Page 148 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

There’s a pause while he digests the fact that I’ve unearthed yet another dirty Duster secret.

“Yes.” I can hear the guilt.

I frown. “But, Dylan…” He knows what I’m getting at. What this could have meant for him and Jessie had he not had to cover his brother’s deceitful tracks. She only stayed away from him because she thought there was someone else. And there was.

Me.

“I couldn’t do that to him, Jaine. Everything would have unfurled with that revelation. You would never have spoken to him again, and he would never have survived losing you from his life again. He’s suffered enough. I wasn’t going to add to his misery. He’s my baby brother, Jaine. I love him.”

Tears fill my eyes, but not for my benefit this time. For Dylan’s. For what he’s selflessly given up. For what he’s fucking lost.

“I need to go.”

“Jaine, what are you going to do now?”

“IsaidI need to go.”

“JAINE!”

I disconnect the call, then stare at the phone in my hand. Or should I say weapon, as they’ve used it against me like one.

I understand Dylan’s reasons. I do. Everything he did he did for Irish, even at the expense of his own happiness with Jessie. And for that reason, I will learn to forgive him, but I’ll never forget.

Lessons have been well and truly learned.

Rage then barrels through me. No, this is allhisfucking fault. The selfish asshole with the heart of stone.

Because what he did? He did it for no one but himself.

* * *

Fifteen minutes.

That’s how long I took to mentally prepare myself before I dialed his number.

“Jaine.”

He answers within three rings.

“You were right.” There’s a polite smile in my voice.

“Would you care to enlighten me?”

“Youwerehiding something from me.”

There’s a pause. He knows exactly what I’m referring to because this fucking asshole read every message exchange and now I know why.

“Who told you?” He tries not to act surprised, but he is.

“I worked it out. I received a message from Dylan at a time he wouldn’t otherwise have been able to send one.”

Another pause.

“Well, aren’t you going to try to deny it?”

I’m pissed off that he’s acting like it’s no big fucking deal. It’s more confirmation if ever I needed it that messing with my life is just in a day’s work. My life means nothing to him. I mean nothing to him.

“I can’t deny it, so I won’t.”

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