Page 205 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“What about since?” I hate that I sound so needy and pathetic.

“She’s only recently been turned into soup.”

“I guess.” I’m still not convinced.

“I reckon you need to spend some one-on-one time with both those boys. Talk. Do whatever you need to do to make sure you really are compatible with each of them because, whichever one you choose, they’ll be living your life with you and vice versa, and both brothers are completely different.”

She’s right. Eoin’s the future Da Duster. As part of his remit, he has no option but to run a business empire and rub shoulders with like-minded individuals, whereas Irish’s business commitments are strictly office-based.

“Have you and Paddy ever… you know?”

“If you’re asking if we’ve fucked since he’s returned from Sicily, then the answer is no.”

“Then maybe you should switch things around a little. Fuck Paddy. Don’t fuck Eoin. Because you really do need to be sure, partner. You know as well as I do that next time around, there will be no annulment. You need to choose wisely.”

“What if I can’t choose?”

“Unfortunately, you’re going to have to. Anyway, I need to go sort out this IRS situation. You know, the one you still know nothing about because you weren’t even listening to a word I said.”

“Sorry, Jessie.”

“It’s just as well I’m good at my job.”

“You’re not just good. You’re the best.” I tell her what she loves to hear.

“I know, and have I told you lately that I’m worth every dime?”

“Not today.”

“Well, consider yourself told. I’ll remind you again tomorrow.”

I chuckle as I disconnect the call.

CHAPTERSIXTY-NINE

EOIN

The Hudson Dusters’ HQ, Manhattan, New York

I stareout my office window, but I’m too distracted to take in the view.

It’s been two days since we ended Luciano Ruocco’s life. As a family, we all wear his blood on our hands. Duke delivered the fatal blow. It seemed only fair. Luc was responsible for the death of his son, after all. Since then, there’s been nothing from Jaine.

I retake my seat before placing my feet on the desk.

“Jessie suggested to Jaine that you need to spend some one-on-one time together now that the danger’s passed. You know… go on a proper date or something.” I frown at Dylan who’s sitting in the chair across from me. He shrugs. “You know as well as I do that your relationship with Jaine never recovered from what it went through. It was nothing short of a miracle that you managed to fall in love with each other in the first place. But all you’ve done since is bicker, fall out, and then have make-up sex.”

He’s right. Jaine and I seldom did anything together as a couple. We did used to speak at length. At least until Paddy returned, and I then deliberately extracted myself from her life so she could make an informed decision.

“It won’t have been helped that for the duration of our time together, Jaine was on lockdown as she had a gun pointed at her head,” I argue.

It’s weak. We both know it. Even if she hadn’t been firmly in the Ruocco’s sights, there’s every likelihood we still wouldn’t have done anythingnormal.

“I agree, it wasn’t, but that’s no longer the case, Eoin. She has a future now. A future she can share with someone.”

“So, where would you suggest I take her?”

“Where would you normally take a woman on a date?”

---