Page 222 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“I won’t. Cross my heart and hope to die. Anyway, you need to go. Dylan will be there, and you haven’t spoken to him in ages.”

“With good reason. He knew about the message, Jessie. He knew the whole goddamn time that it was sent by Roisin and not Irish.”

“He didn’t want to get involved, Jaine. He’d been dragged into so many things that he was losing track of the number of secrets he had to keep.”

Most of which were mine. She doesn’t add it, but we’re both thinking it.

“That’s not the point.”

“Jaine, everyone’s been keeping secrets from everyone else, not just Dyl. You can’t just single him out.”

“I guess.” I grudgingly agree with her because she’s right.

“We’ll pick you up at six p.m.”

The Meeting Rooms, New York

“You really didn’t have to come and get ready with me, Jessie.” We’re sitting side by side in the back of Liam’s SUV. Dylan’s making his own way there, apparently. He’s obviously gone from being a recluse to being quite the social mobster butterfly.

“Oh, I did. I knew if I didn’t, you’d wait until I was already there before messaging me with a list of excuses.”

We both know she’s right.

“Plus, what’s the point in having a sister if you can’t get ready together every once in a while? Anyway, I was shopping, and I knew that dress would be perfect for you. Just think of me as your Fairy Godmother. The Disney princess shall go to the ball, after all. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Thank you, Jessie.” I roll my eyes exaggeratedly at her just as the SUV pulls up at the destination. I stare at the building. I’m sorely tempted to ask Liam to take me back home. Nothing good has ever happened to me in this place. I doubt tonight will be any different.

It was here that I delivered the line to Sophia that resulted in Ace’s death. It was here that the Colombians abducted Sarah and me. It was here that Brittany admitted that she’d lied about Irish cheating on me.

It was here that Eoin cornered me in the restroom.

Maybe not everything was bad.

My mind immediately drifts to the kiss he and I shared and then to the one I shared with Irish. Each so different.

Eoin so dominating and demanding. Irish so sensual and giving.

I’m not sure which I prefer.Both. I prefer both.

“Are you ready, partner?”

Jessie interrupts my thoughts. I stare at my sister as we stand on the familiar steps. She looks beautiful in a floor-length pale pink silk dress that clings to her tall, slim frame. I smooth down the material of my black one. Mine is a racerback style, and it’s tighter than I would normally choose for myself.

I didn’t have the heart to tell Jessie that it isn’t really me.

We make our way inside. My guts are already telling me that I should turn and run. Adrenaline spikes through me. I know why. He’s here. I can feel him.

Irish.

“Jessie.” I grab her hand before we’ve even entered the function room.

“What is it?” She frowns at me. I’m tempted to ask if this is a set-up, but I don’t. I ended things. If either Padraig or Eoin is here, it’s not because they want to collide with me. It’s because it’s an important charity social event in our outlaw calendar.

I’m immediately spotted by several of my clients when we enter the venue. Each nod in my direction, and I smile in acknowledgment. “Jessie, I’m going to have to do the rounds,” I whisper.

“Me too, partner. I’ll meet you back at Dylan.” She squeezes my hand as she watches me fidget. “Quit pulling at your dress. You have a fabulous figure. Flaunt it.”

“Flaunting’s not really my thing, Jessie,” I mutter.

---