Page 116 of Dirty Eoin

“So, are you telling me that Jaine’s intention all along was to make you fall in love with her all so she could dump you?” His frown deepens when he realizes just how carefully pre-planned this whole episode was.

“Well, it’s currently only speculation. I never asked what she was referring to when she uttered the word karma, and she didn’t offer up any explanation, but that was my interpretation.”

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I never thought Jaine could be so vindictive.”

“Nor I. In hindsight, I can understand her personal vendetta against me, but why drag Molly into it? She made me choose, Dylan. She left me with no other option. After giving my verbal word to Molly that I would marry her, I had to renege on the deal.”

Dylan shrugs. “You would have to have chosen at some point, brother. You and Jaine were together for months. You couldn’t have strung both along all that time.”

“I know, but given Jaine’s plan was most definitely pre-meditated, the least she could have done was afford me a little time. I could have let Molly down far more gently than I did. Miss Jones backed me into a corner. And for what? It’s quite clear she never had any intention of committing to this marriage or honoring her vows.”

“Maybe she did you a favor.”

His voice is quiet. Too quiet. He’s hiding something.

“Molly saved my life. It was she who did me the favor, not Jaine.”

He gives it away with his small frown.

“Explain that look.”

“What look?”

“The one that crosses your face anytime I mention Molly saving my life!”

And then it dawns on me. What a fucking fool I’ve been. I run my hand through my hair in frustration.

“It was him, wasn’t it?”

“Who?”

“Don’t play games with me, Dylan. I’ve been party to enough playground tactics in the last twenty-four hours to last me a fucking lifetime. It was him. The Exterminator. He was in Nevada because you were there. In case you got into trouble. Tell me I’m wrong!”

“For the record, it was also in case you got into trouble.” He mumbles once more.

“And why would he care what happens to me? He doesn’t know me from Adam!”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” More mumbles as he switches his attention to the floor.

“Why do you say that? Is he someone known to the family?” I’m curious now. I want to know who the fuck he is.

He exhales. “I can’t reveal his identity, Eoin. You know that.”

“Then just confirm that my suspicions are correct. That it was him. Both in Nevada and at St. Patrick’s.”

He nods.

“And Molly took the credit for Nevada because she was the only one holding a gun.” I’m talking out loud more than anything now, but he nods once more before answering.

“Tyler has the physical proof that it couldn’t have been her. She did discharge the weapon as we all heard it go off, but it was most likely accidental. Her shot hit the floor to the right of where she was standing. The bullet ricocheted off the newly laid concrete and landed in the corner of the room.”

“So that’s why Jessie went foraging around in the Colombian’s brains. To retrieve the engraved bullet so the rest of us would be none the wiser.”

Again, a silent nod.

And that’s why Molly never tossed the fact that she saved my life in my face. She didn’t.

“Jesus Christ. Why didn’t you tell me this before, Dylan?”

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