Page 169 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“And then, on the night they were finally supposed to consummate their marriage, you compromised Sophia’s phone.”

“How did you know?” I don’t deny it. There’s no point.

“It’s fitted with technology that can identify if any new hardware has been added.”

So, he was aware of the download device. “How did you know it was me?

“You were seen leaving Padraig’s building moments after the fire alarm had been set off. Who could have pressed the alarm, I wonder?” He backhands me once more. So hard I almost black out. “I thought it only fitting that we start our own fire in response.”

I shake my head in an attempt to clear my blurred vision. I need to remain alert until I get what I need.

“So, you committed arson by setting fire to St. Peter’s.”

“It was no less than Padraig deserved. To perish in the very building he holds closest to his heart.”

“So what now?”

“We urgently need access to liquid reserves. Thanks to you, we have no option but to abandon the Duster heir idea and terminate Padraig’s life so Sophia can access his wealth. Such a waste of an opportunity. We wished to make him Da Duster by eliminating the rest of the family, but The Exterminator kept getting in the way of our original plans.”

I don’t mention that there will be no need to kill Padraig as he’s already dead, or did they not stop to check on the results of their handiwork at the church?

“And the trafficking?”

“So, now you know who is behind it.” He smirks proudly. As I suspected, he’s only too happy to brag. “A very lucrative business opportunity, and one the Dusters declined to become involved with.” He shrugs. “No matter. We will continue using the Colombians as our front. We have access to another motorcycle club in the area that is only too happy to assist with the logistics, so we have no need to pursue any of the others further. You may know of them. The Punishers.”

I shake my head, even though I know exactly who they are. I’m hoping playing the dumb blonde act will encourage him to spill more truths.

“Their president, Lucky, has a lot of hungry biker mouths to feed, so he was extremely keen to work alongside us.” He looks at his watch. “His brothers will be doing their first transport run this evening, in fact.”

Lucky’s not going to be very lucky if Nate is picking up on any of this. I pray to God that he is.

“Women and children?”

“But of course. Not that children appeal to me personally, but there is a high demand for young, innocent flesh.”

Bile rises in my throat once more. I swallow it down. I’ve never known anyone more deserving of an engraved bullet. He looks at his watch once more. As he does, I spit out the bile and blood that’s accumulated inside my mouth.

“Anyway, Jaine. Enough chit-chat. It is time for us to go.”

I look at him. I thought this would be the room where I would meet my maker. Apparently not.

“Go where?”

He smiles at me. “To meet with my sister, of course. She wishes to say her goodbyes to you personally.”

CHAPTERFIFTY-FIVE

PADRAIG

St. Peter’s Church, Upper East Side, New York

When I eventually came around,I was lying in the recovery position on the grass outside the church, and the firefighters were already in attendance.

Apparently, the roof had just caved in, and everyone thought Eoin and I were dead. Fortunately, he had already carried an unconscious me to the doors. He then had to move a burning beam from across the entrance to drag me out.

The first person we both searched for was Jaine, but she was nowhere to be found.

Dylan said she had a meltdown, then believing Eoin and I had perished, she rode off into the night. Razr has since confirmed that the last known location for her burner was at the boating lake.

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