follow his ex-satan-in-law. âYouâre serious?â Kieran scoffs, glancing back to the store and suddenly wishing it was busier so heâd have an excuse to leave this conversation. âWhat do you expect me to find? Her diabolical plan to stab you in the back?â It seems obvious, and itâs precisely why heâd voiced a thousand reasons she shouldnât have been allowed to leave New York and join their organization in Lockwood. His brother knows him, though, and thatâs worse. Because he dangles the one word that Kieran canât ignore or scoff at. âYouâre a real pain in my ass, you know that?â He relents, wiping a hand over his face. Kieran turns to face his brother again, shaking his head. âIf this goes south, you fucking owe me one.â
âIf you have nothing better to do then feel free.â Bunny said to him snootily, watching the bus near the stop that she was supposed to be getting on. âI just find it funny that a man who supposedly is busy enough to disappear a lot, suddenly isnât busy at all.â A small herd of people moved out of the bus, and the doors remained opened, as if luring Bunny to her actual plans despite her eyes scanning back to Kieran. âObviously Iâm not upset, I had just met you. I just like reminding people about their mistakes.â she shrugged softly at him but yes, she did hold grudges easily and she couldnât imagine where something would ever be more important thanâŠgiving her attention. The offer made Bunny give a contemplating look at all the stores and restaurants, her eyes lingering a little longer on the pricier ones before she looked at Kieran. She said nothing and then looked at her phone. She didnât care if it was obvious but she tapped into her phoneâs system settings and played a preview of her text tone. âOh, she canât make it. I guess the universe is working in your favor, Kieran Kelly.â she quirked her brows at him, sliding away from the bus stop and immediately into motion. âHow do you apologize? Cash or credit?â
âą
Kieran watches with some amusement as she pretends to wait for the bus to arrive. He does his best not to smile but one tugs at the corner of his mouth anyway. He shrugs. âI just find it funny that a woman whoâs supposedly not upset about getting ditched at a club, suddenly canât stop bringing it up,â he retorts with a smirk. He wouldâve stayed if he could have but business called and while Quinlan might forgive him for not showing up to work at the shop, heâd be less inclined if Kieran botched another assignment.Â
It doesnât matter how much heâd wanted to stay, hands on Bunnyâs hips as she swayed to the music, drugs painting the club an electrifying neon blue. Kieran hadnât enjoyed sobering up then but the rush of adrenaline from the chase had cleared his head enough to stay focused on collecting a debt before someone could skip town, and not on the woman heâd left behind. Kieran watches as she messes with her phone, a small chuckle emanating when she presses the ring tone. âShame,â he says without lament as he stands in one fluid motion, hands tucked into his pockets as he winks at her and nods in the direction of the nearest boutique. âDepends on the day, Bun â letâs find out,â Kieran prompts, already waking towards the door with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.Â
Kieran fancies himself a comedian but Quinlan doesnât laugh, he simply takes a breath to balance the rising stress. He only laughs when his brother pushes away his hand, still finding glee in those boyish moments between the two of them. âPut that finger away, I donât know where itâs been.â Thereâs something real about it sometimes, away from the suit and ties and the serious whispers of money and reputation. Sometimes they can resemble their young selves. Just two boys with big responsibilities waiting for them. âYou want to lie to our mother? Iâm willing to take the gamble about the flames. It might give us some peace and quiet. For a while. We all know youâd return with Satan in your army, anyway.â his voice is low and serious but the corner of his lip twitches enough that Kieran will know itâs to play along. Only those closest to Quinlan know the dry humor, and have the right to see it.
While everything Kieran says about Juliette is true, Quinlan doesnât react as such. He just remains stoic and lets his brother vent the very fair statements. Then he nods, glancing to the browsing customers and back again. âYouâre as bad as each other but dare I say it, I think if anybody could find out what sheâs up to itâd be you. Cian and me, well, thatâs just obvious.â he compliments his brother, mostly with sincerity but of course with a tiny game of chess too. âThink of it as a favor, but one with a big reward.â
âą
Kieran ignores his brother, waving his choice finger around to annoy him before rolling his eyes. âProbably more interesting places than any of yours.â His brother is married to his work and before that heâd been married to a psycho and somewhere in between heâd had a kid with someone who didnât want anything to do with him. So Kieran thought his fingers were honestly in better places than his brotherâs, though heâs smart enough (only just) to not say these thoughts aloud. âLike youâve never lied to her,â he scoffs before doing a double take, eyes narrowing at his older brother, âwait...you have lied to her, havenât you?â Oh shit, he really was going to hell, wasnât he? Still, he snickers proudly at his brotherâs compliment. âYouâd still be a general, donât worry.â he reassures Quinlan with a shit-eating grin until his mood sours again and heâs scowling.
âShe hates me too. Does her little,â he mimics a joker-like grin and wide-eyed stare, âwhenever Iâm around. Freaks me out.â There was a point when he had liked Juliette, when heâd been happy for his only brother and now sister. But when things began to sour, the stink permeated everything. âNah, if Iâm doing this,â Kieran says, rapping his knuckles on the counter, oblivious to any customers in the store now. âI want payment up front.â Say what you want about Kieran but, at the end of the day, heâs a Kelly through and through.
âIâm waiting for her to get off a bus, duh.â Bunny said flippantly, noticing a bus several cars back in traffic. She could either do two things, instantly pretend sheâs friends with a stranger that exited it and walk off with them or keep claiming her friend was on another bus. âOh? Worried Iâm gonna run off to a moldy couch I need to sell?â she quirked an eyebrow as she grinned, but it faltered quickly when he sat beside her and said heâd stay. âYou donât have to do that, sheâsâŠnotorious for being late so.â
âą
Kieran does his best to suppress his growing grin. âRight, of course you.â He nods, smoothing his face into a neutral expression (or as close to one as he can manage). âNah, just figured you could use the company. Until your friend arrives. Besides, if that moldy couch is worth nearly six figures, I wouldnât blame you.â Kieran smirks, already able to see what the issue is here. Still, he glances around them, shaking his head. âLucky for you I have no where to be right now.â Well, besides work but thatâs neither here nor there. âReal quick, though â I meant to ask, youâre not, by any chance, still upset about the club, right?â As though it would be silly if she was. âBecause I could always make it up to you,â he gestures at the strip of restaurants and businesses lining the sidewalk. âI mean, maybe on a day when youâre not waiting for your friend.â Said with a smug smile as he raises a brow in her direction, wondering with some amusement what her next move will be.Â
âIf you donât want to be here, you know where the door is.â Quinlan remains stoic, gesturing politely to the front of shop. He knows his suggestion was a quiet order, but if Kieran is insistent on being a headache then heâd rather the order was disobeyed. Their little pretend world of collectibles is Quinlanâs peacefulness, and Kieran is a bull in a literal china shop. Deciding to call his brotherâs bluff, he straightens his back and nods while slapping a hand to Kieranâs shoulder. âI think mass is a great idea now that you mention it.â he smirks ever so slightly, giving his brother a few affectionate taps. âYou know our olâ mam will be happy to hear weâre back there. Itâll be good for us, every Sunday morning.â Another suggestion.Â
As much as Kieran loves to display how annoying he is, Quinlan does agree with the younger Kellyâs take on his relationships. His marriage was a disaster and the divorce even more so, and Sofia was like a hurricane of intense emotions. âYou should keep an eye on her for me.â he responds quickly, yet another suggestion. âIâm sure you have plenty of time between people who havenât paid up, and the fact you see to her makes it a perfect opportunity.â Surely keeping tabs on Juliette wouldnât be something he can get wrong. âWhat do you think?â
âą
âYeah, Iâve seen it.â Kieran glowers, knowing full well what Quinlanâs getting at. He can walk through the door anytime he likes. But it comes down to the fine line that exists between wanting to maintain the lifestyle heâs led and resisting anyone whoâs ever told him how to live his life. And, recently, Quinlan is the biggest offender of the latter. The younger Kelly shoves his brotherâs hands away, flipping him off instead. âHereâs an idea: why donât you say we both went and make her day? I might burst into flames if I try.â He shrugs, as though thereâs not much he can do about his place in heaven or hell at this point.Â
âAh, thatâs a good one, Quinlan. Who says youâre not funny?â Kieran actually scoffs at the idea of trailing his ex-shrew-in-law, flashing an award winning smile at a passing customer making their way to the other side of the store. He casts a blue-eyed glance back at his brother, realizing heâs serious and his expression drops. Fuck that. âI think itâs a fucking terrible idea. She's psycho, Quinlan. You wouldnât want to put your brother in harms way, would you?â Never mind the fact heâs pretty sure sheâs still never forgiven him from scratching her car like ten years ago or whatever it was at this point. You could barely notice it too.Â
Cian laughed, knocking back the shot with a slight grimace. His intense party days were long over and he doubted heâd be able to keep with the younger years Kiran had as an advantage. âYou think Iâd agree to babysit you?â he challenged to his cousin, tilting his head. âPretty hurtful to assume Iâd not just want to spend time with you, away from business talk and all that boring seriousness.â he added. He could see why Kieran was suspicious, Quinlan did want a close watch on him after all. But Cian would rather keep politics aside for tonight. âOr is this you telling me I need to baby sit you, in which case you shouldnât be feeding me shots because Iâll be the one needing it.â
âą
Kieran smirks as Cian takes the shot regardless, downing his own in tandem. âI think Quinlan can be persuasive.â He admits before grinning, âAt least to those with weaker minds.â Said with a snicker as he considers Cianâs words. He knows his cousin and brother are thick as thieves so heâs certain heâs come up in conversation as the bane of Quinlanâs existence these days. Itâs not that heâs ever set out to be that, it just happens. âI donât need to be watched. But if you wanted to report back, you can say Iâve been on my best behavior all night. Havenât even asked for her number,â he says, nodding in the direction of a woman who was clearly on a date with someone else. He can tell that the type of man sheâs with would get territorial. He wouldnât have hesitated before but after the scuffle during the storm, he knows Quinlanâs tolerance for petty fist fights (though he stands by his actions a few weeks ago) is lower than usual. âIâd call that pretty exemplary stuff,â he snickers, taking a sip of his whiskey, washing down the acrid taste of absinthe that still lingers. âBesides, what is there to talk about besides business? You telling me Lockwood gets more interesting after a few months? Iâm still waiting to see for myself.âÂ
Bunny debated whether or not to put her Thai to good use, play dumb in a different language and make Kieran feel like an idiot for assuming it was her. Then again, she didnât know many other girls who were willing to wear ripped fishnets and a hot pink dress and then a cow printed fur coat on a bus stop. âIâm waiting for a friend, actually.â she lied effortlessly, slowly sitting up and pretending she wasnât just hiding from him. âIâm guessing ten or fifteen minutes. Why? Important place to be?â Bunny shot him a look, casually playing off the interaction as much as possible.
âą
Kieran watches as the gears turn in her head and gives a satisfied smirk when she replies. âRight, I forget that I wait for my friends at bus stops too.â he says with a shit-eating grin as she speaks. The Kelly glances at the watch on his wrist and shakes his head. âNah. I was only wondering how long youâd be around.â Kieran takes the seat next to her with all the casual grace of someone with nowhere to be. âIâll just wait with you until your friend arrives.â
âYouâre aware Iâm not making you work here, yes? I suggested it, but you donât have to.â Quinlan reminds his brother, and certainly a Kelly suggestion is in fact a demand in disguise but that is by the by. Monitoring his brother has become a full time job of sorts, and Quinlan never used to mind it. It was what brothers did but now it is beginning to feel like Quinlan has idiot tattooed on his forehead and itâs Kieran who stabbed the needle in there. âIâve never been much of a believer at the best of times, Kieran but I can be swayed when given something to believe in.â he says quietly, not wanting to raise his voice with customers browsing. It must have looked hilarious, two brothers trying to quietly debate. âYou didnât even give me the chance.â Quinlan scoffs back with a dutiful glare to Kieran. âI was about to say, very good. I donât need to thank you for doing your job. If you want praise for doing the bare minimum, date a girl with low self-esteem.â
âą
âRight,â he snaps his fingers, âI forgot your suggestions are only ever that.â As if Quinlan ever suggests anything without meaning it as a directive. Kieran rakes a hand through his hair, because he knows that Quinlan has little to no trust in him. Any that was left when he was forced to Lockwood was basically pissed away during the storm. Stupid fucking Jones. âSo youâre saying I should expect you at mass?â As if Kieran can remember the last time heâd gone. No, if thereâs one thing Kieran worships itâs his autonomy, and excess, and neither fit into his brotherâs belief system. âMaybe your reflexes are just slowing down, Quinlan,â he replies with a smirk, hearing another customer come in with the door bell.Â
âI might actually write that down because youâve done the opposite and, well,â he gestures at his brother with a shit-eating grin, as if to say look where itâs gotten you. âI think Tris is the only good thing to come out of any of your relationships. Jules, probably the worst,â he snickers before straightening a bit, glancing down at his watch and then back at Quinlan. âSheâs looking a lot like the cat that ate the canary these days. I donât trust it.â It might be the first sensible thing heâs said all day, mostly because it pisses him off how sheâs always sniffing around him, like sheâs smelt something bad. Stupid blonde bitch.Â
Shit, shit. Fucking shit. Bunnyâs inner voice is screaming at her. Her account declined her lyft and uber, something about an unpaid fine for taking drugs in the back of one which is the dumbest thing sheâs ever heard. Where else were you supposed to take them? So, getting around the cityâŠis a downgrade. A smelly, disgusting bus full of other people who canât afford an uber. She missed California and being able to con her way into a rich group of friends. And nowâŠwhatâs worse than waiting at a bus stop in the cold? The fucking Kelly boy, whoâs first name shouldâve been Teaser and not Kieran, walking along the sidewalk near the stop. Maybe she wouldnât have hated seeing him again if heâd actually just kiss her already, or if she wasnât waiting for a freaking bus. Bunny tried with all her might to make herself as small as possible, huddling over herself and shielding her face with her hand. Donât even dare notice me, you stupid Irish cock-tease.
Of course Kieran notices her. Heâs just been minding his business, as he tends to do (ask anyone, just not Quinlan), and was heading back to the shop after a well-deserved lunch break when a funny scene catches his eye. Bunny sat on a bunch, hunched over at the bus stop, fur coat pulled up to her ears almost as though she was trying to hide in it. He canât help but grin, whistling a bit louder as he passes by before, quite dramatically, backing up towards the stop. âDo you know when the next bus comes?â Kieran asks nonchalantly, like he might ask a complete stranger but with the slightest smirk tugging at his lips.Â
While Quinlan holds onto hope that Kieran will straighten his act, the eldest Kelly gave up a long time ago actually expecting him to work in the shop properly. As annoying as it is, he can live with Kieran being a dope with the customers, or idly scrolling his phone. If only heâd just stop fighting people for no apparent reason. âYou could have stayed home.â Quinlan muses as he eyes his brotherâs ensemble for the day. They havenât addressed the outburst from the storm or the way it was obvious to be Quinlanâs breaking point, so itâs business as usual. Knowing Kieran, he probably found the whole thing hilarious. âSurprised you havenât leapt across the counter to strangle them for disturbing you.â he whispers, looking ahead to the customer with a blank stare. It doesnât take long for Quinlan survey the stranger, giving a meek shrug back to his brother. âSold anything while I was gone?â
âą
"And give you something else to complain about? Yeah fucking right.â With each button he presses, Kieran can see the leash getting shorter, can feel the plankâs edge drawing closer. He knows his brotherâs patience is wearing thin but he canât help the wild thing inside of him. Heâs a Kelly, after all, and just because his brother had managed to find his place in fine suits and languid sips of expensive whiskey doesnât mean Kieran has. Heâll take the bottle over the glass every time and he supposes thatâs part of Quinlanâs problem with him. The Kellys are not known for their mild manner, Kieran least of all. âYour faith in me is astounding,â he scoffs, leaning back against the glass counter and shrugging. âBecause I have. That demilune table from Italy thatâs been sitting in the window since Christmas? Sold it first thing. Got rid of that dining room table set too.â Kieran can be charming when he wants, playing up that Irish flair when itâs convenient. âThis is the part when you say thank you,â Kieran goads with a please smirk.
âAbsinthe. Jesus Christ. Iâm not twenty anymore.â Cian laughed when the server brought over the drinks that quite obviously Kieran had decided theyâd be enjoying. He had a lot of time for his younger cousin, even though Kieran seemed to be using up every single life raft that the Kelly ship could offer. He just needed someone to not judge him, that was Cianâs take on it. âYou need a bit of water, apparently. Activate the green fairy itâs called. Thatâs how the French do it.â he mumbled like a sour old man as he peered at the shots. âBut, how do I say it nicely? Fuck the french.â
âNo oneâs forcing ya, Cian,â Kieran goads good-naturedly, all the while passing his cousin the drink expectantly. He prefers hanging out with Cian to his brother these days. All Quinlan can seem to talk about is how Kieranâs pissing everything away and doesnât he care that this could be his? He was perfectly content in New York before one little mistake set off the fire alarm and now everything he does is under scrutiny by his brother. Jesus, he canât even sneeze in Lockwood without Quinlan knowing. âFuck the French,â Kieran agrees, holding his shot aloft before giving Cian an appraising look. âSo is Quinlan too busy to babysit me tonight? He send you instead?â He may act wild and reckless, but heâs still a Kelly and he picks up on more than he lets on. They all do.
âWelcome in...weâll be with you in a second or let us know if you need help or whatever.â Kieran all but mumbles from his spot at the counter of his brotherâs shop. For the most part, if anyone wants help they ask for it. The only time Kieran volunteers it is if he thinks he can make a sale (he almost always can) but if he actually feels like he wants to make a sale is a different question (heâs not in the mood for humans). Itâs been a few weeks since the storm and heâs been laying low (for the most part) lest Quinlan blow another gasket. He hears footsteps approaching and finally deigns to look up from his phone, contemplating texting Bunny and scoffs when he spots the devil himself as he meets his brotherâs gaze. "Playing undercover boss or something, Quinlan?â Heâs bored and leans back against the counter, waiting a reprimand for slacking off or some other minute offense heâs sure Quinlan will berate him for. @quinlankellyyâ
Talking sense to Kieran is like trying to translate an Ancient and dead language. No words can even do Quinlanâs emotions justice when it comes to the younger Kelly. Every word uttered by Kieran loops into an excuse that heâs tired of hearing. How can a family so big on discipline fail so horrendously? Kieran makes it seem as if they were dragged up through the trenches to be raised, and not carefully taught how to manage and deal with power and wealth. âI wish I could explain to you how stupid you are, but youâd find an excuse for that too.â Quinlan bites, being pulled down to swim in Kieranâs volatile nature. âItâs about decorum, and knowing exactly when and how to act. Why, when everyone is going to assume we had something to do with this, would you even want to be perceived as being involved in some way?â he groans just from the thought of it. âThis townâs general intellect is fairly sparse, Kieran .But even these country-fied fucks can work out what the name Kelly means here.â
His voices raises just as much as his brotherâs, Quinlan turning to face Kieran with an angry scowl. âDonât tempt me. I know youâre just begging for me to get you on the next flight to New York but if you hadnât noticed, Iâm the only person who isnât sick of your theatrics. Iâm getting awful close, Kieran. I justâŠâ Quinlan squints, trying to conjure any sense of rationality in his brotherâs defense but there is none. âPlease, tell me your thought process. You hear about a biker being killed and then what happened? Do you hear voices telling you to be an idiot? Or does it come from your own deranged brain?â
âą
âWhy donât you try anyway? I could use the practice,â Kieran all but sneers at his brother. His brother who seems to forget that despite everything, heâs quite good at what he does...when he actually does it. Heâs brought in deals with difficult partners who thought Quinlan was too black and white for their tastes.But Kieran? Heâs always existed in a world of grey. One that frustrates (and antagonizes) his brother to no end. Itâs not like he tries to help it either. Any point of ridicule like rain off a duck's back where Kieran is concerned. âDecorum?â He scoffs now, an amused grin on his lips. âSorry, I didnât realize the Queen had died....again.â Decorum...these people werenât worth the effort. Surely Quinlan has to know that? âI didnât fucking say anything that says we did it, Quinlan,â he insists, even if the older Kelly wonât believe him. He never does so whatâs the point of trying? âI just said itâs a shame they lost someone so important is all.â He shrugs, âand itâs fucking convenient if they try to pin it on us to start shit.â And itâs that comment tat started shit show, subtly suggesting their own people had something to do with it for the sake of breaking the peace.Â
Kieran laughs now, gesturing around them. âWho else, Quinlan? MacArthur? Gilles? Thereâs a reason theyâre not in New York anymore. They couldnât handle the pressure.â Maybe heâd fucked up and landed in Lockwood fucking Springs but that didnât mean he wasnât cut out for it. âSo if theyâre sick of me, they can say it to my fucking face.â He pauses at his brotherâs question, as though thinking for a moment before nodding. âDefinitely voices. They also say you need to relax. We only look guilty if we act guilty and weâre not guilty so who the fuck cares what the MC thinks? Who the fuck cares?â Heâs shortsighted, thinking in the here and now when Quinlanâs likely thinking beyond, but he canât see that. All he knows is that some asshole picked a fight because his feelings got hurt and now Kieranâs gotta deal with the fallout.
