Page 110 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

“And what about Paddy?”

His smile is replaced by a frown. “Padraig’s a great guy. But he’ll be married soon. PJ needs to let go of what they shared. They both do. What’s happened to her recently is proof of that. To be part of each other’s lives moving forward, they need to draw a line under the past or things will just be confusing as hell for both of them.”

“It’s a hard thing to do when you love someone.”

“Don’t I know it, but life moves on, Jessie. It has to.”

I nod. I know he’s right. But it’s still easier said than done. “You back here anytime soon?”

“Not until after my son’s born.”

“Two boys under two. I don’t envy you.”

“You should. Best feeling in the world being a parent.”

“It’s probably not on the cards for me.” I sigh.

“I never thought it was on the cards for me either. Listen, if there’s no future with Dylan, there’s always Ghost.” He laughs.

I punch him playfully on the arm. “Been there. Done that. He dumped me the very next day, remember?”

He shrugs his shoulders once more. “As I said, Jessie. People change. You’ve changed. Tyler has too, I’m sure. Anyway, I’m going to get hit the road. It was good to finally meet you.”

I watch him walk off before turning my attention in my brother’s direction. It’s no surprise to see he’s chatting with Ghost. There’s only a year separating them, so in a two-bit town like Colton, they’ve grown up together.

I run my eyes over Ty as he stands there in snug-fitting black jeans and a white Henley, his prez cut finishing off his look. His arms are folded across his chest, causing his biceps and pecs to bulge way too impressively. When my gaze reaches his eyes, he’s smug smiling, no doubt at my blatant ogling. I smirk in response.

Well, he ogled me earlier. Fair’s fair.

I look away, exhaling slowly as I do. Who knows? Just because my heart belongs to an Irishman doesn’t mean I can’t have me some hot biker boy fun.

I look around as I wait for them to finish their discussions. There’s not much to see inside. A bar in the process of being built. White walls, one of which has the club insignia painted on. I smile as I take in the pair of katanas on the wall facing me. They’re probably fake as they look way too pretty and decorative to be the real deal.

At my daddy’s insistence, we were forced to take up one form or another of self-defense. Both the Power Rangers-loving Bee and I studied the art of ninjutsu and aikido for several years. She throws shuriken better than anyone I know and has even killed with her lethal stars.

By all accounts, it was her throwing that, in part, saved Razr’s life last year.

Me being the ultimate Uma Thurman fan? I used katanas when I trained. I’ve never taken a head off with one, though. Or at least not yet.

I look at Ty once more, and he catches my eye and winks. They do say there’s a first time for everything.

CHAPTERFORTY-SEVEN

JESSIE

Jessie’s Family Home, Colton, Nevada

I arrive home wearing a smile.It’s not for any single reason. I think it’s more a culmination of several moments I’ve lived through today combined with a realization.

That Colton isn’t a bad place. That it isn’t an evil place. It’s just a town where MC blood runs in varying stages through the veins of every single person who lives here. For me, Colton’s simply a way of life I’ve forgotten how to live. Somehow and somewhere along the line, I lost track of who I am. Of what I am.

Of where I truly belong.

Maybe it’s because I went to school in Vegas. I went to college in Vegas. I started my own company. I bought my first apartment.

Vegas. Vegas. Vegas.

I can’t think of any other reason. Colton didn’t push me away, and I didn’t intentionally leave it behind. I guess I was so wrapped up in fulfilling my life ambitions I drifted farther and farther until I subconsciously felt like I no longer belonged. That I’d outgrown it somehow. That maybe Iwasdifferent from my siblings. That perhaps Ihadbeen born in the wrong life. Born into the wrong family. Far-fetched maybe, but who knows?

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