Page 53 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

Sophia looks smug. It shows immaturity, but she is only seventeen, after all. I have to make allowances for that.

My Paddy is a good catch. In some ways, a better one than Eoin. He is, after all, the most handsome of my boys and has the most charismatic personality. He also won’t have the same level of responsibility as Eoin, so neither will his wife.

“Jaine will be returning to Manhattan in the not-too-distant future. Some say she’ll be back within the next six months. Some say it will be as long as twelve. But she will be back. When she returns, she’ll be throwing herself at my boys, and both will be receptive to her advances.” I speak plainly. There’s no point in beating about the bush.

“But she’s a married woman. By then, she’ll have two children.” Molly frowns.

“She’s also a biker, and as I’ve already explained, bikers are typically women of loose morals. She’ll already have a harem of men at her beck and call. Probably most of the influential men on her client list. They’ll have signed up because of the add-on services she offers. Both my boys are so enraptured by her, they’d follow suit.”

The girls look at each other. They might never be friends. But they will be sisters-in-law. They will be family. And that shared look tells me that, from this day forward, they will form a united front, close ranks on Jaine Jones, and have each other’s backs.

“Sophia. Your relationship with Paddy?”

“What about it?” She knows exactly what I’m asking. And her pink cheeks give me all the answer I need. I know right then it’s not gone anywhere. At best, a kiss and a cuddle.

“Has it progressed?”

She shakes her head.

“Then you must do something about that. You’re at the age of consent now. Our Paddy is the loyal sort. I’m sorry for my vulgar mouth, but as a virgin, if he fucks you, he will keep you. There’s no question. You need to encourage him to do just that.”

She nods again. She knows I’m right. But she’ll have her work cut out for her. As beautiful as she is, if Paddy’s not been chomping at the bit, it likely means he doesn’t find her sexually attractive, the twelve-year age gap most likely the problem. If she’s not careful, she could end up in a loveless, sexless marriage. Worse still, Jaine Jones could get her hooks back into him and jeopardize the whole thing.

“And you, Molly?”

Molly smiles politely. “Eoin and I are fucking like rabbits.”

Inwardly, I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s what I suspected. But then, our Eoin has his own harem. Has he just added Molly to keep us quiet? Time will tell. I know I’ll need to keep an eye on him. He’s a game player. And a very successful one.

“Good.” I take a sip of my Bloody Mary.

“So, what is it you want us to do, Roisin? Aside from keep your sons’ attention away from her.”

I stare at Molly. She’s the only one capable of undertaking what I’m about to ask. The other is too young. She’ll still be at the name-calling and hair-pulling stage.

“As the potential future Ma Duster, I want you to have a word with this Jaine Jones and tell her to back off.”

“Do I make a threat?”

“A veiled one. But still loud. Still clear.”

“Gladly.” Molly smiles politely, drinks the rest of her water, and then with a slight nod of her head, she stands and leaves.

“And what do you want me to do?”

I look at Sophia. “I need you to hold on to your man.”

She nods, stands, then walks off before suddenly stopping and turning around. “If my man is lost to me, then I will make sure Jaine Jones’s is lost to her too.”

She turns and resumes walking, and I watch as she leaves. Her back is proud and rigid. Clearly it’s not wise for anyone to try to take away one of Sophia’s possessions. Or to make an enemy of her.

I file that information away. I need to be careful not to underestimate the teenager. She’s Sicilian, and from my experience, every single one of them is untrustworthy.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

JESSIE

Dylan’s Apartment, Hudson Yards, New York

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