Page 41 of Dirty Eoin

“I did what you asked. I played by your rules. You wanted me out of sight and mind until Padraig was safely wed. I did exactly that. If you’re angry, then you have no one to blame but yourselves. His family is the reason he’s missed out on Fin’s life. That all of you have. Not me. And for what? It turns out it was all for nothing.”

“I told you so.” My voice is low.

She doesn’t reply.

“Say the words, Miss Jones. I know you’re dying to.”

She still doesn’t respond. Instead, she walks around the table before stopping right in front of me, her defiant green gaze boring into mine.

If this room were empty, I’d pin her down on that table and fuck that defiance right out of her.

She nods slowly. “It proves you don’t know me at all if you think I’d take any pleasure from saying those words.” She pauses. “You may have your precious alliance, but at what cost to Padraig? You and I both know the coalition is in no thanks to him marrying Sophia as we both also know Luc is to be overthrown as the reigning don in the not-too-distant future. That rumor has it he’s setting up his own mafia organization. That, in fact, he may have already done so. So, Irish has a son he’s never met, and for what?” She glares at me, her eyes filled with undiluted hatred. “Leo mentioned your discussion, so let’s not pretend this is breaking news to you, Eoin.”

I glare back but say nothing. I can’t deny it and she knows it.

If she’s spoken with Leo, then she’ll also be aware that I was only party to this revelation yesterday, and given everything that’s subsequently happened, the likelihood is I won’t have had time to share this sorry state of affairs with my family yet. She’s deliberately gone out of her way to cause mayhem here today.

No doubt all part of her big payback plan.

“And why would he discuss the content of our private conversation with you?” I ask the question even though I already know the answer.

“It was business-related. Leo has no business secrets from me.”

“And why is that, Miss Jones?”

She laughs dryly. “Has the reason I returned to Manhattan ahead of time been eating away at you, Mr. O’Connell? I’m sure you know the answer, but if you want to play games by having me spell it out, then fine. Leo has asked that my companies represent the Sicilian Mafia once he takes over as the new don.”

“And have you agreed?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, I have.”

There’s a pause. She’ll know what I’m thinking, I’m sure. That if she and Paddy had married, we would have had the alliance we wanted anyway, and potentially many more.

“So, yes. I can say I told you so if that’s what you wish to hear. I can also say I warned you to steer clear of the Ruoccos on the very day you as good as told me to pack my bags and leave Manhattan. But it would give me no satisfaction. Because not only has Irish suffered as a result of your poor decision, but his son has too. Fin is sixteen months old, and he’s never met his biological father. I hold you personally responsible for that.”

We glare at each other as we stand inches apart.

“Can we meet him? Young Finian?”

Da interrupts whatever the fuck this is between me and her. I frown and squeeze my eyes shut briefly. Given he almost killed Jaine yesterday, I’m now just waiting for her to tell him to fuck off.

That’s what he deserves. What we deserve, and we all know it.

“Tomorrow. I’ll make the necessary arrangements through Dylan.”

Her gaze never leaves mine. Even though my face remains impassive, she’ll know I’m both surprised and grateful for her unexpected favorable response. She eventually breaks eye contact. I want to take some sort of satisfaction that she looked away first, but I know she did so because with both of us being stubborn as fuck with each other, we would have stood here all day.

Having thrown her grenade, I watch as she retrieves her briefcase before leaving the room without uttering another word.

Manipulative, evil woman.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

JAINE

Jaine’s Apartment, Upper East Side, New York

“Jaine.I wasn’t sure who was meant to call who. Sorry if it’s not a convenient time. I can always …”

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