Page 151 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“Jaine, you didn’t.” I can hear Jessie laughing in the background.

“I goddamn did.”

CHAPTERFIFTY

PADRAIG

Padraig’s Apartment, Hudson Yards, New York

I couldn’t bringmyself to touch Sophia.

Many men would have killed to be in my position, but I’d rather have ended myself than be intimate with her.

I escaped to the restroom then stared at my reflection in the mirror for a full ten minutes while trying to talk myself into doing the necessary. I was never going to be granted an immaculate conception. I was always going to have to get my dick wet.

Lie back and think of the Dusters.All I could think about was Jaine.

When I returned, I suggested Sophia fetch us both a glass of water. I knew I was simply delaying the inevitable. I could tell she was anxious to get on with it. Just when I was about to bite the bullet, the fire alarm went off.

For once, God really was on my side.

We made our way out of the building and waited for the firefighters to arrive. Eventually, Sophia had had enough, and I had Liam take her home. I remained on the sidewalk, rejoicing in my victory while freezing to death. In the end, it was a false alarm. There was no fire.

Did someone set it off deliberately?

Regardless, my victory will be short-lived. I’ll still have to uphold my side of the contract tomorrow and the day after.

Purgatory. That’s what this is.

It’s now two a.m., and I’m lying in bed wide awake. I can hear my phone vibrating in the other room. To get up or not? It’s not like I’ll be sleeping anytime soon.

“Dylan.” I lie back on the sectional in the darkness. “It was deliberate, wasn’t it?” He knows I’m referring to the fire alarm.

“It was.”

“It’s just delaying the inevitable. You do know that?”

“We’ll see.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’ve obtained the contents of Sophia’s phone. Jessie and I are just going through the data now.”

“And how did you manage to do that without the physical handset? Luciano will be able to trace anyone who tries to access the number remotely.”

“We had access to the physical phone.”

“How? She takes it everywhere with her.” And then it falls into place. “The lights went out earlier. Was someone in my apartment?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“One of our high rankers.”

“And do you have everything you need?”

“It’s looking that way. We’ve created a checklist. Events and dates, that sort of thing. We’re just cross-referencing it all now.”

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