Page 83 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“She’s just mentioned one thing. That Jaine doesn’t want to be a keeper of secrets anymore. She’s going to spill her guts about everything.”

“Even her alter-ego?”

“I reckon so. She can’t keep it quiet for much longer.”

A pause.

“Ma already knows. So, that makes three of us.”

“How?”

“I’m guessing because the weapon Jaine used to dispatch Molly was the same one she used at St. Patrick’s on your wedding day. She must have hidden it inside the venue because she didn’t have it on her when Da collared her.”

“That was fortunate for her and Ma.”

“Indeed.”

“Who was the actual target at the wedding?” I already know. It came up during a conversation with da, but he didn’t go into any detail given he almost killed Jaine the very same day.

“Jaine showed up because she heard on the sniper grapevine that you were the target. She would never let anything happen to you.”

“So, she saved my life?”

“Not exactly.”

“What do you mean?”

“It wasn’t you the two baddies were after. It was the rest of us. Jaine saved all of us that day.”

“But she came for me?”

“She did, brother, and now you know why.”

“Because she loves me.”

“Partially that.”

“What does that mean?” I’m not sure why I’m wasting my breath. He won’t expand further.

“You…”

“Need to speak to Jaine. I can’t, and you know I can’t.”

Frustratingly, he changes the subject like he always does when I start digging.

“How did it go at the clinic?”

“Sophia is primed and ready to go. If she’d had her way, we’d have fucked in the back of the SUV on the way back.”

“That keen?”

“If I didn’t find the whole thing off-putting enough, that was the icing on the cake. I’m not sure how I’ll be able to go through with it.”

“Lie back and think of your freedom?”

“I doubt there’ll be any lying back involved. I’m pretty sure Sophia will make me work for every second of my freedom.”

“Too much information. So, what happens next?”

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