Ryan Cusack

Ryan is the eldest son of Tony, a student-turned-drug dealer, and boyfriend of Karine. Ryan starts The Glorious Heresies by metaphorically leaving his boyhood behind as he brings Karine D’Arcy into his home for the first time, when they are both 15. She is the first person he trusts enough to tell about his dad beating him. His late mother’s piano speaks to Ryan’s musical interest. Ryan and Karine quickly fall in love and enjoy a serious relationship. Soon, though, Tony sells the piano, and Ryan is made drunk and raped by Tara, which leads Tony to beat Ryan. Ryan is frustrated that no one at school inquires about his bruised face, and so he throws a bag of cocaine at the headmaster and decides to drop out of school.

After dropping out of school and leaving home, Ryan begins working for Dan Kane, a...