Page 2 of Taming Tesla

“I had security cameras installed… a while ago.”

Both Conner and I look at each other. Neither one of us knew anything about it.

“You what?” we say at the same time, loud enough to earn a look from my uncle. “Say that again,” Conner says quietly. “It sounded like you said you had hidden cameras installed in this bar without informing its owner.”

Declan glances at me but looks away quickly. I look at the pool table and think about what happened on it a few days ago. I know from the way Declan won’t look at me that he saw it all. I shift in my seat, unaware that I’m making a lunge for him until Conner’s hand lands heavily on my chest, stopping me in my tracks. “How long ago?”

Declan squirms in his seat. “Long enough that I’ve got it all on tape. The altercation between Cari’s ex and Patrick the night she broke up with him. Lisa following him up the stairs willingly. The way she wouldn’t leave him alone, even after being shut down a hundred times.”

It suddenly makes sense. “Conner didn’t tell you about Lisa and me, did he?”

“I—” Declan runs a hand through his hair.

“Why?” I say. “Because you don’t trust me?”

“I got a better question.” Conner’s voice lowered with each word until it was barely more than a whisper. “How long is long enough?”

Now Declan sets his jaw and looks away.

Conner pounds his fist into the table to get his brother’s attention. “How. Fucking. Long.”

Declan finally shrugs and opens his mouth. “Eight months.”

Conner sat back in his seat again, a strange mixture of pity and disdain on his face. “Don’t worry, Patrick,” he says, still eyeing his brother. “This doesn’t have anything to do with you.” The corner of his mouth turns up in something that looks more like a sneer than a smile. “It’s about Tess—right, Dec?”

“Does it matter?” Declan says defensive like he’d been caught doing something wrong but doesn’t want to admit it. “It’s a good thing I did it or this whole thing would—”

“Eight months ago, he found a pair of Tess’s panties in a desk drawer in the office,” Conner says to me, laughing. “My guess is he had the cameras installed to see if he could catch us fucking, after hours.” Now he looks at Declan again, all traces of humor gone. “What the hell were you going to do if you did catch us on tape? Jerk off while watching your little brother fuck your ex—”

Before I can stop him, Declan launches himself across the table and grabs Conner by the shirt and they both crash through the booth partition before hitting the floor, yelling and cursing. Declan lands on top and punches Conner square in the mouth. Conner grabs Declan by the shirt and jerks him in close. “The sad part of it all is I know you took them,” Conner says, grinding the words between bloody teeth. “You took them. Do you even know how fucking pathetic you are?” Before Declan can respond, Conner jerks up and head-butts him in the nose before rolling him over and straddling his chest.

It all happens in the space of about thirty seconds. Long enough for my uncle to fill a large plastic pitcher with ice water and walk it to where his sons are trying to kill each other. He tosses the entire contents of the pitcher on his sons, and when the water hits, they fly apart like a pair of spitting cats.

Paddy lets his gaze roll over the damage his sons did to the bar. “Have I told ya how happy I am that this shite isn’t my responsibility anymore?” he says to me before tossing me the pitcher. “Since the three of you don’t look to have actual jobs today, I’m going home.” He looks at his sons, soaking wet and seething on the floor at his feet. “Your Mam wants you both to Sunday dinner—hope you’re healed by then.” My aunt Mary rules with an iron-fist. If either of them rolls into dinner with bruises, she’s going to give them a few lumps to go with them. “You too, Altarboy.” He points at me before heading for the door leaving Declan and Conner, bleeding in a pool of water and melting ice and me holding the bag.

Before any of us can say anything, the side door flies open and Tess streaks into the bar, a tiny blur in overalls and boots. “Patrick, I need to—” She stops short and stares at the aftermath. “What the—no. You know what?” She holds up her hand silencing them before they even open their mouths. “I don’t give a shit.” She looks at me. “Cari’s in trouble.”

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