Page 15 of Dirty Eoin

“The reason Sasha gave was that if Jaine made allowances for one, she’d have to do the same for others. Even Rod wasn’t allowed to attend,” he interjects.

I get the feeling my little brother doesn’t like talking about the biker’s passing. He changes the subject. It affected him, listening to his final words and having to be the messenger between him and Jaine. Having to relay what was no doubt a very personal message between the living and the dead.

I understand. Situations like that can also highlight our mortality. That our lives can change on a dime.

“It’s my guess it’s because Ace was murdered. Right now, everyone is a suspect.”

“That’s what I’m deducing from it.” He exhales frustratedly in response.

“Including the Dusters.”

“And can you blame her, Eoin? Our ma blatantly threatened her via your future wife. A conversation that’s recorded, most likely duplicated several times over and with copies ready to be distributed to pig aristocracy at the press of a button. Jaine’s well aware our parents are gunning for her. In her mind, who’s to say that verbal threat didn’t encompass her loved ones? I mean, if she really wanted to, she could have our ma arrested on suspicion of murder. And no matter which legal guru we employed, I wouldn’t fancy our chances against a vengeful Jaine Jones. She’d wipe the floor with us.”

“Jesus Christ, we would never…”

“Jaine doesn’t know that, Eoin, and that’s the point. After the messaging fiasco, the little trust that did exist has gone,” he interjects again. Something he would never have done prior to getting involved with that extremely loud and annoying wife of his. “And then there’s your infatuation with her. Who’s to say she’s not thinking you wanted Ace out of the picture so you could claim her for...”

“I’m marrying Molly.” It’s my turn to interrupt.

“You’ve accepted your fate now, but before the Nevada incident, everyone aside from Paddy was aware of your blatant admiration for Jaine. Even Ma. Even Molly. Even Jaine herself.”

He’s right. On the surface, I could easily appear to be the guilty party in her eyes. But if I’d wanted Ace dead, I’d have handled the matter personally. I wouldn’t have resorted to putting a price on the biker’s head and letting someone else pull the trigger.

“When are you returning?”

“We’re heading back tomorrow. From what I can gather, Duke’s going to be moving to New York with Jaine. There’s nothing keeping him in Rising now Ace is gone. The club will pass to the current VP. And speaking of Clay, now that he and Sasha have split up for good, I’m led to believe she’s also heading back to Manhattan.”

“At least Jaine will have a support network around her.”

“Yes. But she’ll cope regardless. She’ll throw herself back into JAL and move on. She has no choice. She has two wee ones to consider. I think having Duke around will help her a lot. JJ’s only a few months old, so her life will be pretty full on juggling her professional career, a newborn, and a one-year-old.”

We’re both now steeped in our own reflective silence. Two little boys will grow up not knowing their father. The type of outcome that could happen to any of us in this life. It makes me realize how much we take our da for granted. I can’t imagine a life without him.

“Will you speak to her, Dylan? Pass on our condolences?”

He exhales loudly. “I’ll try, Eoin, but I don’t think she’ll take the call. It’s too soon. And I’m a Duster. Until she’s sure in her mind we had nothing to do with Ace’s death, I’m not sure she’ll be prepared to speak to any of us.”

There’s another pause.

“And how is our Paddy? After… you know.”

It’s my turn to exhale. “It’s difficult to say, Dyl. He’s barely spoken since it all happened. I’m not sure if his withdrawal is in relation to Jaine or Ace.”

“As much as he had a lot of respect for Ace, it will be Jaine, I reckon. He’ll think The Almighty is rubbing it in by letting him see what he wants and can’t have just before he has to sign his name on the dotted line with someone he doesn’t want and is being forced to have. And I know it’s not an appropriate thing to say given Ace has only just been laid to rest, but it must make it ten times worse for him knowing Jaine’s single again.”

“The same thing crossed my mind too.”

“And how did she react when she saw him?”

I snort as I recall the moment, which I’m sure won’t go unnoticed by Dylan. I’m fully aware my jealousy is flaring once more. I bite it back before speaking further. “She looked at him like he put the stars in the sky. Thankfully, it was fleeting. I’m not sure anyone else would have picked up on it.”

“Not even Paddy? So, he doesn’t suspect that she’s still in love with him?”

“I doubt it.”

“And his reaction?”

“I didn’t look.”

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