18 By the time Aoife was five , the Brennan - Fitzgerald alliance controlled most of Boston's waterfront . We'd legitimized many operations , keeping only the most profitable illegal ventures . " Times are changing , " my father said at a family meeting . " Smart families adapt . " " Some of the old guard don't like it , " Declan O'Sullivan noted . He'd allied with us after taking over , recognizing strength when he saw it . " The old guard can adapt or die , " I said flatly . " We're not running speakeasies anymore . " " Harsh , " someone muttered . יז " Realistic , " Ronan corrected . " The FBI's cracking down . Better to have legitimate fronts than none at all . " After the meeting , Declan approached me privately . " Cillian asked me to give you this . " It was a simple envelope . Inside , a photo of a gravestone in Ireland - a small marker for " Baby O'Sullivan - Known to God Alone . " A note in Cillian's handwriting : " I had a marker placed for our child . They deserved to be remembered , even if they never drew breath . I hope this brings you peace . - C " I stared at the photo for a long moment , then tucked it away . " Thank him for me . " " That's all ? " " That's all . " That night , I showed Ronan . " How do you feel about it ? " he asked . " Grateful . He gave our child acknowledgment without overstepping . " " He's grown up . " " We all have . " " Some more gracefully than others ." I curled into his side . " I was lucky . I had help . " " We helped each other . " " Still do . " " Always will . "