Page 73 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

“It’s Jessie O’Brien we’re talking about. It’s definitely an understatement.” I laugh again, but it’s more forced as I’m now considering how to phrase what I have to say.

“True.”

“Eoin, I need to apologize.”

“For?”

I exhale. “Normally I would advise a client immediately I became aware of any potential conflict of interest. Jessie’s sister is Delaney’s fiancée. Her father is prez of the Sons of Satan. I know several clients who might not be receptive to contracting with someone with Jessie’s connections. In my defense, I acted at all times in what I believed to be the Dusters’ best interests. I have complete confidence in Jessie. Both in terms of her loyalty and commitment and in terms of her work ethic and confidentiality. When I weighed up the potential risk, I believed the IRS matter presented far more of a threat to the Duster organization, which is why I decided to withhold the information on Jessie until that was resolved in its entirety.

“For the record, I went against my own business ethics. I always believe in complete transparency. In this situation, however, works had been committed to and were underway. It was also a time-critical matter. With both in mind, I did not believe the revelation would have been in my client’s best interests at that time, so I made the call.”

There, I’ve said it. If I made the wrong decision, then so be it. But I acted with the best of intentions. I put the well-being of the Dusters above all else, even my own principles and professional integrity.

“Thank you, Jaine.”

“For?’

“For being honest. For keeping the focus on the most important matter at hand. For doing what was best for the Dusters.”

I sigh loudly. “Yes, but it’s since transpired it was to the detriment of something just as important.”

“How do you mean?”

“I mean, if I had come clean about Jessie as soon as I found out. If I had mentioned who she was. They would have stood a chance, wouldn’t they?”

“You’re talking in riddles, Jaine.”

“Jessie and Dylan.”

There’s a pause. We both know it’s a case of non-disclosure resulting in history repeating.

“We’ll never know.”

“Don’t skirt the question, Eoin.”

He hesitates before he responds. Because he knows he’s going to say something I don’t want to hear. Even though I already know the answer.

“Most likely, yes.” And there it is. We both know if I’d come clean about this sooner rather than later, the outcome could have been entirely different for them. Guilt floods me. Jessie will suffer and it’s all my fault.

“Is Dylan in love with her?”

“Yes. He came to me himself and told me so.”

I frown as something suddenly niggles away at me. See, none of this is stacking up.

“But what about this cliché blonde of his? This Grace Ryan girl? I thought he was besotted with her and had been for some time. Several years, in fact.”

There’s a lengthy pause before he responds. “I’m not sure how he feels about Grace. It’s not really for me to say.” For the first time ever, the eldest Duster sounds unsure of himself. What the fuck is going on? Because something clearly is.

“Maybe I should just ask Dylan.”

He responds quickly. Too quickly. “And maybe it’s best you don’t. He’s upset enough. Maybe it’s simply the case that his love for Jessie has superseded his besottedness with Grace.”

He could be correct, I guess. I try to push the niggle to the back of my mind, but it won’t go.

“Yes, you’re probably right. So, is there nothing that can be done?” I know what he’s going to say before he says it. I know I’m clutching at straws.

“As in all cases such as this, not without the risk of causing insult and potentially starting a war.”

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