Page 131 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

“Are you checking up on me, partner? I’ll be leaving in around ten minutes. Are the Irish there already?”

“They are. They finished their meeting with Rod earlier than expected. I just spoke to him. Well, it was more a case of me listening while he ranted and threatened to back out of the alliance altogether.”

“Why?”

“He’s convinced Molly lied to him, and that she’s trying to play him for a fool as a result.”

“Dear Lordy Lou, and did she?”

“I have no way of knowing, Jessie, but to avoid the alliance collapsing in on itself I’ve had to reassure him that he won’t have to deal with her moving forward and that I’ll do so on his behalf.”

“So, you’ve created an owing, but this time Eoin O’Connell owes you?”

“You could say that. The difference being, I won’t ever call it in.”

“Rod said something similar to me, you know but I never gave it much thought.” I frown as I try to recall. “That Molly had to have Eoin hold her hand when she first spoke to him. She made an excuse that she’d tried to call previously but had been unsuccessful. I don’t think Rod bought it.”

“Maybe that’s what he’s referring to?”

“Who knows, but you and I both know the people in our life don’t like being lied to, especially Rod. It’s once a liar always a liar with him.”

There’s a pause.

“Be careful today, Jessie. I don’t trust her.”

I snort-laugh. “It’s not like she’ll be able to run rings around me professionally, Jaine.”

“I’m being serious, Jessie. Don’t under-estimate her. And that’s not what I meant. This isn’t an office-based meeting. She may well be carrying a weapon, so make sure you’re doing the same. Any shit goes down, you call me straight away.”

“Where are you anyway? Are you in a cage? Is that road noise I hear in the background.”

“It is. I’m just pulling up at my destination now.”

“Which is? And should you be out and about? I mean, what about little JJ?”

“I have no option. This is an appointment I need to attend. Ace is home with the kids, don’t worry. He needs one-on-one bonding time with them, too. Fin’s missed having him around.”

“Aww, he must love having his daddy home. Anyway, I didn’t make out where you said you were going.”

“That’s because I didn’t.”

“Confidential?”

“Extremely so.”

I know best not to pry.

“Is everyone waiting for me?”

“Yup, including your daddy and Tadgh. Does your family know about your dalliance with Dyl?”

“They suspect, but I’ve never told anyone anything apart from Ty. Even then, I never went into any detail, and I never told him which brother it was.”

“Well, they’re not likely to think it’s Eoin given Molly will be there.”

“True.”

“Are you fucking him?”

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