Page 50 of Dirty Eoin

“For the love of God!”

It’s a day for hissing it would seem.

I smile politely. “God had nothing to do with it. The Dusters made that poor decision all on their own.”

There’s a pause. I’m grating on his last nerve. Maybe Jessie and I have more in common than we realized.

“Even for your boys’ sake, you would consider no other?” he asks.

“No.”

“Then that would leave us in a difficult position.”

“Don’t threaten me.”

“What will happen if we do?”

We stare at each other once more. His gaze is penetrating, but I’ve already looked into the bowels of hell and fucking survived.

I’ll be permanently wearing the scar to prove it.

“You really don’t want to know that answer,” I tell him. “But don’t underestimate who you’re dealing with. Eoin’s been paying the price for doing just that for the past two years.”

“Then work with us. We can’t leave the child exposed. You must have heard about what happened at St. Patrick’s.”

“The fact that The Exterminator saved the day, and several O’Connell lives in the bargain?”

“You know the sniper personally?”

I nod. “Although, apparently, Molly does too. She told me she spoke to him at length. That he was considering working exclusively for the Dusters. The sniper can’t remember their little heart-to-heart. Likely because it never fucking happened.”

Good luck with having a bare-faced liar in your top tier.I don’t say the words aloud, but he knows that’s precisely what I’m thinking.

Another pause. He’s digesting what I’ve just said. But then he already knows what Molly is. Another Sophia. Another poor choice. Another mistake.

I almost feel sorry for him.

Almost.

“Anyway, who would you have me marry in this grand masterplan of yours, not that I’m agreeing to anything.”

I already know who he’s going to say. It’s obviously the reason we’ve been recently introduced.

Aidan.

“Eoin.”

I’m momentarily speechless that Fergal O’Connell is suggesting I marry his eldest son. The asshole I hate with a goddamn passion.

My nemesis and the bane of my fucking life.

“Now I know you really are certifiably insane. My answer is no. My answer will always be no.”

“Then who would you consider, pray tell, girl?”

“I thought you were going to suggest Aidan.”

“You would consider him?” He raises an eyebrow at me.

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