Page 34 of Dirty Eoin

Repercussions? I want to fucking know.

“Shall I call for a doctor to attend?” It’s only right that I offer. She is bleeding, after all.

She laughs dryly. “What? Like the useless Dr. Kelly?”

“We have others,” I add, choosing to ignore her scathing response.

“I’ll pass. What’s another scar or two when my body’s already littered with the goddamn things?”

I curse my dick for twitching and my brain for instantly imagining each and every one of those scars. Scars that will no doubt caress her skin like works of dark fucking art. I push the unwelcome thoughts from my mind of tracing every single one of them.

With my tongue.

Now is not the time. In fact, there will never be a fucking time for such thoughts. Not of her.

Not. Ever. Again.

We silently assess each other. Time passes. I’m not sure how long. The moment only ends when her phone starts to vibrate. I watch as she reaches inside her jacket and pulls out her burner. She knows exactly who’s calling her. Dylan must have given him the heads-up.

“I’m fine, Delaney,” she mumbles.

There’s a pause at her end. He’s shouting. We can all hear the depth of his anger even if we can’t make out the precise words. He’ll be even more unhappy when he sees the state she’s in. As much as our Cillian’s married to his sister, it won’t make Razr any less likely to want to slit our throats over what the Dusters have done to Jaine today.

“I’ll see you in five minutes.” She disconnects the call, then looks at us one by one. “Leave Delaney to me.”

It’s a statement. She doesn’t want or expect an acknowledgment.

There’s a pause.

“So, now you know I’m back in Manhattan.”

Another pause.

She suddenly looks resigned. Like what she’s about to say she doesn’t want to but has no choice in the matter.

She exhales slowly. “I have back-to-back meetings tomorrow. The last one finishes at three p.m. I’ll be at your offices by three-thirty. There’s something I need to discuss with all of you. Sophia and Molly are not to be present.”

She won’t want Sophia or Molly in attendance because she trusts neither. With the latter, who can blame her given she blatantly threatened her? A conversation which will no doubt form the basis for her thinking we’re connected with Ace’s death in some way.

“Sophia and Paddy have gone on honeymoon to Sicily. Ma’s flying out to the Ruocco family home tonight at Luc’s insistence.”

She stares at me once more. Her face gives nothing away, even though I’m sure my reminding her that my youngest brother is now a married man will sting.

Guilt flows through me. The harsh reality that his arranged marriage achieved nothing. I still have to reveal my findings to the rest of the family. Explain the content of my recent conversation with Leo.

Jaine will already be aware given their close relationship. I’m sure it will have been touched on during their recent meeting. I’m also sure she’ll take great pleasure in sayingI told you so.

“When is he due back?”

“We’re not certain. He’s able to work remotely, so there’s no real rush. It’s not been discussed, but we believe Sophia wishes for them to remain in Sicily long term.”

I’m sure she can read between the lines. That Sophia’s deliberately keeping Paddy away from Manhattan as she doesn’t want him anywhere near her.

She nods. “Well, it can’t wait indefinitely. It’s already waited too long.”

She stands, then walks to the elevator and presses the call button.

“Tomorrow. Three-thirty p.m.”

---