Page 125 of Dirty Eoin

Jaine:Isn’t that just pretty words to disguise the fact that you’re fucking her?

Eoin:I’m not fucking her.

Jaine:Have you kissed her?

Eoin:I might have.

The phone rings immediately and I answer.

“You might have.” She laughs dryly. “I know you’re getting on in years, Eoin, but you’re not senile quite yet.”

I don’t reply. She can assume the worst. She will anyway.

“So, I’ve been gone a month, and in that time, you’ve started dating Leo’s younger sister and you’ve reached the kissing stage. Who am I kidding? There’s no way you’d ever stop at just kissing.”

“You’re jumping to conclusions, Jaine. Some might say you were jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“Are you sure? Anyway, I can’t understand why you’re so bothered? You were quite clear when you left my apartment and before you fell off the face of the earth without explanation for a month that you and I had no future.”

There’s a pause so lengthy I have to double-check she’s not disconnected the call.

“Yes. About that. That’s the reason I dropped by.” She pauses. “You may or may not know, but I had to return to New York earlier than planned.” Her voice is hesitant, almost like she’s struggling to find her words. “There was something I couldn’t get out of. An event I had no option but to attend where the date couldn’t be changed. Having to deal with that. Having to witness it… it was too much on top of everything that had already happened. I just needed to take some time out to….”

She pauses once more.

“With Ace and Irish…you know… I just needed some time out to process things in my own way before I could move on. My head was all over the place. I’m sorry. I should have explained…”

“Yes, you should have, Jaine. I’m not a mind reader.”

“I fully appreciate that.”

“You fully appreciate that.” It’s my turn to laugh dryly. “Well, I’m glad one of us has something to be appreciative about. On the contrary, I’m not appreciative of the fact that I was the recipient of your covert revenge attack for the five months preceding. Lies. Deceit. Pretense. Tell me, Jaine, was there any part of our relationship that was real or was it all just a mere fabrication.”

“I had my reasons for doing what I did, and you know it.”

“Oh, I know it all right, Miss Jones. Misguided vengeance. I think you’ll find that was your sole reason.”

“I didn’t believe it to be misguided at the time.”

“You really didn’t do your homework where I was concerned, did you? Do those words sound familiar? They wereyourwords.”

“I’m sorry, Eoin.”

“It was my ma’s decision. I could have saved you from making assumptions and answered all your questions if only you’d bothered to ask. I didn’t go out of my way to ruin my little brother’s life, regardless of what you may think.”

“Your delivery could have done with a little work,” she bites back.

“I’m a mobster, Jaine. I get the job done. I admit that I underestimated you in your tomboy attire, but even knowing what I do now, I wouldn’t have changed my delivery. I did what I did for good reason. The Dusters had signed a blood oath with the mafia. I needed to separate you and Padraig and quickly. I also needed you to make him think it was over between you because if Paddy had thought there was any chance, he would have flouted the contract, dishonouring Sophia in the process and earning you both a bullet. A bullet that would also have ended the life of your shared unborn child, I might add. So, tell me, Jaine, what would you have had me do differently?”

“Your homework.” Another bark, but this time with a much weaker bite.

“And what would that have unearthed? The fact that Paddy was still in contact with a female he dated for three months when he was nineteen. You told me yourself that you didn’t reconnect with him until you were taken by the Bratva, which was exactly when the contract was signed. Doing myhomeworkwouldn’t have unearthed anything of significance, thus it would have changed nothing!”

Silence.

She must know I’m right.

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