Brothers

#1

The buzzing of his intercom breaks Cillian
concentration.

He reshuffles the papers in his
hands to one, gently resting the back of his full
hand on his desk In order to press the talk button

"Yes Mary, what is it?"

"Sir, I have just been notified that your brother has
entered into the building" her squeaky voice spoke
back, an unnatural crackle appearing as it traveled
from her outside desk to him through the intercom.

Cillian lowers the papers on the desk as he speaks
back, "Make him a cup of tea, would you"
Mary confirms that she would.

Over the years the Dire' brother have built
themselves one hell of a criminal enterprise, with
just enough above board deals to display
themselves as legitimate business to the outside
world.
To the mainstream society they were the middle
class dream. Self starters who built vast wealth and
success through hard work. But to those who knew
better they were the king's of the underworld. Cold,
ruthless, unmerciful. They controlled the city and
those who reside in it whether they knew it or not.

Cillian was the Brains of the empire. A brilliant
strategist, always thinking 12 steps ahead of his
opponent. A visionary that could see mountains out
of mole hills. But what's brains without muscle.
That's where Tom comes in. No one could match
un. He knew vou Weakness even before vou did. Could take a hit and smile.

Together they were unstoppable.

Cillian Drags his hand down over the lower part of
his face, feeling gitty as thoughts of her invade his
free time.
Tom enters without knocking. Walking into the
spacious and sleek office space he takes a seat
across from Cillian.

"Tom" Cillian greets, "any reason you've interrupted my afternoon?"

"No", he begins once settled, "no, just come to see you"

The older brother stares at his younger sibling. He knew his brother too well. This wasn't a drop in.

"I got, ah, that signature that you wanted"

"I know, I had to get Mary to go to the hospital to get it resigned. Blood on the paper proves coercion a bit too easy"

"Oh was there? Heart wasn't really in that one. Had other things on my mind"

Cillian straightens up, ready to make what ever was bothering tom disappear.

"Problem?" He asks protectively.

"The highest type. Been dreaming of making some girl my wife"

"Marriage?" Cillian laughs.
Tom never seemed like the marrying kind. Often on
dates going home with the counterpart and the
waitresses. One girl was never enough for the
short-term so the image of him committing his life
to a singular person was comedic to Cillian.
"You have a particular girl in mind or will anyone do?"

Tom leans back into the plush black chair, folding
his hands on his lap.

"Her name is Brooke"

"Brooke?" Cillian repeats softly, his heart fastening.
Suddenly his neck tie becoming too tight.

"Yes, she interviewed for one of my job openings.
I don't know. I liked her, had boris look into her for me. Been dreaming of the white picket fence and dogs and kids and the rest of it for months now. It's got to be a sign that I can't shake it, right?"

Cillian wanted to swear, to go off his head but
instead remained a Cool persona.

"Yes, yes. I think she also interviewed for one of mine, and had Boris do a profile" Cillian props his head against his hand like he had a headache.